Carpentry invoice template

Download the Carpentry invoice template

The same sample document in two formats. The PDF is what a finished invoice looks like; the spreadsheet has live formulas, so change a quantity or a rate and the totals follow.

No signup, no email, no watermark. Sample figures — edit everything. Opens in Excel, Numbers and Google Sheets.

See this invoice filled in, in the builder — the same sample, editable.

What a Carpentry invoice needs on it

Carpentry estimates cover two different jobs at two different rates. Rough framing is priced by the crew day and measured in feet; finish work is priced by the piece and judged by the eighth of an inch. Say which one you are bidding, name the material grade, and carry rot and structural findings as a stated allowance — because on any repair to an existing structure, what you find behind the trim is the part that moves the number.

A carpentry invoice should describe what was built in enough detail that it is recognizable in two years — species, dimensions, finish. On repair work, note what was found and replaced, because that record is what a homeowner shows an inspector or an insurer.

• Whether the work is rough or finish, since the rate and tolerance differ
• Material grade and species by name — paint-grade poplar and stain-grade oak are different bids
• Rot and structural repair as an allowance with a unit rate, on any work to existing structure
• Whether painting, staining and finishing are included, because usually they are not
• Hardware: hinges, slides, fasteners — the parts that quietly add a day to a built-in
• Disposal of removed material and site cleanup

And what every invoice needs

Send it the day the work is finished. Invoices sent within 24 hours get paid materially faster than ones that go out at the end of the month.

• A due date, not just terms — "Net 14" means less to a homeowner than a date
• Any deposit already paid, credited on the page so the balance is unarguable
• Payment instructions the customer can act on without calling you
• The estimate number it came from, so the customer can reconcile the two

Carpentry line items included in this template

These load into the builder ready to edit. Prices are starting points, not our opinion of what you should charge — set your own and they save to your price book.

Rates are illustrative US figures and vary widely by market. Price your own work.

How carpenters price this work

Rough carpentry prices by crew day or per linear/square foot of framing; finish carpentry prices per piece or per linear foot with a much higher effective rate, because the labor is in the fitting rather than the fastening. Custom built-ins are best priced as a shop rate plus install day. The most common underbid in carpentry is trim on out-of-square walls — old houses cost more per foot and the estimate should say so.

Questions

How should I price finish carpentry versus rough carpentry?

As different work at different rates. Rough framing is production work measured by the day; finish carpentry is fitting work measured by the piece, and the effective hourly rate is often half again as high because tolerances are tighter. Quoting both at a single "carpentry" rate reliably loses money on the finish half.

How do I bid trim work in an old house?

Higher per foot than new construction, and say why on the estimate. Out-of-square walls, uneven floors and plaster mean every piece is scribed rather than cut to length. A line noting that the price reflects an existing-structure fit is worth more than the extra dollars — it explains the difference before the customer asks.

Should a deck estimate include the permit?

Include it as its own line if the jurisdiction requires one, which most do above a certain height. Decks are inspected, and an unpermitted deck becomes the customer's problem at resale — pricing the permit visibly is both more honest and a reason your bid beats the one that skipped it.

What has to be on an invoice?

At minimum: your business name and contact details, the customer, an invoice number, the date, an itemised description of what was done, the amount due, and how to pay. Trades that carry a license usually put the license number on it too, and in some jurisdictions that is required.

How soon should I invoice after finishing a job?

Same day where you can. The gap between finishing and invoicing is the single easiest lever on how fast you get paid, and it costs nothing to close.

Can I charge a late fee?

Usually, if you stated it before the work — commonly 1 to 1.5% per month. It has to be on the estimate or your terms, not introduced for the first time on an overdue invoice, and some states cap the rate. Check your own state before relying on it.