Create a free receipt

A receipt is a document that confirms a buyer paid a seller for goods or services. It lists the date, the seller, the buyer, what was purchased and the amount paid. Both sides keep a copy as proof of the transaction. This free receipt maker creates a PDF in seconds, with no account.

When to use a receipt

Send a receipt whenever money has changed hands and the customer may want proof. Typical situations:

• A customer pays cash or by card at a market stall, shop or event.
• A freelancer receives a bank transfer and wants to confirm it.
• A tutor, cleaner or repair person is paid at the end of a visit.
• A private seller sells an item and both sides want a written record.
• A small business needs a copy for its own bookkeeping.

If payment has not happened yet, you probably need an invoice or a quote instead. The invoice vs receipt vs quote guide explains how the three differ.

What to include on a receipt

Every field below maps to a part of the form:

• Your business name, address and email in the "From (your business)" section.
• The customer name and address in the "Billed to" section.
• A receipt number, so you can find the document later. See invoice numbering for ideas that also work for receipts.
• The date of payment.
• Currency, chosen from the 12 supported options.
• Line items with a description, quantity and unit price.
• Tax % on each line, if tax applies. The totals show the subtotal, the tax and the total.
• Notes, where you can state the payment method, a reference or a thank-you message.

The generator has no logo upload and no signature field. If you want a signature, print the PDF and sign it by hand.

How to create a receipt with this generator

1. Open the generator on this page. No sign-up is needed.
2. Fill in "From (your business)": business name, address and email.
3. Under "Billed to", enter the customer name and address.
4. In "Document details", enter the receipt number, the date and the currency.
5. In "Line items", enter a description, quantity and unit price. Click "Add item" for more rows, or "Remove item" to delete one.
6. Enter a Tax % on each line if tax applies.
7. Write the payment method or a short thank-you in "Notes".
8. Check the live preview, then click "Download PDF".

Nothing is saved between visits. Keep the downloaded file in your own records.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the receipt number. Without numbers, a gap in your records is hard to explain.
• Vague descriptions. "Services" tells nobody anything. Name the actual item or job.
• Mixing up the currency. Check the currency before you download, especially for foreign customers.
• Forgetting the date. The payment date matters for bookkeeping and for returns.
• Issuing a receipt before payment arrives. A receipt confirms money received. Use an invoice for money still owed.
• Losing the file. The tool does not store your data, so save every PDF.

Receipt vs invoice

	Receipt	Invoice
Purpose	Confirms payment was made	Requests payment
When issued	After payment	Before payment
Due date	Not needed	Usually included
Used for	Proof of purchase	Billing a customer

If you need to bill a customer first, use the invoice generator. If you need to offer a price before the work starts, try the quote generator. To reverse or adjust a sale, create a credit note.

Related reading

The how to invoice a client guide shows the full billing flow from first quote to final payment. The sales tax calculator helps you check the tax amount before you add it to a line. Tax and record-keeping rules vary by country, so check with your tax authority or accountant.

Prefer to fill it in Word, Excel or by hand? Download our free invoice and receipt templates in DOCX, XLSX and PDF.