Export Packing List Generator

Yes — 100% free, no signup required, no watermarks on the downloaded PDF, and no limit on how many packing lists you generate.

A packing list is a document that provides detailed information about how the shipped goods are packed — listing each type of package, the quantity of packages, a description of contents, gross and net weights, volume in CBM, and the shipping marks stenciled on the outside of each package. It travels with the commercial invoice and bill of lading and is used by customs, freight forwarders, warehouse staff, and banks.

While not every country legally mandates a packing list by statute, in practice it is effectively mandatory for virtually all sea freight and air cargo shipments. Customs authorities routinely require it to verify cargo contents, freight forwarders need it to calculate charges and prepare manifests, and banks often demand it as part of the document set under Letters of Credit. Attempting to export without a packing list will likely cause delays, extra inspections, and potential fines.

A commercial invoice declares the financial transaction — it shows prices, currency, payment terms, total value, and serves as the legal demand for payment and the basis for customs duty calculation. A packing list declares the physical reality — it shows what's actually in the boxes, how many boxes, what they weigh, how big they are, and how they're marked. Both documents reference each other and must agree on quantities and descriptions, but they serve fundamentally different purposes.

Traditionally, no — a standard packing list is a non-commercial document focused purely on physical characteristics: weights, dimensions, package counts, and markings. However, some buyers or specific LC conditions may request a "valued packing list" that adds a declared value per package or per line item for insurance purposes. This generator follows the standard practice of excluding prices, keeping it distinct from the commercial invoice.

Yes, the format produced by this tool — with detailed package-level breakdown, weights, dimensions, and marks — is fully compatible with Amazon FBA labeling and receiving requirements. Many FBA sellers use a similar structured packing list to accompany their cartons to Amazon fulfillment centers, where warehouse staff scan and verify package counts and contents upon receipt.

Standard shipping marks typically include: (1) the buyer's or consignee's name/logo, (2) the destination port or city, (3) the package/serial number (e.g., Carton 1 of 50, C/No. 1-UP), (4) the purchase order or contract reference, (5) the country of origin, and (6) handling symbols like FRAGILE, THIS WAY UP, KEEP DRY, or KEEP COOL. These should be clearly stenciled or printed on at least two sides of each outer carton.

Measure each package's length, width, and height in meters, multiply them together (L × W × H = CBM per package), then sum the CBM of all packages. For example, a carton measuring 60cm × 40cm × 50cm equals 0.60m × 0.40m × 0.50m = 0.12 CBM. If you ship 100 identical cartons, total CBM = 100 × 0.12 = 12.00 CBM. This tool lets you enter CBM per row and automatically sums the total.

Gross weight is the total mass of the goods PLUS all packaging materials (inner boxes, outer cartons, pallets, shrink wrap, strapping, dunnage). Net weight is the mass of the actual product only, with no packaging included. Customs duties in many countries are assessed on net weight (or CIF value), while freight charges (especially for air cargo) are often based on gross weight or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. A good packing list always states both.

Very commonly, yes. Under UCP 600 (the international rules governing Letters of Credit), banks examine presented documents for compliance with the LC terms. Most LCs specifically list the packing list as a required document alongside the commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and others. Discrepancies between the packing list and other documents (such as a different carton count) are a leading cause of payment delays and LC discrepancies.

Yes. If your shipment spans multiple containers (for example, three 40ft High Cube containers), a single master packing list can itemize all packages across all containers, with a clear indication of which packages were loaded into which container. This tool supports multiple container numbers and seal numbers in the designated fields. Alternatively, some shippers prefer one packing list per container for easier reconciliation at destination.

A container seal is a tamper-evident device (plastic or metal) threaded through the container door locking bars after the container has been stuffed and closed. Each seal has a unique alphanumeric number (the seal number) that is recorded on the packing list, bill of lading, and shipping instructions. At the destination, the consignee verifies that the seal number matches the documents and that the seal is intact — if broken or mismatched, it suggests possible unauthorized access during transit, which triggers insurance claims and customs investigations.

Absolutely. While packing lists are most closely associated with international exports, they're equally useful for domestic logistics — warehousing, inter-branch transfers, third-party logistics (3PL) operations, and even moving household goods. Any situation where you need to document what's inside multiple packages benefits from a structured packing list.

Discrepancies between the packing list and physical cargo are among the fastest ways to trigger problems: customs may hold the shipment for verification, the freight forwarder may issue a demurrage charge while waiting for clarification, the buyer may refuse delivery pending rectification, and the bank may reject documents under an LC. Always double-check that carton counts, weights, and marks on the packing list match what was actually stuffed into the container — this tool's live preview helps you catch errors before you download the final PDF.

There's no hard limit imposed by this tool. You can add as many package rows as needed by clicking "Add Package Row" repeatedly. For very large shipments (hundreds of SKU lines), you might consider grouping similar packages onto fewer rows with aggregated quantities, or generating separate packing lists per container or per product category. jsPDF-AutoTable handles automatic pagination, so long lists will span multiple PDF pages cleanly with repeated headers.

Packing lists don't explicitly state Incoterms (those belong on the commercial invoice and proforma invoice), but they are indirectly linked — the Incoterm determines who is responsible for providing the packing list (usually the seller/exporter under most terms) and who bears the cost of inland transport reflected in how the goods are packed. This generator produces a neutral, universally accepted format compatible with all Incoterms (EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP, etc.).

It's not standard practice to include HS (Harmonized System) tariff codes on a packing list itself — that's the role of the commercial invoice and customs declaration. However, some buyers, particularly in regulated industries (chemicals, food products, textiles), request HS codes on the packing list as an aid to pre-clearance. If needed, you can include the HS code in the description/marks column of each package row.

The downloaded PDF is a static document designed for printing and digital submission. To make edits, return to this tool, modify the fields in the form (the live preview will update immediately), and download a fresh PDF. Since the source data remains editable in the browser until you close the page, making revisions is straightforward — just update the changed rows and re-download.

In practice, yes — most packing lists are signed or stamped by an authorized representative of the exporting company (often the export manager, logistics coordinator, or company director) to certify that the information is true and correct. Some destinations also require notarization or chamber of commerce attestation. This tool includes a signatory name, title, and place/date field that appear on the generated PDF, ready for a wet signature or digital stamp before submission.

A delivery challan (also called a delivery note or goods receipt) is primarily a domestic document used to acknowledge the physical handover of goods from seller to buyer within the same country — it confirms that goods were dispatched and received but usually omits detailed weights, dimensions, and international shipping marks. A packing list is an international trade document with granular physical specifications (G.W., N.W., CBM, container/seal numbers, port details) tailored for customs clearance, ocean freight, and Letter of Credit compliance across borders.