Construction Change Order Template
A contractor-first template for documenting added scope, pricing impact, schedule impact, and the client action needed before changed work moves forward.
What this template is for
This template helps contractors capture a change request in a clear, printable format before additional work continues.
It is built for added scope, revised materials, field conditions, or client-requested changes that affect price, timing, or both.
What a construction change order should capture
- Project name, client name, job address, and change order number.
- The original scope item being changed and the reason for the change.
- Added or revised labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor work, and markup.
- Price impact, schedule impact, and any assumptions the contractor is relying on.
- A clear approval line that requires explicit client action before the change is treated as approved.
Printable change order template
Use these fields as a printable contractor form or copy them into your own job paperwork.
Job information
Change description
Cost impact
Schedule impact
Client action
Approval boundary
A template is not an approval record. StackQuotes records approval only when the client takes an explicit approval action.
Filled example
- Project
- Kitchen remodel at 1840 Cedar Ridge Drive for the Alvarez residence.
- Changed work
- Install a full-height tile backsplash from countertop to upper cabinets on the range wall and sink wall, replacing the original 18-inch backsplash allowance.
- Reason
- Client selected a larger tile area after cabinet layout was field-confirmed and asked for the change before tile installation.
- Price impact
- $1,860 added for tile labor, setting materials, additional tile allowance, edge trim, cleanup, and contractor markup.
- Schedule impact
- Adds two working days after tile delivery. Cabinet hardware and final paint touchups move after tile completion.
- Approval note
- Changed work does not proceed until the client takes the stated approval action.
How StackQuotes supports the workflow
StackQuotes helps contractors organize and generate change-order artifacts tied to job scope, pricing notes, and client-facing records.
The software is meant to keep the change-order conversation clear; it does not replace the client action required to approve a change.
Approval boundary
A template is not an approval record. StackQuotes records approval only when the client takes an explicit approval action.
Use this template to prepare the artifact, then make sure the client action is captured separately before relying on approval.
Common mistakes this helps avoid
- Starting added work before price impact is visible to the client.
- Documenting scope but leaving schedule impact unclear.
- Treating a conversation, note, or draft template as approval.
- Missing labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor cost, or markup assumptions.
- Letting changed work blend into the original proposal without a separate artifact.
FAQ
Is this a legal change order form?
No. This is an operational template for organizing change-order information. It is not legal advice and does not replace documents or review required for your specific project.
What should a construction change order include?
A construction change order should identify the job, client, changed scope, reason for change, cost impact, schedule impact, assumptions, and the client action required before the change is treated as approved.
Should work start before a change order is approved?
Changed work should not start until the contractor has a clear client approval action for the change. A draft template or conversation is not the same as approval.
Can this template be used by roofing, remodeling, HVAC, or plumbing contractors?
Yes. The fields are general enough for roofing, remodeling, HVAC, plumbing, and other contractors who need to document changed scope, price impact, schedule impact, and client action.
How is a template different from an approval record?
A template organizes the change-order artifact. An approval record exists only when the client takes an explicit approval action and that action is recorded.