Delivery Note vs Packing Slip vs Packing List Explained
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Create Free Delivery NoteA delivery note and packing slip are the same document under two different names: a list of items and quantities that ships with an order, with no prices and usually a line for the recipient to sign. "Delivery note" is more common in the UK and South Africa, while "packing slip" is the term used more in the US and Canada, but the content and purpose don't change based on which word you use. Pick one term for your own business and use it consistently rather than switching between the two. A packing list is the one that is genuinely different: a shipping document that describes the packages themselves, for freight and export.
Key takeaways
- In practice, "delivery note" and "packing slip" describe the same document: a list of items shipped, without prices.
- The terminology split is mostly regional: "delivery note" is more common in the UK and parts of Europe, "packing slip" more common in the US.
- A packing list is different: it describes packages, weights and dimensions for carriers and customs.
- Most small domestic deliveries need only a delivery note. Freight and export shipments usually need a packing list as well.
Same Document, Different Regions
A delivery note and a packing slip are, in practice, the same thing: a list of what's inside a shipment, with quantities, no pricing, and usually a line for the recipient to sign confirming everything arrived. The difference is almost entirely regional naming convention rather than any real distinction in content.
Where Each Term Is More Common
| Term | More common in | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery note | UK, parts of Europe, South Africa | Items, quantities, recipient sign-off |
| Packing slip | United States, Canada | Items, quantities, recipient sign-off |
If you ship to clients across regions, don't worry about picking the "correct" term. Both are understood everywhere in practice. What matters more is that the document itself is complete and consistent every time you send one.
Where a packing list fits in
Delivery note vs packing slip is a question of naming. A packing list is a different document with a different reader. It is written for carriers, freight forwarders and customs officers, and it describes the shipment as packages rather than as an order: how many cartons or pallets, what is in each one, and how much each weighs and measures.
- Package count and type: for example 4 pallets or 12 cartons, each numbered.
- Contents per package: which items are in carton 1, carton 2 and so on.
- Weights: net and gross weight per package and for the whole shipment.
- Dimensions: the size of each package, which carriers use to price and load the freight.
- Shipping marks: the markings on the outside of each package, so customs can match them to the list.
For a van delivery to a local customer, you almost never need one. For palletised freight or anything crossing a border, the carrier or customs agent will usually ask for a packing list alongside the commercial invoice, and the customer still gets a delivery note to sign.
Delivery note, packing slip and packing list side by side
| Delivery note | Packing slip | Packing list | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main reader | The customer receiving the goods | The customer receiving the goods | Carriers, forwarders and customs |
| Lists | Items and quantities | Items and quantities | Packages, contents, weights and dimensions |
| Shows prices | No | No | No (the commercial invoice carries them) |
| Signed on arrival | Yes | Often | No |
| Typical use | Local and domestic deliveries | Online orders and parcel shipping | Freight and export shipments |
What to Include Either Way
Whichever name you settle on, the delivery note vs packing slip choice changes the heading, not the content. Each one needs:
- Your business name and the recipient's delivery address.
- A unique reference number for the shipment.
- Each item and quantity included, without pricing.
- Space for the recipient to sign or note any discrepancy.
Our delivery note generator produces the same clean format whatever you call it, so you don't have to maintain two near-identical layouts for what is one document.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any legal difference between the two terms?
No. Neither term has a distinct legal meaning. What matters legally is the content of the document, not which label you put on it.
Should I use both terms on the same document?
It's fine to write "Delivery Note / Packing Slip" if you ship internationally, but picking one term for your own branding is simpler.
Do either of these documents include tracking numbers?
Many businesses add a courier tracking number as an optional field, though it isn't a required part of either document.
Can a delivery note or packing slip be digital?
Yes, a PDF delivery note works the same as a printed one for confirmation purposes, provided the recipient can still sign or acknowledge it.
Is a packing list the same as a delivery note?
No. A delivery note confirms to the customer which items arrived. A packing list describes the packages, weights and dimensions for carriers and customs, and is used mainly for freight and export.
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