Why every parcel needs a packing slip
A packing slip tells the customer what should be in the box. It helps them check the order on arrival, helps warehouse staff pack correctly, and helps couriers and customs if something goes astray. For small online sellers on Etsy, Shopify, Instagram or WhatsApp, it is also a chance to say thank you and make the unboxing feel personal.
What to include
- The order number and order date, and the ship date.
- The ship-to name and address, large and clear.
- Each item with its SKU or code if you use them, the quantity ordered and the quantity shipped.
- A tracking number, if you have one.
- A short thank-you note and your returns policy.
Items to follow
If something is out of stock and will ship later, enter a shipped quantity lower than ordered. The slip marks it “To follow” so the customer is not surprised to find it missing. Leave “Shipped” empty when everything ordered is in the box.
Gift orders
Turn on gift mode under Document options and add a gift message. Packing slips from SmallKits never show prices, so a gift recipient never sees what was paid, and gift mode leaves off the billing address.
Printing
Print on A4 or US Letter, or choose two per sheet under Copies and layout for a compact half-page slip, which suits small parcels. Each slip is numbered with the order number.
Packing slip, delivery note or invoice?
A packing slip goes inside the parcel for the customer. A delivery note is signed by the receiver as proof of delivery, usually for business deliveries. An invoice asks for payment. Online orders are usually paid already, so the packing slip and perhaps a receipt are all you need.
Tips
- Keep the thank-you note short and human; first names work well.
- Include how to contact you about problems, so issues come to you instead of a bad review.
- Make returns simple: say how many days and what to include.
A worked example
Maria orders two T-shirts, a mug and a tote bag from a small online shop. The tote bag is out of stock. The shop’s packing slip shows order number 1042, the ship-to address in Madrid, each item with its SKU, and the tote bag with “0” shipped, so it is marked “To follow”. At the bottom, a returns note explains the 30-day policy and a thank-you line closes it. The tracking number is printed too, so Maria can follow the parcel. When the tote bag ships a week later, a second slip shows just that item.
Checklist for each parcel
- Correct name, full address and a phone number for the courier.
- Every item, with quantities, matching what is in the box.
- Anything still to follow clearly marked.
- A thank-you note and how to get help.
Packing slip terms explained
- SKU
- Stock keeping unit: your own product code, used to pick the right item.
- Ordered and shipped
- What the customer bought, and what is in this parcel.
- To follow
- An item that will arrive in a later parcel.
- Gift mode
- Adds a gift message and leaves off billing details.
- Tracking number
- The courier’s reference for following the parcel.
Good practice
- Print the slip when you pack, and tick each item off as it goes in the box.
- Put the slip on top of the items, inside the parcel, not on the outside.
- Keep your returns note short and friendly; a clear policy reduces returns.
- Use the same order number as your shop or marketplace, so customers can match it.
Who uses packing slips
Online sellers on marketplaces and social media, small brands shipping from home, wholesalers sending mixed orders, and anyone who ships parcels to customers. For business customers who sign for deliveries, a delivery note is usually better, because it has a place for the receiver’s signature.
Related free tools
- Free invoice generator: for orders paid on account.
- Free receipt generator: to confirm payment for an online order.
- Free delivery note generator: when the receiver must sign.
One more tip
Keep a stack of printed slips for your most common orders, or print each one as you pack. Either way, putting the slip in before you seal the box, and ticking off each item as it goes in, catches most packing mistakes before they reach a customer.
Updated 2026-10-29