Interior designer invoice template
A worked example for interior designers in the professional services category, with 2026 prices and the VAT rules that apply.
A interior designer invoice should show a unique invoice number, your name and address, the client's details, the date, each item of work with its price, and the total due. Interior designers typically allow 14 days to pay and take a 50% deposit. VAT at 20% is added only if you are VAT registered.
Example interior designer invoice
Dated 1 October 2026 with 14 day terms and a 50% deposit already received. Names and prices are fictional.
Invoice
INV-0042
From
P. Okafor
Interior designer
88 Victoria Road
Manchester
M14 7KL
Bill to
Northgate Dental Ltd
Unit 4, Riverside Park
Leeds
LS10 1RW
- Invoice date
- 1 October 2026
- Due date
- 15 October 2026
- Terms
- 14 days
- Reference
- Interior designer work, October 2026
| Description | Qty | Unit price | VAT | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design concept and mood boards, living room and kitchen | 1 fixed | £1,500.00 | 20% | £1,500.00 |
| Detailed design: layouts, elevations, finishes schedule | 1 fixed | £2,200.00 | 20% | £2,200.00 |
| Procurement: furniture and lighting at trade price plus 15% handling | 1 item | £6,840.00 | 20% | £6,840.00 |
| Site visits during works | 3 visits | £180.00 | 20% | £540.00 |
- Subtotal
- £11,080.00
- VAT at 20%
- £2,216.00
- Total
- £13,296.00
- Less deposit received (50%)
- -£6,648.00
- Balance due
- £6,648.00
Typical rates for interior designers
Guide figures for 2026. Rates vary by region and experience; the VAT figures come from the 2026-27 tax year data.
| Item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Typical hourly rate | £60 to £150 |
| Typical day rate | £450 to £1,000 |
| Payment terms | 14 days |
| Deposit | 50% up front |
| VAT flat rate sector | Any other activity not listed elsewhere (12%) |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 taxable turnover in 12 months |
How do interior designers usually invoice?
Interior designers invoice design fees by stage, with 50% of the concept fee on appointment, and either a procurement mark-up on furniture and finishes bought on the client's behalf or a flat project percentage. Furniture orders are invoiced in full before they are placed because suppliers want payment up front and bespoke items cannot be returned. Site visits during the build are charged per visit or by the hour.
Interior designers in this example give the customer 14 days to pay, after a 50% deposit taken before the work starts. Hourly rates run from £60 to £150. A full day is typically £450 to £1,000.
What should a interior designer put on an invoice?
Beyond the legal basics, interior designers should:
- Separate design fees from procurement so the client sees what they pay for your time versus goods.
- State the procurement basis (trade price plus percentage, or retail price) on the invoice.
- Invoice furniture and fabric orders in full before placing them.
- List site visits with dates and charge extras beyond the included number.
Every UK invoice, whatever the trade, must also show:
- a unique, sequential invoice number
- your business name and address (and company number if you trade as a limited company)
- the client’s name and address
- the invoice date and, for VAT invoices, the date of supply if different
- a clear description of each item of work or goods
- the amount due and when it must be paid
- your VAT number, the VAT rate per line and the VAT total, if you are VAT registered
Do interior designers charge VAT?
You only charge VAT once registered, which is compulsory when taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Below that, show no VAT line and no VAT number. Once registered, these services are standard rated at 20% for UK clients; services to business clients outside the UK are generally outside the scope of UK VAT.
On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for interior designers is usually “Any other activity not listed elsewhere” at 12% of VAT-inclusive turnover, with a 1% discount in the first year of registration. If you spend little on goods you may be a limited cost trader and have to use 16.5% instead. The scheme suits businesses with few VAT-able costs; check it against the standard method with the VAT calculator before joining.
Source: GOV.UK: Invoicing and taking payment from customers; GOV.UK: VAT Flat Rate Scheme, how much you pay. Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
- How do interior designers charge?
- By stage fee, by the hour (£60 to £150 in 2026) or as a percentage of the project budget, typically 10% to 15%. Procurement is charged as trade price plus 10% to 20% or at retail with the designer keeping the trade discount. State the basis on the proposal and the invoice.
- Should an interior designer take payment for furniture up front?
- Yes, in full before orders are placed. Suppliers require payment on order and bespoke pieces cannot be returned, so the designer should never fund purchases. Put the items and the supplier lead times on the invoice.
- Do interior designers charge VAT?
- Yes at 20% once registered, and procurement often pushes turnover past £90,000 quickly because the goods pass through your invoices. Design fees and goods are both standard rated. Consider having clients pay suppliers directly for large items to keep them out of your turnover.
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Cite this page: “Interior designer invoice template”, SoleKit, https://solekit.co.uk/invoice-template/interior-designer