Identify the client and project
Add the client company, project name, billing period, contract reference, and any purchase-order number the client requires.
Built for freelancers · Free · No sign-up
Free Freelance Invoice Generator
Bill hourly services, fixed-fee deliverables, and reimbursable expenses in one clear freelance invoice, then apply retainers or prior payments and download a ready-to-send PDF.
Your freelance draft stays on this device and is never uploaded.
Amount
subtotal:
Subtotal
Invoice total
Amount Due
Tax, business-registration, and invoice requirements vary by jurisdiction. Confirm the treatment that applies to your work.
Freelance billing guide
How to make a freelance invoice
A useful freelance invoice connects the client, project, billing period, and agreed pricing model. Separating hourly services, fixed-fee deliverables, and expenses helps the client approve the bill without guessing what was completed.
Separate how the work was priced
Record hours and hourly rates separately from fixed-price milestones, deliverables, and reimbursable expenses.
Apply retainers and payment terms
Show any retainer or deposit already paid, prior payments, due date, payment instructions, and the remaining amount due.
Freelance invoice checklist
- Freelancer and client names, addresses, and contact details
- Unique invoice number plus issue and due dates
- Project name, client PO or reference, and billing period
- Hourly tasks with dates or descriptions, hours, and rates
- Fixed-fee milestones, deliverables, and reimbursable expenses
- Applicable tax, retainer applied, prior payments, and payment instructions
Hourly vs. fixed-fee freelance invoices
Use the billing method agreed in the contract, and include enough evidence for the client to connect the charge to completed work.
| Billing method | How to calculate it | Useful supporting detail |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly work | Billable hours × agreed hourly rate | Task description, dates, or a time summary |
| Fixed-fee project | Agreed project or milestone fee | Deliverable, milestone, or acceptance status |
| Reimbursable expense | Approved quantity × actual or agreed cost | Receipt, approval, or client reference |
Worked example
Freelance invoice example
For a website copy refresh, a freelancer can combine a short strategy workshop, a fixed-fee writing milestone, and an approved project expense while showing the retainer already paid.
Content strategy workshop
2 hours × $125
Homepage and five service pages
1 milestone
Licensed stock image
1 × $80
Freelance invoice FAQs
What should a freelance invoice include?
Include your name or business, the client, an invoice number, issue and due dates, the project and billing period, an itemized description of work, hours or fixed fees, approved expenses, applicable tax, retainers or prior payments, payment instructions, and the amount due.
How do I invoice freelance work by the hour?
List each task or service, describe the work or billing period, enter the billable hours and agreed hourly rate, and keep any supporting time record required by the client.
How do I invoice a fixed-price project or milestone?
Name the deliverable or milestone, describe the completed scope, and enter the agreed fee. If the contract uses staged payments, invoice only the milestone that has become billable.
Should a freelance invoice include a client PO number?
Include the purchase-order or client reference when the client provided one or requires it for accounts-payable approval. If none applies, leave the field blank.
How do I show a retainer or deposit on an invoice?
Enter the full value of the billable work, then show the retainer or deposit already received as a separate amount reducing the balance due. Follow the treatment agreed in the contract.
Do freelancers need to charge tax?
It depends on the service, customer, registration status, and jurisdiction. Mark only the relevant sections as taxable and confirm the correct rate with local guidance or a qualified adviser.
When should a freelancer send an invoice?
Follow the contract: common triggers include project completion, a monthly billing date, delivery of a milestone, or the end of an agreed billing period.
Is my freelance invoice uploaded to a server?
No. The draft is stored locally in this browser, and the PDF is created on your device. No account is required.