To print a packing slip in WooCommerce, install a packing slip plugin such as Challan, open the order from WooCommerce > Orders, and click the Packing Slip button to generate a downloadable PDF. WooCommerce does not include packing slip printing by default, so a plugin is required for this.
This guide covers the exact steps using Challan’s free and Pro versions, what a standard packing slip should include, and how it differs from an invoice or shipping label.
What a Packing Slip Is and What It Should Include
A packing slip is a document included in a shipment that lists the items in the order, their SKUs and quantities, and the shipping and billing addresses. It lets warehouse staff confirm the correct items before sealing the box, and lets the customer verify they received everything they ordered.
A standard WooCommerce packing slip typically includes:
- Shipping and billing address: The recipient’s delivery address and your company address, plus the order number, date, and payment method.
- List of shipped items: Every product included in the order, so the customer can check it against what arrived.
- SKU or product ID: A unique identifier for each item, useful for handling returns or refund requests.
- Quantity: The number of units per line item, so a repeated product doesn’t need to be listed multiple times.
- Brand elements: Your logo and company details, since a packing slip is also a branding touchpoint.
If a shipping label is damaged in transit, carriers can open the package and use the packing slip’s address to complete delivery, and a packing slip also helps confirm exact item counts before a box is sealed, track contents when an order ships in multiple boxes, and identify damaged items during a refund or reshipment.
How to Create a Packing Slip in WooCommerce Using Challan
WooCommerce itself doesn’t generate packing slips. You need a plugin like Challan, a free PDF invoice and packing slip plugin for WooCommerce with a paid Pro version for advanced customization.
Step 1: Install and Activate Challan
Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin panel, search for Challan, then install and activate it.
Step 2: Open an Order
Go to WooCommerce > Orders and open any order in the “Processing” stage. You’ll see a new Challan tab in the top right of the order screen.
Step 3: Generate the Packing Slip
Click the Packing Slip button. This downloads a PDF packing slip for that order using your current Challan settings.
How to Customize Your WooCommerce Packing Slip (Free Version)
Go to Challan > Settings to personalize the packing slip’s appearance. Because Challan handles both invoices and packing slips, some invoice settings (template and paper size) affect both documents.
- Template and paper size: The free version offers 2 templates. A4 is the standard paper size for printing orders and packing slips.
- Seller and Buyer info: Add your logo, company name, address, and footer text under the Seller & Buyer tab. This is what puts your branding on the printed slip.
- Bulk download: Download packing slips for multiple past orders at once, filtered by date range and order status, instead of opening each order individually.
Advanced Packing Slip Customization with Challan Pro
Challan Pro adds dedicated tabs for invoices, shipping labels, and packing slips, along with these packing-slip-specific options:
- Attach to email: Automatically attach the packing slip to the order confirmation email, and assign user roles to track who generates which documents.
- Barcode and QR code: Insert a barcode or QR code directly on the packing slip.
- Custom CSS: Add your own CSS to control the packing slip’s layout and styling beyond the built-in templates.
- Background image and opacity: Add a background image to the packing slip and adjust its opacity.
- Product info controls: Set how many products appear per page, display SKU/ID, cap product title length, and show product image, category, vendor, and short description.
- Extra paper sizes: More paper size presets, plus a custom size option.
- Order and product meta: Include custom order meta, product meta, order notes, and refund address on the slip.
- VAT and buyer details: Add a VAT number field and toggle buyer details like phone, email, and shipping address on or off.
- Bulk download by customer: Filter bulk downloads by a specific customer’s ID or email, not just by date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a packing slip the same as an invoice?
No. A packing slip confirms which physical items are in a shipment, using SKUs, quantities, and addresses. An invoice is the financial record of the order: what was charged, the payment method, and the payment terms. A shipment can include both.
What’s the difference between a packing slip, a shipping label, and an invoice?
The invoice documents the money paid and is normally emailed to the customer when they order. The packing slip lists the physical items in the box for verification. The shipping label is the address sticker carriers use to deliver the package. If someone orders as a gift, the buyer gets the invoice by email while the recipient gets the packing slip and shipping label in the box.
Can I print a packing slip from WooCommerce?
Not with core WooCommerce alone. You need a plugin such as Challan, which adds a Packing Slip button directly on the order screen.
What is the best plugin for printing packing slips?
Several options work well depending on your needs: Challan (free with a Pro upgrade, built for invoices and packing slips together), WooCommerce Print Invoices & Packing Lists (built by the SkyVerge team, now part of GoDaddy), and WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips by WP Overnight. Compare current features and pricing on each plugin’s page before choosing, since plans change.
Where should the packing slip go in the shipment?
Inside the box, ideally on top of or attached to the items. If the shipping label gets damaged, carriers can open the package and use the packing slip’s address to complete delivery.
What does a WooCommerce packing slip look like?
It’s a single-page PDF with your logo and company address at the top, the customer’s shipping address, the order number and date, then a table listing each item’s SKU, name, and quantity.
Key Takeaways
- WooCommerce doesn’t generate packing slips natively, so a plugin like Challan is required.
- A packing slip lists shipped items, SKUs, quantities, and addresses so warehouse staff and customers can both verify the shipment.
- The free version of Challan covers templates, paper size, branding, and bulk download.
- Challan Pro adds barcodes, QR codes, custom CSS, background images, VAT fields, and per-customer bulk downloads.
- A packing slip, invoice, and shipping label serve different purposes and often ship together in the same box.
- If a shipping label is damaged, the packing slip’s address can be used as a backup by the carrier.
Free version on WordPress.org. Every Pro licence includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
