How to Make an Invoice (Free, in Your Browser)
Updated 2026-06-21
To make an invoice you need five things: who it's from, who it's to, an invoice number and date, a list of line items with quantities and prices, and a clear total. Fill those in, let the totals calculate, and export a PDF. You can do the whole thing for free in your browser with the Invoice & Receipt Generator — no account, and the amounts never leave your tab.
What every invoice needs
A professional invoice has a handful of required parts. Skip one and a client may delay payment:
- From — your name or business, plus address, email and any tax ID, in the details field.
- Bill to — the client's name and details.
- Invoice number — a unique reference like 2026-001. Number sequentially so you and the client can track what's been billed.
- Date — the issue date.
- Line items — one row per thing you're charging for: a description, the quantity, and the unit price.
- Total — the subtotal, any tax or discount, and the amount due.
- Notes — payment terms, due date or bank details go here.
If you've already been paid, switch the document type from Invoice to Receipt — same fields, but it reads as a record of payment rather than a request for one.
A worked example
Say you're a freelance designer billing for two services:
- Add a line item: Logo design, quantity 1, unit price 800.
- Add a second: Brand guidelines, quantity 1, unit price 400.
That gives a subtotal of 1,200. Now apply your tax and discount:
- A tax rate of 10% is added on top — but it's charged on the amount after any discount.
- A flat discount of 100 is subtracted from the subtotal first.
So 1,200 minus a 100 discount is 1,100, then 10% tax (110) brings the total to 1,210. The generator does this math live as you type, rounded to the cent, so you never have to reach for a calculator. Set the currency symbol once and every amount formats to match.
Export a clean PDF
When the numbers look right, export to PDF. The layout is print-ready, so it opens cleanly on any device and looks the same whether the client views it on a phone or prints it.
A few tips for a tidy result:
- Keep descriptions short and specific — "Homepage redesign (3 pages)" beats "Design work."
- Put your payment terms and due date in the notes so there's no ambiguity about when and how to pay.
- Reuse your invoice number scheme so your records stay sequential.
Your numbers stay private
Invoices contain real names, rates and totals. This tool runs entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded, there's no signup, and your client's details and your pricing never touch a server. That makes it safe for sensitive billing in a way that cloud invoicing apps can't match.
Ready to bill? Open the Invoice & Receipt Generator, add your line items, and download your invoice PDF in a couple of minutes.