How graphic designers usually charge
Most design work is priced as a project fee for a defined set of deliverables, such as a logo, a brand guide or a packaging range. The fee usually covers a set number of revision rounds. Extra rounds, small edits after sign off and rush deadlines are charged on top, and many designers take a deposit before starting.
- Project fee: one price per deliverable or per package, agreed in the quote.
- Revision rounds: for example, two rounds included, with a set price for each extra round.
- Hourly work: used for small changes after the project closes, or for open ended art direction.
- Pass through costs: stock images, font licenses and printing, at cost or with a handling fee if your quote said so.
- Deposit: a share of the fee, such as 30 or 50 percent, set in your agreement and invoiced at kickoff.
Graphic design invoice template line items and example prices
The table lists line items designers often use, with example prices for illustration only. Your prices depend on the client and the brief. What matters on the invoice is that each line names the deliverable, so the client can tick it off against the quote.
| Line item | How it is usually charged | Example price |
|---|---|---|
| Logo design, three initial concepts | Fixed project fee | $1,800 (example) |
| Brand style guide, 12 pages | Fixed fee | $950 (example) |
| Extra revision round | Per round beyond the two included | $150 per round (example) |
| Stock photo license, standard | At cost | $49 (example) |
| Rush delivery in 3 business days | Flat surcharge | $250 (example) |
| Small edits after sign off | Hourly | $85 per hour (example) |
Details to put on a graphic designer invoice
A design invoice should let the client match every line to the brief they approved. Beyond the usual business details, invoice number, dates and totals, many designers include the project name, the deliverables and file formats, the revision rounds used against those included, and the deposit already received.
- Deliverables and formats: for example, “Primary logo, stacked logo and icon, supplied as SVG, PNG and PDF.”
- Revision count: “Rounds used: 3 of 2 included” explains the extra round line at a glance.
- Rights on payment: if your agreement says ownership or a license passes when the invoice is paid, repeat that in a short note.
- Third party licenses: say who holds the font or stock license, so the client knows what they can reuse.
- Deposit: the deposit invoice number, date and amount, with the balance due.
Deposit invoice first, balance invoice at handover
Splitting a project into a deposit invoice and a final invoice protects your time and gives the client a clear record. The deposit invoice goes out when the quote is accepted and the work starts when it is paid. The final invoice lists the full project, shows the deposit paid, and asks for the balance before final files are released.
Our guide to deposit invoices and how to word them walks through the numbering, and if you send the quote first, WhizQuote makes a free matching quote.
Common graphic design invoicing mistakes
Design invoices go wrong when the scope on the quote and the work actually done drift apart without anyone writing it down. A short revision log and a habit of confirming extra requests by email solve most of it. These are the slips designers make most often, and how to avoid each one.
- Not counting revision rounds. If you never told the client they used a fourth round, the extra line looks like a surprise.
- Leaving the deposit off the final invoice, so the client thinks they are paying the full fee twice.
- Handing over source files before payment without saying in your terms when files are released.
- Buying fonts or stock under your own account and not saying who can use them afterward.
- Writing “design work” as the only line. List the logo, guide and templates separately.
How to use our template and generator
You can download the design template from this page as a Word, Excel or PDF file, or start from the prefilled graphic designer sample in our free generator. The sample bills a small bakery brand project. Edit the details and lines, add your logo, then download a PDF.
The Bold and Band designs carry a strong color, which suits studios that want the invoice to look like part of their brand. For more layouts, browse every free invoice template. Designers who also build sites can use the website invoice with milestones, and anyone working alongside photographers may find the photographer invoice useful for comparison.
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