Drywall invoice template

Download the Drywall 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 Drywall invoice needs on it

Drywall bids hinge on a number most customers have never heard of: the finish level. Level 3 is fine behind texture and looks terrible under a flat sheen; Level 5 costs substantially more and is what you need for raking light. Put the level on the estimate, name the texture, and on repairs be explicit that matching existing texture is an attempt rather than a guarantee — because that is the callback that costs the most to argue about.

A drywall invoice should record the finish level and texture used. When the painter or the next contractor asks what is on the wall, that line answers it, and it also protects you if someone later judges Level 3 work by Level 5 expectations.

• Finish level (3, 4 or 5) with a plain-language note on what each means
• Texture type by name — knockdown, orange peel, skip trowel, or smooth
• Whether priming is included, since Level 5 effectively requires it
• On repairs: that texture and paint matching is best-effort, not guaranteed
• Dust control and containment, and whether the customer expects a clean house
• Corner bead type, and whether existing walls are square enough for it

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

Drywall 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 drywall contractors price this work

New work prices per square foot of board hung, taped and finished, with the finish level as the main multiplier. Repairs price by the patch or by the hour, and small patches are expensive per square foot because mobilisation, multiple coats and return trips dominate. Charging a minimum for repair calls is standard — three coats with dry time is a three-visit job whether the hole is a foot wide or a room is.

Questions

What drywall finish level should I quote?

Level 4 is the residential default under texture or flat paint. Level 5 — a skim coat over the whole surface — is what you need for gloss, dark colors or walls in raking light, and it costs meaningfully more. Put the level on the estimate: it is the difference between a fair bid and a cheap one, and it is invisible until the paint is on.

Can you guarantee a texture match on a repair?

Not honestly. Texture is applied by hand and ages with the paint, so a patch can be very close and still visible in the right light. Say so on the estimate, and offer the alternative — retexturing the full wall or to the nearest corner — as a priced option. Customers accept this readily when told beforehand.

Why is a small drywall repair so expensive per square foot?

Because the cost is trips, not area. Tape, two or three coats and texture each need dry time, so a one-foot patch and a full wall can both be three visits. A stated minimum charge on the estimate makes that legible rather than looking like padding.

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.