Welders who work for themselves or run small shops bill for fabrication, structural and repair work, mobile welding calls, and custom projects like gates, railings, trailers, and equipment repair. Clients include homeowners, farms, contractors, property managers, and manufacturers. An invoice needs to cover labor, materials, consumables, travel, and any certifications or inspections tied to the job.
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Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
Most independent welders charge hourly for repair and mobile work, often with a trip charge or a one-hour minimum. Shop fabrication is commonly quoted as a flat price per project based on estimated labor plus materials, with a markup on steel, aluminum, or stainless of roughly 10-30 percent. Gas, wire, rod, grinding discs, and other consumables are billed either as a flat percentage of labor or as a line item. Certified or code welding (structural, pipe, pressure vessel) earns higher rates than general repair, and TIG on aluminum or stainless costs more than MIG or stick on mild steel. Mobile rigs carry a premium for the truck, machine, and fuel. Large jobs may be billed in stages, with a deposit to cover material purchases.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile welding and repair (general) | per hour | $85-150 |
| Shop welding and fabrication | per hour | $65-110 |
| Certified structural or pipe welding | per hour | $90-175 |
| TIG welding (aluminum or stainless) | per hour | $80-140 |
| Trip or travel charge for mobile calls | flat fee or per mile | $50-125 flat, or $1-3 per mile |
| Custom gate or railing fabrication | per linear foot | $75-250 |
| Consumables (gas, wire, rod, discs) | percent of labor or flat fee | 5-15% or $15-60 |
| Minimum call-out charge | flat fee | $100-200 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile welding labor: repair cracked frame on skid steer bucket | 3.5 hours | $110.00 | $385.00 |
| Trip charge, 25 miles one way | 1 flat fee | $75.00 | $75.00 |
| 1/2 in. A36 plate and flat bar for reinforcement | 1 lot | $86.00 | $86.00 |
| Hardfacing rod and 7018 electrodes | 1 lot | $42.00 | $42.00 |
| Shielding gas, grinding and cutting discs | 1 flat fee | $35.00 | $35.00 |
| Total | $623.00 | ||
Notes: Payment due within 14 days of invoice date. Welds on this repair were visually inspected; no code certification was requested. Work warrantied for 30 days against workmanship defects, excluding misuse or overload. Late balances accrue 1.5% per month.
Mobile and repair jobs often involve several sites or machines, and a clear description ties the charge to specific work.
Shows the client what they paid for and supports different rates for aluminum, stainless, or certified work.
Clients often question drive time, so listing it separately, with the trip charge or mileage, heads off disputes.
Steel prices change, and itemizing materials, gas, and wire shows where the money went and lets you apply a markup openly.
Contractors and inspectors may require proof the work met a specified code, and it supports a higher rate.
Commercial and industrial customers usually cannot pay without a reference number matching their records.
Tax rules for materials and fabrication labor vary by state, so show how tax was handled and keep exemption paperwork if applicable.
Small repair jobs for homeowners and farms are often paid on completion by card, check, or cash app, sometimes before the truck leaves. Custom fabrication usually requires a deposit of 30-50 percent to buy material, with the balance due on delivery or pickup. Commercial accounts commonly run net 15 or net 30, and many shops add a late fee of 1-2 percent per month, stated in writing before the work starts. Larger projects can be billed in progress payments tied to milestones such as material delivery, fit-up, and final install. Some welders hold finished items until payment clears, which should be stated in the quote.
Fit-up, layout, cutting, grinding, setup, cleanup, and drive time are real labor. Bill an hourly rate that covers the whole job, or quote a flat price that does.
Steel, stainless, and aluminum are paid for up front by you. A deposit of 30-50 percent protects you if the customer backs out of a custom piece that no one else can use.
Short repairs still cost you the drive, the setup, and fuel for the rig. A one-hour minimum plus a trip charge keeps small jobs from losing money.
Customers often add a bracket, a second gate, or extra reinforcement mid-job. Send a short message or revised line item before doing the extra work and include it on the final invoice.
Keep supplier receipts matched to each job number. It makes markup defensible, speeds up commercial billing, and simplifies your taxes.
Hourly works best for repairs and unknowns, like a cracked frame where the extent of damage is unclear. Flat pricing suits fabrication with a clear drawing and known material list. If you quote flat, build in time for fit-up, finishing, and a margin for surprises.
Yes, most shops do. A markup of 10-30 percent is common to cover sourcing, cutting waste, delivery, and price changes. Show materials as a line item and be consistent so clients are not surprised.
Either add a flat percentage of labor, often 5-15 percent, or list gas, wire, and discs as separate items. A flat consumables line is simpler on small jobs, and itemizing is better on long jobs with heavy wire or gas use.
It depends on the state and on whether the job is a repair, new fabrication, or a construction contract. Many states tax materials, and some tax fabrication or repair labor. Check with your state revenue department or an accountant, and keep any customer exemption certificates.
Start with a written reminder that cites the invoice, the agreed price, and the due date. In many states, you can also file a mechanic's lien on certain types of construction work, or hold fabricated items until paid if your quote said so. For larger balances, consider small claims court or a demand letter.
Send a Welder estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Welder estimate template