Builder invoice template
Bill building work by stage or in full — separate labour and materials, add VAT if registered, and download a clean PDF. Working as a subcontractor? The CIS version handles deductions and the reverse charge.
Saved on this device only — nothing is uploaded.
Invoice details
Your business
Adds your VAT number below, plus VAT columns and a VAT section.
Stored on your device only and embedded in the PDF. PNG or JPG, under 1MB.
Bill to (your client)
VAT
CIS (construction)
Domestic reverse charge
Appearance
Items
Discount, deposit & payment
Receiving a deposit can create a VAT tax point. Check HMRC guidance if unsure.
Your business name
Invoice
INV-0001
Bill to
Client name
- Invoice date
- 15/06/2026
| Description | Qty | Unit | VAT | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | £0.00 | 20% | £0.00 |
- Net total
- £0.00
- VAT 20%
- £0.00
- Total VAT
- £0.00
- Total
- £0.00
Staged payments and materials
Larger building jobs are often billed in stages (deposit, first fix, second fix, completion). Invoice each stage with its own number, and keep labour and materials on separate lines — essential where CIS applies, since the deduction is on labour only.
CIS and the VAT reverse charge
If you work as a subcontractor for a contractor on construction work, the Construction Industry Scheme applies: the contractor deducts CIS tax from the labour part of your invoice (20% if you're registered and verified, 30% if not, 0% with gross payment status) and pays it to HMRC on your behalf. Materials and VAT are never part of the deduction.
For most VAT-registered business-to-business construction work you also have to apply the domestic reverse charge — you show the VAT but don't add it to the total, and your customer accounts for it to HMRC. Working direct for a homeowner? Then neither CIS nor the reverse charge applies — it's a normal invoice.
Doing subcontract work? Use the CIS invoice generator, which works the deduction and reverse-charge wording out for you. As a builder billing a private customer, the standard invoice on this page is what you want.
A typical builder invoice
Example line items you might add:
- Stage 1 — groundwork & foundations (labour)
- Materials — concrete, blocks, aggregate
- Stage 2 — first fix (labour) @ agreed price
Frequently asked questions
How do builders invoice for staged work?
Raise a separate invoice for each stage, each with its own unique number, listing the labour and materials for that stage. This keeps records clear and CIS deductions correct.
When does the VAT reverse charge apply to a builder?
For most VAT-registered business-to-business construction work the domestic reverse charge applies: you show the VAT but do not add it, and the customer accounts for it. It does not apply to work for a homeowner (an end user).
Is CIS deducted from materials?
No. The CIS deduction is calculated on the labour element only — materials and VAT are excluded.