Free packing slip templates (6 types, 4 formats) + an interactive builder

A packing slip is the document that rides along with a shipment and lists what is in the box, so the person opening it can check the contents against what they ordered. Generate one below, add your details, and print it.

The rest of this guide covers the six versions, the fields that matter, and how a packing slip differs from an invoice and a shipping label.

Download a free packing slip template 

Pick the variant that matches how you ship, then the format you want to work in. Every file is blank and editable, so you can drop in your logo, your addresses, and your line items.

6 packing slip template types 

All six carry the same core fields. They differ in what they add for a particular way of shipping.

1. Standard: The plain version, with sender, recipient, order number, items, and quantities. Fine for most shipments.
    

2. Retail: Adds store or department details and a returns line, for stock going to a shop floor or a customer who may send something back.
    

3. eCommerce: A clean, customer-facing layout, since this one goes in the box for the buyer to read. It usually carries a short thank-you or a returns note.
    

4. Wholesale: Room for a long line-item list, the PO number, and case or pallet quantities rather than single units.
    

5. International: Adds country of origin, weight and dimensions, and a line for harmonized system (HS) codes and is built to sit alongside a commercial invoice (more on that below).
    

6. Manufacturing: Lists components or kit contents and references the work or build order so a receiving team can check a parts shipment against the build.

 3 file formats explained 

The same slip has three ways to work with it. Pick the format by what you need to do with it.

1. PDF: Type into the fields and print. The layout is fixed, so you cannot rearrange it. Best when you just want to fill it in and go.
    

2. Word: The most flexible option. Edit the layout, add or remove columns, or drop in a logo. Best when you want to adjust the design.
    

3. Excel: Adds the totals for you. You can set it to flag a back-ordered line whenever the shipped quantity falls below the ordered quantity. Best for larger orders.

Interactive packing slip builder 

Fill in the fields on screen and export a finished slip as a PDF. Once you are shipping enough that filling these in by hand gets tiresome, Zoho Inventory can generate a packing slip automatically from each order.

What goes on a packing slip 

A packing slip needs enough for the receiver to check the box against their order and not much more:

• Your business name, and the ship-to and bill-to-addresses

• The order or PO number, so the slip ties back to the original order

• Each item by SKU and description, so the receiver can match it without guessing

• Quantity shipped, plus quantity ordered and quantity back-ordered where they differ; most templates leave this line out, and it is the one that prevents support tickets, because a short or back-ordered item shows on the slip instead of surprising the receiver in the box.

• A notes line, for returns instructions or a short message

A packing slip leaves prices off on purpose. The slip goes in the box, and you do not want costs or margins visible to whoever opens it, which also keeps it safe for dropshipping and gift orders.

Packing slip vs. Invoice vs. Shipping label 

Three documents travel with an order, and they are easy to mix up. Each does a different job:

A common mistake is dropping the invoice in the box in place of a packing slip. If the customer has already paid, an invoice in the package only causes confusion, which is the reason the packing slip exists as a separate, price-free document.

International packing slips and HS codes 

For a cross-border shipment, customs works from the commercial invoice, which states the value of the goods, the country of origin, and the HS codes used to classify them and set duty. The packing slip is a separate document that travels alongside and lists the contents.

An international order usually needs both: a commercial invoice for customs and a packing slip for the receiver. The international template leaves room for the country of origin, weight, and HS codes so the two documents line up.