Construction glossary · Process and Contract Terms

What is a punch list in construction?

A punch list in construction is the record of incomplete or defective work that must be fixed before a project is handed over. On this page: who prepares it under AIA A201, a table of its other names, a worked example, our view, and a free punch list template.

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Updated November 2026 · Reviewed by the Ruh construction team

The definition

Punch List, Explained.

The general contractor compiles the punch list near substantial completion, assigns every item to one trade, and closes each one only after checking the fix.

A punch list records what stands between nearly finished and finished: a damaged finish, a missing cover plate, a door that does not close, equipment that is not balanced. Each item is something the contract already requires, so a punch list adds no new work. It only tracks work that is incomplete or wrong.

On AIA contracts the duty is written down: A201-2017 section 9.8.2 has the contractor prepare and submit the list, and under section 9.8.3 the architect then inspects the work.

To run one item by item, use the free punch list template. It counts days open and overdue items for each trade.

How it is measured

A punch list is measured in open items, not dollars. Track the total, how many are closed, how many are past their due date, and the same counts for each trade. The value of the open work matters at closeout, because in typical practice owners hold retainage or a sum per open item until the list is closed.

Punch List vs Snag List vs Deficiency List

They are the same document under three names. All three record the items left to complete or correct before handover.

Term	Where it is used
Punch list	United States
Snag list	United Kingdom and Ireland
Deficiency list	Canada

Who Owns Each Punch List Item

Every item gets exactly one responsible trade. An item two trades can blame on each other, such as a wall damaged after it was painted, gets a note and a decision before the final walk, with a backcharge to the trade that caused it if the subcontract allows one.

The general contractor owns the list itself: it collects the items, sends each trade its rows, checks the fixes and closes them.

The list sits between substantial completion and final payment, so it is often tied to retainage.

Our View

Punch each area as it finishes. Trades fix their own work while their crews are nearby, which leaves the final walk with little to find.

Worked example

A Worked Punch List Example.

Illustrative example. Eight trades each picked up one item on a single walk of an office build-out on October 12, 2026. Eighteen days later, on October 30, the list stood like this.

Eight items from one walk: 3 closed, 2 done and waiting for a back-check, 2 open and 1 disputed. 3 / 8 = 37.5 percent closed, with 3 items past their due date.

Status on October 30	Items
Closed	3
Done, ready to back-check	2
Open	2
Disputed	1
Total	8

Step by step: 3 closed of 8 total is 3 / 8 = 37.5 percent closed. The three closed items took 8, 9 and 5 days. Three of the eight have passed their due dates without closing. The two marked done stay open until the superintendent checks them, and the disputed carpet seam needs a decision on who pays before the final walk.

Sample data from the free punch list template, not a customer job.

How Ruh handles it

How Ruh Handles Punch List.

Ruh works at the start of a job, not at closeout: its Takeoff Agent measures a bid set, its Estimating Agent prices from your own rate book and history, and a person on your team approves every line. It does not run punch lists, which is why the template above is free and yours to keep.

On this page: A Worked Punch List Example.

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Punch List: Frequently Asked Questions

Who creates the punch list on a construction project?+

The general contractor prepares and submits it, under section 9.8.2 of AIA A201-2017. The architect's inspection follows under section 9.8.3.

When is the punch list made?+

Near substantial completion. Many general contractors also punch each area as it finishes, so the final list is short.

Is punch list just the US word for snag list?+

Yes. British and Irish contracts say snag list for the same document.

Does a punch list add work to the contract?+

No. A punch item is work the contract already requires that is unfinished or wrong. New work goes through a change order.

What happens if a punch list item is disputed?+

The general contractor and the trades settle who owns it before the final walk. If the subcontract allows, the trade that caused the damage is backcharged.

Still measuring by hand? Your next takeoff can run while you review this one.

See it on your plans

Keep going: A Worked Punch List Example., the free punch list template or explore General Contractor Software.

The Construction Estimating Cheat Sheet

Every unit, waste factor, and conversion on one page. Free PDF.

Figures on this page are illustrative. Construction estimates depend on project-specific conditions, source documents, market pricing, and professional judgment. Ruh's AI assists the estimator and does not replace professional review: your team reviews, validates, and approves every estimate, bid, and pricing decision.

Now run it on your job

Knowing what Punch List means is the easy half.

The number you actually need is the one from your own drawings. These two are free, take no signup, and give you something you can put straight into a bid.

Punch List TemplateEvery item by trade, with days open, free Change Order TemplatePrice a change and log it, free

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1Tell us about a bid you are working on and the trade you are pricing
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