Invoice templates for costume designers billing theatre, film, and TV productions for costume design, making, and supervision.
A costume designer invoice is issued by a freelance costume designer or costume supervisor to a theatre company, television production, film production, or opera house for the design and realisation of costumes. Costume designers create the visual characterisation of performers through clothing, selecting or commissioning garments that serve the narrative, period, and style of a production. Costume design work encompasses concept sketching, fabric sourcing, commissioning makes, hiring existing costumes, and supervising costume construction in the workshop. The costume designer collaborates closely with the director, set designer, and lighting designer to create a unified visual world. Pricing structures vary by sector: theatre fees are often negotiated per production; television is day-rated; film has both preparation and shoot-day rates. The BECTU costume union agreement governs rates for many large productions.
| Service | Typical Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Costume design fee (fringe production) | 2000 | production |
| Costume design fee (mid-scale) | 5000 | production |
| TV costume design day rate | 550 | day |
| Costume supervisor day rate | 400 | day |
| Costume making (per garment, labour only) | 300 | garment |
| Fabric and materials (pass-through) | 0 | at cost |
Invoice in stages aligned with production milestones: on contract signing, on completion of design and fittings, and on production close or final fitting. For longer television productions, invoice monthly. Costume budgets (the money spent on hiring, buying, and making costumes) are separate from your design fee and should be managed separately as production costs, not included in your own invoice. For commercial productions where you hold items on account (costume hire, fabric suppliers), ensure the production company is aware that these charges will be passed through to them. Maintain clear records and submit expense claims separately from your fee invoice. For productions with union agreements (BECTU), ensure your invoice rates comply with the relevant minimum scale. Keep records of all days worked to support your invoice.