Welder & Fabricator Invoice Example
A custom staircase rail invoice covering shop hours, steel stock, a powder coat sub-out and site install.
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| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shop fabrication labor | 24 | $68.00 | $1,632.00 |
| Steel stock, 1-inch square bar and plate | 1 | $610.00 | $610.00 |
| Powder coat finish (sub-contracted) | 1 | $380.00 | $380.00 |
| Site installation labor | 8 | $75.00 | $600.00 |
Pennsylvania state and Allegheny County sales tax (7 percent combined) applies to materials only, not fabrication or install labor. Powder coat sub-out billed at cost plus handling.
Custom fabrication invoices need to separate shop labour, materials and any sub-contracted finishing, since a rail or gate job usually involves all three and the customer benefits from seeing where the cost sits. Powder coating and galvanizing are almost always sent out to a specialist, so bill that as a pass-through line rather than folding it into your labour rate. Sales tax typically applies to the materials you supply, not the fabrication or install labour, but check your state's rule since it varies.
What should a welder & fabricator invoice include?
- Shop fabrication hours separate from site installation hours
- Steel or metal stock listed by type and size, not just a materials lump sum
- Sub-contracted finishing such as powder coating or galvanizing, billed as its own line
- Site installation labour, since it is often a different rate than shop time
- Drawings or shop specs referenced if the job was built to an engineered drawing
- Sales tax applied to materials per your state's rule
How to create a welder & fabricator invoice
- 1Add your business details. Your name, address, contact details and tax number if you are registered.
- 2Add the client. Their name and billing address. Save them to reuse next time.
- 3List the work. Break the job into clear line items the way a welder & fabricator bills (see below).
- 4Add tax. Apply your tax rate (this example uses 7%).
- 5Set payment terms and a due date. State when payment is due and how the client can pay.
- 6Download or send. Export a clean PDF, or email it to the client. No signup, no watermark.
How do you itemise a welder & fabricator invoice?
Bill shop fabrication hours and site installation hours as separate lines since they are usually done on different days and sometimes at different rates. List steel stock by size and type, such as square bar or plate thickness, rather than a single materials total, so the customer can see what went into the piece. Powder coating or other outsourced finishing should be its own line at what you paid plus your markup, since it is a real pass-through cost with its own turnaround time. Keep the design or shop drawing reference in the project name or notes rather than as a line item.
What do welder & fabricators typically charge?
| Region | Typical billing |
|---|---|
| United States | $65-$95 per hour shop labour, $75-$110 per hour site install |
| United Kingdom | £40-£65 per hour shop labour, £50-£75 per hour site install |
| Australia | A$75-$110 per hour shop labour, A$90-$130 per hour site install |
| Canada | C$60-$90 per hour shop labour, C$70-$100 per hour site install |
Indicative ranges for guidance. Your rate depends on experience, location and the job.
Do welder & fabricators charge tax on invoices?
In the US, most states tax the materials you supply as part of a fabrication job but treat labour differently depending on whether the work counts as a capital improvement to real property. Steel stock, hardware and consumables used in the piece are usually taxable at your state's rate, while shop and install labour is often exempt if the finished piece becomes a permanent fixture. Confirm the rule with your state department of revenue, since a few states tax the full invoice including labour.
What payment terms should a welder & fabricator use?
Custom fabrication jobs commonly take a deposit of 30 to 50 percent to cover material costs before ordering steel, with the balance due on completion or delivery. Larger jobs with a long shop lead time sometimes add a progress payment when fabrication is complete and before installation. Powder coating turnaround should be built into your quoted timeline, since it is outside your control once the piece is sent out.
Frequently asked questions
Do I charge tax on the powder coating line if the coater already charged me tax?+
Pass the cost through at what you paid including any tax the coater charged you, then apply your own state's rule to whether your markup on that line is taxable. It is worth checking with your accountant since this varies by state.
How do I price a job that needs an engineered drawing before I can quote steel?+
Bill drawing or engineering time as its own line if the customer wants a formal design before you fabricate, separate from the shop and material costs that follow once the design is approved.
Should I invoice before or after powder coating comes back?+
Most fabricators invoice on final delivery once the coated piece is back from the finisher and installed, unless the contract has a progress payment built in at fabrication complete.
Make this welder & fabricator invoice yours
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Use this exampleLast reviewed January 2026
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