ballpark figure

Meaning

A rough numerical estimate or approximate value. It is widely used in business discussions when exact numbers are not yet known, but a general range is needed to make decisions.

Examples

• I don't need the exact cost right now, just give me a ballpark figure.

  I don't need the exact cost right now, just give me a ballpark figure.

• Based on previous projects, a reasonable ballpark figure would be around fifty thousand dollars.

  Based on previous projects, a reasonable ballpark figure would be around fifty thousand dollars.

• Can you provide a ballpark figure for how long this software integration will take?

  Can you provide a ballpark figure for how long this software integration will take?

• The sales team came up with a ballpark figure of ten thousand active users by year-end.

  The sales team came up with a ballpark figure of ten thousand active users by year-end.

• Our initial ballpark figure was way off once we calculated the actual shipping expenses.

  Our initial ballpark figure was way off once we calculated the actual shipping expenses.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Can you give me a stadium number for the budget?

  ✓ Can you give me a ballpark figure for the budget?

  Ballpark figure is a fixed idiom originating from baseball; you cannot substitute ballpark with stadium or figure with number.

• ✗ The client asked for a ballpark figure price.

  ✓ The client asked for a ballpark figure.

  Ballpark figure already means an estimated price or number, so adding price is redundant.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I know you haven't finalized the budget, but what is your ___?

  💡 rough estimate

  Show answer

  ballpark figure

• Let's work with a ___ of one hundred thousand dollars until we get the official quote.

  💡 approximate numerical range

  Show answer

  ballpark figure