WH-347 Excel Template: Free vs. Software in 2026

April 24, 2026 — WH347.io Team

A WH-347 Excel template seems like the obvious solution — free, familiar, no new software to learn. Here's an honest look at what a template can and can't do, and when it starts costing you more than it saves.

When federal contractors first encounter the WH-347 requirement, the first instinct is often to find a spreadsheet. Excel is already installed, it's free, and it's something you know. A WH-347 Excel template seems like the obvious starting point.

And for some contractors — particularly those just starting out, with one small project and a handful of workers — it's a reasonable place to begin. But the limitations of an Excel approach become apparent quickly, and in 2026 there's a specific problem with templates that every contractor needs to know about.

What a WH-347 Excel Template Is

A WH-347 Excel template is a spreadsheet formatted to match the layout of the DOL's Form WH-347. You enter data into the cells, the template calculates totals (if the formulas are set up correctly), and you either print it or export it as a PDF for submission. Some templates are simple grids. Others include drop-downs, auto-calculations for gross wages and deductions, and even a separate tab for the Statement of Compliance.

Where to Find Free WH-347 Templates

The DOL publishes the official WH-347 as a fillable PDF at dol.gov — not as an Excel file. The fillable PDF is free and is the official format. Excel templates are created by third parties: accounting firms, construction industry associations, and individual contractors who built their own and shared it. Quality varies significantly. Some are well-built; others have broken formulas, missing fields, or are based on an outdated form version.

The 2026 Problem: Form Expiration

This is the critical issue for anyone using an Excel template in 2026. The DOL issued a revised WH-347 in 2025 with a new OMB control number. The old form — including any Excel template built from it — carries an expiration date of September 30, 2026. Starting October 1, 2026, contracting agencies must reject submissions on the superseded form.

An Excel template does not update itself. If you downloaded a template before 2025, it reflects the old form layout and old Statement of Compliance language. When you submit reports generated from that template, you may be submitting on an expired form without realizing it. The OMB expiration date on the form itself is the tell — check the header of your template.

What Excel Templates Can't Do

• Validate classifications: A spreadsheet has no way to know whether the work classification you entered matches the wage determination for your project location. It will accept whatever you type.
• Calculate fringe credits correctly: The math for crediting bona fide benefit plans against the prevailing fringe rate is nuanced. Most Excel templates don't handle the cash-in-lieu vs. plan payment distinction accurately.
• Track form version: Your template will not notify you when the DOL updates the WH-347. You'll keep generating reports on the old form until something goes wrong.
• Store payroll history: Each week's report is typically a separate file. There's no consolidated audit trail, and finding a specific week's report during a DOL audit means digging through folders.
• Export to agency-specific formats: California requires eCPR XML for the DIR portal. State DOT projects using AASHTOWare require PRL XML. No Excel template can generate these formats.

When Excel Is Fine vs. When to Switch

Excel works reasonably well if you have one project, fewer than five workers, straightforward straight-time wages (no overtime, no complex fringe), and a contracting officer who accepts printed PDFs. At that scale, the manual work is manageable and the risk of errors is limited.

The calculation tips when you add a second project, hire a sixth or seventh worker, have any overtime, need to track fringe benefit credits, or submit to an agency that requires electronic formats. At that point, the time spent on manual entry, the risk of formula errors, and the version-control problem combine to make the spreadsheet more expensive than it looks.

A Better Alternative: Purpose-Built Certified Payroll Software

WH347.io is designed specifically for the WH-347 compliance workflow. You enter workers, projects, and weekly timecard data. The platform calculates wages, overtime, and fringe credits — then generates a completed, submission-ready WH-347 PDF on the current DOL form version, automatically. When the DOL updates the form, the platform updates too. You don't manage templates, track form versions, or worry about expired formats.

A free Starter plan is available for smaller crews. The Pro plan adds California eCPR XML and AASHTOWare PRL XML export for contractors who need electronic submission. No spreadsheet knowledge required.

For a full side-by-side breakdown of what spreadsheet templates can and can't do, see our dedicated Excel certified payroll comparison page.

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