A packing slip identifies the items included in a shipment. This free packing slip generator creates a printable shipping document with sender and delivery details, an order reference, dispatch date and quantities ordered and shipped. It shows remaining quantities for each line and flags shipments above the entered ordered quantity. The document contains no price fields, making it useful when the receiving team needs to check contents without seeing billing amounts. Preview the slip, then print or save it as a PDF.
Create your document
Enter accurate details, generate a preview, then print or save it as PDF. Nothing is sent automatically.
How to create a packing slip
Enter the sender’s details and the delivery recipient or address. Add the order reference, dispatch date and a separate packing slip number. A carrier or tracking reference is optional but can help connect the document with your shipping record. Add up to five item descriptions, including the quantity ordered and quantity included in this particular shipment. Use notes for relevant handling or shipment information.
Select Generate to preview the packing slip. Check the actual packed goods against every line before printing. The generator does not inspect a package, verify a tracking number or confirm that the recipient has received anything. The quantity shipped field should describe this shipment accurately. If the order is split across several packages or dispatches, keep a clear record of which quantities each document covers.
Packing slip versus invoice
A packing slip describes shipment contents. An invoice requests payment. The documents may share an order reference and item descriptions, but they serve different functions. This tool deliberately omits prices, tax and payment amounts. That can be useful when a package goes to a receiving location while the invoice goes to a separate billing contact. It does not make the packing slip proof that payment has been received.
Use our invoice generator for billing and our purchase order generator for the buyer’s order document. Keep references consistent across the records, while checking the actual transaction details. A matching reference is helpful for reconciliation, but it does not independently establish that the correct goods were ordered, packed, delivered or paid for.
What belongs on a useful packing slip
The main details are the sender, delivery recipient, order reference, dispatch date, slip number and item quantities. Item descriptions should distinguish the goods clearly. Include a product code, size, color or model in the description when those details matter. If the order contains several similar items, a vague label such as “parts” can make receiving checks difficult.
This compact tool does not provide separate columns for units, package weights, serial numbers or package counts. Add a unit to each item description where appropriate and use the notes for a short explanation. If your shipment needs detailed warehouse, customs or regulated-goods documentation, use a suitable specialized process. A basic packing slip is an organizational document, not a substitute for every shipping requirement.
Ordered, shipped and remaining quantities
For each line, remaining quantity equals ordered quantity minus shipped quantity, with a minimum of zero. If ten units were ordered and six are in the shipment, the displayed remaining quantity is four. If ten units were ordered and twelve are entered as shipped, the remaining quantity is zero and a separate over-shipment message identifies the two-unit excess. The tool does not hide an overage by displaying a negative remaining figure.
The quantities are based only on the values entered. The generator does not remember earlier shipments or maintain a running order balance. For a second partial dispatch, decide how your records will show the original order, earlier quantities and the current shipment, and explain that basis clearly. Do not present the displayed remainder as a complete inventory or fulfillment history unless your supporting records establish it.
Partial shipments and backorders
A partial shipment may be easier to understand when the slip makes the missing quantity visible. Use the notes to explain a genuine backorder, agreed substitution or separate dispatch, without promising a delivery date that has not been confirmed. Keep the customer informed through your normal process. A packing slip placed inside a package may not be seen until the goods arrive.
If several shipments cover the same order, use distinct slip numbers and keep copies together. Record dates and tracking references for each dispatch. The tool does not notify a customer, allocate stock or schedule the remaining goods. For planning a proposed delivery window, our business days calculator can count weekdays using your entered holidays, but the actual shipment schedule still depends on the supplier, carrier and agreement.
Check actual contents before printing
A packing slip should reflect the package, not merely the original order screen. Compare descriptions and quantities with the items physically prepared for shipment. Check variants, accessories and any agreed replacements. If a quantity changes during packing, update the document and generate a fresh preview. Editing the form hides the old result to reduce the chance of printing an outdated slip.
The totals at the bottom add quantities across the entered lines. Those totals can combine different item units, so they should not be interpreted as package weight, volume or a meaningful combined unit when items differ. The result explicitly notes that limitation. Use the line-level quantities as the primary receiving information and keep any package-level measurements in appropriate shipping records.
Addresses and carrier references
Enter the actual delivery location, including an apartment, department or receiving contact where necessary. Check the address against the agreed shipping details. A correct customer name alone may not be enough to route a package. The packing slip is usually an internal document accompanying the goods; it does not replace the carrier’s address label or booking information.
A tracking reference can help the recipient connect the slip with a shipment, but the generator does not validate it or link to live tracking. Do not include passwords, payment information or unnecessary private identifiers in the notes. If a document will travel inside a package, assume it may be seen by people involved in handling and receiving the goods.
Domestic and international shipping
For a straightforward domestic shipment, a packing slip can support checking and reconciliation. International shipments may require additional documents such as a commercial invoice or customs declarations. The requirements depend on the goods, destination, carrier and applicable rules. This packing slip generator does not determine tariff codes, country-of-origin declarations or customs values.
Our commercial invoice templates provide a separate document starting point. Verify requirements with the relevant carrier, customs authority or qualified specialist before shipping. Do not add a customs value to an unrelated notes field and assume that turns a packing slip into a compliant commercial invoice. Each document should accurately serve its own purpose.
Print a slip or save a PDF
After checking the preview, select Print / Save as PDF. A clean document opens in a new window. Use its print button and choose a physical printer or PDF destination. Inspect the page preview for long descriptions, addresses and notes. Print a copy for the shipment and keep a digital record if that fits your process. The tool does not email a file or create a permanent online shipment record.
Use a filename containing the order reference and packing slip number so documents from partial shipments remain distinct. Open the saved PDF before sharing it. If you prefer a downloadable document layout, browse our packing slip templates. Choose a format that matches the information you need rather than adding complicated warehouse requirements to a simple form.
Privacy and final checks
The generator runs in your browser without an account. It does not intentionally upload entered values or save them in local storage, although the surrounding website may use ordinary cookies, analytics and advertising. Keep only necessary shipping details in the form, and handle saved PDFs appropriately on shared computers. Close the preview when you finish.
Before dispatch, confirm the sender, recipient, order reference, slip number, date and actual quantities packed. Review any over-shipment warning and make sure partial-shipment notes match the real arrangement. Check the document against the carrier label and retain supporting records. A clear packing slip helps people identify goods, while accurate packing and reliable shipping records remain separate responsibilities.
Frequently asked questions
Does the slip include prices?
No. It records shipment descriptions and quantities. Use an invoice for billing and a purchase order for the buyer’s order details.
Does it track previous shipments?
No. Each preview uses only the entered figures. Keep a separate fulfillment record for partial dispatches, backorders and earlier quantities.
