Guides
Packing list guides for forwarders, brokers and exporters
Short, practical guides to the fields and numbers on a packing list: what customs and carriers expect, how weights and CBM are worked out, and which mismatches cause queries. They are general information, not customs or legal advice, and rules differ by country.
What the documents must show
The fields a packing list needs, how it relates to the invoice and the bill of lading, and the mismatches that slow customs down.
- Packing list requirementsWhat a packing list needs for customs, carriers and warehouses: parties, marks, cartons, goods, weights, CBM and totals, and who reads which field.
- Packing list vs invoice vs bill of ladingWhat a packing list, a commercial invoice and a bill of lading each prove, and which parties, goods, packages and weights must agree across the three.
- Packing list errors that cause customs holdsThe packing list mismatches that can trigger customs queries or holds: carton counts, weights, CBM, units, descriptions, HS codes and totals.
Weights, volume and units
Gross and net weight, cubic metres per carton, and converting pounds to kilograms without drift.
- Gross weight vs net weightNet weight is the goods alone; gross weight adds all packing. See how tare, container weight and unit mix-ups make customs and carriers query weights.
- CBM calculation for cartonsHow to calculate CBM for cartons: length x width x height in cm over 1,000,000, converting inches, rounding once, with worked examples and common mistakes.
- Lbs to kg on shipping documentsConvert pounds to kilograms on shipping documents with the exact factor 0.45359237, round once on the total and state the unit so weights stay consistent.
Marks, codes and layout
HS codes, shipping marks and carton ranges, and a template that keeps every list in the same shape.
- HS codes on packing listsWhen to put HS codes on a packing list, how the six-digit HS level differs from 8 and 10-digit national codes, and why the digits must match the invoice.
- Shipping marks and carton numbersHow shipping marks and carton number ranges work on a packing list: 1-25 counts as 25 cartons, numbering restarts per PO, and duplicates cause trouble.
- Packing list template for exportersThe columns, units and totals row a packing list template for exporters needs for customs, carriers and buyers, plus the layout habits to avoid.
Loading and special shipments
Container planning from the list's totals, Amazon FBA shipments, and lists that combine several suppliers.
- Container load plan from a packing listUse the packing list's total CBM and gross weight to judge 20 ft and 40 ft container fit, and see whether volume or weight limits the load first.
- Packing list for Amazon FBA shipmentsGeneral guidance on supplier packing lists for Amazon FBA shipments: box contents, carton numbers, weights and labels. Amazon's rules change.
- Consolidated packing list for multiple suppliersHow to merge several supplier packing lists into one consolidated list while keeping supplier, PO and carton traceability, with subtotals that tie.
Tools and templates
- Packing list to ExcelConvert a multi-page packing list PDF to one sheet, with the totals checked.
- Customs packing list formatThe fields a broker checks and six checks to run before the entry.
- Commercial invoice vs packing listWhat each one proves and which numbers must agree.
- Packing list templateA 13-column Excel and CSV template with a TOTAL row.
Check a packing list against its own totals
Free: 1 file per day, up to 10 pages, no account.