Construction estimates
Price materials, labor and other work as separate items. Add the scope, quantities and rates so the customer can check what they are approving.
Create an estimate →Construction estimating and invoicing software
Put materials, labor and payment terms into a clear estimate before work starts. Once the client approves it, you can prepare the invoice, record payments and keep receipts and site photos with that job.
Tools for the work before and after a construction job
Prepare the quote, keep a record of what you spend, and follow each invoice through to payment.
Invoices for each stage
Turn an approved estimate into an invoice on the Web. If you bill after each milestone, check the amount and work for that stage before sending.
Create an invoice →
Payment records
When the customer pays part of an invoice, record that payment on the document. You can see what has come in and what is still due.
Read about progress payments →
A record for each site
Associate the client, estimates, invoices and expenses with the project. Add site photos and PDFs so the work and its supporting documents stay together.
See what to keep in a project →
Keep the supplier receipt
Save material purchases, equipment hire and subcontractor bills as expenses. Link them to the job instead of mixing the spending from several sites.
Keep costs with the job →
Review the recorded numbers
Look at invoices, payments and expenses together. The project view and business reports help you see what you have billed, collected and spent.
Review before pricing the next job →
Save common line items
Keep your usual materials and services ready. Recheck supplier prices, quantities and the site conditions when you use them on a new estimate.
Calculate markup for a quote →
Reuse the client details
Keep the homeowner or business contact on file. Check the billing details and job address for each new project, even when the customer is familiar.
Open the Web app →Copy, then check the scope
Duplicate a similar estimate or invoice and use your company branding. Update the inclusions, exclusions and dates for this job before sharing the PDF.
View construction invoice templates →
Use your phone on site and your computer back at the office
Send an estimate while the measurements are fresh. Later, open the same account to review the project's documents, expenses and outstanding invoices.
Open the Web app →What does construction estimating software do?
It brings the work description, material quantities, labor rates and payment terms into one estimate. If the scope changes before approval, you can update the items and check the new total.
Pocket Invoice also keeps the approved estimate, related invoices and project expenses together. That helps when you need to answer what was quoted, what was billed and what has been paid.
Try the estimate editor →
Give the customer an estimate they can check
A useful construction estimate shows who the work is for, what will be done, how each item is priced and when payment is due.
Separate the costs
List materials and labor so the customer can see what each part of the work costs.
Check the totals
Enter quantities and rates; review the calculated line amounts and final price.
Add your business details
Show your name, contact details and logo on the document you send.
State the terms
Include the quote validity, agreed deposit and any work outside the original scope.
When the job changes
“Could you add this?” needs a clear answer.
A client adds a socket or asks for another wall to be finished. Record the extra work and its price while everyone still agrees on what was requested.
Keep the addition separate from the original quote.
Create another estimate for the same project. Give it a reference such as “CO-01 — additional wall finishing,” then describe the extra materials, labor and effect on the agreed scope.
For example, 6 labor hours at $50 plus $150 in materials adds $450 before tax. After the client approves, invoice that addition separately. Keep the approval with the project and leave the original $3,500 estimate available for comparison.
See what to include in a change order →Deposits, progress payments & the final balance
Agree on when you will bill. Record what gets paid.
For the $3,500 example, an agreed 30% / 40% / 30% schedule looks like this. The stages and percentages belong in your agreement; choose them for the actual job.
- 01 · Before work starts
$1,050 deposit
State when the deposit is due and what it covers. Issue the agreed deposit invoice and record payment when received.
- 02 · At the agreed milestone
$1,400 progress payment
Name the completed stage on its invoice. Keep the relevant progress photos or approval with the project.
- 03 · At handover
$1,050 final payment
Check the previous stage invoices and payments before billing the last portion. Bill an approved addition only once.
Two billing methods: With separate stage invoices, bill only that stage's amount. With one invoice for the full contract, record partial payments against that invoice. Creating both would bill the same work twice.
Read the progress billing guide →One project record per job
Keep the receipt with the site it belongs to.
You buy materials for two jobs on the same morning. A bank transaction alone will not tell you which project used them. Save the expense, its description and the supporting receipt, then associate it with the correct project.
- Keep estimates, invoices and expenses with the client and project.
- Add site photos and PDFs to retain the scope, progress and supporting records.
- Review billed amounts, payments and recorded expenses before preparing a similar quote.
Record all relevant costs before judging the result. Unrecorded purchases and labor will not appear in the project's figures.
Open your project workspace →Why use Pocket Invoice for construction paperwork?
Prepare a professional estimate and keep the job's costs and payments together, from the first site visit to handover.
Estimates customers can review
List materials, labor and other work with quantities and rates. Add your company details, logo and payment terms before sending the PDF.
Fewer repeated entries
Convert the estimate into an invoice in the Web app. Adjust agreed additions and the amount being billed for the current stage.
A record for each site
Keep purchases, photos and documents with the project. Record payments against invoices and review the remaining balance.
Construction wages and the cost of a building job
BLS reports median annual pay of $46,680 for U.S. construction laborers and helpers in May 2025. Construction includes many occupations, and wages differ by trade, location and experience. This employee figure does not describe a contractor's project revenue.
A building quote needs to cover materials, crew time, subcontractors, transport and equipment hire. Record actual costs as the work progresses so a large invoice total is not mistaken for the profit earned.
Use the contractor markup calculator to compare job cost with the price, and the timesheet calculator to add up crew hours. Include the tax and employment costs that apply where you operate.
Use a tool. Finish a document.
Free resources for your next construction job.
Prepare a document or check a calculation before opening the app.
Estimate editor
Enter the work, quantities and rates. Preview and download the estimate as a PDF.
Create an estimate →Invoice editor
Prepare a bill with line items, payment terms and the amount already paid.
Create an invoice →Construction templates
Start with a downloadable construction invoice in Word, Excel or PDF format.
Choose a template →Contractor markup calculator
Check how a markup changes your selling price and profit margin.
Check the calculation →Concrete calculator
Work out volume from the dimensions before requesting a supplier quote.
Calculate concrete volume →Payment receipt
Give the client a separate record of the payment you have received.
Prepare a receipt →Construction estimating and invoicing questions.
How do I separate materials and labor on a construction estimate?
Add each material and labor service as a separate line item. Use the quantity and unit rate for that item, such as 32 labor hours at $50 per hour. Put the specification or included work in the description so the client can understand both the price and the scope.
Can I turn an approved estimate into an invoice?
Yes. The Web app supports estimate-to-invoice conversion. Review the resulting line items, invoice date, due date and payment terms before sending it. If you bill in stages, adjust the invoice to the stage being billed rather than sending the full contract amount each time.
How do I request and record a deposit?
Put the agreed deposit amount and due date in the estimate's terms. Create the corresponding invoice, then record the payment against it when received. For a $3,500 job with a 30% deposit, that first invoice is $1,050; the remaining stages total $2,450.
What if the client pays part of an invoice?
Record the amount received against that invoice and retain the payment date and details. Review the remaining balance before following up. A partial payment reduces that invoice's balance; it does not require another invoice for the same work.
How should I document additional construction work?
Create a separate estimate linked to the project, reference the original job and describe the added scope and price. Retain the client's approval before invoicing the addition. This uses ordinary estimates and invoices; the change-order reference is one you enter yourself.
Can I save site photos and supplier receipts with the project?
Yes. Projects in the Web app support photos and PDFs as well as linked documents and expenses. Save the supplier expense against the relevant project and keep its receipt. Use clear file names to identify the site, date and work shown.
Does a project total include costs I have not entered?
No. Project figures use the saved documents, payments and linked expenses. Enter the relevant materials, labor, equipment hire and subcontractor expenses before using those figures to review the job.
Can I prepare a document before creating an account?
The free estimate and invoice editors linked on this page let you prepare, preview and download a PDF without signing into the business app. Sign into Pocket Invoice when you need saved customer records, projects and payment history.
Start with the job on your desk.
Prepare its estimate, save the project and keep the next payment in view.