Generate a professional construction change order to document scope modifications, cost adjustments with itemized material, labor, equipment, and subcontractor breakdowns, schedule impacts, and multi-party authorization. Protect your project with a comprehensive, legally sound change order.
I built this change order generator to help property owners, contractors, and architects properly document modifications to construction contracts. In the construction industry, changes to the original scope of work are inevitable, whether due to unforeseen site conditions, owner-requested modifications, design changes, or regulatory requirements. Without a properly executed change order, these modifications can lead to costly disputes over payment, schedule delays, and liability.
This generator produces a comprehensive change order document that follows industry best practices and satisfies the documentation requirements of most construction contracts, including those based on AIA, ConsensusDocs, and EJCDC standard forms. The document includes all essential elements: project identification, party information, detailed description of the changed work, justification for the change, itemized cost impact with material, labor, equipment, and subcontractor breakdowns, overhead and profit calculations, schedule impact analysis, and a complete contract sum reconciliation showing the original amount, all previous changes, and the new total.
Every field updates the live preview instantly, so you can see exactly how your change order will look before downloading. The generator includes dynamic cost calculations that automatically compute subtotals, overhead and profit markups, and the new contract total. Whether you are managing a residential remodel, commercial build-out, or large-scale construction project, this tool generates a professional document that protects all parties involved.
Key features include: itemized cost impact tables with separate line items for materials, labor, equipment, and subcontractors; automatic calculation of subtotals, overhead, profit, and total change amount; dynamic contract sum reconciliation; schedule impact tracking with time extension days; reason-for-change categorization; and three signature blocks for owner, contractor, and architect/engineer authorization.
A construction change order is a formal written document that modifies the original construction contract after it has been executed. It documents any changes to the scope of work, project cost, or completion timeline. Change orders are legally binding amendments that become part of the original contract documents and require approval from all parties.
Change orders are required whenever there is a modification to the original contract scope, including owner-requested changes, unforeseen field conditions, design modifications, code compliance requirements, value engineering decisions, or corrections to errors and omissions in the original plans. Any work outside the original contract scope should be documented before work begins.
A complete change order should include project identification, party names, a detailed description of the changed work, reason for the change, itemized cost breakdown, overhead and profit percentages, schedule impact, revised contract total, and signature lines for all parties.
A change order must be signed by both the property owner and the contractor to be legally binding. If an architect or engineer is involved, they typically also sign to confirm the modifications align with the design intent and project requirements.
Yes, a contractor can refuse a change order, particularly if the work falls outside their expertise, the compensation is inadequate, or the timeline is unreasonable. However, many contracts include provisions requiring contractors to proceed with properly directed changes, with pricing disputes resolved later.
Change orders can extend, reduce, or have no impact on the project timeline depending on the nature of the work. The change order should clearly state any schedule adjustment, including the number of days added or reduced and the new completion date, to avoid disputes about project delays.