Free Bill of Sale Template (General Bill of Sale for Any Item)

A bill of sale is a short document that records the sale of personal property from a seller to a buyer: what was sold, for how much, on what date, and in what condition. It proves the buyer now owns the item and the seller got paid. This general bill of sale works for furniture, electronics, tools, equipment, instruments, jewelry, livestock and most other goods.

MultiDocs team7 min readUpdated November 6, 2026With official sources

In 30 seconds

  • A bill of sale names the buyer and seller, describes the item (with a serial number if it has one), and states the price, payment method and date.
  • Say whether the item is sold "as is" or with a warranty. Under the UCC, "as is" language generally excludes implied warranties.
  • The seller should confirm they own the item and that no one else has a claim on it.
  • For cars, boats and trailers, use a vehicle bill of sale: they need a VIN, odometer reading and your state's title rules.

What a bill of sale should include

  • Seller and buyer: full names, addresses and phone or email.
  • Description: what it is, brand, model, serial number, color, size, quantity and any accessories included. Be specific enough that no one could confuse it with a similar item.
  • Price and payment: the amount, how it was paid (cash, check, transfer, app) and whether it was paid in full or in installments.
  • Date and place of the sale and of delivery.
  • Condition: "as is" or with a warranty, plus any known defects.
  • Seller's statement of ownership: that the seller owns the item, has the right to sell it, and it's free of liens.
  • Signatures of both parties.

General bill of sale template

BILL OF SALE

Date of sale: ______________ Place: ______________________________ (city, state)

Seller: ______________________________
Address: ______________________________ Phone / email: ______________

Buyer: ______________________________
Address: ______________________________ Phone / email: ______________

1. Item sold. The Seller sells and transfers to the Buyer the following property (the "Item"):
Description: ______________________________
Brand / make: ______________ Model: ______________ Serial number: ______________
Color / size / quantity: ______________
Included accessories, parts or documents: ______________________________

2. Price. The purchase price is $ ____________ (______________________________ dollars).
☐ Paid in full on the date of sale by ☐ cash ☐ check no. ______ ☐ bank transfer ☐ payment app ☐ other: ______________. The Seller confirms receipt.
☐ Paid in installments: deposit of $ ______ today and the balance of $ ______ by ______________. Title passes ☐ today ☐ when the balance is paid.

3. Delivery. The Item ☐ was delivered to the Buyer on the date of sale ☐ will be ☐ picked up by the Buyer ☐ delivered by the Seller on ______________ at ______________________________. Risk of loss passes to the Buyer on delivery.

4. Ownership. The Seller states that the Seller is the legal owner of the Item, has the right to sell it, and that the Item is free of any lien, security interest, loan or claim by another person, except: ______________________________ (write "none" if none).

5. Condition. Choose one:
☐ As is. The Buyer has had the chance to inspect the Item and accepts it "AS IS," with all faults. The Seller makes no warranties, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
☐ With warranty. The Seller warrants that ______________________________ for a period of ______________ from the date of sale. Other than this, the Item is sold as is.
Known defects disclosed by the Seller: ______________________________

6. Taxes and fees. The Buyer is responsible for any sales or use tax, registration or transfer fees that apply to this purchase, unless the parties agree otherwise: ______________.

7. Entire agreement. This bill of sale is the complete agreement between the Seller and the Buyer about the sale of the Item. It is governed by the laws of the state of ______________. It may be signed electronically and in counterparts.

Seller: ______________________________ Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Buyer: ______________________________ Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________

Fill it in and sign it free⬇ Download as Word (.docx)Free, no account.

How to sign a bill of sale with the buyer online

Selling to someone you met online? You don't need to meet twice. Agree on the terms, send the bill of sale before pickup and both of you leave with a signed copy.

  1. Upload it. Fill in the template, save it as a PDF and upload it, or take a photo of a handwritten one.
  2. Place the fields. Signature and date for the seller and the buyer, and a checkbox for "as is." Add an "ask for a document" field if you want the buyer to attach a photo of their ID.
  3. Send it. By email, text message, WhatsApp or a link. Up to 20 signers, at the same time or in order. Selling several items to different people? Bulk send gives each buyer their own copy.
  4. Get it back with the audit trail. Both of you get the signed PDF with a certificate showing who signed, when, from which device and the document's SHA-256 fingerprint.

"As is" and warranties: what the law says

Sales of goods are governed in every state by Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). When the seller is a merchant who deals in that kind of goods, the law adds an implied warranty of merchantability: the goods must be fit for their ordinary purpose (UCC § 2-314). Any seller may also give an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose if they know what the buyer needs the item for.

Those implied warranties can generally be excluded with clear language such as "as is" or "with all faults" (UCC § 2-316(3)(a)). That's why the template asks you to tick one option. A few states limit "as is" sales to consumers, and federal and state rules for dealers are stricter, so a business selling to consumers should check local law.

“Unless the circumstances indicate otherwise, all implied warranties are excluded by expressions like ‘as is’, ‘with all faults’ or other language which in common understanding calls the buyer's attention to the exclusion of warranties and makes plain that there is no implied warranty.”

UCC § 2-316(3)(a) · Official source

Also note UCC § 2-201: a contract for the sale of goods for $500 or more generally needs a signed writing to be enforceable. A bill of sale signed by both parties takes care of that, and an electronic signature counts. Article 2 is one of the parts of the UCC that the ESIGN Act expressly covers.

State notes

  • Titled property such as cars, motorcycles, boats, trailers and mobile homes has its own state forms and title transfer rules. Use the vehicle bill of sale and check your DMV.
  • Firearms are subject to federal and state transfer laws, often including a background check through a licensed dealer. A bill of sale doesn't replace those steps.
  • Sales tax: many states charge use tax on some private sales. The buyer is usually responsible.
  • Notarization: a general bill of sale rarely needs a notary, but some states or agencies require it for specific items. MultiDocs doesn't notarize. See e-signature vs. notary.

This is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.

FAQs

Does a bill of sale need to be notarized?

Usually not for general goods. Some states require notarization for certain titled items, such as vehicles or boats, so check with the agency that registers the item.

Is a handwritten or electronic bill of sale legal?

Yes. A bill of sale can be handwritten, typed or signed electronically. Under the ESIGN Act and state law, an e-signature has the same legal effect as one on paper.

Who keeps the original bill of sale?

Both parties should keep a signed copy. With an electronic signature, both get the same signed PDF with the certificate.

What does "sold as is" mean?

The buyer accepts the item in its current condition, with any faults, and the seller gives no warranty. Under UCC § 2-316, "as is" language generally excludes implied warranties.

Do I need a bill of sale for a private sale?

It isn't always required, but it is the best proof of who owns the item and what was agreed. For sales of goods of $500 or more, the UCC generally requires a signed writing for the contract to be enforceable.

Is a receipt the same as a bill of sale?

No. A receipt shows payment. A bill of sale also transfers ownership and records the item's description, condition and any warranty.

Official sources

We checked each source on November 6, 2026. If you spot an out-of-date fact, write to us at info@multidocs.es.

Related templates and guides

TemplateVehicle Bill of SaleVIN, odometer disclosure and title notes for cars.TemplatePromissory NoteIf the buyer pays in installments.GuideHow to sign a contract onlineSign remotely with a valid audit trail.LegalE-signature vs. notaryWhich documents need a notary and which don't.