1. What every carpenter invoice must include

A compliant carpenter invoice has eight parts: your business name and contact info, a unique invoice number, issue date, payment due date, the customer's name and address, an itemized list of work, the total amount due, and accepted payment methods. If you're collecting sales tax, that line is required too.

2. Set your line items

Most carpenters structure invoices around these 3 categories:

Labor — billed by hour at a ~$75 default.
Lumber & materials — billed by itemized.
Finish hardware — billed by itemized.

3. Set payment terms

The standard for carpenters is Net 14 — payment due within 14 days of the invoice date. Most carpenters also require a 25% deposit upfront before starting work. Spell out late-fee terms (most states cap monthly late fees around 1.5%) and accepted payment methods on the invoice itself.

4. Licensing & legal disclosures

License rules vary by state. Most require general contractor license for structural work over a state threshold.

5. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work is completed (or upon milestone for larger projects). Use software that tracks opens and lets the customer pay by card or bank transfer in one click — the average carpenter-class invoice gets paid 2× faster when the customer can pay online without leaving their inbox.

Average invoice

$2,400

Standard terms

Net 14

Typical deposit

25%

BLS code

47-2031

State-by-state carpenter invoicing guides

State rules differ on sales tax, statutory late fees, and contractor disclosure requirements. Pick your state for a guide tuned to local law.

How to Invoice as a Carpenter: Step-by-Step Guide