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How to Order Custom Packing Slips: A Step-by-Step Checklist

05/27/2026

The fastest quotes come from the most complete requests. A vague inquiry — “I need packing slips for my brand” — usually turns into a round of back-and-forth questions before a real quote can go out. Arriving with the right files and specs already decided cuts that time down substantially.

Below is the checklist we walk clients through before quoting a custom packing slip order, in the order it usually makes sense to work through it.

1. Logo and brand files

A vector logo file — AI, EPS, or high-resolution PDF — produces the cleanest print result at any size. A PNG or JPG will work for an initial mockup, but expect a request for a vector file before the design goes to production, since raster logos tend to lose sharpness at print resolution. If you have brand color codes in Pantone or CMYK, include them; matching from a screen color alone introduces guesswork that a vector-plus-color-code combination avoids entirely.

2. Format decision

Decide which packing slip format fits your use case before requesting a quote: a Standard Packing Slip for straightforward single-sheet orders, a Duplicate 2-Part Slip if you need a retained warehouse copy, or a Perforated Order Slip if you want customers to tear off a return authorization or coupon. If you are unsure, a quote request can include a question about which format fits your order profile — but having a default preference in mind speeds things up.

3. Order volume

Minimum order quantity is 12 packs across every format. Pricing improves at higher volumes, so it helps to know both your immediate order size and your expected reorder cadence, since a brand planning to reorder every quarter may want to lock in a larger initial run rather than repeating the minimum every time.

4. Variable data needs

If every slip needs to show unique information — a customer name, a distinct order number, a personalized message — that is a variable data requirement, and it determines which print method fits your order. Digital printing supports full variable data; offset printing does not, since it prints the same fixed design across the entire run. Know this before you get a quote, since it changes both the print method and, at high volumes, the cost structure.

5. Timeline

Standard turnaround is 2 weeks for bulk production once artwork is approved (faster turnaround available with express shipping), with a free mockup delivered within 24 hours of your initial request. If you are working against a launch date or a seasonal deadline, flag that timeline up front — it does not usually change the process, but it helps set expectations on proofing rounds.

Checklist summary

What happens after you submit these

With logo files, format, volume, variable data needs, and timeline in hand, a mockup typically goes out within 24 hours, showing your logo and layout on the format you selected. Once you approve the mockup, the order moves to production and bulk orders generally ship within about 2 weeks. Most delays in this process come from waiting on final logo files or a format decision, not from production itself — which is exactly why having this checklist ready in advance shortens the whole timeline.

Ready to upgrade your packing slips? Get a custom quote — free mockups in 24 hours. Learn more about how we work, or browse more guides.

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