How to fill out a container packing list
A container packing list is the detailed list reorganised around the boxes rather than the goods. It exists for one situation: a shipment spanning several containers, where customs or the consignee needs to know which container holds which line — and which seal to break to find it.
The 17 fields on a packing list — container
Taken from the document itself, in the order it prints them.
- Document No.
- Date
- PO Reference
- Invoice No.
The commercial invoice this list belongs to. What lets an officer put the two documents side by side rather than treating the list as an orphan.
- B/L / AWB No.
The transport document number once issued. Often blank when the list is first written and filled in later, which is normal, but it should be there by the time documents are presented to a bank.
- Container Type
Twenty foot, forty foot, high cube, reefer. It also decides the tare you add when certifying the verified gross mass.
- Shipper / Exporter
- Consignee
- Notify Party
- Vessel / Voyage
- Port of Loading
- Port of Discharge
- Country of Origin
- Container No.
Where the shipment is a single box, the header container. On a multi-container list this is the lead box and each line carries its own.
- Seal No.
The seal fitted after loading. A seal number that does not match the paperwork means the container is opened, and everything after that is delay and cost.
- Method of Dispatch
- Notes
The line-item columns
One row per product. Columns can be hidden, renamed or added in the generator.
- Container No.
The point of this version of the document. Per line, so a specific product traces to a specific box — and so a partial inspection opens one container rather than all of them.
- Item #
- Description
- Qty
- Unit
- Pkgs
- Pkg Type
- Net Wt
- Gross Wt
Per line, and the per-container totals have to reconcile with what was declared to the carrier and with each box's verified gross mass.
- Vol
Per line, and per container it tells you whether the box is full. On a multi-container shipment it is what proves the split was made sensibly.
- HS Code
- Marks & Numbers
What is stencilled on the packages, so a carton can be found inside the right box without unloading it.
- Tare Wt
The packaging by itself. Worth stating where the packing is heavy, because it explains a gross weight that would otherwise look wrong for the goods.
A working packing list — container, prefilled with a sample shipment. Every field above is editable here, and it downloads as a PDF.
| Container No. | Item # | Description | Qty | Unit | Pkgs | Pkg Type | Net Wt (KG) | Gross Wt (KG) | Vol (CBM) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Your entries are kept as you move between documents: the parties, ports, container and line items all carry across.
Every line traces to a seal
That is the entire reason this version exists. On a four-container shipment, an officer who wants to verify one line should be able to identify which box to open. A list that totals correctly but does not say which container holds what forces all four to be examined, and four examinations is four times the demurrage.
Per-container totals have to hold
Three numbers per box: package count, gross weight and volume. Each has to agree with what was declared to the carrier for that container, and the gross weight has to reconcile with that container's verified gross mass once the tare is added. A shipment where the totals only work in aggregate is a shipment where one box is misdeclared.
When to use consolidated instead
Container is for one shipper's goods across several boxes. Consolidated is for several orders or invoices moving as one consignment, which is a different problem — there the grouping is by order, not by box. Where you have both, the container list is usually the one customs wants.
+Do I need one for a single container?
Not usually. The detailed packing list covers it, and the header carries the container and seal. This version earns its place from two boxes upward.
+What if one line spans two containers?
Split it across two lines, one per container, with the quantity in each. A single line against two boxes defeats the purpose of the document.
+Does the seal number really matter?
Yes. It is the evidence the box was not opened between loading and arrival, and a mismatch between the seal on the door and the seal on the paperwork triggers an inspection every time.
Judge it by the document, not the feature list.
Everything above is already on the form. Fill it in and download the PDF — no account needed.
Open the packing list — container generator