Purchase Order Types

Choose the Purchase Order That Fits the Purchase

Start with what you are buying and whether this is a single order or an ongoing arrangement. The right purchase order gives the vendor enough detail to act without another round of emails.

Products & Services

Use a product purchase order for physical items. Use a service purchase order when you are hiring a vendor to complete work.

• Product Purchase Order Template
• Service Purchase Order Template

Repeat Orders & Purchase Order Control

Use a blanket purchase order for repeated purchases under agreed limits. Use a purchase order management system when you need to create, send, track, and find multiple orders without digging through files.

• Blanket Purchase Order Template
• Purchase Order Management System

Choose by What You Are Buying and How Often

A purchase may fit more than one description. A blanket purchase order can cover repeated product deliveries or recurring services. State what the vendor may supply, the time period, and any spending or quantity limits.

What to Include on Every Purchase Order Type

The details change with the purchase, but every purchase order should tell the vendor who is ordering, what has been approved, and what should happen next.

• Your business and vendor details
• A unique PO number and order date
• Clear product, service, or scope descriptions
• Quantities, hours, rates, unit prices, and line totals when they apply
• Discounts, sales tax, shipping charges, subtotal, and total
• The delivery address, service location, dates, and instructions
• Payment terms, approval details, notes, and attachments the vendor needs
• Type-specific details such as blanket-order limits, release dates, deliverables, or acceptance terms

Check the scope, quantities, prices, and dates before you send it. Clear now is quicker than correcting the order after the truck arrives or the work begins.

Product, Service, or Blanket Purchase Order?

A product purchase order focuses on physical goods. It usually includes item numbers or descriptions, quantities, unit prices, shipping details, and a requested delivery date.

A service purchase order focuses on work a vendor will complete. It should describe the scope, rate or agreed price, schedule, location, deliverables, and any approval or completion terms.

A blanket purchase order covers repeated purchases during a set period. Instead of creating a new agreement for every release, you set the vendor, approved products or services, prices, limits, and dates upfront.

Whichever type you use, give the purchase order a unique PO number. Ask the vendor to include that number on the invoice so you can match the order, delivery, and bill without playing paperwork detective.

Purchase Order Type or Purchase Order Format?

A purchase order type describes what you are buying or how the purchase is arranged. Product, service, and blanket purchase orders are types.

A purchase order format describes how you create or present the document. Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, PDF, blank, simple, professional, and online are formats or layouts.

Already know what kind of order you need? Browse purchase order templates by format. For a full explanation of purchase orders and how to create one, return to the free purchase order template.

More Purchase Order Templates

Choose a file or layout, return to the main purchase order guide, or start with a template for construction or small-business purchasing.

• Free Purchase Order Template
• Purchase Order Templates by Format
• Construction Purchase Order Template
• Small Business Purchase Order Template

Purchase Order Types FAQs

• What are the different types of purchase orders?

  Common purchase order types include product purchase orders for physical goods, service purchase orders for work provided by a vendor, and blanket purchase orders for repeated purchases during an agreed period. Businesses may also use a purchase order management system to create and track multiple orders.

• How do I choose the right purchase order type?

  Start with what you are buying and how often. Use a product purchase order for goods, a service purchase order for labor or professional work, and a blanket purchase order for repeat purchases under agreed prices, dates, or limits.

• What is a product purchase order?

  A product purchase order is used to order physical goods such as materials, supplies, inventory, parts, or equipment. It normally lists item descriptions, quantities, unit prices, shipping details, and the requested delivery date.

• What is a service purchase order?

  A service purchase order is used when a vendor will provide labor or professional services. Include the scope of work, rate or agreed price, dates, location, deliverables, payment terms, and any completion or approval requirements.

• What is a blanket purchase order?

  A blanket purchase order covers repeated purchases from the same vendor during a set period. It can define approved products or services, prices, maximum quantities or spending, delivery arrangements, and the dates the agreement applies.

• What is the difference between a blanket and standard purchase order?

  A standard purchase order normally covers one defined purchase or delivery. A blanket purchase order covers multiple releases or purchases over time under agreed terms and limits.

• Can one purchase order include products and services?

  Yes. One purchase order can include products and services when they are part of the same purchase. Keep each line clear, separate goods from labor when useful, and include the quantities, rates, prices, dates, and delivery or service details that apply.

• What does a purchase order management system do?

  A purchase order management system helps you create consistent POs, reuse vendor and item details, assign PO numbers, send orders, and keep previous purchase orders easy to find. Docelf is document software, not accounting software.

• What is the difference between a purchase order type and format?

  A purchase order type describes what you are buying or how the purchase is arranged, such as a product, service, or blanket purchase order. A format describes how you create or present it, such as Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, PDF, or online.