Packing Slip
A document included with a shipment detailing the contents of the package.
Definition
Packing slips help recipients verify received items, quantities, and order details without opening all packaging.
Overview of Packing Slip
A packing slip (also called a delivery note, dispatch note, or pick ticket) is a document included inside or attached to a shipment that lists the specific contents of the package — including item descriptions, SKUs, quantities shipped, and sometimes the recipient's order details. Unlike the commercial invoice (which is a financial document stating prices and total value), the packing slip is an operational document that enables the recipient to verify the shipment contents against their order without knowing the price paid. For consumer eCommerce orders, the packing slip confirms which items were included, especially important for partial shipments where not all ordered items are in the same box. For wholesale and B2B shipments, the packing slip enables receiving staff to verify the delivered contents against the purchase order or advance ship notice (ASN). In warehouse and 3PL operations, the packing slip is generated by the WMS at the time of order picking and packing, and is physically placed inside each outbound package or attached to the outside. For multi-box shipments, each box may have its own packing slip listing only the contents of that specific box, or a master packing slip listing all contents across all boxes may be included in one designated box. Brand-customized packing slips that include the merchant's logo, personalized thank-you message, or promotional offer are a meaningful brand experience touchpoint for eCommerce customers, especially when receiving a gift or subscription box. Some brands deliberately omit pricing from packing slips or offer gift receipt options where no pricing is shown — particularly important for gift shipments. WareMatch connects brands with 3PL partners who offer branded packing slip printing capabilities within their WMS workflows, enabling merchants to deliver a premium unboxing experience without investing in proprietary fulfillment infrastructure.
Role
A document included with a shipment detailing the contents of the package.
Focus
A packing slip (also called a delivery note, dispatch note, or pick ticket) is a document included inside or attached to a shipment that lists the specific contents of the package — including item descriptions, SKUs, quantities shipped, and sometimes the recipient's order details. Unlike the commercial invoice (which is a financial document stating prices and total value), the packing slip is an operational document that enables the recipient to verify the shipment contents against their order without knowing the price paid. For consumer eCommerce orders, the packing slip confirms which items were included, especially important for partial shipments where not all ordered items are in the same box. For wholesale and B2B shipments, the packing slip enables receiving staff to verify the delivered contents against the purchase order or advance ship notice (ASN). In warehouse and 3PL operations, the packing slip is generated by the WMS at the time of order picking and packing, and is physically placed inside each outbound package or attached to the outside. For multi-box shipments, each box may have its own packing slip listing only the contents of that specific box, or a master packing slip listing all contents across all boxes may be included in one designated box. Brand-customized packing slips that include the merchant's logo, personalized thank-you message, or promotional offer are a meaningful brand experience touchpoint for eCommerce customers, especially when receiving a gift or subscription box. Some brands deliberately omit pricing from packing slips or offer gift receipt options where no pricing is shown — particularly important for gift shipments. WareMatch connects brands with 3PL partners who offer branded packing slip printing capabilities within their WMS workflows, enabling merchants to deliver a premium unboxing experience without investing in proprietary fulfillment infrastructure.
Example
See the definition above for context.
Benefits
- Accurate packing slips enable recipients to quickly verify shipment contents, reducing customer service contacts about missing items.
- Branded packing slips with logos and personalized messaging enhance the customer unboxing experience and reinforce brand identity.
- Packing slips in each box of a multi-box shipment clarify which items are in each package, preventing confusion during receiving.
- Including return instructions or RMA labels with the packing slip simplifies the return process for consumers, improving return experience.
- Wholesale packing slips enable efficient receiving against purchase orders, reducing receiving errors and improving retailer compliance.
- Digital packing slip records in the WMS provide a transaction-level audit trail linking each shipped package to its specific order details.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between a packing slip and a commercial invoice?
A: A packing slip describes the physical contents of a shipment (items, quantities, SKUs) without financial information. A commercial invoice is a financial document showing the seller, buyer, item descriptions, quantities, unit prices, total value, payment terms, and trade terms (Incoterms). For domestic shipments, packing slips are standard; commercial invoices accompany international shipments for customs valuation purposes. A gift packing slip intentionally omits prices to avoid revealing gift value to the recipient.
Q: When is a packing slip legally required?
A: Packing slips are not universally legally required for domestic shipments, though they are standard good practice. For international commercial shipments, a detailed packing list is required as a customs document supporting the commercial invoice. Certain regulated industries (pharmaceuticals, medical devices) have documentation requirements that effectively make packing slip-equivalent documents mandatory for traceability and lot recall purposes. Major retailers often specify that packing slips or delivery notes must accompany wholesale deliveries as part of their routing guide requirements.
Q: Can 3PLs print branded packing slips on behalf of their merchant clients?
A: Yes. Most modern 3PL WMS platforms support merchant-branded packing slip templates that include the merchant's logo, colors, custom messaging, promotional content, and return instructions. The merchant provides the template design and messaging content, which the WMS applies to all packing slips for that client's orders. This enables brands to deliver a branded fulfillment experience even when a 3PL is executing the physical fulfillment rather than the brand's own team.
Q: How should a multi-box order's packing documentation be structured?
A: For multi-box orders, best practice is to include a separate packing slip in each box listing only the contents of that specific box, plus a master packing slip in box 1 (clearly marked as box 1 of N) listing all items across all boxes with a reference to which box contains each item. This ensures that if any individual box arrives first or separately, the recipient can verify its contents independently, and the master slip provides the complete order picture for B2B receiving reconciliation.