Drywall Contractor Invoice Template — Free Download (2026)
Drywall invoices need to communicate more than a square footage and a price — they need to specify the scope in terms a general contractor, homeowner, and painter can all act on. The level of finish (Level 1 through Level 5) is the most important specification on a drywall invoice because it defines exactly what you agreed to deliver and what the painter can expect. An invoice that says "drywall work — $4,200" versus one that says "hang, tape, and Level 4 finish — 1,840 SF, smooth throughout, no texture — $4,200" creates completely different expectations and protects you completely differently if there's a dispute. This guide covers what to include on a drywall invoice for residential and commercial work.
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Level of finish (L1–L5) — the most important spec on any drywall invoice
The Gypsum Association and ASTM C840 define five levels of drywall finish, and the level determines what the substrate will look like when painted. Specifying the level removes all ambiguity about what you agreed to deliver. Level 1: Single coat of compound on tape at joints and angles. Fastener heads not covered. Used for: plenum spaces, areas above ceilings, spaces where the board will not be visible. Level 2: Tape embedded in compound at joints and angles, one coat of compound over tape and fasteners. Smooth but visible surface texture. Used for: areas that will receive tile (tile covers it), wet areas, concealed spaces. Level 3: All Level 2, plus one additional coat of compound over joints and fasteners. Smooth with minor tool marks. Used for: areas that will receive heavy wall texture (orange peel, knockdown). Not suitable for flat or eggshell paints that show imperfections. Level 4: All Level 3 plus one more skim coat. Most joints, fasteners, and tool marks are smoothed. Used for: residential construction standard; flat and satin painted walls; most residential projects. Level 5: All Level 4, plus a skim coat of compound or topping compound over entire surface. Completely smooth, no visible imperfections. Used for: areas receiving flat (matte) paint where raking light will expose imperfections; high-end residential; commercial offices; skim coat over all surfaces. Specify the level by number on every invoice: 'Level 4 finish throughout — all rooms.' Or if different levels apply in different areas: 'Level 4: bedrooms, living areas, hallways. Level 2: garage (unfinished look). Level 1: attic (plenum).'
Square footage — walls and ceilings separately, with board size
Drywall quantities are measured in square feet of board, but there are two ways to count — board coverage (which includes every piece hung, including cutouts that are wasted) and net surface area (actual finished surface minus door and window openings). Most contractors charge on actual board used, which includes waste for cutouts and damaged pieces. Always specify: 'Drywall: 5/8" Type X fire-rated gypsum board (garage wall separation — required by code). 1/2" standard gypsum board: balance of walls and ceilings. Board: 4×12 sheets (fewer seams = better finish). Total board installed: 1,940 SF walls, 620 SF ceilings.' Specifying the board size matters: 4×8 sheets create more horizontal seams at 4 ft off the floor — a seam that is very hard to finish invisibly because it's at eye level. Professional residential installers hang 4×12 or 4×16 on 9-ft ceilings to eliminate the mid-wall horizontal seam. If you're using larger panels where a competitor might be using 4×8 and charging the same, say so — it's a quality differentiator.
Texture type — or explicitly 'no texture'
Texture is often the most contentious specification because there are a dozen common texture types, each looks different, and once texture is applied it cannot be undone without skim-coating over it. Specify the texture or explicitly note that no texture is applied: 'Texture: none — Level 5 skim coat finish throughout. Ready for flat or eggshell paint.' Or: 'Texture: orange peel (light) — all walls excluding master bath. Ceiling texture: smooth (no texture) throughout.' Or: 'Texture: skip trowel — all ceilings. Walls: smooth (no texture) per owner direction. Note: skip trowel texture was approved from physical sample applied to 12"×12" board section, approved by owner on June 4, 2026.' Common texture types to specify: Orange peel (light, medium, heavy), knockdown (light, medium, heavy), smooth/Level 4, Level 5 skim coat, skip trowel, sand texture, California swirl, stomp, spray sand. If you're matching existing texture in an addition or repair: 'Texture: match existing orange peel texture in adjacent rooms — exact match not guaranteed due to different spray angles, aggregate, and existing surface aging.'
Phases — hang vs. tape vs. finish (if billed separately)
On large jobs, drywall contractors often bill in phases: hang, tape (embedding), and finish (finish coat + final coat). On renovation jobs or additions, these phases may be on different payment schedules. 'Phase 1 — Hang: 1,840 SF board installation, complete. All seams, inside corners, outside corners (no-bead corners — paper-faced), arched openings, butt joints staggered. Phase 2 — Tape: tape embedded at all joints, angles per ASTM C840. First coat of compound over all fasteners. Phase 3 — Finish: second coat of compound, final coat of compound, Level 4 complete. Interior corners lightly sanded, exterior corners checked with 6-ft straight edge. Ready for paint.' If you're on a GC schedule and only doing the hang phase: 'Hang only — tape and finish by others. Boards hung, screwed, corners installed. Not responsible for tape and finish quality.' This scope boundary matters because hang quality affects tape and finish quality. If another crew does the taping over boards you hung, define the quality standard at handoff: 'Boards hung plumb to ±1/8" over 8 ft. Board ends butted tight (no gaps over 1/8"). If tape and finish crew identifies board defects, notify this contractor before applying compound.'
Repairs — patch size, hole cause, and match-to-existing note
Drywall repair is a common separate service, and the invoice documentation for repairs is completely different from new construction documentation. 'Drywall repair: 4 locations. (1) Water damage repair — master bedroom ceiling: 18"×24" section, existing board removed to joists, new board installed, taped and finished to Level 4. Cause of water damage not in scope — owner to address source before painting. (2) Doorknob hole — hallway: 3"×3" California patch (no backer), compound feathered 12" either side, Level 4. (3) Cable TV patch — living room wall: 4"×6" with metal backing plate, Level 4. (4) Stress cracks — dining room: 4 cracks, surface cracks not structural, V-groove routed, filled with setting compound, tape over crack in two locations. Note: repaired areas will be visible under raking/side lighting until painted with two coats of flat paint — this is normal for patch work and is not a defect. Matching existing orange peel texture in all repair locations — exact match is approximate due to existing surface aging.' The note about raking light visibility is important — homeowners sometimes see the repair under extreme side lighting and think the patch failed when it's actually the unpainted compound that's creating the shadow.
Moisture and fire-rated board — specify where code-required boards were installed
Code requires specific board types in bathrooms (moisture-resistant or cement board), garages (Type X fire-rated), and sometimes ceilings over certain spaces. Document where you used special board: 'Standard 1/2" gypsum board: all living areas, bedrooms, halls, dining. Moisture-resistant 1/2" (green board / Humitek): all bathroom walls (not shower or tub surrounds — those will receive tile backer board by tile contractor). Cement board 1/2": installed at tub surround, 4 ft high on all 3 sides of tub — by tile contractor, this contract excludes. 5/8" Type X gypsum board: garage side of house-garage wall separation (48 SF) and ceiling of garage below habitable space (96 SF) — required by local building code for fire rating. Note: garage/living separation firewall is code-required; any penetrations through this wall must be sealed with intumescent material per building code.' Documenting where fire-rated board was installed protects you if there's a fire and the question of code compliance comes up. It also protects the homeowner at property sale, when a home inspector may ask about the fire separation between the garage and living space.'
Drywall invoice example
New construction — hang, tape, and Level 4 finish
INVOICE #DW-2026-0311
Peak Drywall Solutions | (602) 555-0128 | Customer: Landmark Custom Homes (GC) | 9914 Copper Bluff Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85255 | Service: June 3–10, 2026
| Item | Qty | Unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hang — 1/2" standard gypsum, 4×12 sheets. Walls installed vertically; ceilings perpendicular to joists. Fasteners 16" OC on studs. Paper-faced metal corner bead at all outside corners. J-bead at open ends at ceiling coffers. Moisture-resistant board in bathrooms (per code). 5/8" Type X in garage/living separation. | 2,460 | SF @ $0.82 | $2,017 |
| Tape — all joints, flat and angle. Paper tape embedded in compound at all flat joints; fiberglass mesh tape at butt joints only. No mesh tape at tapered joints (not recommended — cracks). Metal corner bead compound first coat. | 2,460 | SF @ $0.55 | $1,353 |
| Level 4 finish — two finish coats of lightweight compound, final coat, all joints. Fasteners covered. Metal bead finished. Lightly sanded smooth. Ready for primer. Texture: orange peel (medium) — all walls. Ceilings: smooth (no texture) per owner spec. | 2,460 | SF @ $0.90 | $2,214 |
| Specialty — arched hallway opening (2), 6-ft wide each. Additional labor for arch framing with metal bead. | 2 | ea @ $185 | $370 |
| GC-supplied material inspection — confirmed board delivered prior to hang. Board damage report submitted to GC June 3 (3 damaged sheets, 2 replaced by GC). | 1 | LS @ $0 | $0 |
| Progress draw paid June 6 (hang complete) | −$2,000 | ||
| Balance due on finish complete | $3,954 | ||
5 invoicing rules for drywall contractors
Always specify the level of finish — it's the single most protective line on a drywall invoice
The Level 1–5 system exists precisely to prevent the argument where the homeowner says 'I expected smooth walls' and the contractor says 'I said I'd finish the drywall.' Specifying 'Level 4' means: the tape is embedded, the fasteners are covered, there are two finish coats of compound, and the wall is ready for a standard eggshell or satin paint. It does not mean the wall will be glass-smooth under raking light — that's Level 5 with a skim coat. If a homeowner wants Level 5 and you deliver Level 4, they'll be unhappy when they see every joint shadow in a room with side-lit windows. If you quoted Level 4 and it's in writing, you have a clear conversation. If you just said 'finish the drywall,' you own whatever standard the homeowner had in their head.
Separate board-supplied-by-others from hang — and inspect it before you start
Board damage and board quality disputes are very common on GC-supplied-material jobs. A framer or delivery crew runs a forklift blade through two sheets; a sheet of 5/8" Type X gets mixed in with standard 1/2"; a full pallet arrives warped from weather exposure. If you hang damaged or wrong-spec board and don't catch it, you may be sanding and floating over defects that will telegraph through the finish for years. Inspect the board delivery before you start, document what you found, and notify the GC in writing if there are damaged or wrong-spec sheets. Put it on your invoice: 'Board supplied by GC. Inspection completed on delivery — 3 sheets damaged (noted to GC, replaced). Contractor not responsible for defects in GC-supplied material that are not visible until board is installed and compound is applied.'
Note that you're not responsible for other-trade damage after completion
Drywall is almost always the second-to-last trade — electricians, HVAC, plumbers, and framers are done before you, but the painter, trim carpenter, cabinet installer, tile setter, and flooring crew all come after. Any of them can damage your work: a tile saw dragged down a hallway, a door installed without a stopper, a hardwood nail gun that blows a hole through the wall. Get your completion sign-off from the GC, document the condition at the time you finish, and specify on the invoice that damage by other trades after your completion is not covered: 'Condition at turnover: Level 4 complete throughout, June 10, 2026 — signed by GC project manager. Damage caused by subsequent trades is not covered under workmanship warranty and will be billed at repair rates.'
For texture work, get approval on a sample before the whole house
Texture is irreversible without skim-coating over the entire surface, which adds cost and time. Before spraying orange peel throughout an 1,800 SF house, put up a 2-square-foot sample in a corner, let it dry, photograph it, and have the owner approve it. Put the approval on the invoice: 'Texture: orange peel medium. Sample applied June 4, 2026, approved by homeowner. Owner confirmed: applies to all walls, not ceilings. This contractor is not responsible for texture disputes where sample was not approved in writing.' This one step prevents the most expensive drywall dispute there is — the homeowner who wanted 'light' orange peel, got 'heavy,' and wants the entire house re-done.
Price hang, tape, and finish separately even if quoting a lump sum
Some residential drywall jobs are priced as a complete package (hang + tape + finish = $X/SF). But showing the breakdown — even just internally — helps you bid accurately on partial-scope jobs. When a GC calls asking for 'hang only' because they have their own taping crew, you know your hang price. When a homeowner calls because another contractor's tape and finish failed and they need only the finish work repaired, you have a per-SF rate. Breaking down the phases also makes progress billings cleaner: draw 1 on completion of hang, draw 2 on tape, balance on finish completion. This gives the GC a natural inspection point at each phase and gives you a built-in reason to invoice promptly.
Frequently asked questions
How much does drywall installation cost per square foot in 2026?↓
Drywall pricing in 2026: Hang only (no tape or finish): $0.50–$0.90/SF. Hang and tape (Level 2): $0.80–$1.30/SF. Hang, tape, and Level 4 finish (standard residential): $1.50–$2.50/SF. Level 5 skim coat finish: $2.50–$4.00/SF. Texture (orange peel, knockdown — add to Level 4 price): $0.20–$0.50/SF. Drywall repair (patch work): $75–$200 per location depending on size. Key price variables: Board supplied by contractor vs. GC (contractor supply adds $0.30–$0.60/SF in material). Ceiling vs. wall (ceilings are harder — add 15–25%). Level of finish (L4 vs. L5 is a significant jump). Region (labor rates vary significantly). Volume (whole-house new construction vs. one-room addition). Texture type.
What is the difference between Level 4 and Level 5 drywall finish?↓
Level 4 is the standard residential finish — joints are taped and compound-coated 3 times, fasteners are covered, the surface is ready for paint. Under normal lighting and standard wall paint (eggshell or satin), Level 4 looks good. Level 5 adds a full skim coat of compound or topping compound over the entire surface after Level 4 is complete. This eliminates all texture variation — the surface is uniformly smooth across the entire wall, not just at joints. Level 5 is required when: Using flat (matte) paint, which shows every imperfection under side light. Installing glossy paint (same problem). Walls will receive intense raking light (floor-to-ceiling windows, gallery lighting, restaurant lighting). High-end residential clients with very flat, matte-painted walls. Cost: Level 5 adds significant cost (a full additional skim coat labor pass + materials). If a client asks for flat paint with no visible joint shadows, price Level 5 — or explain why Level 4 won't meet that expectation.
What is orange peel texture and how is it applied?↓
Orange peel is a spray-applied texture that creates a fine, bumpy surface resembling the skin of an orange. It's the most common wall texture in residential construction in the Southwest United States. Applied with a hopper gun and air compressor — the drywall compound is mixed to a thin consistency and sprayed onto the wall in small droplets that create the characteristic pattern. Light orange peel: smaller droplets, less pronounced pattern. Medium orange peel: standard residential. Heavy orange peel: coarser, more pronounced bumps. Orange peel is a permanent texture — it cannot be removed without skim-coating over it. To change from orange peel to smooth walls requires a Level 5 skim coat job. Alternative textures: Knockdown: similar spray application but the peaks are knocked down with a trowel before drying, creating a more varied, random pattern. Skip trowel: hand-applied with a trowel, more artisan look. Sand texture: fine aggregate in paint applied over smooth drywall (this is a painter's texture, not a drywall contractor's scope).
Can drywall be installed in a bathroom?↓
Yes — but not standard drywall. Bathrooms require moisture-resistant drywall or cement board depending on where they are in the bathroom. Shower and tub surrounds (inside the shower, around the tub): cement board (HardieBacker, Schluter Kerdi-Board, Wedi, etc.) — regular drywall and even green board will deteriorate quickly from direct water exposure. Cement board is required as tile backer in wet zones. Bathroom walls outside the shower/tub zone (the rest of the walls in a bathroom, around toilets, at vanities): moisture-resistant gypsum board (green board, purple board, or moisture-resistant varieties). These are not waterproof but resist moisture better than standard gypsum. Ceiling above shower: moisture-resistant board at minimum; cement board is better. Bathroom walls adjacent to other rooms: standard gypsum is fine on the non-bathroom side. On your invoice: clearly specify what type of board is installed where. 'Cement board in shower enclosure (by tile contractor), moisture-resistant drywall on balance of bathroom walls' is the typical scope split.
How long does drywall work take?↓
Drywall timelines depend heavily on project size, phase, and required dry time between coats: Hang: 1,000 SF per day for an experienced 2-person crew (walls and ceilings combined). First coat (taping): typically 1–2 days behind hang on a production crew. Coats must dry between applications — in typical climate-controlled conditions, each coat takes 24 hours to dry before the next can be applied. Drying time is the controlling schedule factor — forcing the next coat before the previous coat is fully dry causes cracking, poor adhesion, and finish failures. Level 4 finish (3 coats of compound after tape): add 3+ days for drying between coats, plus sanding. Total timeline for a typical 2,000 SF residential new construction hang-tape-Level 4: 8–12 business days on a production crew with proper drying time. Speed shortcuts cost quality — if a GC pressures you to cut drying time, document your advice and their instruction in writing.
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