Free template · Painters
Free painter invoice template (Australia)
A painter's invoice answers one customer question before it's asked: what exactly am I paying for: prep, paint, or both? The template below separates surface prep (sanding, patching, priming) from top coats, and paint supply from labour, because that's where painting invoices win or lose disputes.
It's ATO-correct ("Tax Invoice" heading, ABN, per-line GST) and has room for the details that matter in this trade: brand and line of paint used, number of coats, and colour codes the owner will want in three years.
See it filled in
A painter invoice, done right
TAX INVOICE
Two Coats & Co.
| Description | Qty | Unit (ex GST) | GST | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prep: patch, sand & prime, 3 rooms walls/ceilings | 1 | $680.00 | $68.00 | $748.00 |
| Two top coats low-sheen acrylic, walls (per room) | 3 | $420.00 | $126.00 | $1,386.00 |
| Ceilings flat white, two coats (per room) | 3 | $240.00 | $72.00 | $792.00 |
| Supply paint: Dulux Wash&Wear 'Natural White' 15L + ceiling 10L | 1 | $520.00 | $52.00 | $572.00 |
| Subtotal (ex GST) | $3,180.00 | |||
| GST | $318.00 | |||
| Total (inc GST) | $3,498.00 | |||
Colours: walls Dulux Natural White, ceilings Vivid White. Deposit $500 received 01/08; balance due on completion.
Trade-specific rules
GST notes for painters
Painting Services: quoted by room, by square metre or by the job, with paint either included in the rate or supplied as its own line.
- Paint supplied to the customer is a taxable line at your charged price. Record brand, line and colour codes in the description; it doubles as the customer's colour record.
- Prep as a separate line protects your quote: when a wall needs triple the patching, the variation has somewhere honest to live.
- Deposits are normal (10–20% residential): issue a deposit invoice, then show 'less deposit received' on the final Tax Invoice so the balance is unambiguous.
Word, Excel or Google Docs
Using this painter 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 painter 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 painters actually use, with current prices.
Fair questions
FAQ
Should paint be included in my rate or a separate line?
Either is legitimate; separate is clearer. If it's included, say 'paint included' in the labour description so a cheaper quote that excludes paint can't undercut you on appearance.
How do I invoice a colour consult or sample pots?
As real lines. Sample pots at cost, consult time at your rate, credited against the job if it proceeds, and say so.
Progress payments on exterior repaints?
Stage them: prep complete / undercoat complete / final. Each stage is its own Tax Invoice referencing the quote, so weather delays don't hold your whole payment hostage.
Invoices in 60 seconds, from your phone
Dinkum Invoice is a free unlimited invoicing app built for Aussie painters: 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 painter invoice example, or templates for other trades.