Free contractor change order template

Keep the change separate from the original scope

A handwritten change order records a difference from work already discussed. Write the original estimate or agreement reference in the note area, including its date or version if there are several copies. Give the change its own number and date.

Describe the original item and the requested replacement or addition. “Replace the planned standard shelving with deeper shelves in the hall closet” tells the customer what differs. “Closet upgrade” leaves the detail open.

Show additions and credits on separate lines

Write added labor and materials clearly, including whether the customer supplies any materials. For work removed from the original scope, write a separate credit with a minus sign. Don’t bury a credit inside an unexplained new price.

Calculate the total adjustment by hand. On the printed form, label the total as the change amount. If you also write a revised project price, distinguish it from this one adjustment and include any earlier agreed changes in your calculation.

Example: change the shelves, keep the rest of the work

In this fictional closet job, the customer requests deeper shelves. The contractor adds $210 for revised materials and labor and credits $60 for shelving no longer being supplied. The net increase is $150. These are illustrative amounts, not recommended prices.

Write both lines on the form. A note can read: “Reference estimate EST-306. Deeper hall-closet shelves replace the standard shelves listed there. Other listed work remains as described. Confirm material availability and the installation date before proceeding.”

If the original price was $900 and this is the only agreed adjustment, the revised price would be $1,050. Check that $150 is labeled as the increase and $1,050 as the revised price. The template doesn’t calculate either figure.

Get the written version reviewed before extra work starts

Walk through the scope, price adjustment, and any effect on timing with the customer. Record what is agreed before proceeding with the changed work. The optional signature line gives space for handwritten acknowledgment; printing a form or adding your own signature doesn’t record the customer’s agreement.

Give the customer a copy of the reviewed version and keep a scan with the original document. If a detail changes during the discussion, make the correction readable on both copies. Follow up using the change number when a decision is still outstanding.

For a legal assessment of an agreement or signature, use a qualified professional. This page provides practical recordkeeping guidance and doesn’t promise that a template creates an enforceable agreement.

Avoid confusing the change with a new job or invoice

Don’t repeat the entire original price as an extra charge. Don’t leave removed items in both scopes. Check your later billing record against the agreed change so the same work isn’t billed twice.

The change order generator lets you enter changes and calculate the standalone adjustment digitally. The printable template leaves that information blank for handwriting. Neither should be confused with dedicated Change Orders inside the paid Cinderblock product.

This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your agreement and situation.