PayrollCertified payroll spreadsheet template — free
If you are still tracking certified payroll in Excel, this template gives you the right column structure. It also shows why the spreadsheet approach breaks when the form changes.
Last reviewed: October 2026, against the current form PDF.
Download the template
The template is a CSV file that matches PayrollWarden's import format. It has columns for workers, classifications, base rates, fringe splits, and daily hours. You can open it in Excel or Google Sheets.
The template has no macros. It is a data-entry structure, not a form generator. You still need to calculate the fringe totals and transfer the data to the actual WH-347 form.
Why macro-based templates break
Most certified payroll Excel templates on the market are macro-driven. They use hardcoded cell references to place data on the WH-347 form. The macros run automatically and produce a filled-out form.
The problem is that the DOL revises the form. When they do, the columns move. The macro still runs, but it writes to the old cell positions. The form looks filled out, but the fringe amounts end up in the wrong columns and the totals do not add up.
This happened with the January 2025 revision. The old single fringe column became Columns 6B and 6C. The gross wage column became 7A and 7B. Every template built for the pre-2025 form produces wrong totals on the 2025 form.
What the template does not do
- It does not calculate fringe benefits. You need to know the wage determination rates and the per-hour math yourself.
- It does not generate the WH-347 form. You have to transfer the data to the form manually, which is where most errors happen.
- It does not remember your crew. You enter the worker data from scratch every week.
- It does not check for errors. If you enter a full social security number or a rate below the wage determination, the spreadsheet will not stop you.
The alternative
PayrollWarden does all of the above. You enter your crew once, and the engine remembers the classifications, base rates, and fringe splits. Each week you enter the hours, and the engine calculates the fringe columns, checks for errors, and generates the WH-347 PDF.
The free tool gives you one complete form with no account. The paid plan ($29/month) saves your crew so week two takes two minutes instead of twenty.
The columns, box by box: field-by-field WH-347 guide. Why the January 2025 revision broke the old templates: 2025 form changes.
Sources
- Form WH-347 (Rev. January 2025), U.S. Department of Labor.
- DOL online fillable WH-347 — the Department's own alternative to a spreadsheet.
Frequently asked questions
Does the template work with the January 2025 form?
Yes. The CSV template has columns for 6B, 6C, 7A, and 7B. If you use the template to collect the data and then transfer it to the 2025 form, the columns line up.
Why not just use a macro template?
Because macro templates break when the DOL revises the form. The January 2025 revision moved the fringe columns, and every pre-2025 template now produces wrong totals. The spreadsheet approach only works if you manually verify every column after the form changes.
Is the template really free?
Yes. The CSV template is free to download and use. There is no account required.