As Per vs. Per
“As per” and “per” can both appear in formal or business English, but they are not interchangeable in every use. “Per” also has important meanings such as “for each,” while “as per” functions as a fixed phrase meaning roughly “according to” or “in accordance with.”
Use “as per” when you intentionally want the formal fixed phrase, and “per” when its prepositional use is clear. For “for each” meanings, use “per”: “$10 per person.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / register | Best fit | Example |
|---|---|---|
| For each | per | $20 per person |
| According to / in accordance with, concise formal use | per | per the agreement |
| According to / in accordance with, fixed formal phrase | as per | as per your request |
| Plain general prose | according to / as requested may be clearer | Avoid bureaucratic wording when a direct phrase communicates better. |
Quick tests
Meaning test
Does “per” mean “for each”?
If yes: Use “per” without “as.”
If no: If it means “according to,” either established formal construction may fit; choose for register and clarity.
Caveat: Neither “per” nor “as per” is automatically wrong. The practical choice depends on meaning and tone.
Examples
The fee is $15 per person.
“Per” means “for each.”
As per your request, I attached the revised file.
The fixed formal phrase means roughly “in accordance with your request.”
The fee is $15 as per person.
Better: The fee is $15 per person.
The “for each” meaning takes “per,” not “as per.”
Further guidance
Core difference
“As per” is an established formal phrase. “Per” is also an established preposition and can be more concise when it clearly means according to a rule, request, or earlier communication.
Fast Test
If you mean “for each,” as in “per person,” only “per” fits. If you mean “according to,” choose the wording that best matches the sentence and register.
Style Boundary
Neither form is automatically wrong. In ordinary prose, “according to” can be clearer when “per” or “as per” would sound overly bureaucratic.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- As per — definition and meaning (opens in a new tab)Collins English Dictionary · Meaning and formal-register labeling of “as per”
- Per — English meaning (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Meanings and grammatical uses of “per”