Painter and decorator invoice example (with a real breakdown)

Below is a complete, filled-in invoice for a typical painter and decorator job, with every part explained. Copy the structure, change the figures, or open the same layout in the generator and download it as a PDF.

Free painting and decorating invoice template — download

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A worked painter and decorator invoice

INVOICE

INV-2026-0042

Your business name

Your address, Town, Postcode

07000 000000

Bill to

Mrs P. Kinsella

19 Belmont Terrace, Bristol, BS8 3TL

Work carried out

Lounge and hallway redecoration — two coats throughout

DescriptionQtyUnitAmount
Internal painting - labour (per day)2£180.00£360.00
Preparation: filling, sanding and masking1£120.00£120.00
Materials - paint and sundries1£95.00£95.00
Subtotal£575.00
VAT at 20% (only if registered)£115.00
Total due£690.00

Payment due within 14 days. Two coats applied throughout unless stated.

Why it's laid out like that

The lines follow how the job was actually priced: days of painting labour, a separate preparation charge, and paint and sundries either at cost or with a stated markup. Each part is separately checkable, which is the whole point — a customer who can verify the bill pays it.

On completion for a single property. For a whole house over several weeks, invoice room by room or weekly.

Common questions

Should preparation be a separate line on a decorating invoice?
Yes. Preparation is often a third of the labour, and customers who only see "painting" assume they are paying purely for the time a roller was moving.
Do I charge paint at cost or with a markup?
Either is fine as long as you say which on the invoice. Silent markups are the main reason decorating bills get argued over after the event.
How many coats should I state on the invoice?
Whatever you actually applied — normally two over prepared surfaces. Writing it down protects you if the customer later claims coverage is thin.

Make it in the browser instead

Fill in the job, download the PDF. Free, unlimited, no account and no watermark on Pro. Already set up for decorating work.

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