Land Surveyor Invoice Template
A land surveyor invoice bills crew hour, lists labour, materials and fees on separate lines and states the terms (Due on delivery of the signed plat). This template is pre-filled for boundary survey of a half-acre residential lot with four corner monuments and a recorded plat: 8 lines totalling $2,740.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a land surveyor: boundary survey of a half-acre residential lot with four corner monuments and a recorded plat. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Summit Land Surveying
172 Market Street
Madison, WI 53703
billing@example.com
(615) 555-0172
Invoice
Bill to
Casey Nguyen
27 Birch Avenue
Fairview, OR 97024
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deed, plat and right-of-way researchCounty recorder and neighboring deeds | 3 hr | $95.00 | $285.00 |
| Two-person field crew with GNSS and total stationLocate existing monuments, traverse and stake corners | 7 crew hour | $185.00 | $1,295.00 |
| Iron rods with plastic license caps set | 3 each | $45.00 | $135.00 |
| Line clearing along wooded rear boundary | 2 hr | $85.00 | $170.00 |
| Computations and boundary resolutionLicensed surveyor analysis of record and found evidence | 3 hr | $140.00 | $420.00 |
| CAD drafting of survey plat | 4 hr | $85.00 | $340.00 |
| Plat recording fee, county | 1 each | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Signed and sealed paper copies | 3 each | $15.00 | $45.00 |
- Subtotal
- $2,740.00
- Balance due
- $2,740.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Summit Land Surveying. Terms: Due on delivery of the signed plat.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
Made with Billwise - invoice-pdf-maker-app.web.app
Preview of the PDF. Everything stays in your browser: nothing is uploaded.
Land Surveyor invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Boundary survey of a half-acre residential lot with four corner monuments and a recorded plat |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | crew hour |
| Usual payment terms | Due on delivery of the signed plat |
| Deposit practice | Surveyors commonly ask for part of the fee up front on residential work, with the balance before the final plat is released. |
| Sample lines | 8 lines, $2,740.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Two-person field crew with GNSS and total station: $1,295.00 (47%) |
| Labour hours billed | 12 h, $2,510.00 |
| Trade-specific fields | Surveyor license no., Parcel / tax ID, Legal description ref., Job no., Field date(s), Recording book / page |
Sample land surveyor invoice line items
Boundary survey of a half-acre residential lot with four corner monuments and a recorded plat: 8 lines adding up to $2,740.00, split into labour $2,510.00 (92%), materials $135.00 (5%) and fees $50.00 (2%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deed, plat and right-of-way research (County recorder and neighboring deeds) | 3 hr | $95.00 | $285.00 |
| Two-person field crew with GNSS and total station (Locate existing monuments, traverse and stake corners) | 7 crew hour | $185.00 | $1,295.00 |
| Iron rods with plastic license caps set | 3 each | $45.00 | $135.00 |
| Line clearing along wooded rear boundary | 2 hr | $85.00 | $170.00 |
| Computations and boundary resolution (Licensed surveyor analysis of record and found evidence) | 3 hr | $140.00 | $420.00 |
| CAD drafting of survey plat | 4 hr | $85.00 | $340.00 |
| Plat recording fee, county | 1 each | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Signed and sealed paper copies | 3 each | $15.00 | $45.00 |
| Subtotal | $2,740.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $2,740.00 |
What a land surveyor invoice should include
- Your land surveying business name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Casey Nguyen in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-1794) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: Due on delivery of the signed plat
- Surveyor license no.: for example LIC-363731
- Parcel / tax ID: for example 12-3456789
- Legal description ref.: for example PO-9916
- Job no.: for example Boundary survey of a half-acre residential lot with four corner monuments and a recorded plat
- Line items in crew hour or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How land surveyors bill
Bills field work per crew-hour and office work per hour for research, computation and drafting, or quotes a fixed fee per survey type with monuments and recording fees added.
Land surveyors commonly use "Due on delivery of the signed plat". Surveyors commonly ask for part of the fee up front on residential work, with the balance before the final plat is released.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Surveyors $34.97 (employees, not contractor rates). The sample's $95.00 per hour for "Deed, plat and right-of-way research" is 2.7 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Land Surveyor invoicing tips
- Say for each corner whether a monument was found or newly set, because clients and neighbors read the invoice next to the plat and ask why only three rods were charged for a four-corner lot.
- Separate crew-hours in the field from the licensed surveyor's office hours, since the field crew rate includes instruments and vehicle and the client sees why office time is billed differently.
- Put line clearing in wooded or overgrown areas on its own line, because brush cutting along a boundary is not part of a standard survey price and is easy to explain only when it is visible.
- Name the survey type clearly, such as boundary only, topographic or ALTA/NSPS, so a buyer or lender who later asks for elevations knows they ordered a different product.
Land Surveyor billing disputes to head off
- A fence contractor or neighbor may pull a stake after you leave, and the client wants it reset free. Listing the field date and the monuments set gives a clear basis to bill a return visit.
- A client expecting a quick lot-line answer may balk at research hours. Showing the deed and plat research separately explains why old or conflicting records take time.
Work a land surveyor can bill for
Core tasks of Surveyors (O*NET 17-1022.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Prepare and maintain sketches, maps, reports, and legal descriptions of surveys to describe, certify, and assume liability for work performed.
- Verify the accuracy of survey data, including measurements and calculations conducted at survey sites.
- Direct or conduct surveys to establish legal boundaries for properties, based on legal deeds and titles.
- Record the results of surveys, including the shape, contour, location, elevation, and dimensions of land or land features.
- Calculate heights, depths, relative positions, property lines, and other characteristics of terrain.
- Prepare, or supervise preparation of, all data, charts, plots, maps, records, and documents related to surveys.
How to make a land surveyor invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Summit Land Surveying (your business) and the customer, Casey Nguyen, then surveyor license no..
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-1794 and set the terms to Due on delivery of the signed plat.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Deed, plat and right-of-way research" (3 hr) to "Signed and sealed paper copies" (3 each).
-
Check the total
The 8 lines come to $2,740.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes land surveying work.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the land surveying work records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a land surveyor invoice?
Add your land surveying business details, the customer, surveyor license no., parcel / tax id, legal description ref. and job no., then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 8 lines for boundary survey of a half-acre residential lot with four corner monuments and a recorded plat totalling $2,740.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do land surveyors charge?
Mostly crew hour. Bills field work per crew-hour and office work per hour for research, computation and drafting, or quotes a fixed fee per survey type with monuments and recording fees added.
When should a land surveyor invoice be paid?
Due on delivery of the signed plat is the usual arrangement. Surveyors commonly ask for part of the fee up front on residential work, with the balance before the final plat is released. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do land surveyors earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Surveyors $34.97 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.