What should a change order include?

A proper change order should include: project identification (name, address, contract number), a detailed description of what changed and why, itemized cost breakdown (labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor, overhead, markup), schedule impact in calendar days, revised contract sum, revised completion date, and signature blocks for all parties (owner, contractor, architect).

What's the difference between a change order and a change order request (COR)?

A Change Order Request (COR) or Proposed Change Order (PCO) is submitted by the contractor requesting approval for a change. A Change Order is the executed document that both parties have signed, making it a legal modification to the contract. Never start changed work without an executed change order or a written authorization from the owner.

Free AI Change Order Generator for Construction

Q: What is a construction change order?

A change order is a formal written agreement between the owner, contractor, and (when applicable) the architect that documents a change to the original contract scope, cost, or schedule. Without a signed change order, disputes are nearly impossible to resolve — the contractor may not get paid, and the owner may claim the work was included in the original contract.

Step 1 of 2 — Project & Change Details

Fill in the fields below. The more detail you provide, the stronger your change order.

Project Name *

Project Location *

Original Contract Value

Change Order Number *

Description of Change *

Reason Category *

Initiating Party

Cost Impact

Add (cost increase)

Deduct (credit)

Schedule Impact

Days added

Days removed

No impact

Drafting your change order…

AI is building a professional document from your inputs

Parsing change details & context

Building itemized cost breakdown

Calculating schedule and contract impact

Formatting legal document structure

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CO #001

Date: —

Project Name

—

Project Location

—

Original Contract Sum

—

Initiating Party

—

Change Order Amount

—

Schedule Impact

0 days

—

Revised Contract Sum

—

After this change order

Article 1 — Description of Change

Article 2 — Cost Breakdown

Item	Description	Amount

Article 3 — Schedule Impact Statement

Article 4 — Revised Contract Summary

Article 5 — Approval & Signatures

The parties listed below agree to the change in contract scope, cost, and time as described herein. This Change Order becomes effective upon execution by all parties.

Owner

Authorized Signature

Print Name & Title

Date

Contractor

Authorized Signature

Print Name & Title

Date

Architect / Engineer

Authorized Signature

Print Name & Title

Date

BuildStackHub Construction Document — This AI-generated change order is provided as a starting point for documentation purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Costs are estimates based on general industry data and may vary by region and project conditions. All parties should verify figures with qualified professionals before execution. Not a substitute for review by a licensed contractor, attorney, or architect.

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Need another change order?

Just need a blank template without AI? Download a clean, fillable change order form.

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Dispute-Proof Documentation

Change orders are the #1 source of construction disputes. A properly documented CO with signature blocks eliminates he-said/she-said and gets you paid.

30-Second Generation

What used to take 45 minutes in Word — finding a template, filling it in, calculating markup — takes under 30 seconds with AI-assisted generation.

Itemized Cost Breakdown

Labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor work, overhead, and profit are all broken out — not just a single dollar amount that owners will dispute.

Print-Ready PDF

The generated document matches AIA industry-standard formatting — clean tables, signature blocks, and a professional layout that owners and architects expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a construction change order?

A change order is a formal written agreement that documents any change to the original contract's scope, cost, or timeline. Without a signed change order, disputes are nearly impossible to resolve — you may not get paid for extra work, and the owner may claim it was included in the original scope.

When do I need a change order?

Any time the project scope, cost, or schedule changes from the original contract. Common triggers: owner-requested additions, unforeseen site conditions (rock, soil contamination), design errors or omissions, code changes discovered during construction, material substitutions, and schedule acceleration requests.

What markup should I charge on a change order?

Most contractors charge 10–20% overhead + 10% profit on change order work (20–30% total). Some contracts cap the allowable markup (typically 15% combined). Always check your prime contract terms before submitting — some also cap markup on subcontractor work.

What's the difference between a COR and a change order?

A Change Order Request (COR) or Proposed Change Order (PCO) is the contractor's submission requesting approval for a change. A Change Order is the fully executed document signed by all parties — it's a legal modification to the contract. Never start changed work without an executed change order or written authorization.

Can I download this as a PDF?

Yes. After generating your change order, click "Download PDF" to save a print-ready version. The document hides the surrounding UI and prints the AIA-formatted change order with clean tables, project information, cost breakdown, and signature blocks.

AI Change Order Generatorfor Construction

Step 1 of 2 — Project & Change Details

Generation failed

Upgrade to Premium Change Orders

Dispute-Proof Documentation

30-Second Generation

Itemized Cost Breakdown

Print-Ready PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a construction change order?

When do I need a change order?

What markup should I charge on a change order?

What's the difference between a COR and a change order?

Can I download this as a PDF?

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