What should a commercial invoice include?

The ten items CBP requires under 19 CFR 141.86: U.S. port of entry, buyer and seller names and addresses, a detailed description of the goods, quantity, price per item, the transaction currency, all separate charges, country of origin, and any rebates or drawbacks. Carriers additionally expect HTS codes, the Incoterms rule, a tax identification number and a signature.

Do I need to sign a customs invoice?

Yes. The invoice is your declaration that the information on it is true and correct, so it carries a signature block with a named person, title and date. DHL, FedEx and UPS accept a digital signature on electronically submitted invoices; an unsigned invoice is a common reason shipments are held.

Does the commercial invoice go inside the package?

No. Attach it in the carrier's document pouch on the outside of the box. If the only invoice travels inside the parcel, customs cannot clear the shipment until it is opened, which delays delivery by days.

How many copies of a commercial invoice do I need?

Three is the safe standard: one for the carrier's clearance team, one for customs, and one for your own records — printed, with at least one original signature. Some lanes ask for more; your carrier's booking page states the exact count for the destination.

Is the HS code required on a commercial invoice?

In practice yes for anything moving by courier or freight: DHL, FedEx, UPS and freight forwarders require at least the 6-digit HS code per line, and for U.S. imports the 10-digit HTS is what duty is computed on. CBP formally requires the detail on the entry, but an invoice without codes is the single easiest way to get stuck in clearance.

Free Commercial Invoice Template

Updated 2026-09-12Invoice × Tariff editorial

A commercial invoice for U.S. customs must show the port of entry, buyer and seller, a detailed description of the goods, quantity, unit price, currency, all separate charges and country of origin (19 CFR 141.86). Carriers add four expectations: HTS codes, Incoterms, a tax ID and a signature. Download the free template below, or skip the formatting and generate the invoice online.

Download the blank template

Free, no sign-up. Each format carries the same CBP-compliant fields — HTS code, origin and Incoterms per line — and the Excel version includes a filling checklist sheet.

Excel template.xlsx · with CBP checklist sheet Word template.docx · editable PDF template.pdf · print & fill

Or generate the invoice online →

The generator produces a commercial invoice, proforma invoice or packing list as a PDF in your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.

What a commercial invoice must include (19 CFR 141.86)

CBP lists ten required pieces of information. All ten are pre-labeled in the template:

1U.S. port of entry. The port where the goods will enter, e.g. "Los Angeles, CA".
2Buyer / consignee. Full legal name and address of the party receiving the goods.
3Seller / shipper. Full legal name and address of the exporter.
4Detailed description. What the goods are, of what material, and their use. "Spare parts", "gifts" or "samples" alone will be rejected.
5Quantity. In the units actually sold (pieces, kg, m² …) — and net weight where the tariff rate is weight-based.
6Price per item. The purchase price of each line, in the currency of the transaction.
7Currency of settlement. State it explicitly (USD, EUR, CNY …).
8All other charges. Freight, insurance, packing and inland charges when they are prepaid or added — shown separately from the goods price.
9Country of origin. Where each line was manufactured (see the origin section below).
10Rebates / drawbacks. Any discount, rebate or drawback not shown on the invoice must be disclosed.

Where goods carry trademarks or serial numbers, those go on the invoice as well.

Carrier extras: what DHL, FedEx and UPS add

10-digit HTS code per line. Couriers require at least the 6-digit HS code; for U.S. imports the duty is computed on the 10-digit HTS — the code lookup shows the full duty stack for yours.
Incoterms rule. Determines who pays the duty in the first place — see how U.S. tariffs are calculated.
Tax IDs. The exporter's tax/EORI-style number and the U.S. importer's EIN (plus importer of record details if different from the buyer).
Signature. A named person declaring the information true — digital signatures are accepted by all three carriers.
EEI / AES filing. Exports over $2,500 per Schedule B number mostly need an ITN on the invoice (most goods to Canada are exempt). Your forwarder files it; leave the field for them if unsure.

Field-by-field walkthrough

Field	What to enter	Common mistake
Invoice number & date	Your own sequential numbering; the invoice date is the sale date, not the ship date.	Reusing numbers across shipments confuses clearance history.
Incoterms (2020)	The rule that splits cost and risk: FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP …	Quoting DDP but declaring the DDP price as goods value — declare the merchandise value only.
HTS / HS code	10-digit HTS for the U.S. (6-digit HS is the international prefix).	Guessing the code instead of classifying — a wrong code wrongs the whole duty stack.
Country of origin per line	Country of manufacture, which can differ line by line in mixed shipments.	Filling the ship-from country instead.
Unit price & extended amount	Per-unit price and line total in the stated currency.	Zero or token values on "free samples" — declare a fair market value instead.
Freight / insurance / other	Show separately when prepaid; they stay out of customs value only when separately identified.	Bundling them into the goods price and paying duty on your freight.
Weights & packages	Total gross and net weight, number and type of packages.	Missing net weight when a specific (per-kg) rate applies — the entry then needs manual correction.
Declaration & signature	A named person signs that the information is true and correct.	Leaving the signature blank — the most common courier bounce after vague descriptions.

Why invoices get rejected as "incomplete"

The FedEx/DHL status "commercial invoice is incomplete — shipment on hold" almost always traces to one of these:

Vague descriptions — "parts", "accessories", "merchandise", "samples" with no detail.
Missing or wrong HTS code, or an HS code that does not match the description.
No country of origin, or ship-from country filled in as origin.
Declared value far below the transaction value — CBP can value-direct and penalize under-declaration.
Missing currency, missing net weight, or a proforma invoice sent where a commercial invoice is required.
Unsigned invoice, or a buyer address that is a P.O. box for a formal entry.

Fixing any of these after departure means a courier amendment fee and days of delay; checking the invoice before handover is free.

Country of origin vs. country of ship-from

"Country of origin" on a commercial invoice means where the goods were manufactured or last substantially transformed — not where they ship from. A Chinese-made good shipped via Vietnam is still Chinese-origin, and origin decides the extra layers: the China Section 301 lists, the global Section 301 tiers and Section 232 all key off it. If your supply chain has genuinely moved, be ready to show how the transformation happened.

By scenario

International shipping (any lane): One invoice per parcel or consolidation, three copies, one in the document pouch. Keep values consistent across the invoice, packing list and airway bill — mismatches trigger inspections.
U.S. customs (formal entries): Entries over $2,500 are formal: add the bond/continuation bond details via your broker, and remember MPF and HMF are charged on the declared value on top of duty — run the stack in the tariff calculator before you price.
Canada to the U.S.: USMCA-qualifying goods enter MFN-free and are exempt from the 10% global Section 301 tier — state the USMCA certification of origin on or with the invoice. A few Canadian sectors (motor vehicles, dairy, alcoholic beverages) carry separate Section 338 duties instead.
DHL · FedEx · UPS express parcels: Their systems demand the per-line HS code and a working phone number for the consignee; under-declared parcels are the top trigger for "customs status — action required". Declare real values.

Frequently asked questions

What should a commercial invoice include?: The ten items CBP requires under 19 CFR 141.86: U.S. port of entry, buyer and seller names and addresses, a detailed description of the goods, quantity, price per item, the transaction currency, all separate charges, country of origin, and any rebates or drawbacks. Carriers additionally expect HTS codes, the Incoterms rule, a tax identification number and a signature.
Do I need to sign a customs invoice?: Yes. The invoice is your declaration that the information on it is true and correct, so it carries a signature block with a named person, title and date. DHL, FedEx and UPS accept a digital signature on electronically submitted invoices; an unsigned invoice is a common reason shipments are held.
Does the commercial invoice go inside the package?: No. Attach it in the carrier's document pouch on the outside of the box. If the only invoice travels inside the parcel, customs cannot clear the shipment until it is opened, which delays delivery by days.
How many copies of a commercial invoice do I need?: Three is the safe standard: one for the carrier's clearance team, one for customs, and one for your own records — printed, with at least one original signature. Some lanes ask for more; your carrier's booking page states the exact count for the destination.
Is the HS code required on a commercial invoice?: In practice yes for anything moving by courier or freight: DHL, FedEx, UPS and freight forwarders require at least the 6-digit HS code per line, and for U.S. imports the 10-digit HTS is what duty is computed on. CBP formally requires the detail on the entry, but an invoice without codes is the single easiest way to get stuck in clearance.

Templates are provided free, without warranty. Estimates only — not customs, tax or legal advice. Duty is finally determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at entry. See the disclaimer.