Commercial invoice and packing list generator

How to create a commercial invoice

1. 1

   Enter the parties and shipment

   Add the shipper, the consignee and, if it's someone else, the buyer, then the Incoterm, currency and transport details. Anything you leave empty is left off the PDF.

2. 2

   List the goods

   Add a line for each product with its description, HS code, country of origin, quantity and unit price. Fill in packages and weights as well if you need a packing list.

3. 3

   Download the PDFs

   Download the invoice and the packing list on A4 or US Letter. Long lists of goods run onto extra pages with the table headings repeated and every page numbered.

Frequently asked questions

How should I enter numbers or paste them from a spreadsheet?

Use a dot for decimals and omit thousands separators and currency symbols: enter 1234.50, not 1,234.50 or 1.234,50. This applies to quantities, prices, packages, weights, volumes and charges. Values in a different format are flagged for correction. Unit prices keep their entered precision; line amounts and charges are rounded to the selected currency's decimal places. Package counts must be whole numbers.

What is a commercial invoice?

A commercial invoice is the seller's bill for the goods in a shipment, and it's the main document customs in the importing country uses to check what's arriving and work out duties and taxes. It names the shipper and consignee, describes each item with its HS code, origin, quantity and price, and states the Incoterm and the total value.

What's the difference between a commercial invoice and a packing list?

The invoice says what the goods are worth, and the packing list says how they're packed, with the number of packages, net and gross weights and volume for each line. Forwarders and carriers work from the packing list, and customs uses it when they inspect a shipment. The two have to agree on descriptions and quantities, which is why this tool builds both from the same form.

Why the documents in a shipment have to agree →

When do I need a proforma invoice instead?

A proforma invoice is sent before the goods ship, usually so the buyer can arrange payment, open a letter of credit or apply for an import licence. It looks like a commercial invoice but works as a quote rather than a final bill. Switch the document type to Proforma invoice at the top of the form and the PDF is titled accordingly.

Which HS code should I put on the invoice?

The first six digits of an HS code are the same in every country, so a six-digit code is understood everywhere. Importing countries add their own digits on top, such as eight in the EU, ten in the US and twelve in the UAE, and the importer's broker will need the full national code for the declaration. If you know the code used at the destination, put that one on the invoice.

How Dubai's 12-digit HS codes work →

Does a commercial invoice need to be signed?

It depends on the destination and the goods. Many customs authorities accept an unsigned invoice, but some countries and some trade agreements ask for a signed declaration from the exporter, so the invoice ends with a declaration you can edit and a space to sign.

Is anything I type uploaded or stored?

Nothing is uploaded. The PDFs are made in your browser, and the form is saved in your browser's own storage so it's still there if you close the tab and come back. The form shows whether saving succeeded and warns you if browser storage is unavailable or full. Clear form deletes the saved draft when storage is available.

Can I add my company logo?

Yes. Add a PNG or JPG in the invoice details and it's printed at the top of both the invoice and the packing list. It's saved in your browser with the rest of the form.

Which languages and characters can I use?

Names and addresses can use Latin letters with accents, such as Polish, Czech, Turkish, German or French spellings, as well as Greek and Cyrillic. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Vietnamese tone marks can't be printed yet, so write those names in plain Latin letters, like the Pinyin spelling of a Chinese company. If something can't be printed, the tool tells you which characters to change.