Is a packing list the same thing as the packing slip my online store prints?
No. The packing slip your store platform prints belongs to one customer order, usually in a single parcel. A packing list describes a whole shipment: how many packages, how heavy, what size, and which item is in which package. Use the store's slip for everyday retail orders and a packing list for multi-carton and business-to-business shipments.
The packing slip: one order's companion
Many store platforms can print a slip with each order showing the order number, the customer's name, the products and their quantities, with prices shown or hidden depending on your settings. Its job is to let whoever packs the order confirm everything went in, and to let the customer see the order is complete on opening it. It is tied to an order in the system and knows nothing about cartons or weights.
The packing list: the shipment as a whole
A packing list made in the Packing-list generator is a document of its own, independent of any platform, and it holds what an order slip does not:
- A shipment reference and date, plus full shipper and consignee details.
- The number of packages, their type, gross weight and dimensions.
- Every item with its quantity, unit and the package it is packed in.
- The total quantity, and a separate total per unit when units differ.
- A 'Checked by' line for a name and signature.
It holds no price or value at all. It describes what is in the shipment and where, not what anyone pays.
Which one? Three cases
- A customer ordered two dresses that ship together in one courier bag: the platform's packing slip is enough.
- A gift shop in Sharjah ordered 18 items wholesale arriving in five cartons: a packing list, because the receiver needs to know what is in each carton and sign for it.
- You are moving stock from your storeroom to a fulfilment warehouse: a packing list, because it is a stock transfer rather than a customer order, and there may be no order for it in your store at all.
Do I need an invoice as well?
For business-to-business orders, often yes, but it is a third document. The invoice states the amounts owed, and you can make a basic one with the Basic invoice generator. Any e-invoicing obligations where you trade are a separate matter that none of these templates covers. A packing list is also not a bill of lading or a customs document, so for international shipments ask your carrier which documents they need.
Common questions
Can a packing list replace the packing slip for retail orders?
It can, but it is more than a one-parcel order needs, and it is not linked to your store's order number unless you type that into the shipment reference.
Do prices appear on the packing list?
No, the tool has no price field at all.