How to Create a Construction Change Order Template in Excel

Step-by-step instructions on how to create a construction change order with a free template in Excel

If you need a simple way to create a construction change order form for your project, starting from a template in Microsoft Excel is a great option.

If you don’t have Microsoft Excel downloaded on your computer, you can still access the online version for free by creating a Microsoft username and password. If you would prefer to use Google Sheets instead, check out our other guide on how to create a construction change order form in Google Sheets. 

While the Excel template library doesn’t offer an out-of-the-box change order form template for construction, they do offer a price quotation template that can serve as a great starting point.  

If you’d prefer to start with a change order template that was built specifically for construction, you can download our free construction change order template and skip all of the steps below.  

Also, if you want to learn more about creating, managing, invoicing, and ultimately reducing change orders in construction, check out our article Construction Change Orders 101.

To get started creating your construction change order form from an existing template in Excel online, just follow the step-by-step instructions and images below:

Creating a change order form in Excel

1. Click here to access the free Business price quotation template for Excel. You’ll need to log in or create a free Microsoft account to get started.
    
2. Click the ‘Open in browser’ button to get started. 
   

3. We’re going to begin by highlighting cells B17 through B22 then insert a column by right-clicking on your mouse and choosing Insert > Table Columns to the left from the menu.
   

4. In cell ‘B17’ type “Line Item”. Re-adjust the width of column G to display the amount. 
   

5. Now, rename cell F17 with “Markup?”, E25 with “Markup Rate”, and E26 with “Markup”
   
   
6. Highlight cells E24 through F28 and click “Cut” from the Home menu. Place your cursor in cell F24 and click “Paste” from the Home menu.
   
   
7. Delete the content that’s in cells B25 through B28. After this step, your spreadsheet should now look similar to the image below.
   

8. Next, highlight cells B24 through D24 and add a bottom border. In cell B25, type “Client” and in cell D25, type “Date”.
   
   Now highlight and copy all of these cells. Place your cursor in cell B27 and paste what you just copied. In cell B28 rename with “Contractor”.
   

9. Moving to the top half of the sheet, highlight and delete rows 15 and 16.
   
   
10. Replace cell B10 with “Change Order Description.
    
    
11. Follow the image below to apply any or all of the formatting changes you’d prefer to the input portion of the change order form.
    

12. Once complete, your change order template is now ready for you to begin customizing for your project.
    
    
13. For each line item that you enter, use the drop-down menu in column F to indicate whether the line item should include a markup percentage or not.

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14. Adjust your markup rate as shown in the image above if you have any line items where markup is being added. 
    
    
15. Once you are done, make sure to save your file. You now have a print-ready and shareable construction change order that you can reuse for all of your projects.
    

Free construction change order form template

If you’d prefer to skip the steps above and create a change order using a template that is already complete with adjustable markups and a print-ready signature page, simply download our free change order template. 

Using construction software for change orders

Better yet, sign up for a free 10-day trial of BuildBook to see how easy it is to create a change order with software designed to be easy to learn and use. With BuildBook, you can create, send and capture approvals for change orders in less time than it takes to open up Excel.