Templates

Shipping Documents

Shipping documents follow an order from the buyer’s request to the signed handover. Some give instructions, some travel with the goods, and some record what arrived or what is owed. Each template below opens its own page with free downloads, no sign-up and no watermark.

Shipping document templates by stage

Before shipping With the goods After delivery Customs and billing Compare the documents

Before shipping

Before the goods move

A purchase order states what the buyer wants at an agreed price. A work order assigns a job and records its approval and completion. A delivery order tells a warehouse, carrier or terminal to release named goods to a named collector.

Purchase orderItems, quantities, agreed prices and delivery date.

Purchase Order Template for Word preview

Purchase Order Template for WordA printable purchase order you can edit in Word.

Purchase Order Template for Excel preview

Purchase Order Template for ExcelA purchase order spreadsheet with live totals.

Work order template with authorization, labor, and completion fields

Work orderJob instructions, assigned crew and sign-off.

Delivery order template with goods, quantities, collecting party and pickup location fields

Delivery Order TemplateRelease instructions for goods held by a carrier or warehouse.

With the goods

Sent with the goods

A delivery note lists the goods delivered and has a line for the receiver to sign. A packing slip says what is in the box, without prices. A bill of lading is the transport document connecting the goods and the carrier.

Delivery noteGoods delivered with a signature line for the receiver.

Delivery Note Template for WordA printable delivery note with signing layouts.

Delivery Note Template for Excel preview

Delivery Note Template for ExcelA delivery note spreadsheet with ordered and delivered quantities.

Packing slip template with shipment and item fields

Packing slipWhat is in the box, without prices.

Bill of lading template with shipment details and shipper, driver and consignee signatures

Bill of ladingShipper, carrier, consignee and freight details.

After delivery

A delivery receipt records what arrived, its visible condition and who received it. An acknowledgement receipt records what was received, from whom, by whom and when.

Delivery receipt template with item, quantity, condition and signature fields

Delivery Receipt TemplateA proof of delivery with recipient and condition fields.

Acknowledgement Receipt Template preview

Acknowledgement Receipt TemplateFor documenting an in-person handover of documents, keys or equipment.

Customs and billing

A commercial invoice records the goods sold and the amount the buyer is to pay, and customs uses it to assess duties. A proforma invoice is a preliminary quotation in invoice format. A statement of account summarises one customer’s invoices, payments, credits and balance.

Commercial invoice template with exporter, importer, goods descriptions, HS codes and declared value

Commercial invoiceExport details customs ask for: origin, HS codes, value.

Proforma invoice template with export and shipment fields

Proforma invoiceA preliminary invoice sent before goods ship.

Billing statement template with account activity and balance fields

Statement of accountOpen invoices, payments and balance for one client.

Which document, who sends it and when

Which document, who sends it and when
Document	Who sends it	When
Purchase order	Buyer, to the seller	Before shipping, to place the order
Work order	Whoever assigns the job, to whoever does it	Before the work starts
Delivery order	The party releasing the goods, to the warehouse, carrier or terminal	Before collection
Delivery note	Seller, with the goods, to the receiver	On delivery, signed by the receiver
Packing slip	Seller or warehouse, inside the shipment	When the shipment is packed
Bill of lading	Shipper and carrier	When the carrier takes the freight
Delivery receipt	Receiver, back to the sender	At the handover
Acknowledgement receipt	Whoever received the items, to whoever handed them over	At the handover
Commercial invoice	Exporter, to the buyer	For the export shipment
Proforma invoice	Seller, to the prospective buyer	Before a final invoice is issued
Statement of account	Seller, to the customer	At the end of a period

Delivery note, packing slip or delivery receipt?

Use a packing slip when the person opening the box needs to check its contents and should not see prices. Use a delivery note when the receiver signs for the goods on arrival. Use a delivery receipt when you want a separate record of the handover, including the condition that was visible at the time.