Packing slips mark the ultimate safety net staples for retail and shipping businesses, particularly in describing the addresses, values, quantities, and contents of parcels accurately and in detail. Touted as a must-have document for effective inventory management, a packing slip ensures precise items are packaged or shipped in a ShipStation pouch, Amazon box, commercial delivery, warehouse logistics, or even ecommerce.
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Packing Slip Definition & Meaning
Packing slips are brief business documents that outline what a package contains, how much it costs, who is the sender, who is the receiver, where it should be shipped, and other information concerning the parcel.
A packing slip is often attached or placed inside package envelopes and it enlists the many essential details about the package.
What Is a Packing Slip?
A packing slip may be referred to as a packing list, shipping list, or waybill, and it is because of how this piece of a document provides significant information about a parcel. Despite not being a legal requirement, packing slips ensure that any order or purchase is accurately monitored, thanks to the details in the document where you never even have to open a parcel to discover what it contains. From the date of purchase, order number, and invoice data, rest assured, packing slips answer the frequently asked questions regarding packages.
10 Types Of Packing Slips
Business Packing Slip
Gravitate towards a business packing slip to set a uniform packing slip for packages after every transaction. Like any packing slip, the sender/receiver details and the parcel contents must be described. Besides the nitty-gritty, business packing slips denote the name of your corporation, the company logo, or any other form of custom branding.
Kitchen Packing Slip
Don’t confuse a kitchen packing list and a kitchen packing slip. Indeed, both examples involve cookery tools and equipment; however, a kitchen packing list merely refers to the checklist of cookery utensils to pack for your new kitchen, typically while moving. Meanwhile, kitchen packing slips outline what specific kitchen products, including their value, are bought or packed in a parcel.
Return Packing Slip
The return packing slip is used to describe the items of a package including the sender/receiver names while returning orders. Returning a package often happens when the recipient can’t be reached or when a buyer refuses to accept a parcel because it’s the wrong order. Hence, the package will be shipped back to the seller with a return packing slip.
Basic Packing Slip
Even with a basic packing slip, you can already excel in terms of how to create or design a packing slip. As long as there is enough space to input the item number, sender/recipient info, business label, barcode, and item details, you’re good to go. Just make sure to optimize the design and format of the packing slip so your work pays off.
Generic Packing Slip
Anyone can depend on a generic packing slip, especially when the standard details can work for any industry concerning packing slips. Whether you need the packing slip for school, online services, enterprise depot, or any other purpose, generic packing slips won’t let you down. Just change the editable elements of the packing slip to personalize the details and make it your own.
Vacation Packing Slip
Include a vacation packing slip in your checklist of essential packing slip types, especially if you’re shipping items related to traveling products and equipment. Mention the quantity, value, and description of each vacation product may it be sunscreen, umbrella, picnic basket, etc. Thus, it is clear that a package contains objects relevant to getaways.
Digital Packing Slip
Not all packing slips are in print format because you can also opt for a digital packing slip. In this example, packing slips are in digital formats such as PDF or Google Docs files. You may either send a digital packing slip via email or use a code to access the packing slip on a website.
Simple Packing Slip
Achieve minimalist designs with straightforward content using a simple packing slip. Just because a packing slip is simple, you can still add some details or aesthetics to embellish the document. Perhaps you want to include your company’s signature logo, a chart organizing the list of items described, and more.
Professional Packing Slip
Wow your clients with a professional look in the layout and format of the packing slip. Opt for a professional packing slip to exude just how reputable your organization is. Whether clients purchase a toy, beauty product, kitchen utensil, cleaning equipment, or any gift, describe those orders in professional packing slips for better credibility of your brand.
Modern Packing Slip
Impress audiences with contemporary motifs in packing slips using a modern packing slip. There’s no need to stick with a traditional blank packing slip, especially when going modern is a great way to rise against business competitors. If you sell contemporary furniture or products, then make sure the packing slip used for such orders are just as modern.
Packing Slip Uses, Purpose, Importance
Before learning how to make a packing slip, it is essential to take note that there is more to know about this type of document than just to be thrown after a successful transaction. A packing slip is no ordinary piece of paper, especially when it can affect a lot of aspects, such as:
The Ultimate Package 411
A single packing slip can house a plethora of information regarding the package. Expect packing slips to mention the customer’s name, address, and contact number down to the item name, quantity, dimensions, SKU number, and other descriptions. Thus, you already have a clear vision as to what’s inside or the answers to the frequently asked questions about a parcel without even opening it.
Caters to Both Senders and Recipients
Both senders and receipts benefit from packing slips. Remember that businesses, shipping companies, or senders get the idea as to what inventory would be needed to pack and ship off to complete a specific order; packing slips are then inserted into the packages ordered by customers. Customers or recipients can use the slip to confirm if what was ordered is precisely what was described in the packing slip.
Reliable Package Police
A packing slip supports instances when there is a need to monitor or safeguard a package. For example, you refer to the packing slip about the list of items in a shipment in case there are possible lost or damaged goods—a crucial factor to consider during refunds or replacements. Also, the document helps senders avoid sending out multiple parcels if ever they forget that they already shipped an item or not yet.
Streamlines Import and Export Customs Clearance
In dealing with customs, particularly during import or export clearance for international shipments, packing slips are often checked for standard inspections. Along with the commercial invoice, packing slips are important attachments to packages for estimating every item’s value. Don’t lose this print document to avoid making any form of barrier or disruption while shipping items.
Inventory Management Tool
Inventory management could use some packing slips for ensuring correct and accurate orders, similar to how important bills of lading and receipts are. The packing slip contains every crucial message about a package from the date ordered, the unique serial number, the customer’s information, the sender’s details, and the list of inventory being packed. In case there would be damaged goods in the process, the packing list streamlines the process of replacing or refunding orders.
What’s in a Packing Slip? Parts?
Shipping Address and Date
The basic information is covered in a packing slip’s shipping address and date. Similar to invoices, this part contains the purchase order number, sender’s name and contact info, receiver’s name and contact info, shipping address, shipping label, and date of order.
Item List and Description
A packing slip outlines what set of items are inside a parcel in the item list. There are also additional descriptions to specifically identify a package’s content such as the item quantity, item value, and brand.
SKU or UPC per Item
Also referred to as unique identifiers or special codes, the SKU or UPC section identifies an item from inventory. These parts are often scanned to check the details of the item online or used as a reference for contacting the seller.
Unique Serial Numbers or Slip Numbers
Each packing slip has a unique serial number or packing slip number for easy tracking. Also called a reference number, it is used to trace a parcel’s whereabouts by encoding the numbers in a tracking site.
How to Design a Packing Slip
1. Set your preferred Packing Slip Size
2. Determine the packing slip’s main purpose
3. Customize a Packing Slip Template
4. Complete the parts of a packing slip
5. Finalize the layout, design, and format of your document
6. Save everything and publish it
Packing Slip vs. Invoice
A packing slip focuses on summarizing the description and contents of a package; it is a shipping document.
Invoice refers to a document outlining payment information; it is a billing document.
What’s the Difference between a Packing Slip, Receipt, and Delivery Note?
A packing slip is a document that describes and enlists the many goods stored inside a package.
A receipt is a piece of document that acknowledges a prepaid or fully paid transaction.
A delivery note is attached to products being shipped, and it covers essential delivery details; it is also known as a goods received note or dispatch note.
Packing Slip Sizes
A packing slip supports a shipping label’s information from the purchase date, weight of the parcel, sender’s address, service type, shipping address, and barcode. Whether packing slips are printed with or without shipping labels, it is important to note that there are plenty of standard packing slip sizes to choose from.
Format | Inches | Centimeters |
| Thermal Printer Packing Slip Size | 4” × 6” | 10.16cm × 15.24cm |
| 2-Page Packing Slip Size | 8.5” × 11” | 21.59cm × 27.94cm |
| Full-Page Packing Slip Size | 8.3” × 11.7” or 8.5” × 11” | 21.082cm × 29.718cm or 21.59cm × 27.94cm |
Packing Slip Ideas & Examples
Packing slips come in handy for any purpose related to shipping, logistics, delivery, or even warehousing. And the same can be said regarding how there are various packing slip ideas and examples you can leverage to maximize the use of this type of document.
- Blank Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Modern Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Professional Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Simple Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Digital Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Vacation Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Generic Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Basic Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Return Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
- Kitchen Packing Slip Ideas and Examples
FAQs
What should be on a packing slip?
A packing slip should contain the shipping address with date, item list with description, SKU or UPC of every item, and unique serial numbers or slip numbers.
Why is a packing slip necessary?
It exists to make sure recipients get the right items in the end and that no missing item would occur.
How do you create a packing slip?
Pick a template to edit on a packing slip generator or website, insert the elements (company name and logo, recipient name, shipping address, contact information, order details, SKUs or UPCs), and produce uniform packing slips for your business.
What is a packing slip receipt?
A packing slip receipt is a hybrid type of document containing both packing slip information and receipt details.
Should I print a packing slip?
Yes, it can help both senders and recipients when it comes to reassuring items are exactly as described from shipping until final delivery.
Which department prepares the packing slip?
The sender or shipping department prepares packing slips in general while the receiving department prepares the return packing slips.
What is a packing slip gift message?
It is a type of packing slip that has free space for gift messaging; however, it’s often unavailable for pickup orders.
Do we need a packing slip for a return?
A return packing slip is absolutely needed when there is a need to return, refund, or replace an item back to the sender.
Why is a packing slip mandatory?
It is required because it records significant information about packages and deliveries, especially for orders conducted online; therefore, all shipments run exactly as planned.
What does a packing slip do?
A packing slip is responsible for recording what specific items are inside a package, including the shipping address, recipient’s data, and other descriptions regarding the parcel.