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

How roofers structure their invoices: 5 standard line items, 33% deposit (industry norm), Net 14 terms, and $8,200 average invoice size. Read the full breakdown.

Avg invoice
$8,200
Net terms
14 days
Deposit
33%
Line items
5
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1. What every roofer invoice must include

A compliant roofer 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 roofers structure invoices around these 5 categories:

  • Tear-off — billed by flat.
  • Underlayment — billed by itemized.
  • Shingles / membrane — billed by itemized.
  • Labor — billed by hour at a ~$75 default.
  • Disposal fee — billed by flat.

3. Set payment terms

The standard for roofers is Net 14 — payment due within 14 days of the invoice date. Most roofers also require a 33% 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

Most states require a roofing-specific or general contractor license. Manufacturer warranty often requires certified installer.

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 roofer-class invoice gets paid 2× faster when the customer can pay online without leaving their inbox.

Average invoice
$8,200
Standard terms
Net 14
Typical deposit
33%
BLS code
47-2181

State-by-state roofer 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.

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