Free Change Order Template

Create and print a change order form using Excel or Google Sheets in just minutes.

As part of our mission at BuildBook to help the construction industry build better, we created this free printable construction change order form template as a quick and easy way for home builders and remodelers to create and capture approval for changes during a project.

It's a simple-to-learn and can be used in either Excel or Google Sheets for easy creation and change order tracking. Download it for free below and create a change order in just minutes.

Download Change Order Template

Here's everything included with this free construction change order template

1. A full set of step-by-step instructions that will guide you through every action
2. Project and company input sheet to customize the form to your brand and company
3. Itemized worksheet to account for every line item required in the scope of the change request
4. Built-in formulas to generate unit and total costs with quantity and markup
5. Detailed change order summary that is formatted for PDF download or print
6. Signature blocks for easy change order approval and tracking

Create, Print, & Share Your Change Order in just minutes

This construction change order form for residential construction has been designed by as a quick and easy-to-use way to create a change order for your construction projects in a printable format and send it out for approval in minutes! It's as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Personalize

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Add your brand and customize the change order for each project and client you use it for.

2. Create

Add a description and list out each line item with costs and the template will do the rest.

3. Print

Your change order is ready to be saved, printed, and shared for approval.

Learn more about change orders

What is a construction change order?

A construction change order is a great tool to document and manage change requests from clients on the project. Some change requests are optional – like a client who decides they want to make the master bedroom larger. But others are not – like discovering the roof is leaking. Changes typically impact the budget and timeline.

A change order helps you document the details of exactly what needs to be done, what it will cost, how long it will take, and who is responsible for payment. Approved change orders become part of the original residential construction contract for the job.

What information should be included on a change order?

A properly structured change order should be descriptive of the work being done and have enough information to determine the cost and timeline impact, if any, on the project.

A change order should contain the following information:

• Project and contact information
• Relevant dates, such as the date the change order was submitted and the approval date
• Work details, including the reason why the work is needed. Attach any relevant photos and documents.
• Updated schedule information, such as the number of days to complete the work and revised estimated completion date.
• Cost breakdown of the change including positive and negative charges, tax, insurance, etc.
• The updated contract value. Include the original contract budget, the value of all approved change orders to date, and the amount of the current change order.
• A place for signatures, including the name, title, and date of those who are responsible for approving the change.

Tips for setting up your construction change order template

Below are some helpful tips to follow after you've downloaded our change order template:

• After you’ve opened the BuildBook Construction Change Order Template, you’ll first need to save a copy to your own account so you can privately access and save multiple versions for each project.
• In the construction change order template, you’ll notice some sample data to help you see how the information flows from one tab to another.
• For each construction change order you make, save a new copy of the file and give it a name corresponding to each client and project. This will make organizing them easier and will allow you to quickly find, amend, and make new ones for existing clients.
• The last step in using the construction change order template is exporting the PDF, a digital format convenient for emailing to clients. While the Google Sheets is generally great for team sharing, a PDF is better suited for client interaction where you want a non-editable official document. Sending the entire construction change order template to a client through a web link would be overwhelming and difficult to manage changes.

What is a construction change order?

A construction change order is a form that is used in construction to document, capture approval, and manage changes that are outside of the original scope of a construction project. Requests for change can be driven by a client – like a client who decides they want to make the master bedroom larger when the project is already underway. Or, they are driven by unforeseen factors during a project – like discovering the roof is leaking.

Changes typically impact the project budget and construction timeline. A change order helps to document the details of exactly what needs to be done, what it will cost, how long it will take, and who is responsible for payment. Approved change orders expand the project scope and become part of the original residential construction contract for the job.

Change order example

Depending on the type of project, changes, and a variety of other factors, change orders can vary greatly on what they look like and what is included. The most basic items that a change order should cover are:

1. Project and contact information.
2. Relevant dates, such as the date the change order was requested and approved.
3. Change request details, i.e. what the change is and why it's being done.
4. Cost breakdown of the changes including time, materials, tax, insurance, etc.
5. Signature block, including the name, title, and date of those who need to approve the change.