That figures vs That makes sense

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

That figures

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

That makes sense

Top 3,000 (common)

Most formal: That makes sense Most common: That figures

	That figures	That makes sense
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ðæt ˈfɪɡəz// 🇺🇸 //ðæt ˈfɪɡərz//	🇬🇧 //ðæt meɪks sEns// 🇺🇸 //ðæt meɪks sEns//
Meaning	That makes sense.	That is understandable.
Example	When I heard about the delay, I thought, 'That figures.'	After you explained your reasoning, I thought, 'That makes sense.'
Register	Informal	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 3,000 (common)
Collocations	that makes sense, it figures, that adds up, of course, that is typical	makes sense of something, it makes perfect sense, makes sense to me
Common mistakes	Using it in formal writing or speeches., Confusing it with 'that doesn't figure', which means something doesn't make sense., Overusing it in every situation when agreeing.	Using it when someone is explaining something illogical., Misusing it when agreeing but not fully understanding., Overusing in formal contexts where clearer communication is needed.
Usage notes	Use this phrase in casual conversations to indicate agreement or understanding. It’s informal, so avoid it in formal settings.	Used in conversations to confirm understanding or agreement. Generally informal but acceptable in professional settings. Avoid in very formal writing.

See it in real clips

they'd think, "Well, that figures."

That figures

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

Yeah. That makes sense.

The Wire › S1 E1

That makes sense.

Avengers › Avengers Infinity War

Yeah. That makes sense.

The Wire › S1 E1

That makes sense.

That makes sense

Frequently asked questions: That figures vs That makes sense

What's the difference between That figures and That makes sense?

That figures: That makes sense. That makes sense: That is understandable.

Which is more formal: That figures and That makes sense?

That makes sense is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: That figures and That makes sense?

That figures is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

That figures: When I heard about the delay, I thought, 'That figures.' That makes sense: After you explained your reasoning, I thought, 'That makes sense.'

Can I use That figures and That makes sense interchangeably?

Not always. That figures and That makes sense are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.