Excavation Contractor Invoice Template
An excavation contractor invoice bills hr, lists equipment, travel and materials on separate lines and states the terms (Net 15). This template is pre-filled for dig a basement for a new 28x40 ft house, stockpile topsoil and haul off excess spoil: 8 lines totalling $12,050.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for an excavation contractor: dig a basement for a new 28x40 ft house, stockpile topsoil and haul off excess spoil. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Cedar Hill Excavation
841 Market Street
Fairview, OR 97024
billing@example.com
(512) 555-0141
Invoice
Bill to
Riley Chen
52 Aspen Way
Franklin, TN 37064
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobilization of excavator and skid steerLowboy trailer delivery and pickup | 1 each | $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Strip and stockpile topsoil | 2,400 sq ft | $0.40 | $960.00 |
| Excavator, 20-ton, with operatorBasement dig to 8 ft with 2 ft overdig for footings | 18 hr | $165.00 | $2,970.00 |
| Skid steer with operatorRamp work, cleanup and spreading | 10 hr | $105.00 | $1,050.00 |
| Tri-axle dump truck, spoil haul-off | 24 load | $145.00 | $3,480.00 |
| Crushed stone base under footings | 30 ton | $32.00 | $960.00 |
| Backfill and rough grade after foundation | 8 hr | $165.00 | $1,320.00 |
| Silt fence for erosion control | 220 linear ft | $3.00 | $660.00 |
- Subtotal
- $12,050.00
- Balance due
- $12,050.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Cedar Hill Excavation. Terms: Net 15.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
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Excavation Contractor invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Dig a basement for a new 28x40 ft house, stockpile topsoil and haul off excess spoil |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | hr |
| Usual payment terms | Net 15 |
| Deposit practice | Builders on account rarely pay a deposit; homeowners hiring directly are often asked for the mobilization and stone cost up front. |
| Sample lines | 8 lines, $12,050.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Tri-axle dump truck, spoil haul-off: $3,480.00 (29%) |
| Trade-specific fields | 811 locate ticket no., Job site address, Lot or parcel no., Machine hours log, Builder or GC |
Sample excavation contractor invoice line items
Dig a basement for a new 28x40 ft house, stockpile topsoil and haul off excess spoil: 8 lines adding up to $12,050.00, split into equipment $5,340.00 (44%), travel $4,130.00 (34%) and materials $1,620.00 (13%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobilization of excavator and skid steer (Lowboy trailer delivery and pickup) | 1 each | $650.00 | $650.00 |
| Strip and stockpile topsoil | 2,400 sq ft | $0.40 | $960.00 |
| Excavator, 20-ton, with operator (Basement dig to 8 ft with 2 ft overdig for footings) | 18 hr | $165.00 | $2,970.00 |
| Skid steer with operator (Ramp work, cleanup and spreading) | 10 hr | $105.00 | $1,050.00 |
| Tri-axle dump truck, spoil haul-off | 24 load | $145.00 | $3,480.00 |
| Crushed stone base under footings | 30 ton | $32.00 | $960.00 |
| Backfill and rough grade after foundation | 8 hr | $165.00 | $1,320.00 |
| Silt fence for erosion control | 220 linear ft | $3.00 | $660.00 |
| Subtotal | $12,050.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $12,050.00 |
What an excavation contractor invoice should include
- Your excavation company name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Riley Chen in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-5815) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: Net 15
- 811 locate ticket no.: for example Max (Beagle)
- Job site address: for example 52 Aspen Way
- Lot or parcel no.: for example See notes
- Machine hours log: for example 11 hours
- Line items in hr or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How excavation contractors bill
Bills machine hours with operator for each piece of equipment, plus mobilization to move it on site and per-load trucking of spoil or fill.
Excavation contractors commonly use "Net 15", so payment is due 15 days after the invoice date. Builders on account rarely pay a deposit; homeowners hiring directly are often asked for the mobilization and stone cost up front.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $28.23 (employees, not contractor rates).
Excavation Contractor invoicing tips
- Show the 811 locate ticket number on the invoice; it proves utilities were marked before digging, which matters if a line is later found damaged.
- Bill trucking by counted load with a load tally sheet rather than an estimate of cubic yards, since the number of trucks that left the site is easy for the builder to cross-check.
- Separate rock removal from ordinary digging and record the hours the breaker hammer ran, because ledge rock can double machine time and is almost always excluded from a dig price.
- Charge mobilization once per move and note when a machine had to leave and return because the site was not ready, so the extra trip is visibly the result of a delay and not a markup.
Excavation Contractor billing disputes to head off
- Wet weather and groundwater turn a two-day dig into four. An estimate that says dewatering and standby time are extra lets you bill those hours later without a fight.
- Over-excavation that the builder asked for verbally is often disputed; writing who requested the extra depth and when on the invoice line keeps it billable.
Work an excavation contractor can bill for
Core tasks of Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (O*NET 47-2073.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Learn and follow safety regulations.
- Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
- Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.
- Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
- Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
- Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
How to make an excavation contractor invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Cedar Hill Excavation (your business) and the customer, Riley Chen, then 811 locate ticket no..
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-5815 and set the terms to Net 15.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Mobilization of excavator and skid steer" (1 each) to "Silt fence for erosion control" (220 linear ft).
-
Check the total
The 8 lines come to $12,050.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes excavation and site work.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the excavation and site work records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an excavation contractor invoice?
Add your excavation company details, the customer, 811 locate ticket no., job site address, lot or parcel no. and machine hours log, then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 8 lines for dig a basement for a new 28x40 ft house, stockpile topsoil and haul off excess spoil totalling $12,050.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do excavation contractors charge?
Mostly hr. Bills machine hours with operator for each piece of equipment, plus mobilization to move it on site and per-load trucking of spoil or fill.
When should an excavation contractor invoice be paid?
Net 15 is the usual arrangement. Builders on account rarely pay a deposit; homeowners hiring directly are often asked for the mobilization and stone cost up front. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do excavation contractors earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $28.23 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.