Detailed packing list against simple
Both list what is in the shipment. The detailed version adds HS codes, marks and numbers, package types and per-item dimensions. The simple one gives contents, package count and weight. Which one you need depends on who will read it.
Use the detailed list for anything crossing a customs border, moving under a letter of credit, or shipping LCL. Use the simple one for domestic shipments, samples and internal transfers, where nobody reads the extra columns.
| Packing List — Detailed | Packing List — Simple | |
|---|---|---|
| HS codes | Per line. | Not shown. |
| Dimensions | Per item. | Not shown. |
| Marks and numbers | Per line. | Not shown. |
| Package type | Stated. | Not shown. |
| Best for | Customs, letters of credit, LCL. | Domestic, samples, internal moves. |
| Weights | Net, gross and tare. | Net and gross. |
LCL is where the detail matters most
On a full container, the packing list describes a box that only you loaded. On LCL, your pallets travel with other people's and are separated at a container freight station at the far end. The marks and numbers are how the right pallets are picked out. Volume matters too, because LCL is charged on weight or volume, whichever is greater.
Two other versions exist
A container packing list breaks the contents down by container. An FCL shipment of several containers needs this, so that each line can be traced to a seal. A consolidated packing list covers several orders or invoices moving as one consignment. Both are the detailed list arranged for a specific situation. They do not carry more or less information.
Full itemised packing list with HS codes, marks and numbers, package types and per-item dimensions.
Minimal packing list: what is in the shipment, how many packages, and what it weighs. No HS codes or dimensions.
+Will customs reject a simple packing list?
Not automatically. But if an officer wants to match a specific carton to an invoice line and the marks are not on the document, they will ask a question. A question means a delay.
+Can I switch between the two?
Yes. Both are filled in from the same shipment data, so filling one fills the other. Choose the one you need when you download.
Try it with a real shipment.
The generator on this page is the real product. Fill it in, download the PDF, and see if it is what you need.
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