Also known as: gross written premium · GWP · gross written premium meaning
The total premium an insurer or broker writes over a period before subtracting reinsurance, commissions, or other costs.
Gross written premium (GWP) is the total dollar amount of premium on all policies written during a period, measured before any deductions for reinsurance ceded, acquisition costs, or commissions. It is a top-line volume metric that shows how much business an insurer or broker put on the books, which is why it is a standard headline number in carrier financials and insurtech growth updates. Subtract the premium passed to reinsurers and you get net written premium, the amount the company retains for its own account. For founders, GWP is mostly useful as context: it signals the scale and momentum of a carrier or brokerage you might place coverage with, not a figure that appears on your own policy.
Gross written premium is the total premium value of all policies an insurer or broker writes in a given period, calculated before deductions for reinsurance, commissions, or acquisition costs. It measures top-line business volume and is a common headline figure in insurer and insurtech financial reporting.
Gross written premium is the full amount of premium written before any deductions. Net written premium is what remains after the insurer subtracts the premium it cedes to reinsurers. Net written premium reflects the risk and revenue the company keeps for its own account.
Definitions are educational and may be modified by your specific policy language, endorsements, and state rules. For regulatory guidance, refer to the California Department of Insurance or the NAIC.
Last updated: July 2026.