What must a plumber's invoice include in the UK?

A UK plumber's invoice must include: your name and business name, your business address, a unique invoice number, the invoice date, the customer's name and address, a clear description of the work done, the amount charged (labour and materials as separate lines), payment due date, and your bank details. If you are VAT-registered, add your VAT number and show VAT separately. If you do CIS subcontract work, add your UTR number.

Can a plumber invoice be handwritten?

Legally yes — there is no requirement for invoices to be typed or printed. However, professional digital invoices are far more likely to be paid promptly. Customers are more likely to lose or ignore a handwritten note. Digital invoices also create an automatic paper trail for your Self Assessment tax return.

Do I need to send a receipt as well as an invoice?

No — an invoice serves as both the request for payment and (once paid) the record of payment. You do not need to issue a separate receipt if you have invoiced. Some plumbers add a 'paid' stamp or update the invoice to show 'paid in full' for the customer's records, but this is optional.

How do I create a plumber invoice on my phone?

The fastest way is TraderInvoice — speak your job details by voice and the app generates a complete, professional PDF invoice in under 60 seconds. You can then email or WhatsApp it to the customer before leaving the site. Free for up to 5 invoices per month.

Free TemplateUK Plumbers2026 Updated

Free Plumber Invoice Template UK (2026)

Every field a UK plumber needs on an invoice — including VAT, CIS labour/materials separation, and payment terms. Use the template below or create your invoice by voice in TraderInvoice in under 60 seconds.

Skip the template — invoice by voice instead

Speak your job details. TraderInvoice creates the complete, formatted invoice in under 60 seconds. Free for 5 invoices/month — no card required.

Create Invoice Free →or continue to the template below

Complete Plumber Invoice Template

INVOICE

[Your Business Name]

[Your Address, City, Postcode]

[Phone] · [Email]

Invoice No.

INV-0001

Date

9 June 2026

Payment due

23 June 2026

Invoiced to

[Customer Name]

[Customer Address]

[City, Postcode]

Description	Amount
Labour — [description of work] [x hours @ £xx/hr]	£[amount]
Materials — [parts used]	£[amount]
Subtotal	£[subtotal]
VAT @ 20% (if VAT-registered)	£[VAT]
TOTAL DUE	£[total]

Payment by bank transfer

Name: [Your Name] · Sort code: [xx-xx-xx] · Account: [xxxxxxxx]

CIS work only: Add your UTR: [10-digit UTR]. CIS deduction of 20% applies to labour only. Materials are not subject to CIS deduction.

Field-by-Field Guide

What to put in each field, which are legally required, and common mistakes to avoid.

Invoice header

Required

INVOICE

Make it clear this is an invoice, not a quote or estimate.

Your business name

Required

Dave Smith Plumbing & Heating

Your legal name or registered trading name.

Your address

Required

14 Station Road, Manchester M1 2AB

Your business address. Can be home address for sole traders.

Your phone / email

Optional

07700 900000 · dave@dspluming.co.uk

Helps customers contact you about queries without delaying payment.

Invoice number

Required

INV-0094

Sequential. Never reuse numbers. Start at 001 or 0001.

Invoice date

Required

9 June 2026

The date you raise the invoice.

Payment due date

Required

23 June 2026 (14 days)

14 days is standard for domestic work. 30 days for commercial.

Customer name

Required

Mrs J Collins

Full name. For businesses, use the company name.

Customer address

Required

22 Birchfield Road, Manchester M14 5AB

The address the invoice is addressed to (may differ from job address).

Job / site address

Optional

Same as above / 45 Oak Ave, M16 0AB

Include if different from billing address — common for landlords.

Labour line items

Required

Labour — replace kitchen tap and pipework · 2 hrs @ £65/hr · £130.00

ALWAYS separate from materials. Required for CIS, cleaner for all invoices.

Materials line items

Required

Materials — Bristan mono mixer tap, copper fittings · £68.00

Itemise materials. Customers trust itemised invoices more.

Subtotal

Required

Subtotal: £198.00

Sum of all lines before VAT.

VAT (if registered)

Optional

VAT @ 20%: £39.60

Only if VAT-registered (turnover over £90,000 or voluntary registration).

Total due

Required

Total: £237.60

The final amount payable. Make this prominent.

Payment details

Required

Bank transfer · Dave Smith · 12-34-56 · 87654321

Bank transfer is fastest. Include sort code and account number.

UTR (CIS only)

Optional

UTR: 12345 67890 · CIS deduction applies to labour only

Required on invoices to contractors under the Construction Industry Scheme.

Filled Example: Kitchen Tap Replacement

INVOICE

Dave Smith Plumbing

14 Station Road, Manchester M1 2AB

07700 900000

Invoice No.

INV-0094

Date

9 June 2026

Due

23 June 2026

Invoiced to

Mrs J Collins

22 Birchfield Road, Manchester M14 5AB

Description	Amount
Labour — replace kitchen mixer tap and isolation valve 1.5 hrs @ £65/hr	£97.50
Materials — Bristan Oval mono mixer tap, 2× isolator valves, fittings	£68.00
TOTAL DUE	£165.50

Bank transfer: Dave Smith · 12-34-56 · 87654321 · Payment due 23 June 2026

Create this invoice by voice in 30 seconds

Instead of filling in this template manually, open TraderInvoice and say:

"Invoice for Mrs Collins at 22 Birchfield Road. Kitchen tap and isolation valve replacement. Labour 1.5 hours at £65. Materials £68 — Bristan tap, isolator valves. Payment due 14 days."

TraderInvoice creates a complete, formatted invoice — labour and materials separated — ready to email or WhatsApp. Free for 5 invoices/month.

Start Free — No Card Required

Common Invoice Mistakes to Avoid

Combining labour and materials into one total

Fix: Always separate them. Required for CIS, better for all customers, and lets you adjust pricing more easily.

No invoice number or reusing numbers

Fix: Every invoice needs a unique sequential number. HMRC requires this for VAT invoices and it's best practice for all invoices.

Vague job description

Fix: Write exactly what was done — 'replaced kitchen tap' not just 'plumbing work'. This prevents disputes and helps customers remember the job when paying.

No payment terms or bank details

Fix: Without a due date and your bank details, customers have no clear way to pay. Invoices with bank details on them get paid 30% faster on average.

Invoicing days or weeks after the job

Fix: Invoice before you leave the property or on the same day. The longer you wait, the longer you wait for payment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must a plumber's invoice include in the UK?: A UK plumber's invoice must include: your name and business name, your business address, a unique invoice number, the invoice date, the customer's name and address, a clear description of the work done, the amount charged (labour and materials as separate lines), payment due date, and your bank details. If you are VAT-registered, add your VAT number and show VAT separately. If you do CIS subcontract work, add your UTR number.
Can a plumber invoice be handwritten?: Legally yes — there is no requirement for invoices to be typed or printed. However, professional digital invoices are far more likely to be paid promptly. Customers are more likely to lose or ignore a handwritten note. Digital invoices also create an automatic paper trail for your Self Assessment tax return.
Do I need to send a receipt as well as an invoice?: No — an invoice serves as both the request for payment and (once paid) the record of payment. You do not need to issue a separate receipt if you have invoiced. Some plumbers add a 'paid' stamp or update the invoice to show 'paid in full' for the customer's records, but this is optional.
How do I create a plumber invoice on my phone?: The fastest way is TraderInvoice — speak your job details by voice and the app generates a complete, professional PDF invoice in under 60 seconds. You can then email or WhatsApp it to the customer before leaving the site. Free for up to 5 invoices per month.

Related guides

Invoicing

How to Invoice as a Self-Employed Plumber in the UK

Quoting

Plumber Quote Template UK: What to Include

CIS

CIS for Plumbers UK: Complete Guide

Apps

Best Invoicing App for Plumbers UK (2026)