Illustrator Invoice Template
An illustrator invoice bills illustration, lists services, fees and labour on separate lines and states the terms (50% on sketch approval, 50% on delivery). This template is pre-filled for cover art and four interior spot illustrations for a self-published children's book: 6 lines totalling $2,640.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for an illustrator: cover art and four interior spot illustrations for a self-published children's book. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Westbrook Illustration
802 Market Street
Springfield, IL 62704
billing@example.com
(615) 555-0102
Invoice
Bill to
Morgan Ellis
311 Pine Road
Salem, MA 01970
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover illustration, full colorFront cover with wraparound background | 1 each | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| Interior spot illustrationsBlack and white, half page | 4 each | $175.00 | $700.00 |
| Character sketches and approvalsTwo sketch rounds | 3 hr | $60.00 | $180.00 |
| Usage licence: print and ebook, worldwide, 5 years | 1 licence | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Rush fee, delivery in 10 days25% of illustration fees | 1 each | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Print-ready file preparation300 dpi, CMYK, bleed on cover | 1 hr | $60.00 | $60.00 |
- Subtotal
- $2,640.00
- Balance due
- $2,640.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Westbrook Illustration. Terms: 50% on sketch approval, 50% on delivery.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
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Illustrator invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Cover art and four interior spot illustrations for a self-published children's book |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | illustration |
| Usual payment terms | 50% on sketch approval, 50% on delivery |
| Deposit practice | A third to a half of the fee is usually paid when sketches are approved, before final rendering starts. |
| Sample lines | 6 lines, $2,640.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Cover illustration, full color: $900.00 (34%) |
| Labour hours billed | 4 h, $240.00 |
| Trade-specific fields | Project title, Usage rights, Territory, Licence term |
Sample illustrator invoice line items
Cover art and four interior spot illustrations for a self-published children's book: 6 lines adding up to $2,640.00, split into services $1,600.00 (61%), fees $800.00 (30%) and labour $240.00 (9%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover illustration, full color (Front cover with wraparound background) | 1 each | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| Interior spot illustrations (Black and white, half page) | 4 each | $175.00 | $700.00 |
| Character sketches and approvals (Two sketch rounds) | 3 hr | $60.00 | $180.00 |
| Usage licence: print and ebook, worldwide, 5 years | 1 licence | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Rush fee, delivery in 10 days (25% of illustration fees) | 1 each | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Print-ready file preparation (300 dpi, CMYK, bleed on cover) | 1 hr | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Subtotal | $2,640.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $2,640.00 |
What an illustrator invoice should include
- Your illustration business name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Morgan Ellis in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-6144) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: 50% on sketch approval, 50% on delivery
- Project title: for example Cover art and four interior spot illustrations for a self-published children's book
- Usage rights: for example See notes
- Territory: for example See notes
- Licence term: for example LIC-121345
- Line items in illustration or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How illustrators bill
Illustrators price each piece by complexity and size, then add a usage fee that depends on medium, territory and how long the client may use the work.
Illustrators commonly use "50% on sketch approval, 50% on delivery". A third to a half of the fee is usually paid when sketches are approved, before final rendering starts.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators $29.12 (employees, not contractor rates). The sample's $60.00 per hour for "Character sketches and approvals" is 2.1 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Illustrator invoicing tips
- Price the licence as its own line describing medium, territory and term, because publishers reuse covers on merchandise and ads, and each new use should trigger a new fee.
- A rush fee belongs on a separate line with the percentage shown, which protects your base rate for the next job and shows the client what the deadline cost.
- Bill a kill fee if work stops after sketches, often a quarter to a half of the fee, and name the stage reached on the invoice so the record is clear.
- Write that the client receives a licence, not the copyright or the original artwork, unless you are selling those too and have priced them.
Illustrator billing disputes to head off
- Sketch changes get treated as free until the end; numbering sketch rounds on the invoice shows when extra rounds began and why they cost more.
- Usage creep, such as an interior spot appearing on a tote bag, is the classic dispute, and the licence line is your evidence of what was paid for.
Work an illustrator can bill for
Core tasks of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (O*NET 27-1013.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Use materials such as pens and ink, watercolors, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
- Integrate and develop visual elements, such as line, space, mass, color, and perspective, to produce desired effects, such as the illustration of ideas, emotions, or moods.
- Confer with clients, editors, writers, art directors, and other interested parties regarding the nature and content of artwork to be produced.
- Maintain portfolios of artistic work to demonstrate styles, interests, and abilities.
- Monitor events, trends, and other circumstances, research specific subject areas, attend art exhibitions, and read art publications to develop ideas and keep current on art world activities.
- Study different techniques to learn how to apply them to artistic endeavors.
How to make an illustrator invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Westbrook Illustration (your business) and the customer, Morgan Ellis, then project title.
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-6144 and set the terms to 50% on sketch approval, 50% on delivery.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Cover illustration, full color" (1 each) to "Print-ready file preparation" (1 hr).
-
Check the total
The 6 lines come to $2,640.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes illustration work.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the illustration work records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make an illustrator invoice?
Add your illustration business details, the customer, project title, usage rights, territory and licence term, then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 6 lines for cover art and four interior spot illustrations for a self-published children's book totalling $2,640.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do illustrators charge?
Mostly illustration. Illustrators price each piece by complexity and size, then add a usage fee that depends on medium, territory and how long the client may use the work.
When should an illustrator invoice be paid?
50% on sketch approval, 50% on delivery is the usual arrangement. A third to a half of the fee is usually paid when sketches are approved, before final rendering starts. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do illustrators earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators $29.12 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.