What Is Packing List?
Also known as: packing slip, delivery note, shipping list
Definition
A packing list, also called a packing slip, is a document that itemizes what is in a shipment: items, quantities, package counts and references. It travels with the goods and lets the receiver check contents without opening an invoice.
Packing List Explained
A typical packing list shows the ship-to and bill-to, order and customer PO numbers, item numbers and descriptions, quantities shipped and back-ordered, package counts, weights and lot or serial numbers where required. It usually omits prices, so receiving staff and warehouse hands do not see commercial terms.
It is distinct from the bill of lading, which is the carrier's transport contract, and from the invoice, which is the financial claim. For exports, a detailed packing list supports customs clearance and must agree with the commercial invoice.
ERPs generate packing lists from shipment or packing transactions. SyteLine prints packing slips from its shipping functions, Infor LN prints delivery notes from outbound procedures, and NetSuite prints packing slips from item fulfillment. Layouts can usually be customized for customer-specific requirements, such as retailer-mandated references.
Errors tend to come from late edits: a line is short-shipped after the document is printed, and the paper no longer matches the box.
Why It Matters
- Receivers use it to verify shipments and raise shortage claims quickly.
- Customs often asks for it alongside the commercial invoice.
- Lot and certificate references on the document support quality and traceability.
- A mismatch between packing list and ASN can trigger customer penalties.
In Practice
A shipment of 6 cartons is packed, and the packing list prints 120 units of a part. After a quality hold on one carton, only 100 units go. The packing list is reprinted after shipment confirmation so the quantity, the ASN and the invoice all agree at 100 with 20 on backorder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a packing list and a packing slip?
In practice the terms are used interchangeably. Some firms use packing list for export or multi-package shipments and packing slip for domestic ones.
Does a packing list show prices?
Usually not. The invoice carries prices. Some customers or customs rules ask for values, so formats can differ.
Can ERP print a packing list automatically?
Yes, from the packing or shipment confirmation step. Print after final quantities are confirmed to avoid mismatches.
Related Terms
Bill of Lading (BOL)
A bill of lading (BOL) is the document a carrier issues to confirm it received goods for shipment. It acts as a receipt, a contract of carriage and, in some forms, a document of title. ERPs print it from the shipping transaction.
Advance Ship Notice (ASN)
An advance ship notice (ASN) is an electronic message a supplier sends before a shipment arrives, listing what is on the truck, how it is packed and how it is labelled. In EDI it is transaction set 856.
Pick, Pack and Ship
Pick, pack and ship is the three-stage order fulfillment sequence: pull items from stock against a sales order, pack them with documents and labels, then hand them to a carrier. Each stage posts a transaction in the ERP.
Traceability
Traceability is the ability to follow the history, location, and application of a part or material through the supply chain and production process, both backward to its sources and forward to every product and customer it reached.
Incoterms
Incoterms are standard trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce that define who arranges and pays for transport, insurance and customs, and where risk passes from seller to buyer. Examples are EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP and DDP.
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