Free Packing Slip Template — Download PDF & Word
A packing slip is a shipping document placed inside a parcel that lists the SKU, description and quantity of every item in the box — and nothing about money. Prices stay off on purpose: pricing belongs on the invoice, so the standard packing slip format is simply ship-from and ship-to details, an order number, an itemized contents list and a signature line. This free packing slip template gives you that exact layout as a print-ready PDF and an editable Word or Google Docs file — see the filled-in packing slip example below.
It is easy to mix up the paperwork. An invoice bills whoever paid and lists unit prices, tax and the total due. A shipping label rides on the outside of the parcel carrying the address and the tracking barcode your carrier scans — USPS, UPS and FedEx all route from the label, never the slip. A packing list itemizes every carton in a consolidated freight shipment, while a packing slip covers one order; delivery note is simply the term many businesses use for the same signed document.
Online sellers lean on packing slips harder than anyone. Shopify auto-generates one for every order, and Amazon requires sellers who fulfil their own orders to include a slip free of promotional material. Amazon has also started dropping paper slips from single-box shipments to cut packaging waste — sensible at that scale, but don't copy it blindly: for a small brand the slip is often the only branded touchpoint in the box, and it is the paper trail that settles item-not-received claims in minutes instead of days.
Print two copies of each slip: one goes inside the box on top of the items, one stays with your records. Multi-carton orders get a slip in every box listing only that box's contents. For international parcels, add a commercial invoice in a pouch on the outside — customs officers clear shipments against declared values, and a packing slip carries none. When you're ready, grab the free printable packing slip as a downloadable PDF or Word file, or build one in the online packing slip creator in about two minutes.
Create a packing slip free · Open the delivery note software
What This Template Includes
- Ship-from block — your business name, return address, phone, email and website
- Ship-to (recipient) name and delivery address, plus the billing address if it differs
- Order number, packing slip number and purchase order (PO) number for B2B orders
- Order date, date packed and date shipped
- Itemized contents list with SKU or UPC, product description and unit of measure
- Quantity ordered, quantity shipped and quantity backordered for every line
- Total item count, number of cartons or packages and shipment weight
- Carrier, shipping method and tracking number
- Return instructions and a customer support contact for missing or damaged items
- Special notes — gift messages, a hand-written thank-you, fragile-handling flags or warranty information
- Your logo and brand colors, so the slip doubles as an unboxing touchpoint
- A signature line for the recipient to confirm the contents on delivery
- No prices anywhere — totals, tax and payment terms live on the invoice, not the packing slip
Worked Example: Packing Slip #
Northwind Warehouse billing Ship to: Maple & Co., 123 Main St.:
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widget A (SKU WA-100) | 12 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Widget B (SKU WB-200) | 4 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Widget C (SKU WC-300) — backordered, ships separately | 0 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Widget D (SKU WD-400) | 6 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Mounting kit (SKU MK-500) | 8 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| USB cable set (SKU CB-12) | 20 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Instruction manual (SKU DOC-01) | 12 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $0.00 | ||
Order #SO-2241 · PO #4415 · 1 carton · 9 lb · Prices on invoice INV-2241
How to Use It
1. Open the template
Click "Create a packing slip free" to open it pre-loaded in the generator, or download the blank packing slip PDF or Word file from the buttons above.
2. Fill in the shipment details
Add ship-from and ship-to addresses, the order number, and each line's SKU, description and quantity — mark anything backordered so the customer knows a second box is coming.
3. Brand it
Upload your logo, pick an accent color, and keep the signature line — a signed packing slip doubles as proof of delivery.
4. Print and pack
Print two copies: one inside the box on top of the items, one for your records. Export a clean PDF to email or archive — no sign-up required.
Shipping internationally? A packing slip is not a customs document. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov) clears goods against a commercial invoice — the form that states declared values, quantities, country of origin and HS codes — so pouch one on the outside of the box and keep the packing slip inside for the recipient. Informational only, not customs or legal advice; guidance last verified July 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a packing slip?
A packing slip is a document placed inside a shipment that itemizes exactly what the box contains — SKU, product description and quantity — so the recipient can check the delivery against their order. It is issued by the seller or warehouse team, shows no prices, and is not a receipt: a receipt proves payment, a packing slip proves contents. Sellers reuse it as a picking checklist and as their paper trail of what left the warehouse.
Is this packing slip template free to download?
Yes — completely free, with no document cap, no watermark and no sign-up. The packing slip template free download PDF is the print-ready option; choose Microsoft Word or Google Docs to edit the layout. When you want quantity totals calculated for you, the fillable online generator does the math and exports the same slip as a finished PDF at no cost.
What is the difference between a packing slip and an invoice?
An invoice requests payment: it lists unit prices, tax and the total due, and goes to whoever paid. A packing slip lists the physical goods — SKU, description, quantity — and travels inside the box to the shipping address. Order a gift and the split is obvious: the recipient gets the packing slip, you get the invoice. Packing slip vs invoice in one line: the slip records what shipped, the invoice states what is owed.
What is the difference between a packing slip, a packing list and a shipping label?
A packing slip is a customer-facing document inside a single order's parcel. A packing list itemizes every carton in a larger consolidated or freight shipment — one list per box, checked box-by-box at receiving. A shipping label sits on the outside carrying the address and tracking barcode the carrier scans; it names no contents, so it cannot replace the slip. For freight, the bill of lading is the separate legal contract with the carrier.
Do Shopify and Amazon orders need a packing slip?
Shopify generates a packing slip for every order — print it from the Orders page of the Shopify admin, individually or in batches. Amazon sellers who fulfil their own orders (FBM) must include a slip that follows Amazon's rules: no promotional material, coupons or external links. FBA shipments use Amazon's own paperwork. eBay and Etsy don't require one, but a slip in the box cuts item-not-received claims and support tickets.
How many copies of a packing slip do I need?
Two per shipment is the working standard: one inside the box on top of the items, one kept with your records — a saved PDF or emailed digital packing slip counts. Multi-carton orders need a slip in each box listing only that carton's contents. For international parcels, attach a commercial invoice in a clear packing-slip envelope on the outside; customs officers value shipments from the commercial invoice, not the packing slip, which shows no prices.