Construction Daily Report Template (Guide & Free Download)

Making progress on a construction project isn’t just about finishing the work: It’s also about documenting that work and communicating updates with the people who need to know. Keeping a project on schedule, on budget and as safe as possible requires workflows that capture and share important information on a daily basis. 

A construction daily report is a document that records all significant events, work completed, resources used and issues encountered on a job site each day. Consistent, accurate and accessible daily reports can help construction teams improve communication, track progress and manage potential risks or delays.

This article explores how a standardized daily report template can improve communication and collaboration, provide valuable data and enhance final outcomes. A customizable, downloadable daily report template is included below.

Free Download

Construction Daily Report Template

Download this simple, customizable daily log template to record common jobsite data. 

• Free starter template
• Designed specifically for construction
• Trusted by construction professionals

Free Download (Google Sheets)

The Importance of a Daily Report Template

Daily reports can help track everything from overall progress, material and equipment status, safety concerns and important project milestones, such as inspections. They can also be used in supporting change orders, resolving disputes between contractors and as evidence in case of legal action. 

A daily report template standardizes the process of documenting and sharing information about daily activities. This ensures the most important information is captured comprehensively and accurately every day.

Templates also make daily reports more useful to project stakeholders, by helping them quickly and more purposefully analyze data and access details and updates that might impact their work, including weather conditions, labor hours, equipment usage and any relevant training. 

Of course, daily reports are most effective when captured using software that is built for managing quality and safety. Each item captured on a daily walk is a point of data that can be compiled and analyzed across hundreds or even thousands of events. An analysis of daily log data over dozens of projects can yield powerful insights that help PMs predict and mitigate common causes of safety or quality issues.  

Information to Capture on a Daily Report

An effective daily report template should include fields for all relevant information about activities on a construction site. At its most basic, the report should cover work completed, resources used and any issues or delays that come up. Project managers and superintendents can include additional fields to capture more detailed information for each project. 

Below are some common elements found in a daily report template.

General Information

• Date, Project Name and Report Number

  To help archive and reference reports

• Report Preparer

  Include name and designation of the person who completed the report

• Headcount

  Number of workers on site, trade partners present, consultants or vendors that visited and the hours they spent on site

• Location

  In addition the city and state, specify the particular area of the project, such as a floor or section of a building

• Progress Photos

  Highlights significant progress or issues to provide a clear picture of the status of work — this can also help with inspections or be included as part of closeout documents

• Weather Conditions

  Documenting conditions, including temperature and moisture, can help understand and anticipate the impact of weather on work activities and the project’s timeline

Work Information

• Percentage completion

  Where the project stands in relation to its completed state and target delivery date

• Daily activities

  Tasks carried out on that day and those that still need to be done

• Work in progress (WIP)

  WIP reports ongoing tasks that might span multiple days

• Challenges

  Issues faced in the field, which might include miscommunications, disputes between contractors or other observations

• Significant Milestones

  Including inspections and the completion or beginning of major work phases, such as framing or exterior work

Material and Equipment

• Inventory

  Including deliveries received and resources used

• Equipment

  Types and quantities used, as well as status of equipment

• Damage or Other Issues

  Descriptions and potential impact on future progress

Inspections

Inspection information can come from both planned and unplanned inspections. Planned inspections might include rough-in inspections, post-construction inspections, punch list inspection or the final inspection. Plus, most GCs and trade partners conduct routine unplanned inspections.

Safety

Safety elements may include a PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) inventory — with items like helmets, safety boots, gloves, googles and respirators — as well as injury reports with descriptions and documentation of incidents and inspections.

Budget and Resource Impact

This section summarizes how daily activities might impact the project’s budgets and finances, especially unexpected costs. 

Report Conclusion

After the report is complete, review and sign off. Include the name and signature of the person who reviewed the report, such as a project executive, and a review can highlight communication between leadership and the project team. 

Finally, there is an action plan and recommended next steps. Outline a course of action to provide direction for subsequent days that will help keep the project on track and address any issues.

Using the Daily Report Template

Here’s a typical process for using a daily report template. 

1. Preparation

   The site superintendent or project manager prepares the report at the end of each workday. They fill in all relevant fields with clear and concise information about the day’s activities.

2. Documentation

   Attach any important documents or photos to provide further context.

3. Review

   The completed report should be reviewed for accuracy and completeness by a project leader, such as a project executive.

4. Distribution

   Share with relevant stakeholders, which might include the owner, senior management, trade partners or other team members. 

5. Filing

   Organize and file reports in a centralized system of easy reference and future analysis.

Capturing Information: A Key to Project Success

Daily report templates ensure critical information is captured consistently and comprehensively throughout a construction project. Templates standardize the collection and sharing of important information that keeps stakeholders informed, provides data for decision making, resolves disputes and helps make long term improvements in workflows. 

One of the most effective ways to improve the quality and usefulness of daily logs is to use project management software. Many digital tools have specific features to record, track and analyze daily logs. Having a single central location for documents and information helps cultivate a quality of collaboration and communication that can simplify and improve all parts of project management. 

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