What is Cross offer in contracts?

When two (or) more identical offers are exchanged between the parties in ignorance at the time of each other’s offer, the offer is called cross offers. In such a case, the courts construe one offer as the offer and the other as the acceptance. Thus a cross offer will not create any contract.

Example: ‘A’ offers to sell his car to ‘B’ for RS.15000/-. ‘B’ at the same time, offers by a letter to buy ‘A’s car for Rs.15000/-. The two letters cross each other in the post. In such a case the courts construe one offer as the offer and the other as the acceptance. Thus there was no concluded contract between ‘A’ and ‘B’.