Packing List — Detailed Template
Full itemised packing list with HS codes, marks and numbers, package types and per-item dimensions.
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| Item # | Description | Qty | Unit | Net Wt (KG) | Gross Wt (KG) | Dims (CM) | Pkgs | HS Code | Marks & Numbers | Pkg Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
About this document
A packing list tells everyone downstream what is physically in the shipment: how many packages, what each one weighs, what is inside it, and how it is marked. The consignee checks the delivery against it, the freight forwarder plans stowage from it, and customs uses it alongside the commercial invoice to verify that the declared goods are the goods present.
What belongs on a packing list
Per line: a description, the quantity and unit, the number of packages and their type, net and gross weight, and the marks and numbers stencilled on the outside of the cartons. Dimensions and volume matter when the forwarder is planning a consolidation. An HS code is not strictly a packing-list field, but including it saves your broker cross-referencing back to the invoice.
Net weight, gross weight and tare
Net weight is the goods alone. Gross weight is the goods plus their packaging. Tare is the packaging by itself, the difference between the two. Carriers bill on gross, customs sometimes assesses on net, and a packing list that reports one where the other was expected causes a reweigh. If you state all three they cannot be confused.
Marks and numbers
These are the identifiers painted or labelled on the outside of each package: the consignee reference, a lot letter, the destination port, and handling symbols. They are how a warehouse finds your forty cartons among four thousand. Keep them short, keep them consistent with what is actually on the boxes, and repeat them on the packing list exactly.
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Keep building your document set
- Commercial InvoiceGoods, values and payment details.
- Packing List — DetailedPackages, weights and dimensions.
- Certificate of OriginThe declared origin of your goods.
- Bill of LadingShipper, consignee and cargo details.
- Shipper's Letter of InstructionInstructions for your freight forwarder.
- Verified Gross Mass DeclarationThe verified weight of a packed container.
Questions
+What is a packing list in international shipping?
A shipping document that itemises the contents of a consignment: descriptions, quantities, weights, dimensions and package counts, line by line. It is used by customs authorities, freight forwarders and the consignee to verify and process the cargo. It carries no prices. That is the commercial invoice's job.
+Is a packing list required for customs clearance?
In most countries, yes. Customs brokers use it alongside the commercial invoice and the bill of lading to verify contents, determine duties and release the shipment. Even where it is not strictly mandatory, shipping without one slows clearance because the officer has no independent check on the invoice.
+What is the difference between a packing list and a commercial invoice?
The packing list details physical contents and packaging: quantities, weights, dimensions. The commercial invoice states the financial terms: unit prices, total value, payment terms and Incoterms. Both are required in international trade and they must agree on quantities.
+Do I need an HS code on my packing list?
Not always legally required, but strongly recommended. HS codes help customs classify goods accurately, which speeds clearance and reduces the risk of an incorrect duty assessment. If they are on the invoice already, repeating them costs nothing.
+Should the packing list go inside the shipment or with the documents?
Both. One copy travels in a document wallet on the outside of a nominated carton so the receiving warehouse can check off the delivery, and one goes with the shipping documents to the broker. Losing the physical copy is common. Losing both stalls the delivery check.
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