Click any text on the invoice to edit itLetter and A4 · Portrait
What to include on an invoice: the eight required parts
Eight elements clients, accountants and tax offices expect to see. The generator above builds every one of them for you.
1
The word "Invoice"
Say what the document is at a glance. The generator sets the title and header layout, so the page reads as a bill, not a quote or a receipt.
2
A unique invoice number
Sequential and never reused. INV-2026-001 style numbering keeps your records clean, and the suggested number is yours to overwrite.
3
Issue date and due date
When it was sent and when it is payable. The due date is what makes payment terms like Net 30 enforceable.
4
Your details and your client's
Business names, addresses and email, plus a tax ID, VAT number or EIN where your tax system expects one.
5
Line items
A clear description, quantity and rate per line. The live calculation handles per-line discount and tax as you type.
6
Subtotal, tax and total
The numbers your client checks first. Everything recalculates instantly, so the math on the page is never stale.
7
How to pay
Payment terms, bank details and an optional QR payment link, so the client can act the moment they open the invoice.
8
Notes and signature
A short thank-you or late-fee note, and a signature that makes the document feel finished and final.
How to write an invoice, step by step
There is no wizard to click through. The invoice itself is the form, and a rail of five panels on the left (a tab bar along the bottom on phone) holds everything else.
- Click any text on the document and type: business name, client, dates, line items, totals. The invoice updates as you go, with no separate fields to fill in first.
- Templates switches the design. Your data carries over; only the look changes.
- Style sets the accent color, font, logo and signature.
- Fields shows or hides parts of the document: tax, discount, PO number, shipping, notes.
- Payment adds a bank, a payment link or a QR code, plus the late fee.
- Extras covers what is left: work photos, watermark and the rest.
- Review & Export runs a document check, then downloads a PDF, PNG, CSV or JSON.
What this free invoice generator does
The features that decide whether an invoice maker actually saves you time: all of them built in, all of them free. Pick one of 46 trades and the line items that trade bills, in the units it bills in, are already on the invoice: change the figures, add your logo, export.
Live previewThe invoice updates with every keystroke, so what you see on screen is exactly what exports.
Six professional templatesSwitch the design at any point; your data stays put while the look changes.
Per-line tax and discountQuantity, rate, discount % and tax % on every row, totalled live, no formulas to check.
Digital signatureType it or draw it in the Branding step; it lands on the PDF like ink.
QR payment linkPaste a payment URL and clients scan straight from the printed page: fewer steps, faster payment.
One-click exportA print-perfect PDF generated in your browser, plus PNG, JSON and CSV when you need data, not paper.
Any currencyPick a currency and every amount, subtotal and total follows it, ready for clients anywhere.
Private by designNo account and no upload: every field and calculation stays on your device, always.
Prefer to start with a
ready-made invoice template?
Rather work from a finished design than a blank form? The Invoice Template Studio has 200 free invoice templates you can edit straight in the browser, then export as the same print-perfect PDF.
- 200 professional designs, from plain and compliance-ready to bold and creative
- Click any field and type: your logo, accent color and fonts carry across every design
- Free, no signup and no watermark, with nothing you type ever stored
Invoice generator, invoice template or accounting software: which to use?
Three ways to produce an invoice, each right for a different moment.
This generatorThe fastest route from blank page to sent
invoice: fill in the fields, watch the live preview, export a PDF. Free, no account, and
nothing you type leaves your browser. Right when you need to bill someone today.
An editable templateWord processors and spreadsheets can
produce a basic invoice, but you check the math yourself and the layout drifts every time
you edit. Browser-editable designs in the Template Studio keep the math live and the layout
locked. Right when the look matters.
Accounting softwareFull accounting suites earn their keep
once you need bookkeeping, expense tracking and reports across many clients, but they
bring accounts, subscriptions and setup that plain invoicing does not need. Start free here;
graduate when the paperwork does.
From quote to invoice to receipt: one billing workflow
An invoice is the middle of the job, not the whole of it. These free tools cover the steps on either side: all client-side, and none of them store your data.
Quote GeneratorPropose the price before the work, then convert an approved quote into an invoice.
Receipt MakerAfter payment lands, hand over proof, with a PAID stamp and change due for cash.
Invoice Template Studio200 editable invoice designs when you want a specific look. Click any field and type.
Sales Tax CalculatorConfirm the state and local rate before it goes on the invoice.
VAT CalculatorAdd or remove VAT for international clients, with rates for 40 countries built in.
Profit Margin CalculatorCheck the job still makes money after costs before you commit to the price.
Using the generator, answered
How should I number my invoices?
Use a unique, sequential number for every invoice and never reuse one. A simple pattern like INV-2026-001, a year prefix plus a running count, keeps your records tidy and makes any invoice easy to find later. The generator suggests a number automatically, and you can overwrite it with your own scheme.
Can I make an invoice on my phone?
Yes. The generator runs in your phone's browser with no app to install. Fill in the details, tap Preview to check the document, then print or save it as a PDF from the same screen. iPhone, Android and iPad all work, and nothing you type leaves the device.
What payment terms should I put on an invoice?
Net 30, payment within 30 days, is the common default, but freelancers and small studios often use Net 14, Net 7 or due-on-receipt for smaller jobs. State the terms and the due date on every invoice, and mention any late-fee policy up front; clear terms consistently move payment dates earlier.
Can I add my logo and a signature?
Yes. Upload your logo in the first step (PNG, SVG or JPG) and add a signature in the Branding step. Both appear on the live preview instantly and come through in the exported PDF.
What is the difference between an invoice, a quote and a receipt?
A quote proposes a price before the work, an invoice requests payment for work delivered, and a receipt proves the payment happened. InvoiceTools has a free tool for each step: the Quote Generator, this invoice generator, and the Receipt Maker.
Which currency can I invoice in?
Any currency: choose it in the invoice details and the symbol and totals follow. Billing clients abroad? Check the tax side with the free VAT Calculator or GST Calculator, which covers rates for 40 countries.
How many invoices can I create?
As many as you need. There is no cap, no watermark and no paid tier. Every invoice you create here is free.
How do I make an invoice for free?
Use a free browser-based invoice generator like this one: enter your business details, add line items, and export a print-perfect PDF. There is no signup, no watermark and no trial clock. The whole flow takes a few minutes. Coming from a paid app? The honest Invoice Simple and Wave comparisons lay out the trade.
How do I invoice as a freelancer without a registered company?
Invoice under your own legal name: put your name where a business name would go, add your address and contact details, and include your personal tax ID where your country expects one. The invoice is just as valid.
Is it legal to create your own invoice?
Yes. An invoice is a document you issue, not a government form. It is legal as long as it contains what your tax system requires: who billed whom, what for, when, for how much, and the applicable tax.
How do I send an invoice by email?
Export the PDF and attach it to a short, direct email. Put the invoice number, amount and due date in the subject line, for example 'Invoice INV-2026-001 · $1,250 · due Sep 15', so the client can find it in their inbox months later.
What should I look for in a free invoice generator?
Four things: genuinely free output with no watermark or trial, live totals so you never check the math by hand, tax and discount handled per line, and, most overlooked, privacy: prefer a tool where nothing you type leaves your browser.
Can I use this invoice generator for international clients?
Yes: set the currency, add your client's details and tax ID, and include VAT or GST where it applies. The free VAT Calculator or GST Calculator covers current rates for 40 countries if you need to check one.
Is this an invoice maker, an invoice builder or an invoice generator?
All three, because they are the same thing under different names. Whether you searched for an invoice maker, an invoice builder, a free bill generator or a way to generate an invoice online, this is the page: add the lines, set the tax, and create the invoice free with no account. How to create an invoice from scratch is covered step by step in the guide linked below, but most people do not need it; the document opens filled in for your trade and you edit rather than start.
Invoice questions, answered
The fourteen invoicing questions we are asked most, each answered in two sentences.
Terms used on an invoice
Each one has its own page in the glossary: InvoiceInvoice numberReceiptNet 30Proforma invoiceTax invoiceCredit noteRemittance advicePayment terms. For how to write one, see the step-by-step section above.
What is the difference between an invoice and a bill?
They describe the same document from two sides. The business issuing it calls it an invoice, and the customer receiving it calls it a bill. The wording changes with the point of view, not the content.
What is a commercial invoice?
A commercial invoice is used for international shipments. It declares the goods, their value and origin to customs, and decides the duties and taxes charged when the shipment crosses a border.
When should you send an invoice?
Send it as soon as the work is delivered or the milestone is reached. Same-day invoicing is the single most effective way to get paid sooner, because the value of the work is still fresh for the client.
Do you have to charge tax on an invoice?
It depends on where you are, what you sell and whether you are registered for sales tax, VAT or GST. If you are registered, show the rate and amount as a separate line. If you are not, no tax line is needed.
How long should you keep invoices?
Most tax authorities expect business records to be kept for several years, commonly between five and seven. Because rules vary by country, keep a complete archive of both issued and received invoices and check your local requirement.
Is a handwritten or emailed invoice legally valid?
Yes. An invoice is valid on its contents, not its format, so a PDF, a printed page or a handwritten note all count as long as the required details are present and accurate.
How do I make a PDF invoice?
Fill in the form and export. The PDF is built in your browser, so nothing is uploaded and the file downloads straight to your device, ready to attach to an email.
What should an invoice number look like?
Anything sequential and unique, with no gaps. INV-2026-0001 works well because it sorts correctly and shows the year at a glance. What matters to an accountant or an auditor is that the sequence runs unbroken.
How do I know if my client opened the invoice?
Send it as a link from your account instead of downloading it, and the document gets its own page. You see when it was opened, how long they stayed on it and which lines they questioned, all on your dashboard. The first four documents you send that way are free with an account. Building and downloading is free with no account and stores nothing.
Can a client sign an invoice online?
Yes. Sent as a tracked link, your client signs on the page with a finger or a mouse, with no account and nothing to install. The signature is kept with the document along with the date, the time and the address it came from, and it appears on the copy you export.
Where can I read more about tracking and signing?
The invoice tracking page sets out what is recorded, what is stored and what stays free with no account.