What is a dayworks docket?
A dayworks docket is a site record used to document labour, plant, materials, time, and notes for work that needs to be reviewed or costed.
Dayworks are often used when work is instructed, varied, delayed, disrupted, or difficult to price upfront. The docket gives the site and commercial teams a shared record of what was done or what resources were affected.
A dayworks docket is stronger when it is linked to the event that caused the cost. That might be a client instruction, delay event, blocked access issue, variation, or site direction.
When are dayworks used?
Dayworks are usually used when the cost needs to be built from actual site resources rather than a fixed lump sum.
Common situations include:
- instructed extra work
- changed scope
- delay related labour or plant impact
- rework or disruption
- standby time
- work completed before a formal rate is agreed
- site instructions that require additional resources
A dayworks docket should not just say that work happened. It should explain why the work was required and what resources were involved.
What should a dayworks docket include?
A useful dayworks docket should include enough detail to connect the site event to the cost.
Summary table (shown as a list because the blog body does not support table blocks yet):
- Project details: project name, date, location, docket number.
- Instruction or cause: site instruction, delay event, variation, access issue, or reason for the work.
- Labour: worker roles, quantity, hours, rates if applicable.
- Plant: equipment type, quantity, hours, rates if applicable.
- Materials: material description, quantity, unit, cost if applicable.
- Notes: what happened and why the resources were required.
- Evidence: photos, videos, instructions, emails, delivery dockets, site diary references.
- Review status: draft, submitted, signed, disputed, approved, or closed.
The best dockets are simple, but specific.
Labour details to include
Labour should be recorded by role, quantity, and time.
Avoid writing vague descriptions like “crew on site”. That does not explain who was affected or how the cost was built.
Record:
- labour role or trade
- number of workers
- start and finish time
- total hours
- rate, if applicable
- work performed or work affected
- reason the labour was required
Example:
3 formworkers from 7:00am to 11:30am preparing temporary edge protection following site instruction SI-018.
This gives the commercial team a clearer record than a generic labour total.
Plant and equipment details to include
Plant should be recorded by item, duration, and reason for use.
Record:
- plant or equipment type
- quantity
- asset ID or description, if available
- operator included or separate
- start and finish time
- total hours
- hire rate or internal rate, if applicable
- reason the plant was required or idle
Example:
1 14T excavator with operator from 8:00am to 12:00pm assisting with instructed trench rework in Zone 2.
If plant was idle because of a delay, say that clearly. Idle plant should not be hidden inside a vague dayworks total.
Materials and fixed costs to include
Materials should be recorded with enough detail to explain what was used and why.
Record:
- material description
- quantity
- unit of measure
- delivery or docket reference
- supplier, if relevant
- cost, if known
- reason the material was required
Fixed costs can also be recorded where relevant. Examples include traffic control, permits, disposal, subcontractor charges, or specialist services.
What evidence should support a dayworks docket?
A dayworks docket is stronger when evidence is attached to the same record.
Useful evidence can include:
- photos of the work area
- videos showing the condition or issue
- site instructions
- emails or approvals
- marked up drawings
- delivery dockets
- supplier invoices
- site diary references
- supervisor notes
- delay records
The evidence should explain what happened, not just prove that people and plant were on site.
A photo is stronger when it has context. Add a note such as:
Photo taken at 9:15am showing instructed trench rework in Zone 2. Linked to dayworks docket DW-014.
Example dayworks docket record
Example only. Use this as a practical record guide, not legal advice.
Example fields (shown as a list because the blog body does not support table blocks yet):
- Date: 3 June 2026
- Location: Zone 2, eastern access road
- Instruction: Site instruction SI-018
- Reason: Instructed trench rework due to revised alignment
- Labour: 3 formworkers, 4.5 hours each
- Plant: 1 14T excavator with operator, 4 hours
- Materials: 6 timber stakes, 2 rolls marker tape
- Evidence: Photos, site instruction, supervisor notes
- Status: Submitted for review
This record is useful because it connects the instruction, location, resources, duration, and evidence in one place.
Common mistakes that weaken dayworks dockets
The most common mistake is submitting a docket that shows a cost but does not explain the reason behind the cost.
Other mistakes include:
- missing the instruction or cause
- using vague labour descriptions
- not separating labour and plant
- missing start and finish times
- forgetting materials or fixed costs
- attaching photos with no explanation
- not linking the docket to the delay or variation
- waiting too long to write the record
- submitting a docket with no review status
A dayworks docket does not need to be complicated. It needs to be clear.
Dayworks docket checklist before submission
Before submitting a dayworks docket, check that it includes:
- project name
- date
- location
- docket number or reference
- instruction or cause
- labour roles, quantities, and hours
- plant items, quantities, and hours
- materials or fixed costs
- clear site notes
- supporting evidence
- person who recorded it
- review or sign-off status
If the docket cannot explain why the cost exists, it is not ready for review.
For related delay record structure, see 5 Construction Delay Records Every Subcontractor Should Keep and Extension of Time Claim: What Site Teams Need to Record.
Use our free Dayworks Docket Generator
Need to create a structured dayworks record? Use our free Dayworks Docket Generator.
It helps organise labour, plant, materials, notes, and delay details into a clearer docket format.
How DelaySolve helps with dayworks records
DelaySolve helps subcontractors log delays, cost labour and plant impact, attach evidence, and keep a structured delay record across live projects.
For dayworks, the value is keeping the cost record connected to the site event that caused it. That makes it easier for site and commercial teams to understand what happened, what it cost, and what evidence supports the record.
FAQs
What is a dayworks docket?
A dayworks docket is a site record used to document labour, plant, materials, time, notes, and evidence for work or delays that may need to be costed and reviewed.
What should be included in a dayworks docket?
A dayworks docket should include the project, date, location, instruction or cause, labour, plant, materials, site notes, evidence, and review or sign-off status.
Is a dayworks docket the same as a variation claim?
No. A dayworks docket is a site record. A variation claim is a commercial process that may rely on dayworks records, instructions, evidence, and contract requirements.
What evidence should be attached to a dayworks docket?
Useful evidence includes photos, videos, site instructions, emails, marked up drawings, delivery dockets, invoices, supervisor notes, and related delay records.
When should a dayworks docket be completed?
A dayworks docket should be completed as close to the work or delay event as possible. Same day records are usually clearer than records rebuilt later from memory.
