Home / Logistics Knowledge / Packing List: Contents and Completion
A packing list records how a consignment is packed: shipping marks, description, piece counts, package types, units per carton, gross weight, net weight, and measurement. It carries no prices, but its piece counts and weights are the first fields customs checks against the goods.
The packing list is issued by the exporter from the actual loading result, listing each carton or piece with its marks, description, quantity, packaging, gross and net weight, and measurement. It works alongside the commercial invoice: the invoice says what the goods are worth, the packing list says what was packed and how.
| Packing list | Commercial invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| Core content | Packaging, piece counts, weights, measurement | Unit price, total value, delivery terms |
| Prices | Not included | Included |
| Main use | Examination, receiving, charging | Payment, valuation, rebate, insurance |
| Data priority | Exactly matches the actual packing | Matches the contract and credit |
| Issued | Once loading or packing is complete | After shipment, or alongside the packing list |
| Field | Content | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Packing list number and date | Unique number, date | Number unique; date consistent with the invoice |
| Seller and buyer | Party details | Consistent with the invoice and bill of lading |
| Invoice number | Cross reference | Matches the commercial invoice for customs cross-checking |
| Vessel, voyage and ports | Routing | Consistent with the booking and the bill of lading |
| Shipping marks | Marks and numbers | Matches what is actually stencilled on the packages |
| Description and specification | Product details | Wording consistent with the invoice |
| Quantity per carton and total | Units and cartons | Totals match what was actually loaded |
| Package type | Carton, crate, pallet, sack | Reflects the real packaging |
| Carton number range | Piece numbering | Ranges such as No. 1-100 on multi-carton shipments |
| Gross and net weight | Weighed, in kilograms | Weighed, not estimated |
| Measurement | Cubic metres | Calculated from actual outer dimensions |
| Pallet and stacking details | Pallets, cartons per pallet | Recorded for palletised cargo |
Shipping marks are the identification stencilled on the outside of the packages, normally carrying the consignee reference, destination, carton number, and sequence. On LCL shipments and mixed consignments they are the only way to identify which cargo belongs to whom when the container is stripped.
Gross weight is the cargo plus its packaging. Net weight is the cargo alone. Measurement is calculated from the actual outer dimensions of the packaging. All three should be measured rather than estimated.
| Figure | Used for | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Gross weight | Booking weight limits, truck limits, terminal and carrier checks | Estimating instead of weighing leads to an overweight container at the gate |
| Net weight | Duty assessment, destination declaration and statistics | Confusing it with gross weight produces wrong figures |
| Measurement | LCL revenue ton calculation, space and stowage planning | Estimating instead of measuring the outer dimensions gives a wide error |
| Error | Effect | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Piece count does not match the load | Examination, rejected entry | Issue the packing list from the actual loading result |
| Gross weight estimated | Overweight at the gate, charging disputes | Weigh the cargo and record the figure |
| Marks differ from the packages | LCL mis-sorting, delivery to the wrong party | Photograph and check the marks after loading |
| Description differs from the invoice | Rejected entry or examination at destination | Use identical wording on both documents |
| Measurement not taken from the packaging | LCL charging errors | Measure the outer dimensions and calculate |
| Carton numbers not stated on multi-carton shipments | Hard to count, shortages go unnoticed | State the carton number range |
The piece count, gross weight, and net weight on the declaration are taken from the packing list. Because the packing list is only final once loading is complete, the declaration should be filed after it is fixed, which avoids amending the entry if the actual figures change.
A document recording how a consignment is packed. It lists shipping marks, description, piece counts, package type, units per carton, gross weight, net weight, and measurement. It carries no prices and is used for examination, receiving, and charging.
The packing list says what was packed and how, with no prices, and its priority is matching the actual packing. The commercial invoice says what the goods are worth, with unit prices and totals, and is used for payment, valuation, and the rebate. Description and quantity must correspond between the two.
Yes. The declared piece count and weights come from the packing list, and a mismatch triggers an examination or a rejected entry and also affects clearance at destination.
Gross weight is the packed weight of the consignment. Net weight is the goods alone, without packaging. Gross weight governs weight limits and stowage checks, while net weight feeds duty assessment and the destination declaration.
They must be legible and consistently positioned, and must match what is stencilled on the packages including sequence and symbols. On LCL shipments the marks are the only means of identifying ownership when the container is stripped.
Consecutively, with the range stated, as in No. 1-100 or 1 of 100. Giving only a grand total makes shortages hard to spot in a count.
Where several house shipments share one container, list each lot separately with its carton range and marks, and make sure the marks and carton numbers do not repeat across lots. This is what the destination uses to strip and sort.
From the actual outer dimensions of the packaging, expressed in cubic metres. It affects LCL revenue tons and stowage planning, so estimating rather than measuring produces a charging error.
Our team ships batteries, chemicals, and general cargo worldwide. Get a tailored rate within 24 hours.
