Export Invoice vs Packing List: Difference, Example & Pre-dispatch Checklist
Export documents explained · Updated 6 October 2026 An exporter may put the same product on an invoice and a packing list, yet the two documents answer different questions. Understanding that difference makes it easier to prepare a shipment file and spot inconsistencies before dispatch. Commercial invoice: what is being sold? The commercial invoice records the sale between seller and buyer. It helps customs assess the shipment's value. Useful fields include the parties, invoice reference, goods description, quantity, unit price, currency and total. Destination-specific requirements must be checked separately. The International Trade Administration's commercial invoice guide explains its customs role and the need to check the receiving country's requirements. Packing list: what is inside each package? The packing list describes the physical shipment: package numbers, contents, quantities, weights and dimensions. It helps the people handling or examining the cargo ident...