Tailoring Invoice Template: Alterations Price List
Tailoring invoice template for alterations shops and seamstresses: per-garment pricing, rush fees, pickup dates and unclaimed item policy, with an example.
Quick answer: A tailoring invoice template bills a customer for alterations or custom tailoring. It lists each garment, the work done on it (hem, take in, zipper replacement), the price per task, materials, any rush fee, fittings, the deposit paid and the balance, plus the drop-off and pickup dates and your unclaimed item policy.
Alterations work is small-ticket and high-volume: a dozen hems, a jacket sleeve, a bridesmaid dress with a deadline. The paperwork has to be fast, and it has to protect you when a garment goes unclaimed or a customer disputes the price. This guide shows what to put on an alterations invoice, a per-garment pricing structure, and a worked example.
What is a tailoring or alterations invoice?
An alterations invoice is a bill from a tailor, seamstress or alterations shop for modifying garments. It is often combined with the claim ticket the customer gets at drop-off: the ticket records what will be done and the price, and the invoice (or receipt) confirms the final charges at pickup. Custom tailoring, where you make a garment from scratch, follows the same pattern with a larger deposit.
Who uses it:
- Independent tailors and home-based seamstresses
- Alterations counters inside dry cleaners and bridal shops
- Costume and uniform alteration services billing businesses
- Custom suit and dressmakers
Service businesses with similar walk-in workflows, like salons, use comparable paperwork; see the salon invoice template.
What to include on a tailoring invoice
| Field | Example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shop details | Name, address, phone, hours | Customer knows where to pick up |
| Ticket or invoice number | ALT-4821 | Matches the tag on the garment |
| Customer | Name and phone | For pickup and reminders |
| Drop-off and promised date | Oct 21, ready Oct 28 | Sets expectations |
| Garment lines | Garment, color or tag, task, price | Itemized pricing |
| Measurements or notes | Hem to 30.5 in, break at shoe | Prevents disputes |
| Materials | Zipper, buttons, lining fabric | May be taxed differently |
| Fees | Rush fee, extra fittings | Visible extras |
| Deposit and balance | Deposit paid, balance at pickup | Clear payment status |
| Policies | Unclaimed items, adjustments window | Protects the shop |
How much do alterations cost? A per-garment price list
Prices vary widely by city, fabric and garment construction, and there is no official national survey, so the table below is illustrative only. It shows how a shop can structure prices so invoices are consistent.
| Garment and task | Illustrative price |
|---|---|
| Pants hem, plain | $15 to $20 |
| Pants hem, cuffed or with original hem | $22 to $30 |
| Jeans hem, original hem kept | $20 to $28 |
| Take in or let out waist | $20 to $35 |
| Jacket sleeves shortened (plain) | $25 to $40 |
| Jacket sleeves shortened (working buttonholes) | $50 to $80 |
| Shirt taper (sides) | $20 to $30 |
| Zipper replacement (pants or skirt) | $18 to $30 |
| Dress hem, lined | $30 to $55 |
| Bridal gown alterations | Quoted after fitting |
Turn your own prices into a printed price list at the counter. When customers see the list, invoice disputes drop sharply.
Pickup, unclaimed garments and policies
Unclaimed garments are a real cost: rack space, liability and unpaid work. Put your policy on every ticket and invoice. A typical clause: "Garments not picked up within 60 days of the ready date may be donated. We will contact you by phone and text before that date." Some states have rules on unclaimed property held by service businesses, including how and when you must notify the owner, so check your state's requirements before disposing of items.
Other policies worth printing on the invoice:
- Payment due at pickup, deposit required for bridal and formalwear.
- Adjustments free within 7 days if the garment has not been worn or washed.
- Liability limits for garments with no care label or with pre-existing damage.
- Rush service pricing and availability. See our guide on rush fees.
Example alterations invoice
A customer drops off items for a wedding, including a rush job on a suit. Prices are illustrative.
Invoice ALT-4821 | Stitch and Press Alterations, Austin, TX | Drop-off: October 21, 2026 | Ready: October 25, 2026 (rush) | Issued at pickup: October 25, 2026
Customer: Marcus Bell, (512) 555-0147
| Garment | Work | Qty | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy suit jacket | Shorten sleeves, working buttonholes | 1 | $65.00 | $65.00 |
| Navy suit jacket | Take in back seam | 1 | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| Navy suit trousers | Hem with slight break, take in waist | 1 | $45.00 | $45.00 |
| Dress shirts (white, blue) | Taper sides | 2 | $25.00 | $50.00 |
| Chinos (khaki) | Plain hem | 2 | $18.00 | $36.00 |
| Materials | Replacement zipper, chinos (approved at drop-off) | 1 | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| Rush fee | 4-day turnaround on suit (25% of $140) | 1 | $35.00 | $35.00 |
| Subtotal | $267.00 | |||
| Sales tax 8.25% (illustrative; check whether your state taxes alterations) | $22.03 | |||
| Total | $289.03 | |||
| Less deposit paid at drop-off | -$100.00 | |||
| Balance due at pickup | $189.03 | |||
The rush fee is 25% of the suit work only ($65 + $30 + $45 = $140), not the whole order, which is fairer and easier to explain. The tax line is illustrative: some states treat alterations as a taxable repair service and others do not, so verify the rule with your state revenue department, such as the Texas Comptroller sales tax pages if you work in Texas. Our sales tax on services by state overview is a useful starting point, and the sales tax calculator checks the math.
How to invoice alterations step by step
- Write the ticket at drop-off with garments, tasks, measurements and the promised date.
- Quote and collect any deposit, and give the customer a copy.
- Tag each garment with the ticket number.
- Note extra work discovered during the job and get approval before doing it.
- Prepare the invoice in the free invoice generator, or keep a template for repeat use.
- Notify the customer when ready, and log the notice date for your unclaimed policy.
- Collect the balance and give a receipt; our payment receipt template works for walk-in customers.
Business accounts: costume, uniform and boutique work
Theaters, uniform programs, bridal boutiques and dry cleaners may send you steady work and pay on account. For them, issue numbered invoices per batch or per week, include their PO or job reference, and send a monthly statement. Agree payment terms such as net 15 or net 30; our guide to net 30 payment terms explains how to word them. For recurring weekly batches, the recurring invoices guide helps you keep a rhythm.
Bridal and custom tailoring: deposits and fitting schedules
Wedding dresses and custom suits are the high-value end of alterations work and need more structure than a claim ticket. A typical bridal workflow:
- Consultation and first fitting. Pin the gown, agree the work list and quote a package price.
- Deposit invoice. Often 50% of the quote, non-refundable once work begins.
- Second fitting. Check the hem, bustle and fit; note any changes in writing.
- Final fitting and pickup. Balance invoice, with any approved extras added as separate lines.
Here is how a bridal invoice might look (prices illustrative):
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hem, three layers with horsehair braid | $180.00 |
| Take in bodice at side seams | $95.00 |
| French bustle, 5 points | $85.00 |
| Add cups | $30.00 |
| Steaming and pressing | $60.00 |
| Total | $450.00 |
| Less deposit | -$225.00 |
| Balance at final fitting | $225.00 |
Give the bride a schedule of fittings with dates on the deposit invoice, and state what happens if a fitting is missed or the event date moves.
Custom garments and materials
When you make a garment from scratch, the customer is buying both labor and goods. List fabric, lining, interfacing and notions as material lines (yardage x price per yard) and pattern drafting and construction as labor. This makes the invoice easier to understand and helps with sales tax, since materials incorporated into a new garment are usually taxable in states with sales tax, even where alteration labor is not.
Common tailoring invoice mistakes
- No measurements on the ticket, which turns "too short" into an argument.
- One total for many garments with no itemization.
- Doing extra work without approval, then adding it to the bill.
- No unclaimed item policy printed on the ticket.
- Rush fees not agreed at drop-off.
- Ignoring sales tax rules in states that tax alterations.
Turnaround times, rush pricing and seasonal demand
Alterations demand is lumpy: graduation, prom and wedding season can triple your workload. Publish standard turnaround times and price faster service so customers self-select.
| Service level | Turnaround | Illustrative pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 5 to 7 business days | Price list |
| Express | 2 to 3 business days | Price list + 25% |
| Same or next day | Within 24 hours | Price list + 50%, subject to availability |
| Bridal and formalwear | 4 to 8 weeks with fittings | Quoted package |
Write the service level and promised date on the ticket and invoice. If you miss a promised rush date, waive the rush fee; customers remember that, and it keeps your pricing credible.
Payment methods and deposits at the counter
Small alteration shops increasingly take cards and tap-to-pay at the counter, plus cash and digital wallets. A few practical rules:
- Take deposits by card at drop-off for any job over a set amount, for example $100.
- Note the deposit amount and method on the ticket, so whoever is at the counter at pickup can see it.
- Collect the balance before releasing garments.
- For business accounts, issue a numbered invoice and accept ACH or check on agreed terms.
If you use a phone or tablet for payments, our guide to card readers for small businesses compares the common options.
Create your alterations invoice
A tailoring invoice template with per-garment lines, measurements, a visible rush fee and a printed pickup policy makes each job easy to price and easy to defend. If you keep a separate cleaning or laundry service, a service invoice template keeps those bills consistent too. Create yours in our free invoice generator: no sign-up, the PDF is built in your browser, and you can download it, print it and hand it over at the counter.
Frequently asked questions
How do tailors price alterations?
Most alterations are priced per garment and per task, using a price list: hemming pants, taking in a waist, shortening sleeves, replacing a zipper. Complex work like wedding dress alterations is often quoted after a fitting, sometimes with a package price covering several fittings. Rates vary a lot by city and fabric, and delicate or lined garments usually cost more than simple cotton pieces.
Should an alterations shop take a deposit?
For small everyday jobs, many shops collect payment at pickup. For bridal, formalwear and custom tailoring, a deposit is common, often 50%, because the work takes many hours and the garment cannot be resold if the client disappears. Write the deposit on the ticket or invoice at drop-off and show it as a deduction on the final bill.
What happens to clothes that are never picked up?
Most shops post a policy, such as items not picked up within 60 or 90 days may be donated or disposed of, and print it on the claim ticket. Some states have specific laws on unclaimed property held by service businesses, including notice requirements, so check your state's rules. Contact the client in writing before disposing of anything, and keep a record of the notices.
Is there sales tax on alterations?
It depends on the state. Some states tax alterations and repair labor on clothing as a taxable service, others exempt it, and some tax only materials like zippers and buttons. If you sell new garments or accessories, those are usually taxable. Check your state's guidance and itemize labor and materials separately so the right tax applies to each line.
Should I charge for a fitting?
Many shops include fittings in the alteration price for standard work but charge for extra fittings caused by client changes, weight changes, or missed appointments. Bridal packages often include a set number of fittings. If you charge separately, list fittings as their own line with the date, so the client can see when each visit happened.
What is a rush fee for alterations?
A rush fee is an extra charge for finishing work faster than your normal turnaround, such as same-day or next-day hems for an event. Shops often add a flat amount per garment or a percentage of the alteration price. State the normal turnaround and rush pricing on your price list, and confirm the rush fee when the garment is dropped off.
Do tailors need an invoice or just a receipt?
Walk-in customers who pay at pickup usually need only a receipt that lists the garments and work done. Invoices matter for business accounts: costume departments, uniform programs, theaters, bridal boutiques and dry cleaners that send work to you. They need numbered invoices with due dates for their own records, and may want monthly statements.
What if a customer is unhappy with an alteration?
Most shops offer free adjustments within a short window if the work does not match what was agreed, as long as the garment has not been worn or washed. Writing the measurements and requested changes on the ticket at drop-off is the best protection. If you adjust for free, note it on the original invoice or ticket rather than issuing a new bill.
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Guides on invoicing, cash flow and small-business finance from Invoice Creator, operated by Next Software Development Company. Content is reviewed for accuracy against the fields our own invoice generator produces.
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