Free drywall invoice template with finish level by area
A drywall invoice bills board hung and board finished, by the sheet or the square foot, and it names the finish level for every area because Level 4 and Level 5 are different amounts of work. It also separates board type and thickness, corner bead, texture, and patches priced each. The sample below bills a 3,456 square foot hang and finish with a Level 5 upgrade on one wall for $10,260.60, and both the blank PDF and the CSV are free downloads.
What goes on a drywall invoice
| Field | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Contractor, license, and bill-to party | Your company and license, and exactly who is paying: the general contractor named on the subcontract, or the homeowner. A GC's office will also want its job number or purchase order on the page. |
| Areas hung | Rooms or floors covered, with walls and ceilings listed apart and the ceiling height noted. Board hung at 12 feet takes scaffold or a lift, and the height is what justifies the rate. |
| Board count and square footage | Sheets by size and the square feet of board they add up to. A 4 by 8 sheet is 32 square feet and a 4 by 12 is 48, and the rate applies to board area, not floor area. |
| Board type and thickness by area | Regular 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch Type X, moisture-resistant, or abuse-resistant, and where each went. The International Residential Code calls for at least 5/8 inch Type X on a garage ceiling under habitable rooms, so that area gets its own line. |
| Finish level by area | The level from 0 to 5 under the Gypsum Association's GA-214 scale for each space. Level 2 in the garage, Level 4 in living areas, and Level 5 on a wall that catches raking light are three different prices. |
| Corner bead and trim | Outside corners by the linear foot, with the bead type: metal, vinyl, paper-faced, or bullnose. Add L-bead and tear-away bead where board dies into windows or exposed framing. |
| Texture | The pattern, such as orange peel, knockdown, or skip trowel, and the square feet of wall or ceiling that received it. A smooth wall is a finish level, not a texture, so keep the two apart. |
| Patches and repairs | Each patch as its own item with its size, priced each instead of by the foot. A fist-size hole and a 2 by 2 foot cutout behind a plumbing repair are different prices, and neither fits a square foot rate. |
| Materials and stocking | Whether you supplied board, mud, and bead or worked labor only on material the builder stocked. If the supplier charged to boom the load to a second floor, show that fee. |
| Extra work and backcharges | Added walls, moved openings, and repairs to damage by other trades, each tied to a signed extra work ticket or change order number. |
| Retainage or balance due | On a subcontract, the amount billed this period, retainage withheld if the agreement holds any, and the net due. For a homeowner, the deposit received and the balance due after final sanding. |
The line-item table
| Description | Finish level | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 inch board, walls, 36 sheets 4x12, hung and finished | Level 4 | 1,728 sq ft | $2.60/sq ft | $4,492.80 |
| 1/2 inch board, ceilings under texture, 18 sheets 4x12 | Level 3 | 864 sq ft | $2.35/sq ft | $2,030.40 |
| 5/8 inch Type X, garage ceiling below bonus room, 14 sheets 4x12 | Level 2 | 672 sq ft | $2.25/sq ft | $1,512.00 |
| Moisture-resistant board, bath walls outside the shower, 6 sheets 4x8 | Level 4 | 192 sq ft | $2.85/sq ft | $547.20 |
| Skim coat upgrade, great room window wall | Level 5 | 384 sq ft | $0.90/sq ft | $345.60 |
| Vinyl corner bead, outside corners | 168 lin ft | $2.10/lin ft | $352.80 | |
| Knockdown texture, ceilings | 864 sq ft | $0.70/sq ft | $604.80 | |
| Patches after electrical changes, change order 2 | Level 4 | 3 ea | $125.00 | $375.00 |
How to use this template
- Count sheets, then convert. Tally the sheets hung by size and multiply out the square footage. In the sample, 68 sheets of 4 by 12 and 6 sheets of 4 by 8 make 3,456 square feet, and each line shows its own share of that count.
- Assign a finish level to every area. GA-214 runs from Level 0, board hung with no taping, to Level 5, a skim coat over the entire surface. Write the level beside each area so the painter, the builder, and the owner all expect the same wall.
- Break out the rated board. At the supply house a 5/8 inch Type X sheet runs about $22 against roughly $17 for standard 1/2 inch, and a separate line shows where the difference went. Moisture-resistant board belongs on bath walls outside the shower, since the residential code does not accept it as tile backer inside a tub or shower compartment.
- Price patches by the each. Set a price per patch by size class, for example up to 2 by 2 feet and larger. Three patches at $125 reads cleanly, while six square feet of patching at a board rate would not cover the trip.
- Fit the invoice to who is paying. A general contractor wants its job number, your billing for the period, any retainage, and often a lien waiver. A homeowner wants the rooms, the finish level, and the balance. Same work, two layouts.
Get paid faster
Sell Level 5 where the light demands it
The Gypsum Association recommends a Level 5 skim coat under gloss or dark paint and where critical lighting rakes across the wall. Price it per square foot as an upgrade on those walls only, and the client pays for smoothness where it shows.
Finish under texture at Level 3
Surfaces getting a medium or heavy texture are specified at Level 3, one step short of the paint-ready Level 4. Billing textured ceilings at the lower level, plus the texture itself, is more accurate than one blended rate.
Get the ticket signed before the patch
When another trade cuts into finished board, write an extra work ticket and have the superintendent sign it before you mix mud. An unsigned patch is the first thing a GC strikes from a pay application.
Check the year built before demo
In housing built before 1978, a repair that breaks into more than 6 square feet of painted wall or ceiling in one room falls under the EPA lead-safe renovation rule and needs a certified firm. Print your certification number on those invoices.
The blank PDF and CSV include a Finish level column, so every line of board says how far it was taken.
Frequently asked questions
What are the drywall finish levels?
GA-214 from the Gypsum Association defines six. Level 0 is board only. Level 1 embeds tape at the joints and is used in concealed spaces such as above ceilings. Level 2 adds one coat over fasteners and suits garages and tile substrate. Level 3 is for surfaces getting medium or heavy texture. Level 4 is the standard under flat paint and light texture. Level 5 adds a skim coat over the whole surface for gloss paint or critical lighting.
Do drywall contractors charge by the sheet or by the square foot?
Either, and they convert easily: a 4 by 8 sheet is 32 square feet and a 4 by 12 is 48. Hangers are often paid by the board or per square foot of board hung, and finishing is usually priced per square foot of board at a stated level. The invoice should say which unit the rate applies to and that it is board area, not floor area.
How is a drywall invoice to a general contractor different?
It follows the subcontract. That usually means the GC's job number, billing for a set period, retainage deducted where the agreement holds it, change orders listed apart with their approval, and whatever waiver or backup the GC requires. An invoice to a homeowner skips all of that and shows rooms, finish level, deposit, and balance.
Where does 5/8 inch Type X drywall have to go?
In a house, the model residential code requires it on a garage ceiling when habitable rooms sit above, and at least 1/2 inch board on the garage side of walls shared with the dwelling. Multifamily and commercial work follows the rated assemblies on the plans. Local amendments vary, so confirm with the building department and bill the rated board as its own line.
Does Staxen fit a drywall sub that bills in stages?
Staxen has one AI employee for that job. Ivy the Invoicer bills hang, tape, and finish as milestone payments, accepts card and ACH through Stripe, sends reminders that escalate as a balance ages, and syncs QuickBooks Online both ways. Staxen charges $59 per month per AI employee and $149 per month for the set of three, and the first 7 days in the app are free.