Use the preview as a shipping mark sample before printing carton labels or sending the layout to a supplier.
Shipping mark samples and format for export cartons
Adapt a shipping mark format from the filled sample and eight illustrated examples. Replace the buyer mark, PO, CTN range, weights, dimensions, origin and handling notes, then check against the packing list before copying, downloading CSV or printing.
Shipping mark sample, format, and requirements
Enter the carton marking fields buyers and forwarders usually check, then copy, download CSV, or print labels before warehouse release.
Confirm buyer mark, PO or shipment reference, carton range, destination, gross/net weight, dimensions, origin, and handling notes.
Match each shipping mark on carton with the packing list before warehouse release, pickup, or buyer review.
1. Choose a format
Change the layout without replacing your shipment details.
General export layout selected. All entered details are kept.
Browser only: TradePaper does not upload carton details. Confirm buyer-specific label layout, barcode rules, and platform labels before printing.
8 shipping mark examples
Fictional formats to adapt to your buyer, forwarder or marketplace instructions. Choose a supported format to rearrange the preview without replacing your details. The other examples open the editor for manual adaptation. No sample below is an official Amazon, carrier or compliance label.
Main shipping mark (front mark)
Identify the buyer, reference and destination, then number each physical carton. Replace every fictional field with your shipment details.
Use this format: Main shipping mark (front mark)
Side mark
Show measured packed weights and outer dimensions with their units. Check that the carton number agrees with the main mark.
Open editor: Side mark
Amazon FBA carton mark
Follow the current Seller Central instructions for the Amazon FBA box label. This illustration separates your own carton marks from that official label; the blank area is not a placement specification.
Use this format: Amazon FBA carton mark
Sea freight shipping mark
A port reference may help identify a sea shipment when requested by the forwarder. It does not replace the carrier delivery label or transport document.
Use this format: Sea freight shipping mark
Mixed-SKU carton
List the products and quantities actually packed in this carton. Check the allocation against the packing list before printing.
Open editor: Mixed-SKU carton
Pallet mark
Distinguish the pallet number from the cartons on it. Use measured pallet weight and dimensions, and confirm the receiver’s requested fields.
Open editor: Pallet mark
Handling marks
These simplified illustrations explain common handling messages. Use the appropriate approved artwork and instructions for your actual cargo; these are not certified transport labels.
Open editor: Handling marks
Neutral shipping mark (no brand)
A neutral mark can omit a brand when agreed with the buyer. Keep required identification, origin and transport labels as applicable to the shipment.
Open editor: Neutral shipping mark (no brand)Shipping mark format: what goes on each line
A shipping mark is the identifying text or symbols on a shipping package. On an export carton, it helps the receiver match that physical box to the shipment records. Carton marking describes the marks on the box; a carton label is a printable layout that can carry those details.
The filled sample above is an example to adapt, not a universal required format. Start with the buyer's marking instructions, then confirm any warehouse, carrier or marketplace requirements. The table explains the sample's eight lines.
| Line | Sample text | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer / consignee mark | BUYER MARK | Replace this placeholder with the buyer's agreed code or name. |
| Reference | PO: 4500123456 | Use the same PO or shipment reference as the shipment documents. |
| Destination | LOS ANGELES, USA | Use the destination specified for this shipment. A city name does not replace a carrier's delivery address label. |
| Carton number | CTN: 1 / 20 | This is carton 1 of 20 physical cartons. Number the next carton 2 / 20; do not repeat 1 / 20 on every box. |
| Origin | MADE IN CHINA | This is sample wording only. Use the actual origin and confirm the required wording with the importer or broker. |
| Weights | GW: 25.50 KGS NW: 22.30 KGS | For this sample, GW is the packed carton weight and NW is the goods' net weight in that carton. Keep the unit explicit. |
| Dimensions | 60 × 40 × 40 CM | Record the packed outer length × width × height for this carton, with the unit. |
| Handling | KEEP DRY / THIS SIDE UP | Include instructions that apply to the goods. These words do not replace any required handling or dangerous-goods labels. |
Edit your shipping mark in the generator. Use the agreed language and legible text; confirm label placement with the receiving party.
Check each carton mark against the packing list
Worked example, using fictional data: if all 20 cartons match the sample above, the carton numbers run from CTN 1/20 to CTN 20/20. Each label shows GW 25.50 kg and NW 22.30 kg. The packing-list totals are 510 kg gross and 446 kg net.
The total shipment weight belongs in the shipment totals. Do not copy 510 kg into the per-carton weight field. Multiplying one carton's weight by 20 is valid only when all 20 cartons actually have that weight.
For cartons with different contents or measurements, record each carton or a verified identical group separately in the packing list generator. A range such as cartons 1–10 is a grouping in your records; each physical box still needs its own carton number.
Before printing
- Match the buyer mark, reference and destination to the shipment instructions.
- Check that every physical carton appears once, with no missing or duplicate numbers.
- Match each carton's contents, weights and dimensions to its packing-list entry.
- Review any separate carrier, warehouse or marketplace labels. A TradePaper mark does not generate an Amazon FBA box ID label.
Continue with the same shipment's document pack, or use the invoice and packing list checker to review the fields you enter. The checker does not compare uploaded files or verify legal compliance.
Sources and scope
Sources checked: . The examples and calculations are TradePaper's illustrative guidance for preparing a draft. This check is not a professional review of your shipment.
The U.S. International Trade Administration's Common Export Documents describes packing lists with quantities, package counts, weights, marks and dimensions, and explains the need for consistency with the commercial invoice.
Its Labeling guide, published in 2016 for U.S. exporters, describes buyer-specified export marks. It is background guidance, not a current rule for every origin or destination.
Confirm your buyer's instructions and the current requirements for the destination, carrier and goods. This template does not determine origin-marking law, hazardous-material labels or marketplace acceptance. For Amazon-bound goods, see the FBA document workflow and its limits.
Checklist
- Buyer mark or consignee reference visible on every export carton.
- Carton number pattern such as CTN 1/20, CTN 2/20, and total carton count.
- Purchase order, shipment reference, SKU, product name, destination, and country of origin where required.
- Net weight, gross weight, carton dimensions, and any buyer-required carton marking format.
- Handling marks such as fragile, keep dry, this side up, or country-specific label notes where required.
- Match the shipping mark on carton fields with the packing list before warehouse release.
When to use this page
Use it when a buyer, warehouse, or forwarder asks what shipping marks or carton markings should appear on export cartons before goods leave the warehouse. Generate the marks first, then cross-check them against the packing list.
- Keep buyer, seller, shipment, and line-item details consistent across every document.
- Use the browser print dialog when you need a PDF copy for review.
- Confirm final customs, logistics, tax, and marketplace requirements with the responsible party.
New to carton marking? Read the shipping marks guide.
Questions before shipment
What is carton marking for export?
Carton marking is the buyer mark, destination, carton number, shipment reference, weight, dimensions, origin, and handling text printed or labeled on export cartons so the warehouse, forwarder, and consignee can identify the shipment.
What is a shipping mark on an export carton?
A shipping mark is the short set of buyer, destination, carton number, weight, dimensions, and handling details printed or labeled on an export carton so the shipment can be identified during warehouse, forwarder, and receiving checks.
What should shipping carton marking include?
Common carton marking fields include consignee or buyer mark, purchase order or shipment reference, destination, carton number such as CTN 1/20, gross weight, net weight, carton dimensions, country of origin where required, and handling notes.
What are common carton marking requirements?
Carton marking requirements usually come from the buyer, warehouse, carrier, marketplace, or forwarder. Check whether they require a buyer mark, PO number, destination, carton range, product reference, gross and net weight, dimensions, origin text, handling marks, barcode, or a specific label layout.
Can I use this as a shipping mark sample?
Yes. Use the generated carton marks as a shipping mark sample for buyer or warehouse review, then replace the example fields with the final PO, carton range, weights, dimensions, destination, and any buyer-specific label instructions.
Is there a standard shipping mark format?
There is no single universal format. Many shipments show buyer mark or consignee, PO or shipment reference, destination, carton number, gross and net weight, dimensions, origin, and handling notes, but the final format should follow buyer, warehouse, carrier, or forwarder instructions.
How do I make a carton marking template for export?
Start with the buyer mark, PO or shipment reference, destination, CTN range, product or SKU, gross weight, net weight, dimensions, country of origin, and handling notes. Generate one sample mark, then check it against the packing list before printing.
Can I print carton marking labels from this page?
Yes. Enter the shipment details, review the generated carton marks, then copy, export CSV, or print the page. Confirm the final layout, language, barcode, and buyer-specific mark format with your buyer, warehouse, or forwarder.
Can one shipment have different carton mark ranges?
Yes. If cartons contain different SKUs, weights, or buyer references, generate one range at a time and keep the carton numbers aligned with the packing list.
Should carton markings match the packing list?
Yes. Carton numbers, carton count, product reference, weights, destination, and shipment references should match the packing list before warehouse release or forwarder pickup.
Related export documents
Move between the invoice, packing list, checklist, HS code, and incoterms pages that are usually reviewed together before a shipment leaves.
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Create a commercial invoice, packing list, shipping marks, and carton labels from one shipment form, then validate and print the full document pack.
Invoice and Packing List Mismatch Checker
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Free Commercial Invoice Generator
Create a commercial invoice for export shipments. Enter shipment data once, validate missing fields, and print or save the result as a PDF.
Amazon Commercial Invoice Template for FBA Shipments
Prepare an Amazon commercial invoice draft for FBA shipments with item values, HS codes, carton references, and shipment details.
Export Documents Checklist for Shipping Paperwork
Use this export documents checklist to compare commercial invoice, packing list, HS code, incoterms, carton marking, weight, and shipment-reference fields.