Scaffolder invoice template
A worked example for scaffolders in the construction and building trades category, with 2026 prices and the VAT rules that apply.
A scaffolder 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. Scaffolders typically allow 14 days to pay and take a 50% deposit. VAT at 20% is added only if you are VAT registered.
Example scaffolder 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. Khan
Scaffolder
12 Mill Lane
Reading
RG1 4XY
Bill to
Mr and Mrs D. Walsh
3 Beech Close
Harrogate
HG2 9PR
- Invoice date
- 1 October 2026
- Due date
- 15 October 2026
- Terms
- 14 days
- Reference
- Scaffolder work, October 2026
| Description | Qty | Unit price | VAT | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erect independent scaffold to front elevation, 2 lifts, 12 m run | 1 fixed | £880.00 | 20% | £880.00 |
| Hire, first 4 weeks included; additional weeks | 2 weeks | £95.00 | 20% | £190.00 |
| Dismantle and remove | 1 fixed | £260.00 | 20% | £260.00 |
| Scaffold inspection and handover certificate | 1 item | £45.00 | 20% | £45.00 |
- Subtotal
- £1,375.00
- VAT at 20%
- £275.00
- Total
- £1,650.00
- Less deposit received (50%)
- -£825.00
- Balance due
- £825.00
Typical rates for scaffolders
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 | £25 to £40 |
| Typical day rate | £220 to £340 |
| Payment terms | 14 days |
| Deposit | 50% up front |
| VAT flat rate sector | General building or construction services (9.5%) |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 taxable turnover in 12 months |
How do scaffolders usually invoice?
Scaffolders quote a fixed price to erect and dismantle that includes a hire period, usually four to eight weeks, then invoice weekly hire beyond it. Domestic jobs are paid 50% on erection and the balance on dismantle; commercial contracts are invoiced monthly against a valuation. Adaptations requested by the roofer or builder mid-job are invoiced as extras with the date they were made.
Scaffolders in this example give the customer 14 days to pay, after a 50% deposit taken before the work starts. Hourly rates run from £25 to £40. A full day is typically £220 to £340.
What should a scaffolder put on an invoice?
Beyond the legal basics, scaffolders should:
- State the included hire period and the weekly rate after it so there is no argument when the job overruns.
- Invoice adaptations separately with the date and who requested them.
- Show erect, hire and dismantle as separate lines; the hire element may be treated differently for CIS.
- Quote the handover certificate reference and inspection dates on the invoice.
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 scaffolders charge VAT?
Construction work for a contractor falls under CIS: the contractor deducts 20% (30% if you are not CIS registered) from the labour element before paying you, so show labour and materials on separate lines. If you are VAT registered and the contractor is too, the domestic reverse charge applies and you charge no VAT; write "Reverse charge: customer to account for VAT" on the invoice. Work for private householders is outside both rules. Below the £90,000 registration threshold you charge no VAT at all.
On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for scaffolders is usually “General building or construction services” at 9.5% 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
- Does CIS apply to scaffolding?
- Yes, erecting and dismantling scaffolding is a construction operation and the labour is subject to CIS deduction when a contractor pays you. Pure scaffold hire with no labour is not, so splitting erection, hire and dismantle on the invoice can reduce the amount deducted. Most contractors will deduct from the whole invoice unless the hire is clearly separated.
- How long is the hire period on a scaffold quote?
- Four weeks is the usual inclusive period for domestic work, with six to eight on larger re-roofs. After that scaffolders charge a weekly hire of roughly £60 to £150 depending on size. Put the end of the included period on the invoice as a date, not just a number of weeks.
- Do scaffolders charge VAT?
- A VAT-registered scaffolder charges 20% to private customers and applies the reverse charge to VAT-registered contractors under CIS. Scaffolding for a new dwelling can be zero rated when it is supplied with labour as part of the construction, but hire alone stays standard rated. Below £90,000 turnover no VAT applies.
More construction and building trades templates
- Plumber invoice template
- Electrician invoice template
- Builder invoice template
- Carpenter invoice template
- Joiner invoice template
- Painter and decorator invoice template
Other trades
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Cite this page: “Scaffolder invoice template (free UK example)”, SoleKit, https://solekit.co.uk/invoice-template/scaffolder