They both come with your package, they're both pieces of paper, and they're easy to confuse. But a shipping label and a packing slip do completely different jobs.
The short version: the shipping label gets the box where it's going. The packing slip tells you what's inside.
| Shipping label | Packing slip | |
|---|---|---|
| Goes where? | Outside the box | Inside the box |
| Purpose | Routing and tracking | Contents verification |
| Who reads it? | Carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) | The customer opening the box |
| Legally required? | Yes, can't ship without one | No (domestic). Yes for international customs |
| Includes pricing? | Postage cost only | No, never includes what the customer paid |
| Standard size | 4x6 inches | Varies |
The label on the outside of the box is what every carrier scans to move your package through their network. Every time the barcode gets scanned at a sorting facility or delivery truck, that's the shipping label doing its job.
A shipping label includes:
For international shipments, labels also need customs declarations, item descriptions, declared values, and HS tariff codes.
The packing slip is the sheet tucked inside the box. When your customer opens their order, this is how they verify they got everything they ordered.
A packing slip includes:
One thing a packing slip should never include: prices. If the order is a gift, the recipient shouldn't see what the buyer paid. That's what invoices are for.
These get mixed up too. A packing slip is a contents checklist with no legal weight. A commercial invoice is a legal customs document required for every international shipment.
| Packing slip | Commercial invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal document? | No | Yes |
| Prices/declared values | No | Yes (required) |
| HS tariff codes | No | Yes |
| Country of origin | No | Yes |
| Required for domestic? | No | No |
| Required for international? | Sometimes | Always |
Shopify generates shipping labels through its built-in shipping features. For packing slips, you'll need the free Order Printer app or a third-party app since Shopify doesn't auto-generate them natively.
Amazon FBA handles everything on their end. Since mid-2023, Amazon actually stopped including packing slips in most FBA shipments to cut waste. If you're seller-fulfilled, you're on your own for packing slips.
At Simpl Fulfillment, shipping labels and packing slips are generated automatically for every order. One less thing to think about. Learn more →
Not for domestic US shipments. They're best practice, not law. For international shipments, customs authorities often require them alongside a commercial invoice.
No. Packing slips don't include prices, payment terms, or tax info. You need a separate invoice for accounting and customs purposes.
No. Keep prices off packing slips. Many orders are gifts, and recipients shouldn't see what the buyer paid.