Packing Slip: What It Is and What to Include

A packing slip is a document placed inside a shipment that lists the items in the box, their quantities and the order number, usually without prices, so the recipient can check that the order arrived complete. Sellers also use it as a final check while packing, since every line on the slip should match something in the box.

Carriers don’t require a packing slip for domestic USPS or UPS parcels, but most online sellers include one because it cuts down on “missing item” complaints and makes returns easier to process.

What Is a Packing Slip Used For?

A packing slip does three jobs: it lets the customer confirm the order, it gives the packer a checklist, and it gives your business a record of exactly what left the warehouse. Because it usually leaves prices off, it also works for gift orders, where the buyer doesn’t want the recipient to see what they paid.

• Customer check: the recipient compares the slip with the box contents and can spot a short or partial shipment right away.
• Packing accuracy: staff pick and pack against the slip, checking off each SKU and quantity.
• Returns and partial shipments: the order number and line items make it easy to match a return to the original order, and “ordered vs. shipped” columns show what is still to come.
• Business records: a stored copy shows what was in each shipment if a customer disputes a delivery.

The packing slip is one of several documents that travel with goods; the shipping terms and definitions A–Z glossary defines the others, from bill of lading to commercial invoice.

What Should a Packing Slip Include?

A useful packing slip includes enough detail for the customer to verify the order and for your team to trace it later. Most platforms generate one from the order with these fields.

• Your business name, logo and contact details, including a returns email or phone number
• Order number and order date, matching the customer’s confirmation email
• Ship date and, if you like, the carrier and tracking number
• Ship-to name and address, plus the bill-to name if it differs
• Item lines: product name, SKU, size or variant, quantity ordered and quantity shipped
• Back-order or partial-shipment notes for anything not in this box
• Return instructions or a link to your return policy

The ship-to section is where errors creep in, so copy it from the label data rather than retyping it. The checklist of address information required for delivery lists every field a carrier needs, and the steps in how to verify an address help you confirm it before you print. If the customer paid with a card billed elsewhere, the guide to billing address vs shipping address explains why the two can differ.

How Is a Packing Slip Different from an Invoice or Shipping Label?

A packing slip lists what is in the box, an invoice asks for or records payment, and a shipping label tells the carrier where the box goes. They often contain overlapping details but serve different people.

For business shippers, the account number printed on the label is a separate identifier again; the explainer on what a shipper number is covers how UPS and USPS assign them.

Where Do You Put a Packing Slip in a Package?

Put the packing slip inside the box, on top of the items, so the customer sees it first when they open the package. Placing it inside keeps the customer’s name, order details and item list out of view during transit.

If you use a document pouch on the outside of a carton, reserve it for a freight packing list or international paperwork, and never cover the shipping label or barcode with it. For poly mailers, fold the slip once and slide it in with the item.

When Should You Include a Packing Slip?

Include a packing slip with every multi-item order, every partial shipment, every gift order and every business-to-business shipment. B2B customers often reconcile deliveries against purchase orders and expect a slip in each carton.

For a single, obvious item, a slip is optional but still useful for returns. Some marketplaces set their own rules, so check the seller requirements on the platform you sell through.

Do International Shipments Need a Packing Slip?

A packing slip does not replace customs paperwork on an international shipment. USPS international packages need a customs declaration, which you complete electronically when you buy the label online, and UPS non-document international shipments need a commercial invoice.

Both documents ask for a description, quantity, value and country of origin for each item, and the detail should match your packing slip. Describing contents specifically (“2 cotton T-shirts”) rather than generally (“clothing”) helps customs clear the package faster.

How Do You Create a Packing Slip?

Most ecommerce platforms and shipping tools print packing slips straight from the order, so you rarely need to build one by hand. If you do, a simple template works.

1. Put your business name and contact details at the top, with the order number and date in large type.
2. Add the ship-to address exactly as it appears on the label.
3. Build an item table with SKU, description, quantity ordered and quantity shipped.
4. Add notes for back-ordered items and a short return instruction.
5. Print on plain letter paper, or on a 4 × 6 thermal label if you print labels and slips on the same printer.

Thermal printers handle both labels and 4 × 6 slips, and the comparison of Dymo vs Zebra label printers helps you choose one.

How Can You Lower Shipping Costs on Orders You Pack?

Packing accuracy prevents the cost of reshipping missing items, and the label price is the other half of the equation. ParcelPath is a free shipping platform, with no subscription and no per-label fee, that offers up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS. You can compare both carriers for an order in the ParcelPath rate calculator, and the guide to getting the cheapest shipping rates covers packaging and service choices that lower the price further.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a packing slip required for shipping?

No. USPS and UPS do not require a packing slip on domestic parcels; the shipping label is the only required document. Sellers include a packing slip by choice, or because a marketplace or B2B customer asks for one, so the recipient can check the contents against the order.

Does a packing slip show prices?

Usually not. A packing slip lists items, SKUs and quantities so the recipient can confirm the order, and leaving prices off makes it suitable for gifts. If the customer needs a record of payment, send a separate invoice or receipt by email instead of putting prices on the packing slip.

Should a packing slip go inside or outside the box?

Inside. Place the packing slip on top of the items so the customer sees it on opening, and so names, order numbers and contents stay private in transit. Outside document pouches are for freight packing lists and international paperwork, and they must never cover the shipping label.

What is the difference between a packing slip and a packing list?

A packing slip is a customer-facing list of the items in an order, placed inside the box. A packing list is a logistics document that itemizes contents, weights and dimensions for carriers and customs, commonly attached outside freight and export shipments in a “packing list enclosed” pouch.

Sources

• USPS FAQ: Customs forms, the basics
• USPS International Mail Manual 123: Customs forms and online shipping labels
• USPS FAQ: Addressing mailpieces