Commercial invoice template
Create a customs-ready commercial invoice PDF for international shipments — free, in your browser.
Runs 100% in your browserHow to create a commercial invoice
- Enter exporter and importer. Add seller (you) and buyer (consignee) details.
- Describe the goods. List each item with quantity and unit value.
- Add terms and download. Note origin and Incoterms, then download the PDF.
The document customs clears your shipment with
A commercial invoice is the backbone of cross-border trade paperwork. When goods cross a border, customs authorities read this document to classify the goods, value them, and calculate the duty and import tax owed. A vague or incomplete commercial invoice is one of the most common reasons a shipment is held at the border, so it pays to be exact. Unlike a domestic invoice it isn't really about getting you paid — it's a customs declaration that happens to look like an invoice.
What customs needs to see
Describe each item plainly and specifically — "men's cotton t-shirts", not "apparel" — with quantity, unit value and total value, and state the currency explicitly. Record the country of origin (where the goods were made, which can differ from where they ship), and note the Incoterms — EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP — since they decide who pays freight and duty. An HS tariff code for each line helps customs classify it correctly. Identify both shipper and consignee in full, and give a reason for export.
Commercial vs proforma
Send a proforma invoice before shipping if the buyer needs a value to arrange payment, open a letter of credit, or obtain an import licence. The commercial invoice is the final version that travels with the goods and matches the packing list. For a domestic sale with no border to cross, a standard invoice is all you need.
Frequently asked questions
- A commercial invoice is the customs document that accompanies an international shipment of goods. It declares the seller and buyer, a description and quantity of the goods, their value, and terms — customs authorities use it to assess duties and taxes.
- Exporter and importer details, an invoice number and date, a clear description and quantity of each item, unit values and the total value, the currency, and ideally the country of origin and shipping terms (Incoterms). Add origin and Incoterms in the notes.
- No. A proforma is sent before the sale as an estimate; a commercial invoice is the final document for a completed sale and is what customs requires for clearance.
- No. The commercial invoice PDF is generated entirely in your browser.