Free carpentry invoice generator
Bill shop time and site time at different rates, list lumber and hardware with the grade, and draw progress payments on longer builds.
Build your carpentry invoice
Prefilled with a built-in bookcase job. Swap in your labor, lumber and draws, then download.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
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What is a carpentry invoice?
A carpentry invoice covers work that ranges from framing a wall to fitting a hardwood built-in, and the rate should not be the same for both. Separating rough and finish labor — and shop time from site time — is the simplest way to make a fair price look fair.
Materials carry more information in carpentry than in most trades. Species, grade and dimension change the cost substantially, so the invoice lists what was bought rather than "lumber", and the client can see why quarter-sawn white oak is not pine.
Built-ins and larger builds are milestone work: deposit for materials, a draw at installation, balance at completion. The invoice that supports draws keeps the shop funded without asking the client to trust you for the whole amount up front.
What to include
Everything below is already in the generator above — this is what each part is for.
Scope of the build
What was made or installed, described concretely enough to match the drawing.
Labor by type and rate
Rough, finish and shop hours at their own rates, or a fixed price per element.
Lumber and sheet goods
Species, grade and dimension with quantities, at cost plus your markup.
Hardware and finish
Slides, hinges, fasteners, stain and topcoat, listed separately.
Shop time and setup
Milling, glue-up, assembly and finishing done off site, at your shop rate.
Deposit and draws
Materials deposit received and any progress payment applied against this invoice.
Three steps to a finished PDF
Describe the build
Client, site, and what was built or installed on this stage of the job.
Bill labor, then materials
Site and shop hours at their rates, then lumber, sheet goods, hardware and finish.
Download and send
Apply the deposit or draw, then send the PDF for the balance.
Rates, materials and milestone billing
Two rates, not one
Finish carpentry and cabinetry demand a higher rate than framing and demolition, and shop time — where your tooling and space carry the cost — should be priced as its own thing. Clients accept tiered rates without complaint; they resent a single high rate applied to sweeping up.
Specify materials properly
- Name species, grade and dimension: "5/4 x 6 clear cedar", not "decking".
- Sheet goods by grade and core — cabinet-grade ply is not big-box sheathing.
- Bill hardware separately; good slides and hinges are a real cost worth showing.
Draw against milestones on longer builds
A materials deposit, a draw at delivery or installation, and the balance on completion keeps cash flowing through a build without forcing the client into a single large payment. State each milestone in the contract, then show the deposit and draw applied on the invoice so the balance is unambiguous.
Three mistakes that delay payment
One blended labor rate
Either you underbill the finish work or you overbill the rough work.
"Materials" as a single line
Hardwood, plywood, hardware and finish are different costs and different decisions.
No deposit on custom work
Bespoke pieces have no resale value. Take the materials money up front.