What is the difference between a work order and a job sheet?
A work order sets out work to be done. A job sheet records what happened when the work was carried out.
Work order template
Use this free work order template to record a reference, client, site, work description, target date, status and notes.
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2 entries
Raise and track work orders with a reference, target date and status.
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This tool is free to use with no account. The rows below are examples so you can see the layout, edit or delete them and add your own. Nothing you type here is stored on our servers, so it will be gone if you close the page. Create a free account to keep it, and to get your free monthly Excel or Word download.
Work Order Generator
| Order reference | Client | Site | Description | Target date | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example order reference 1 | Example client 1 | Example site 1 | Example entry, replace this with your own details. | 19 Oct 2026 | Open | Example entry, replace this with your own details. | |
| Example order reference 2 | Example client 2 | Example site 2 | Example entry, replace this with your own details. | 18 Nov 2026 | In progress | Example entry, replace this with your own details. |
These tools are provided for general business administration, organisation and record-keeping purposes. They do not constitute legal, medical, clinical, safeguarding, health and safety or regulatory advice and do not guarantee compliance with any applicable requirement. Businesses remain responsible for ensuring their own policies, procedures and records are appropriate for their circumstances.
Using this template
A work order authorises or instructs a defined piece of work and gives the team a reference to track it. Contractors, maintenance teams, facilities managers and service businesses use work orders to turn a request into an organised job. A useful record includes an order reference, client, site, clear description, target date, current status and notes. It should tell the person receiving it what is expected without relying on a separate conversation.
Use one reference throughout related job sheets, purchase orders and invoices. Describe the required outcome, location and known constraints, and update the status when work starts, pauses or completes. Common mistakes include confusing a work order with a quote, leaving the scope too vague, failing to record an agreed change and marking work complete before outstanding items are resolved. Keep supporting specifications, photographs or approvals with the wider job file where needed. This template is an administrative instruction and tracker. It does not create contractual authority, approve costs, certify completion or replace technical, safety or legal documents.
Questions about this template
What should a work order include?
Include a reference, client, site, description, target date, status and useful notes.
Is a work order the same as a contract?
Not necessarily. Its contractual effect depends on the surrounding agreement and authority, which this tool does not determine.