What a carpentry invoice is for
Carpentry invoices go out as the owner opens every drawer and runs a hand along every miter. An invoice that mirrors the estimate, adds the extra filler panel or shelf they asked for with its approval, and lists the punch list as done keeps payment about the work rather than a gap in the corner.
What to put on a carpentry invoice
- Each line from the estimate, as built.
- Added pieces with the change order or approval.
- Punch list items closed.
- Deposit paid and the balance.
- A care note for new wood.
A worked example
The cabinets and crown are in. The owner asked for an extra filler and a microwave shelf on day two, approved by text.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Install kitchen cabinets (cabinets by owner) * | 25 | ft | $125.00 | $3,125.00 |
| Install crown molding, dining room | 48 | ft | Your price | |
| Cabinet hardware, drilled from template | 32 | each | Your price | |
| Added filler panel and microwave shelf | 1 | each | Your price |
Put the approval date for the added work in the notes. A text approval is fine when it is written down.
* Typical price from our free cabinet installation cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items carpenters use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Install crown molding | ft | Profile, paint or stain grade, and inside and outside corners. |
| Install baseboard | ft | Height and whether shoe molding is included. |
| Door casing, both sides | each | Per door; casing profile and head detail. |
| Hang interior door, prehung | each | Swing, size and hardware. |
| Install kitchen cabinets | ft | Linear feet of run; uppers and bases counted once. |
| Cabinet hardware | each | Pulls and knobs, drilled from a template. |
| Built-in shelving | ft | Shelf depth, material and finish. |
| Wainscoting or panel molding | sq ft | Style and height on the wall. |
| Window casing and stool | each | Per window; apron and stool style. |
| Material, paint-grade trim | ft | From your supplier with markup. |
| Fill, caulk and prep for paint | hour | Say whether painting is yours or the painter's. |
| Haul away old trim and doors | load | Disposal of what comes out. |
Terms and deposit language for carpentry
- Deposit. A deposit at signing pays for the trim, doors or cabinet hardware ordered for this house. Deposit limits for home improvement work are set by each state, so check yours.
- Payment. Balance due when the punch list is walked and signed off, or in stages on larger jobs.
- Warranty. Stand behind joints that open from poor fastening and doors that will not latch because of the install. Seasonal movement in wood and gaps from house settling are not install defects.
- Old houses are rarely square; scribing and shimming are part of the price shown.
- Painting, stain and touch-up are listed when they are included, and are the owner's or painter's otherwise.
- Cabinets and doors supplied by the owner are checked for damage at delivery, not at install.
How to fill it in
- Your business details carry over from any template you used before.
- Fill in who you are billing and the job.
- Check the lines against what you actually did, and add your prices.
- Put any deposit in Already paid, so the balance is right.
- Print, download or send it from Koira with a pay-by-card link.
Free tools for carpentry
The same invoice for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for carpenters: how carpenters run on Koira.