Legal Definitions - tare

Tare is a term used in commerce to refer to a deficiency in the weight or quantity of merchandise that results from including the weight of its container in the total weight. It can also refer to an allowance or reduction in weight or quantity that a seller makes to the buyer because of the weight of the container.

For example, if a container of apples weighs 10 pounds and the apples inside weigh 50 pounds, the tare weight is 10 pounds. The seller may deduct this weight from the total weight of the shipment to determine the net weight of the apples being sold.

Another example is when a customer buys a gallon of paint. The weight of the can and the lid is included in the total weight, so the seller may deduct the weight of the container to determine the net weight of the paint being sold.

These examples illustrate how tare is used to determine the actual weight or quantity of merchandise being sold, by subtracting the weight of the container from the total weight.