Free template · Bricklayers
Free bricklayer invoice template (Australia)
A bricklayer's invoice is rarely hours times a rate. It is laid quantities: face brick per thousand, blockwork per block or per square metre, plus the extras that builders argue about later if they are buried, like scaffold on-charges, cleaning down, and site allowances. A good template gives each of those its own line so the quantity and the rate are visible.
This free template is ATO-correct out of the box ("Tax Invoice" heading, ABN, GST per line, correct rounding) and works for both a one-off domestic job and a progress claim to a builder. Download the PDF, copy the structure into Word or Excel, or generate one already filled in with our free invoice generator.
See it filled in
A bricklayer invoice, done right
TAX INVOICE
Ridgeline Brick & Block
| Description | Qty | Unit (ex GST) | GST | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face brick laid, external walls (labour, per 1,000) | 3.4 | $2,150.00 | $731.00 | $8,041.00 |
| 200 series blockwork, retaining wall (labour, per block) | 160 | $7.20 | $115.20 | $1,267.20 |
| Mortar: sand, cement and additive supplied | 1 | $480.00 | $48.00 | $528.00 |
| Scaffold hire on-charged (2 weeks, invoice attached) | 1 | $620.00 | $62.00 | $682.00 |
| Clean down and acid wash (per m2) | 58 | $8.50 | $49.30 | $542.30 |
| Subtotal (ex GST) | $10,055.00 | |||
| GST | $1,005.50 | |||
| Total (inc GST) | $11,060.50 | |||
Progress claim 2 of 3. Retention 5% held by builder. Payment terms 14 days per subcontract.
Trade-specific rules
GST notes for bricklayers
Bricklaying Services: priced per thousand bricks, per block or per square metre, usually as a subcontractor to a builder, with progress claims and retention on bigger jobs.
- Per-thousand and per-block rates are labour rates. Show the quantity laid and the rate on each line so the builder can check it against the count without a phone call.
- Materials you supply (mortar, ties, lintels) and hire you on-charge (scaffold, mixer) carry GST at the price you charge, not at your cost. Attach the hire invoice if the builder asks.
- On builder jobs, progress claims are still Tax Invoices: each claim must stand on its own with the ATO elements. Note the claim number and the retention held, and keep a running total.
- If you engage a labourer or another brickie, you are the one invoicing the builder. Their invoice to you is your cost; only your charge to the builder goes on this invoice.
Word, Excel or Google Docs
Using this bricklayer invoice template in other formats
Microsoft Word
Recreate the PDF’s structure with a 5-column table (description, qty, unit price, GST, amount). Keep the words “Tax Invoice” as the document title, your ABN under your business name, and add a totals block of subtotal / GST / total. Word’s tables won’t calculate GST for you, so double-check every amount: a wrong GST figure is the most common Word-template mistake we saw in real bricklayer invoices.
Excel / spreadsheets
Excel handles the maths: set GST per line to =ROUND(qty*unit*0.1, 2) for GST-inclusive work, and total to subtotal + GST. The trap is what Excel doesn’t do: it won’t stop you issuing two invoices with the same number, and PDFs exported from spreadsheets often crop columns, so always check the print preview before sending.
Google Docs
Same structure as Word. One advantage: a single master doc you copy per invoice keeps your numbering sequential. One warning: sharing the live doc link instead of a PDF lets the amounts change after sending, so always download as PDF before it goes to the customer.
Honestly? Every format above still means retyping your details each time. The free invoice generator fills the same ATO-correct layout in your browser and downloads the PDF, no signup required.
Related
Before you send it
- Not registered for GST, or not sure? The sole trader invoice template has a no-GST version of this layout, and invoicing without GST in Australia explains what changes on the page.
- Invoicing a builder as a subbie? Read the subcontractor invoice guide for progress claims, variations and retention.
- Tired of retyping your details? The best invoice app for tradies and sole traders compares the apps Aussie bricklayers actually use, with current prices.
Fair questions
FAQ
Do bricklayers invoice per brick or per hour?
Mostly per thousand bricks laid or per block for blockwork, with a day rate for fiddly work like piers, arches or small repairs where a unit rate does not reflect the time. Put whichever you agreed on the quote, and keep the same unit on the invoice.
Do I charge GST on scaffold I on-charge?
Yes, if you are GST-registered. What you charge the builder for scaffold is a taxable supply from you, even if the hire company already charged you GST. You claim theirs as a credit and charge yours on the invoice.
How do I invoice a progress claim?
Each claim is its own Tax Invoice: claim number, the work completed to date, the amount previously claimed, retention held, and the amount now due. Builders' payment systems expect that layout and pay faster when they see it.
Invoices in 60 seconds, from your phone
Dinkum Invoice is a free unlimited invoicing app built for Aussie bricklayers: ATO-correct every time, no invoice caps, and your records stay yours forever. Create an account to lock in the $9/mo BAS tier for life.
More free stuff: the invoice generator, the bricklayer invoice example, or templates for other trades.