MATCH
The corresponding information agrees between the documents.
Shipping document checker
Commercial Invoice & Packing List Checker
Compare your Commercial Invoice and Packing List in minutes. ShipmentChecker identifies matching information, missing details and discrepancies between the two documents so you can review them before they move further through the shipping process.
Compare your Commercial Invoice and Packing List
Upload the two PDF documents and ShipmentChecker extracts the relevant information from each one, then compares the corresponding fields side by side: invoice and reference numbers, seller and buyer details, goods descriptions, quantities, package counts, and net and gross weights. Values are only compared when they are actually present in the documents — ShipmentChecker does not guess or fill in missing information, and your documents are never changed.
Prefer email? Registered users can email or forward the documents to ShipmentChecker instead of uploading them manually.
Need to check more than an invoice and packing list? ShipmentChecker also supports Bills of Lading, Air Waybills and Certificates of Origin, with up to 4 supported documents in one dashboard check.
What ShipmentChecker checks
ShipmentChecker compares relevant information that appears across the Commercial Invoice and Packing List, such as invoice or reference numbers, exporter/seller details, consignee/buyer details, product descriptions, quantities, package or carton counts, net weight, gross weight and other corresponding shipment information. Not every document contains every field. Each result is labelled as:
MISSING
Relevant information is present on one document but absent from the other, where applicable.
DISCREPANCY
Corresponding information differs between the two documents.
REVIEW
The information may be equivalent but cannot be confirmed automatically, so a person should check it. REVIEW is not a confirmed error.
Illustrative example
Fictional data — not a real customer shipment.
| Field | Commercial Invoice | Packing List | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice Number | INV-0000-DEMO | INV-0000-DEMO | Match |
| Quantity | 240 units | 240 units | Match |
| Gross Weight | 480.0 kg | 465.5 kg | Discrepancy |
| Package Count | 12 cartons | — | Missing |
How to review your results
Results are listed with discrepancies and missing information first, so the items most likely to need attention are at the top. Each row shows the field, the value from each document and the result, so you can see exactly what differs. Items marked REVIEW — for example, values that may be equivalent but are written differently — should be checked by a person; they are not confirmed errors, and not every flagged item is necessarily a mistake.
You can download the results as a professional PDF report to share with colleagues, your forwarder or your buyer. After correcting any genuine issues in your documents, run another check to confirm the documents now agree. See a sample report produced from fictional documents.
Why compare a Commercial Invoice and Packing List?
The Commercial Invoice and Packing List are often read together by freight forwarders, carriers, customs brokers and buyers. When the two documents don't agree — a different carton count, a weight that doesn't match, a missing reference — someone may need to ask for clarification or a corrected document. Checking for an invoice and packing list mismatch before the documents are sent on can help reduce that extra administrative work and back-and-forth.
ShipmentChecker is a document comparison tool. It does not guarantee customs clearance, ensure regulatory compliance or replace professional customs or compliance advice.
Two ways to check your documents
Option 1 — Upload
Upload the Commercial Invoice and Packing List through your ShipmentChecker account and run the comparison.
Option 2 — Email
Registered users can send or forward both PDFs by email. The same comparison runs, and the completed result is available in your account.
Who it's for
This shipping document checker is designed for people who prepare or review export and import paperwork:
- Exporters
- Importers
- Freight forwarders
- Logistics teams
- Shipping and documentation teams
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Commercial Invoice and a Packing List?
A Commercial Invoice records the sale: seller, buyer, goods, prices and totals. A Packing List describes how the goods are packed: packages or cartons, contents, and net and gross weights. Many details, such as reference numbers, parties, descriptions and quantities, usually appear on both.
What should match between a Commercial Invoice and Packing List?
Information that appears on both documents should normally agree — for example invoice or reference numbers, exporter and consignee details, product descriptions, quantities, package counts and weights. Not every document contains every field.
What happens if my Invoice and Packing List do not match?
ShipmentChecker marks the field as a discrepancy and shows the value from each document side by side, so you can review it and decide whether a correction or clarification is needed. ShipmentChecker does not change your documents.
Can I check my Commercial Invoice and Packing List online?
Yes. Create a free account, upload both PDFs and ShipmentChecker compares them. Your first 3 checks are free and no card is required to start.
Can I email my documents instead of uploading them?
Yes. Registered users can email both PDFs from their account email address. The same comparison runs and the result appears in the account's Recent Checks.
Questions about ShipmentChecker
Can ShipmentChecker compare a Commercial Invoice and Packing List?
Yes. Upload both PDFs from the same shipment to compare corresponding references, parties, goods descriptions, quantities, package counts and weights. Your printed values appear side by side; ShipmentChecker never changes the documents.
Can I include a Bill of Lading, Air Waybill or Certificate of Origin?
Yes. A check accepts 2–4 supported PDFs, with one document of each type and at least one Commercial Invoice or Packing List. You can include a Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, but not both together, and a Certificate of Origin. A four-document comparison counts as one check.
Which PDF formats are supported, and can I use scanned documents?
PDF only: up to 20 MB per document in the dashboard or 15 MB per emailed PDF. Use text-based PDFs where possible. Scanned, image-only or password-protected PDFs may not be readable; extraction is not guaranteed, and an unreadable document can prevent the check from completing.
What discrepancies does ShipmentChecker identify?
It flags differences in corresponding printed information, such as references, party names, descriptions, quantities, packages, weights and country of origin where applicable. Results distinguish matches, discrepancies, missing information and REVIEW items. A flag is not necessarily an error: review the source documents before correcting anything. Consistency checking does not replace official customs validation or professional review.
Can I submit shipping documents by email?
Yes. Send 2–4 supported PDFs to documents@shipmentchecker.com from your verified account email address. Name each file clearly by document type, for example invoice, packing list, BL, AWB or COO. Unidentified or invalid attachments cause the email to be declined rather than checking only part of the shipment. Email uses the same allowance and results appear in your account.
Can I try three free checks without a credit card?
Yes. Create and verify your account to receive 3 completed document checks and 1 professional PDF report download in total. No credit card is required, and the free allowance does not renew monthly.
What does the $49/month Pro subscription include?
Pro includes 100 completed document checks per month, unlimited professional PDF report downloads and full comparison history. Each check compares 2–4 supported PDFs from one shipment. Pro costs $49 USD per month, or $529.20 USD billed annually with the same monthly check allowance, plus applicable taxes. Uploaded documents and extracted data are subject to 30-day retention.
Who is ShipmentChecker designed for?
Exporters, importers, freight forwarders, logistics teams and shipping-documentation teams who prepare or review shipment paperwork. It is a focused document-consistency review aid, not a customs broker, regulatory approval service or replacement for your carrier, bank or customs adviser.
See pricing for plan details, or contact us with questions.
Check your Commercial Invoice & Packing List
Start with 3 free checks. No card required to start.
Need more than 3 checks? Pro is $49/month for 100 checks a month and unlimited PDF reports.