Invoice Example
Not sure what goes on an invoice or how to lay it out? Below are five filled-in invoice examples (service, hourly, product, deposit and international) with every part explained, so you can copy the structure for yours. Or make your own free below, no signup.
The parts of an invoice, explained
- Your business details and logo: who the invoice is from.
- Bill to: the client’s name and billing address.
- A unique invoice number: for your records and theirs.
- Issue date and due date: when it was sent and when payment is due.
- Line items: a description, quantity and rate for each product or service.
- Subtotal, tax and total: the amount owed.
Make your own invoice free
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Prefer a downloadable template?
Grab an invoice template in Word, Excel or PDF from the invoice template page.
Want the full explainer? Read how to write an invoice.
A second invoice example, billed hourly
Product invoices and service invoices are not laid out the same way. Here is what an invoice looks like for freelance or hourly work, where the line items are hours and a rate rather than units and a unit price.
- Design consultation, 3 hours at $85.00 per hour, $255.00
- Wireframes and revisions, 6.5 hours at $85.00 per hour, $552.50
- Early payment discount, -$40.00
- Subtotal $767.50, tax at 7% $53.73, total due $821.23
The structure is the same as any other invoice example: who it is from, who it is billed to, a number, dates, itemised charges, and a total. Only the unit changes, hours instead of quantity. A discount is shown as its own negative line rather than subtracted quietly, so the client can see exactly what changed.
More examples
Last updated October 2026. All businesses, names and amounts below are made up for illustration. Tax rules vary by country, so check yours.
A third example: products with tax and shipping
A small shop selling goods needs unit prices, a tax line and a shipping line. In this example the shipping charge is not taxed. Whether shipping is taxable depends on where you sell, so confirm the rule for your area.
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic planters, 15 cm | 6 | $18.00 | $108.00 |
| Potting mix, 5 litre bag | 2 | $7.50 | $15.00 |
| Subtotal | $123.00 | ||
| Shipping | $9.00 | ||
| Sales tax (7% on goods) | $8.61 | ||
| Total due | $140.61 |
A fourth example: a deposit invoice and a final invoice
For larger projects you often bill twice. The first invoice collects the deposit, and the final invoice credits it so the client sees exactly what is left to pay.
| Invoice | Line | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INV-2026-021 (deposit) | Website design and build, 50% deposit on a $4,000 project | $2,000.00 |
| INV-2026-029 (final) | Website design and build, project total | $4,000.00 |
| INV-2026-029 (final) | Less deposit paid on INV-2026-021 | -$2,000.00 |
| INV-2026-029 (final) | Balance due on launch | $2,000.00 |
A fifth example: an international invoice
When your client is in another country, the currency and the payment details need extra care.
| Detail | Example |
|---|---|
| From | Lena Ortiz Translation, Austin, Texas, USA |
| Bill to | Brandt GmbH, Berlin, Germany |
| Currency | Euro (EUR), shown on every amount |
| Line item | Translation, 5,000 words at EUR 0.09 per word, EUR 450.00 |
| Total due | EUR 450.00 |
| Payment terms | Net 30 |
| Bank details | Account name, IBAN and SWIFT/BIC code |
State the currency next to every figure, include the IBAN and SWIFT/BIC so the client can send a transfer, and say who pays the bank fees. The tax treatment of services sold across borders varies, so check with an accountant before you send your first one.
How do you read any invoice in 30 seconds?
- Who sent it, and who is it addressed to.
- What was bought, line by line.
- How much is owed, after any tax or discount.
- When the money is due.
- How to pay, including the account or link.
If an invoice you send fails one of those five checks, the client will have to email you, and payment slows down.
Which mistakes appear when people copy invoice examples?
- Leaving placeholder text such as Your Company Name in the final PDF.
- Copying an example from another country and missing a tax number your country requires.
- Reusing an invoice number from the example.
- Dropping the due date because the example did not stress it.
- Hiding a discount inside the price instead of showing it as its own line.
For the full rules, read how to write an invoice. Freelancers can also use how to invoice as a freelancer, and tradespeople the contractor invoice generator. If you are choosing payment terms, see what Net 30 means.
Frequently asked questions
What does an invoice look like?
An invoice shows who it’s from and who’s billed, a unique number, the date and due date, an itemised list of what’s being charged, and the subtotal, tax and total, as in the example above.
What should an invoice include?
Your details, the client’s details, an invoice number, issue and due dates, itemised line items, and the totals with any tax. See how to write an invoice.
Can I make an invoice like this for free?
Yes. Use our free invoice generator (no signup) or download an invoice template.
Is there an example of an invoice for hourly or freelance work?
Yes, the second example above is billed hourly rather than by unit. Everything else on it, the numbering, dates and totals, works the same as a product-based invoice.
What is an example of a simple invoice?
A simple invoice shows your business details, the client details, an invoice number, the issue and due dates, one or more itemised lines with quantity and rate, and the total. The first example on this page is a basic one.
What does a deposit invoice look like?
It bills a percentage of the project, such as 50%, before work starts. The final invoice then shows the full project total, subtracts the deposit already paid and lists the balance due.
How do I write an invoice for an international client?
Show the currency on every amount, include the bank details the client needs for a transfer, such as IBAN and SWIFT/BIC, and say who pays the bank fees. Check the tax treatment with an accountant, because it varies by country.
How do I show a discount on an invoice?
Add it as its own negative line, for example Early payment discount, -$40.00, so the client can see exactly what changed. Do not quietly lower the unit price.
Weighing this up against other tools? See Invoice Generator alternatives compared.