Free Delivery Note Generator

How to Make a Delivery Note

This delivery note template is built around handing over goods. Fill it in like this:

1. Add your details: Enter your business name, logo, and address. This is who is sending the delivery.
2. Add the deliver-to address: Enter the recipient and where the goods are going. On a delivery note this field is labelled Deliver To.
3. Add a reference and date: Use a delivery number and the date the goods are sent, so the note can be matched to the order.
4. List the items delivered: Add one line per product with a description and the quantity. Prices are left off a delivery note, so you record only what is being handed over.
5. Download and print: Click Download PDF and print two copies. One stays with the receiver, and one is signed and returned to you as proof of delivery.

What Is a Delivery Note?

A delivery note is a document that goes with a shipment and lists the goods being delivered. The key feature is that the person receiving the goods signs it. That signature turns the note into a record of proof of delivery, confirming that the items listed actually arrived and were accepted.

A delivery note is a familiar document in trade and wholesale, and the term is especially common in the UK and across Europe. The driver or courier hands over the goods, the receiver checks the items against the note, and then signs. Both sides keep a copy, so if a question comes up later about whether a delivery happened, there is a signed answer.

Delivery Note vs Invoice

A delivery note and an invoice are easy to tell apart once you know what each is for.

• A delivery note confirms that goods were delivered. It lists items and quantities, shows no prices, and is signed when the goods arrive.
• An invoice asks for payment. It shows unit prices, tax, and a total due, and it is sent to whoever settles the bill.

The two are linked, because you usually deliver the goods first and invoice for them afterwards. The signed delivery note is your evidence that the goods went out, which supports the invoice you then send. If you need that priced document, our invoice generator uses the same engine as this tool.

Delivery Note vs Packing Slip

A delivery note and a packing slip look similar, since both list contents and show no prices. The difference is emphasis.

• A packing slip is mainly a contents check. It is dropped inside a retail parcel so the customer can confirm their items.
• A delivery note is mainly a proof-of-delivery record. It is built to be signed on receipt, which is why it suits courier and trade handovers.

For many small parcels, a single document does both jobs. The distinction matters most when a signature on delivery is something you want to keep.

What to Include on a Delivery Note

A clear delivery note covers a few essentials:

• Your business name, logo, and address as the sender.
• The deliver-to name and address.
• A delivery number and date for tracking.
• A line for each item: description and quantity delivered.
• A space to record receipt: the receiver's name, the date, and a signature line.
• Notes, such as where the goods were left or any items missing or damaged on arrival.

Tips for Better Delivery Notes

• Always keep the signed copy. The value of a delivery note is the signature. File it so you can find it if a delivery is ever questioned.
• Note any shortfalls at handover. If a box is missing or an item is damaged, write it on the note before signing. That record is far stronger than a memory later.
• Match the note to the order. Use the same item names and reference numbers as your purchase order and invoice, so everything reconciles.
• Send it with the goods. A delivery note only works if it travels with the shipment, ready to be checked and signed on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a delivery note?

A delivery note is a document sent with a shipment that lists the goods being delivered. The person who receives the goods signs it to confirm what arrived, which makes it a record of proof of delivery.

What is the difference between a delivery note and an invoice?

A delivery note confirms that goods were delivered and is signed on receipt. An invoice requests payment and shows prices and totals. The delivery note travels with the goods; the invoice is sent to be paid.

Does a delivery note show prices?

Usually not. A delivery note focuses on the items and quantities delivered and leaves prices off. This tool hides prices for the delivery note document type and includes space to record receipt.

Who signs the delivery note?

The person receiving the goods signs the delivery note to confirm the delivery. One signed copy stays with the receiver and one is returned to or kept by the sender as proof of delivery.

Is this delivery note generator free?

Yes, it is 100% free, needs no signup, and lets you create unlimited delivery notes.