Packing list: contents, template and mistakes to avoid
Updated Sep 14, 2026
A packing list describes the physical content of a shipment: how many packages, what each one contains, their weight and dimensions. It carries no prices, but customs, carriers and forwarders use it to identify the goods, organise an inspection and check that the file is consistent.
What is a packing list used for?
- Letting customs find specific goods during a physical inspection without opening every package
- Checking that the number of packages and gross weight match the transport document (bill of lading, air waybill, CMR)
- Preparing the customs declaration: number and type of packages, net and gross weight per item
- Planning transport and handling: dimensions, volume, chargeable weight
- Proving compliance of the shipment under a letter of credit, when the bank requires it
A packing list is not always mandatory as such, but it is requested for the vast majority of international shipments. Without one, the same information must appear on the invoice.
Details to include
- Shipper and consignee, with their addresses
- Number and date of the matching commercial invoice, order reference
- Number of each package and the shipping marks written on the packaging
- Type of packaging: carton, pallet, crate, drum, container
- Contents of each package: precise description, reference, quantity and unit
- Net and gross weight of each package, then shipment totals
- Dimensions of each package or total volume
- Where needed: commodity code, country of origin, batch or serial numbers, container and seal numbers
Consistency with other documents
The packing list must match the commercial invoice (same items, same quantities) and the transport document (same number of packages, same total gross weight). A discrepancy between these documents is one of the most common triggers for inspection: it suggests that part of the goods is undeclared, or that the documents do not match the shipment.
Gross weight includes packaging and net weight does not, so gross weight is always greater than or equal to net weight, for each package and in total.
Wood packaging: the ISPM 15 standard
Pallets, crates and dunnage made of raw wood used in international trade generally have to be treated and bear the ISPM 15 mark, to prevent the spread of pests. The European Union requires it for wood packaging from non-EU countries. Non-compliant packaging can be refused entry or destroyed at the importer's expense.
Common mistakes
- Number of packages different from the transport document
- Total gross weight different from the air waybill, bill of lading or CMR
- Net weight higher than gross weight for a package or in total
- Generic descriptions ("parts", "miscellaneous") instead of the actual contents
- Mixed units (kg and lb, pieces and cartons) without clarification
- List based on the order rather than on what was actually loaded
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a commercial invoice and a packing list?
The invoice describes the sale (prices, value, delivery terms). The packing list describes the physical shipment (packages, contents, weights, dimensions). Both must match on items and quantities.
Should prices appear on the packing list?
No. A packing list usually carries no prices: the value is shown on the commercial invoice.
Does a packing list have to be signed?
Not as a general rule. Some banks or consignees require it, particularly under a letter of credit.
Must the weight exactly match the transport document?
Total gross weight and number of packages must match. A small rounding difference is usually tolerated, but a significant gap should be explained or corrected.
Is a packing list needed for a single-package shipment?
For a single package, the details can appear directly on the invoice (number of packages, net and gross weight, dimensions). Many carriers still ask for a list.
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