How To
How to Create a Packing List for International Shipping
This guide is for the operational side of the shipment. If someone needs to know how many cartons are moving, what is inside them, and what counts the receiving side should see, this is the build order to follow.
Short answer
Build the packing list from the physical shipment: confirm the parties, package counts, item lines, and any weight or dimension details the warehouse, carrier, or receiving team will check.
Best for
- Users building a packing list from shipment details they already have
- Teams checking cartons, quantities, and weights before export
- People matching the packing list against the commercial invoice
1. Start with the parties and document reference
Before you think about cartons or weights, make sure the packing list points to the right shipment. That means the shipper, consignee, and the document reference or date should already be clear.
2. Count the cartons, packages, or pallets
A packing list is first and foremost a document about how the goods are packed. Count the packages, decide how you label them, and confirm whether your process needs carton numbers or shipment marks.
3. Add the item descriptions and quantities
Once the package structure is clear, add the goods descriptions and quantities. Keep the wording practical and easy to match against your commercial invoice if both documents will travel together.
4. Add gross weight, net weight, and dimensions if your workflow needs them
Some packing lists stay simple and show only counts. Others also need gross weight, net weight, and dimensions. If your lane or warehouse process expects those fields, gather them before preview rather than leaving placeholders in the draft. If you want a quick field-by-field pass first, use the packing list required fields checklist.
5. Compare the packing list against the commercial invoice
If the shipment also needs a commercial invoice, compare the descriptions, quantities, and references across both documents before download. Use the consistency checklist if you want a one-pass comparison.
What this guide helps with and what it does not
This guide helps you build a usable packing list draft from the shipment as it is actually packed. It does not decide carrier-specific dimensional rules or lane-specific shipping requirements for you.