What is a packing list?
The shipper prepares the packing list alongside the commercial invoice. For each carton, pallet or crate it records the marks and numbers, the contents, net and gross weight and dimensions, and it gives totals for packages, weight and volume. Forwarders use it to book space and plan loading, customs officers use it to find specific items during an inspection, and the consignee uses it to check that everything arrived.
The packing list describes the physical shipment; the commercial invoice describes the sale. The two must agree on quantities and descriptions, but normally only the invoice carries values. The weights on the packing list feed other documents: the gross weight on the bill of lading or air waybill, the chargeable weight in air freight and the cargo weight inside a container's verified gross mass, which also includes dunnage and the container's tare.
A good packing list lets someone find a particular item without opening every box. For example, a shipment of 12 pallets should list each pallet's number, dimensions such as 120 × 80 × 150 cm, gross weight and contents, with totals that match what the warehouse measures. Gaps between declared and measured weight or volume lead to re-weighing, rebilling at the higher chargeable figure or extra questions from customs.