Woodworker Invoice Template
A woodworker invoice bills piece, lists labour, materials and travel on separate lines and states the terms (50% deposit to buy lumber, balance on delivery). This template is pre-filled for build a custom 7-ft solid walnut dining table with a trestle base and an oil-and-wax finish: 8 lines totalling $3,940.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a woodworker: build a custom 7-ft solid walnut dining table with a trestle base and an oil-and-wax finish. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Oak Lane Woodworking Shop
554 Market Street
Franklin, TN 37064
billing@example.com
(312) 555-0154
Invoice
Bill to
Alex Morgan
311 Pine Road
Salem, MA 01970
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design consultation and shop drawings | 3 hr | $65.00 | $195.00 |
| Black walnut, 8/4 rough lumberIncludes yield lost to milling and defects | 95 board ft | $14.00 | $1,330.00 |
| Milling, glue-up and flattening of the top | 14 hr | $70.00 | $980.00 |
| Trestle base, drawbored mortise-and-tenon joinery | 12 hr | $70.00 | $840.00 |
| Sanding and three-coat oil-and-wax finish | 6 hr | $60.00 | $360.00 |
| Finish materials and abrasives | 1 lot | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Tabletop fasteners for seasonal movement | 1 set | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| Delivery and placement in dining room | 1 trip | $150.00 | $150.00 |
- Subtotal
- $3,940.00
- Balance due
- $3,940.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Oak Lane Woodworking Shop. Terms: 50% deposit to buy lumber, balance on delivery.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
Made with Billwise - invoice-pdf-maker-app.web.app
Preview of the PDF. Everything stays in your browser: nothing is uploaded.
Woodworker invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Build a custom 7-ft solid walnut dining table with a trestle base and an oil-and-wax finish |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | piece |
| Usual payment terms | 50% deposit to buy lumber, balance on delivery |
| Deposit practice | Commissions usually start with a deposit large enough to buy the lumber, because a table built to one client's room and dimensions is hard to sell to anyone else. |
| Sample lines | 8 lines, $3,940.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Black walnut, 8/4 rough lumber: $1,330.00 (34%) |
| Labour hours billed | 35 h, $2,375.00 |
| Trade-specific fields | Commission no., Wood species and grade, Finished dimensions, Finish type, Delivery address |
Sample woodworker invoice line items
Build a custom 7-ft solid walnut dining table with a trestle base and an oil-and-wax finish: 8 lines adding up to $3,940.00, split into labour $2,375.00 (60%), materials $1,415.00 (36%) and travel $150.00 (4%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design consultation and shop drawings | 3 hr | $65.00 | $195.00 |
| Black walnut, 8/4 rough lumber (Includes yield lost to milling and defects) | 95 board ft | $14.00 | $1,330.00 |
| Milling, glue-up and flattening of the top | 14 hr | $70.00 | $980.00 |
| Trestle base, drawbored mortise-and-tenon joinery | 12 hr | $70.00 | $840.00 |
| Sanding and three-coat oil-and-wax finish | 6 hr | $60.00 | $360.00 |
| Finish materials and abrasives | 1 lot | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Tabletop fasteners for seasonal movement | 1 set | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| Delivery and placement in dining room | 1 trip | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Subtotal | $3,940.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $3,940.00 |
What a woodworker invoice should include
- Your woodworking shop name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Alex Morgan in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-9240) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: 50% deposit to buy lumber, balance on delivery
- Commission no.: for example See notes
- Wood species and grade: for example See notes
- Finished dimensions: for example See notes
- Finish type: for example See notes
- Line items in piece or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How woodworkers bill
Quotes commissioned furniture per piece from board feet of lumber, shop hours and finish, with design drawings and delivery charged as their own lines.
Woodworkers commonly use "50% deposit to buy lumber, balance on delivery". Commissions usually start with a deposit large enough to buy the lumber, because a table built to one client's room and dimensions is hard to sell to anyone else.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters $22.12 (employees, not contractor rates). The sample's $65.00 per hour for "Design consultation and shop drawings" is 2.9 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Woodworker invoicing tips
- Bill lumber in board feet with species and thickness, and say the figure includes the yield lost to milling; a client who measures the finished table will otherwise think they paid for wood they cannot see.
- Note that solid wood moves with humidity and that the top is fastened to allow for it, so a small seasonal gap at a breadboard end in winter is not read as a defect.
- Write the finish product and its care instructions on the invoice, because an oil finish and a lacquer need different care and the invoice is the paper the client keeps.
- If the client picked the boards for the top, record the selection date, since a table made from hand-chosen slabs cannot be remade identically after a dispute.
Woodworker billing disputes to head off
- Color change surprises clients: walnut tends to lighten and cherry to darken with light, and a line on the invoice about it heads off a complaint months later.
- Clients who change dimensions after glue-up expect the change to be free; a dated sign-off on the shop drawing makes any later change a priced change order.
Work a woodworker can bill for
Core tasks of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters (O*NET 51-7011.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Produce or assemble components of articles, such as store fixtures, office equipment, cabinets, or high-grade furniture.
- Verify dimensions or check the quality or fit of pieces to ensure adherence to specifications.
- Set up or operate machines, including power saws, jointers, mortisers, tenoners, molders, or shapers, to cut, mold, or shape woodstock or wood substitutes.
- Measure and mark dimensions of parts on paper or lumber stock prior to cutting, following blueprints, to ensure a tight fit and quality product.
- Reinforce joints with nails or other fasteners to prepare articles for finishing.
- Attach parts or subassemblies together to form completed units, using glue, dowels, nails, screws, or clamps.
How to make a woodworker invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Oak Lane Woodworking Shop (your business) and the customer, Alex Morgan, then commission no..
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-9240 and set the terms to 50% deposit to buy lumber, balance on delivery.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Design consultation and shop drawings" (3 hr) to "Delivery and placement in dining room" (1 trip).
-
Check the total
The 8 lines come to $3,940.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes custom woodworking.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the custom woodworking records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a woodworker invoice?
Add your woodworking shop details, the customer, commission no., wood species and grade, finished dimensions and finish type, then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 8 lines for build a custom 7-ft solid walnut dining table with a trestle base and an oil-and-wax finish totalling $3,940.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do woodworkers charge?
Mostly piece. Quotes commissioned furniture per piece from board feet of lumber, shop hours and finish, with design drawings and delivery charged as their own lines.
When should a woodworker invoice be paid?
50% deposit to buy lumber, balance on delivery is the usual arrangement. Commissions usually start with a deposit large enough to buy the lumber, because a table built to one client's room and dimensions is hard to sell to anyone else. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do woodworkers earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters $22.12 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.