What is a construction daily report?
A construction daily report (also called a daily log, daily field report or superintendent's report) is a written record of one day on one job: the weather, who was on site and for how long, the equipment used, the work completed, deliveries, visitors and inspections, delays, safety and any instructions you were given. The superintendent or foreman writes it at the end of every workday.
It's the record you go back to when there's a question about a delay, a change, a back-charge or a payment. Notes written the same day are far easier to rely on than anyone's memory months later. Many contracts also require daily reports, and lenders and owners on bigger jobs often ask to see them.
How to fill in this daily report template
Header. Project, report number, date and who's writing it. Number reports in order so a missing day stands out.
Weather. Conditions, high and low, precipitation, and hours lost. Record it every day, not just bad ones: a weather delay claim compares the bad days with the normal ones.
Labor. One row per company or crew on site, including subs: headcount, hours each, and what they worked on. Worker-hours add up for you.
Work completed. Where the job stands at the end of the day, by area or schedule activity. "Second-floor walls about 60% framed" beats "framing".
Delays and problems. What happened, the cause, who it affects and what you did about it. Facts, not blame.
Equipment, deliveries, visitors. What ran and for how long, what arrived and in what shape, who came on site and why, including inspection results.
Safety and notes. Toolbox talk topic, incidents and near misses. Write down any instruction from the owner or architect, especially a request for extra work: that's the start of a change order.
Download, then start tomorrow's. Download the PDF and sign it. Tomorrow, "Start next day" carries the crews over and clears the rest.
What should be included in a daily site report?
- Date, report number, project and author.
- Weather and any time lost to it.
- Each crew and sub on site, headcount and hours.
- Work completed, by area or activity.
- Delays, problems and their cause.
- Equipment on site and hours used.
- Deliveries received, and anything short or damaged.
- Visitors and inspections, with results.
- Safety: talks, incidents, near misses.
- Instructions received and extra work requested.
- Photos, referenced by number, and a signature.
Common daily report mistakes
- Skipping quiet days. A gap in the record is exactly what the other side points to in a dispute.
- One-word entries. "Framing" says nothing about how far along it is or where.
- Opinions instead of facts. Write who, what, when and where; leave out who's to blame.
- Leaving subs off the labor list. Their headcount is what you check a T&M ticket or a back-charge against.
- Writing it days later. Memory fills gaps with guesses.
- Not writing down verbal instructions. If the owner asks for something on site, it goes in the report the same day.
Daily report example
Report #34, new build. Overcast, high 54°F, low 41°F, 0.2 in of rain, 1.5 hours lost. Work completed: second-floor walls about 60% framed; electrical rough-in started on the first floor; plumbing top-out done in both baths. Delays: exterior work stopped at 2:30 pm for rain and the carpenters moved inside; the window supplier pushed delivery to Thursday.
| Company | Trade | Workers | Hours each | Worker-hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our crew | Carpentry | 3 | 8 | 24 |
| Brightline Electric | Electrical | 2 | 6.5 | 13 |
| Aguilar Plumbing | Plumbing | 2 | 8 | 16 |
| Total | 7 | 53 |
Common questions
How do you write a daily report for construction?
At the end of each workday, record the weather, every crew on site with headcount and hours, the work completed, delays and their cause, deliveries, visitors and inspections, safety notes and any instructions you were given. Stick to facts, add photos, sign it and file it the same day.
What is a daily log in construction?
Another name for the daily report: the superintendent's written record of a day on the job. Some companies keep a short running log during the day and write the full report at the end of it; most use the two names for the same thing.
What should be included in a daily site report?
Date and author, weather and time lost, labor by crew with hours, work completed, delays, equipment, deliveries, visitors and inspections, safety, instructions received, and photos.
Who fills out the daily report?
Usually the superintendent or the foreman running the site that day. On small jobs it's often the owner. Subs may keep their own daily reports too, and many GCs ask subs for their headcount and hours each day.
How long should I keep daily reports?
At least until the job's warranty period and any time limits for claims have passed, which depend on your contract and your state. Ask your attorney or insurer for a number that fits your business; many contractors simply keep them for good.
Is there a free app for construction daily reports?
This template is free, works in your phone's browser and saves on that device. If you want the weather filled in automatically, photos attached and every log in one place for the office, Construction Company Software includes daily logs, with a 14-day free trial and no card.
Is anything I type uploaded?
No. The form runs in your browser and saves only in this browser on this device. Nothing you type is sent to us, and you don't need an account or an email address to download.