Packing List / Packing Slip

A packing list is the shipment-level inventory manifest. It accompanies the freight and tells the receiving party exactly what's inside each carton, pallet, or container – item by item. Unlike a commercial invoice, a packing list doesn't include pricing; its purpose is purely operational, enabling the receiver to verify that what arrived matches what was shipped.

A typical packing list includes the shipper and consignee information, shipment or order reference numbers, a line-item breakdown of contents (SKU or item number, description, quantity per package, and unit weight), total package count, and total shipment weight. For palletized freight, packing lists often detail the contents per pallet, which helps dock crews organize receiving and put-away. In LTL and parcel environments, the packing slip is usually tucked inside or affixed to each carton.

Packing lists play a quiet but important role in dispute resolution. When a consignee reports a shortage or receives the wrong product, the packing list is the first document checked against the BOL and the PO. If your packing list is accurate and detailed, discrepancies are easier to trace – whether the error happened at the warehouse during picking or in transit. For international shipments, the packing list is also required by customs alongside the commercial invoice, and incomplete packing documentation can cause clearance delays.

Shippers who generate packing lists automatically from their order or warehouse management system – rather than handwriting them or building them in spreadsheets – see far fewer receiving disputes and faster inventory reconciliation at destination.