InvioInvio
Built for Kiwi Chippies

Carpenter Invoice Template NZFree, GST-Compliant & Ready to Use

A free carpentry invoice template for NZ sole traders and small carpentry businesses. Covers labour hours, materials and hardware, on-site vs workshop time, and GST - with a place to reference a builder's job number if you subcontract. Or skip the template and use Invio to invoice straight from your phone.

No credit card • GST calculated automatically • Send from your phone

NZ Requirements

What Goes on a Carpenter Invoice in NZ

A GST-registered chippy's invoice needs more than just a total. Here's what IRD requires and what your customer - or the builder you're subcontracting to - needs to see.

Your business details

  • Business name (or your name if sole trader)

  • GST number - same as your IRD number

  • LBP number - only if the job is Restricted Building Work

  • Phone number and email

  • Physical or postal address

Invoice identifiers

  • Invoice number (sequential, for your records)

  • Invoice date

  • Payment due date

  • Bank account for payment

  • Job or PO reference, if invoicing a builder as a subcontractor

Job and line items

  • Description of work done - be specific, e.g. "Fit skirting and architraves - lounge and hallway"

  • Labour hours × hourly rate, on-site and workshop split if you bill them differently

  • Materials and hardware at cost + markup, listed separately

  • Disposal / offcuts fee where relevant

GST breakdown

  • Subtotal (ex GST)

  • GST amount at 15%

  • Total amount payable (inc GST)

  • Customer name and address (required for invoices over $1,000)

Not GST-registered yet?

If your carpentry business earns under $60,000/year you do not have to register for GST. Leave out the GST number and GST lines - just show your total. Once you cross the threshold, registration is compulsory within 21 days. Check the full NZ invoice requirements guide if you are unsure.

Sample Invoice

What a Carpentry Invoice Looks Like

A realistic example for a timber deck build in Tauranga, split between workshop prep and on-site labour.

INV-0129.pdf

Coastal Carpentry Ltd

6 Marina Place
Mount Maunganui, Tauranga 3116
GST Number: 121-556-098
022 719 340

Tax Invoice

Invoice No.

INV-0129

Issue Date

23 Jul 2026

Due Date

6 Aug 2026

Billed To

Nathan & Priya Sood

21 Tui Grove
Papamoa, Tauranga 3118

Job Reference

Build 12m² H3.2 timber deck - rear yard (deck height under 1.5m, no consent required)

Labour - workshop prefabrication

Pre-cut joists and bearers off-site

Rate

$75.00

Qty

4.0

Amount

$300.00

Labour - on-site build

Sub-frame, decking, and balustrade install

Rate

$85.00

Qty

14.0

Amount

$1,190.00

H3.2 treated decking boards & joists

Materials at cost + 15% margin

Rate

$980.00

Qty

1

Amount

$980.00

Stainless deck screws, joist hangers & post brackets

Hardware at cost + 15% margin

Rate

$165.00

Qty

1

Amount

$165.00

Disposal fee - offcuts & packaging

Transfer station drop-off

Rate

$35.00

Qty

1

Amount

$35.00

Payment Details

Please pay to:
Coastal Carpentry Ltd
02-0356-0184920-00
Reference: INV-0129

Subtotal

$2,670.00

GST (15%)

$400.50

Total Due

$3,070.50

Want this pre-filled with your business name, rates, and GST number?

Step-by-Step

How to Fill Out a Carpenter Invoice

Follow these steps after every job to get paid faster, whether you're billing a homeowner directly or a builder as a subcontractor.

1

Fill in your business details

Add your trading name, GST number, address, phone, and email at the top. Add your LBP number too, but only if this job is Restricted Building Work - most finish carpentry does not need one.

2

Set the invoice number and reference the job

Use a sequential number - INV-0129 after INV-0128. If you're subcontracting to a builder, include their job or PO number so they can match your invoice to their own costing without asking.

3

Add the customer details

For invoices over $1,000 you must include the customer's name and address. On a subcontract job, this may be the builder's business details instead of the homeowner's - check who you actually contracted with.

4

Split on-site and workshop hours if you bill them differently

If your workshop rate differs from your on-site rate, list them as separate lines - for example, "Labour - workshop prefabrication: 4.0 hrs" and "Labour - on-site build: 14.0 hrs". This is clearer for the client and easier for you to track against your own time.

5

List materials and hardware separately from labour

Don't lump timber, fixings, and labour into one number. Split materials (decking boards, framing timber) from hardware (screws, brackets, hangers) and from labour. Detailed line items get paid faster and reduce back-and-forth.

6

Calculate GST and show it clearly

Multiply your subtotal by 0.15 to get the GST amount. Show subtotal, GST, and total as three separate lines - never just a single figure. Use the free Invio GST calculator at /gst-calculator-nz if you want a quick check before sending.

7

Add your bank account details and send

Include your bank account number and ask the customer to use your invoice number as the payment reference. Send it the same day - if you use Invio, hit send from your phone before you pack up the van.

Watch Out For

Common Carpenter Invoice Mistakes

These mistakes slow payment, create disputes, or hold up a subcontract claim. Easy to fix once you know them.

Materials and labour lumped together

e.g. "Deck build - materials and labour: $2,670"

List materials, hardware, and labour hours as separate lines. It shows the customer exactly what they paid for and protects you if there is a warranty question later.

No split between on-site and workshop hours

e.g. "Labour: 18 hrs - $1,490" with no breakdown

If you bill on-site and workshop time at different rates, show them as separate lines. Otherwise the total looks arbitrary and invites questions.

Missing job or PO reference on subcontract invoices

e.g. Invoice sent to a builder with no job reference at all

Add the builder's job number or PO reference. Without it, your invoice can sit in someone's inbox waiting to be matched to a job - and payment waits with it.

Missing LBP number on structural work

e.g. Framing subcontract invoice with no licence reference

Add your LBP number if the job is Restricted Building Work, such as structural framing. Most finish carpentry does not need this - only add it when it actually applies.

Vague job description

e.g. "Carpentry work - $650"

Describe what you actually did: "Fit skirting and architraves - lounge and hallway, 6.5 hrs labour + materials". Vague descriptions invite disputes and slow approval.

Sending the invoice weeks after the job

e.g. Invoice sent a fortnight after the deck was finished

Send it the same day wherever possible. If you're in a subcontractor chain, late invoices push your payment behind the builder's own claim cycle. See our guide on chasing overdue invoices at /chase-overdue-invoices-nz if it's already late.

Line Item Guide

Carpenter-Specific Line Items

These are the line items most NZ chippies use. Rates vary by region and whether you're billing direct or subcontracting.

Standard labour rate (on-site)

$65 - $95/hr

Ex GST. Auckland and main centres run higher; regional NZ lower.

Workshop / prefabrication rate

$55 - $85/hr

Some chippies charge the same rate everywhere - state clearly either way.

Subcontract carpentry

Hourly, or fixed price per job

Billed against the builder's job or PO number - agree the pricing basis before you start.

Materials & hardware markup

Cost + 10 - 20%

Covers handling and supplier runs. List materials at your sell price - you don't need to show your cost.

Disposal / offcuts fee

$20 - $40 flat

For removing timber offcuts, packaging, and job-site waste.

GST

15% on all items

Applied to the subtotal if you are GST-registered. Use the free /gst-calculator-nz to check.

GST example: Chippy A bills $85/hr on-site labour + $75/hr workshop prep + materials and hardware at cost +15%. For 4 hours workshop, 14 hours on-site, and $1,145 in materials and hardware: ($300 + $1,190 + $1,180) = $2,670 subtotal. GST: $400.50. Total: $3,070.50. Use the GST calculator to check your numbers before sending.

Invio vs Templates

Why Invio Beats Word and Excel for Chippies

Templates are a fine starting point. But most carpenters move to proper software once they are juggling several jobs and a subcontract or two.

Invoice from site or the workshop

Fill in labour hours, materials, and hardware before you pack up. No paperwork to chase at the end of the week, and the invoice goes out while the job is still fresh.

GST calculated automatically

Invio does the 15% for you on every line item and shows subtotal, GST, and total correctly - no spreadsheet formula to accidentally break.

Saved clients and builders

Store repeat homeowners and the builders you subcontract to, along with your standard rates. Next job for the Soods? Two taps and the invoice is half-filled already.

Payment reminders built in

Invio Pro sends automatic follow-ups when invoices go overdue - so you are not the one making awkward calls, especially up a subcontractor chain.

IRD-compliant every time

Every Invio invoice has the right fields: GST number, date, breakdown, customer address when required. You can't accidentally send a non-compliant invoice.

PDF ready to email or print

Send the invoice by email directly from Invio, or download a clean PDF if the client or builder prefers paper.

Ready to invoice your next carpentry job properly?

Start with the free NZ invoice template, or sign up to Invio and send your first carpentry invoice in under two minutes - GST calculated, rates saved, and the PDF ready to email before you leave the site.

FAQ

Carpenter Invoice FAQs

Common questions from NZ chippies about invoicing, GST, LBP, and getting paid.

Do I need to add GST to my carpenter invoice?
If your carpentry business is GST-registered (annual turnover over $60,000), yes - charge 15% GST and show it clearly: subtotal, GST amount, and GST-inclusive total as three separate lines. If you are under the threshold and not registered, leave out the GST lines entirely and just show your total.
Do I need an LBP number to invoice for carpentry work?
Only if the work is Restricted Building Work - structural framing, load-bearing alterations, or anything affecting the weathertightness of a building. Most finish carpentry - skirting, architraves, doors, decks under 1.5m, built-in cabinetry - does not require a Licensed Building Practitioner. If your job does cross into structural or Restricted Building Work, show your LBP number on the invoice; otherwise you can leave it off.
How do I bill for on-site time versus workshop time?
List them as separate line items if you charge different rates for each - for example, "Labour - on site: 6.0 hrs × $85" and "Labour - workshop prefabrication: 4.0 hrs × $75". Even if you charge the same rate for both, splitting them helps the client see exactly where the hours went, especially on fit-out or joinery jobs with a lot of workshop prep.
How should I invoice a builder if I'm subcontracting?
Reference the builder's job number or purchase order on your invoice if they gave you one - for example, "Job ref: PO-2291 - Whitfield extension, framing subcontract". This is the single biggest thing that speeds up payment when you are a subcontractor, since it lets the builder match your invoice straight to their own job costing without having to chase you for details.
What's the minimum information a carpenter invoice needs in NZ?
For invoices over $200, your invoice needs your business name, GST number (if registered), invoice date, description of the work, and the GST treatment or amount. For invoices over $1,000, you also need the customer name and address. See the full breakdown at invio.co.nz/tax-invoice-requirements-nz.
Do decks and fences need a building consent?
It depends on height. Under Schedule 1 of the Building Act 2004, a deck no more than 1.5 metres above the ground (measured from the underside of the deck to the ground directly below) is generally exempt from needing a building consent, provided it doesn't trigger consent for another reason. Being consent-exempt does not mean it is code-exempt - the deck still needs to meet the Building Code, including a balustrade once it is over 1 metre high. Taller decks, or ones tied into the structure of the house, need a consent.
Can I send a carpentry invoice from my phone on site?
Yes. Invio is built mobile-first - fill in your labour hours, materials, and hardware, and send the invoice by email before you pack up the van. No paperwork to chase at the end of the week.
How quickly should I send the invoice after the job?
Send it the same day wherever possible. Customers remember the job clearly and are far more likely to pay promptly. If you are subcontracting to a builder, sending on time also keeps you in step with their own claim schedule. If an invoice is already overdue, see our guide at /chase-overdue-invoices-nz.
Get Started

Invoice Every Carpentry Job Correctly, From Your Phone

Invio is free for sole traders. Set up your rates and GST number once, send GST-compliant invoices from site or the workshop, and let automatic reminders handle the chase - free on your first 3 invoices, unlimited on Pro.

Free to start • GST calculated automatically • No credit card required