Free Snag List Template (Excel & PDF)
Download a free snag list template below — one click, no email address required. There's an Excel version that counts your open and closed snags for you, and a printable PDF if you'd rather work on paper.
Both were put together by Darren, a paving contractor with 23 years in the trade, so the columns are the ones that actually get used on site — not what an office thinks a snag list looks like.
What's in the template
Each snag gets one row:
- No. — so snags can be referred to by number on the phone
- Location — plot, room or area
- Trade — who the snag belongs to (brickwork, drainage, paving, decorating…)
- Description — what's wrong, specific enough that someone else can find it
- Raised by / Date raised
- Assigned to — the person who needs to sort it
- Status — Open or Closed (dropdown in the Excel version)
- Date closed
The Excel version totals your open, closed and overall snag count at the top, and includes a worked example row so you can see the level of detail that works.
How to fill in a snag list
- Walk the job in a set order — room by room or plot by plot, so nothing gets missed.
- One snag per row. “Kitchen needs finishing” is not a snag; “mastic missing behind kitchen sink” is.
- Be specific about location. “Plot 7 — rear patio, north edge” saves an argument later.
- Assign every snag to a person or trade. An unassigned snag is a snag nobody fixes.
- Date everything. Raised and closed dates are what settle disputes about how long things took.
- Photograph each snag. A photo of the fault — and a photo of the fix — ends most arguments before they start.
The honest limitation of a spreadsheet
A template works fine for a small job. Where it falls down is photos: a spreadsheet can't hold them, so the pictures end up in someone's camera roll or a WhatsApp thread, separated from the list. By the time there's a dispute, matching photo to snag to date is guesswork.
That's the problem SiteSnap Pro was built to fix — every photo is tagged to the client, site and plot when you take it, each snag is assigned to the person who needs to sort it, and the whole thing turns into a PDF report in a few taps. If the spreadsheet starts creaking, there's a 14-day free trial.
FAQs
What is a snag list?
A snag list is a record of defects and unfinished work found when inspecting a building project — each item noted with its location, the trade responsible, and whether it's been put right. See our full guide: Snagging in construction.
What format should a snag list be in?
Any format works if every snag has a location, description, owner and status. Excel is the most common on small jobs; dedicated snagging apps take over when photos and multiple trades are involved.
Is this template really free?
Yes — download it, use it on any job, share it with your team. No sign-up.
Start your 14-day free trial. No card needed.
