Free export document templates
Download a blank template, see a filled-in fictional example, and learn which fields each document needs. Every guide below is written for small exporters and the freight forwarders who work with them.
If you would rather not retype the same order into six forms, Packlistly fills all of them from one saved order and flags quantity and weight differences for you to review. The Free plan includes 5 shipments a month.
Templates
| Document | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | The sale between exporter and buyer. Customs at destination uses it to assess duties. |
| Packing list | What is in each package, with weights and dimensions. Used to check the cargo. |
| Shipper's letter of instruction (SLI) | Your instructions to the freight forwarder, including who files the EEI. |
| Certificate of origin | A signed statement of where the goods were made, often certified by a chamber of commerce. |
| Shipping marks and carton labels | The marks printed on each carton so the shipment can be identified and matched to the documents. |
| Bill of lading instructions | The data your forwarder or carrier needs to issue the ocean bill of lading. |
One order, every document
The same seller, buyer, item and packing details appear on most of these documents. When they are typed separately, small differences creep in: a carton count that does not match, a gross weight that changed on one form but not another. Packlistly keeps one order record and builds each document from it.
These guides are general information, not legal, customs or tax advice. Requirements depend on the goods, the destination and the transport mode. Confirm with your freight forwarder, customs broker or the official sources linked on each page. Incoterms® is a trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce.