Creative Freelancer Hourly Invoice Template
An hourly invoice with an editorial feel. Rate and hours per line, room for a package discount, and full bank details up top. Fill it in and download as PDF.
Preview
Hourly work needs two numbers per line: the rate and the hours. if you show only the total, your clients will most likely question it.
This template shows the rate and the hours, in a serif face with wide-tracked labels that gives the page an editorial feel rather than an administrative one. The bank details sit right under your name at the top, aligned on the same label column, so the whole "who to pay" block reads as one thing. At the foot of the table there is room for adjustments, which is where a package discount goes so it is visible rather than buried in a lower rate.
What this hourly invoice includes
A wide-tracked INVOICE title with the invoice number beneath it
A Billed to line for the client
A Pay to block with your name, address and phone number
Bank, account name, sort code or BSB, and account number, aligned on the same label column
A four-column table: Description, Rate, Hours and Amount
A line amount that works itself out from the rate and hours
A Sub-Total row, one or more optional adjustment rows such as a package discount, then the Total
A payment terms paragraph and a closing line
How to create your hourly invoice
Open the template and click Generate.
Enter the client name and your own Pay to details.
Fill in the bank block. The sort code label is editable, so it can read BSB, Sort Code, Routing or IFSC depending on where you bank.
Add one row per task, with your hourly rate and the hours you worked.
Add a discount row if you are giving one. Enter it as a negative amount so it subtracts.
Write your payment terms, then generate and download the PDF.
Who this hourly invoice is for
Web designers and developers, copywriters, editors, consultants and any freelancer who bills time. It suits people who work at more than one rate, since each line carries its own, and anyone who discounts a bundle of hours and wants the discount stated openly.
Note: This template is provided for convenience and general information only and is not legal, tax or accounting advice. What an invoice must show, whether you need to charge sales tax and how long you must keep copies depend on where you and your client are based. Check your local rules, or ask your accountant, if you are unsure.
- Professional formatting and layout
- Easy customization with guided questions
- Multiple export formats: pdf
- Legally reviewed and compliant
- Instant download after generation
Can I bill at more than one hourly rate on the same invoice?
Yes, and that is the point of putting the rate on each line. Design at one rate and development at another sit on separate rows with their own rate and hours, and each line amount is worked out from its own pair. Clients rarely argue with a rate they can see attached to the specific work it applied to.
How do I show a discount?
Add an adjustment row between the sub-total and the total, label it, and enter the amount with a minus sign, for example -$375.00. Showing the discount rather than quietly lowering your rate protects your rate for the next project and lets the client see the value of the package they bought.
What is the sort code label for?
Different countries name the routing field differently: BSB in Australia, Sort Code in the UK, Routing Number in the US, IFSC in India. Rather than forcing one label, the template lets you type the right one, so the invoice reads correctly to whoever is making the payment and to their bank.
There is no tax line. Can I still charge tax?
Add it as an adjustment row, labelled with the rate, for example 'VAT 20%' with the amount beside it. The adjustment rows sit between the sub-total and the total, which is exactly where a tax line belongs. If you charge tax on every invoice, a template with a built-in tax field will be less work.
Is the amount column calculated?
Yes. Each amount is your rate multiplied by the hours on that line, and the sub-total adds those amounts up. Both are recalculated when the document is generated, so correcting an hours figure at the last minute cannot leave a stale total behind.
Why is the typeface a serif?
It is what gives this layout its character: a serif body with wide-tracked sans labels reads as considered rather than administrative, which suits creative work. If you theme the template, the Editorial or Classic font pairing preserves that; choosing Poppins turns it into a plain sans invoice, which is a different template really.
How precise should the hours be?
Round to whatever unit your contract states, usually a quarter or a half hour, and be consistent. Fractions like 4.25 render fine. What matters more than the precision is that the hours on the invoice match whatever tracking you can produce if asked, so bill from your timesheet rather than from memory.
Where do I put the payment deadline?
In the payment terms paragraph at the foot, which is prominent enough to be read. Give a number of days from the invoice date and say where to send remittance advice. If a specific calendar date matters more to you than a window, write the date into the same sentence so there is nothing for the client to work out.
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