Free Packing Slip Template
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 an editable Word or Google Docs file you can print or save as a PDF — 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 Word file, or build one in the online packing slip creator and export a PDF 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 Word file from the button 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 Word download opens in Microsoft Word or Google Docs so you can edit the layout, then print or save it as a PDF. 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.
Do I need a packing slip if I already send an invoice?
They do different jobs, so most sellers send both. The invoice goes to whoever pays and states what is owed; the packing slip travels inside the box and lets the person opening it check the contents against the order without seeing prices. For a gift or a drop-ship order the split matters — the recipient should see the slip, not the invoice. If you ship physical goods, a slip in the box settles "wrong item" and "item not received" questions far faster than an invoice alone.