Shipping Marks: Meaning, Examples and Carton Marking Rules

Shipping marks are the words, numbers and symbols printed on the outside of every export carton. They tell warehouse staff, truck drivers, port workers and customs officers whose goods these are, where they are going and how to handle them. This guide explains what shipping marks mean, the three types, what a good shipping mark looks like and the mistakes that cause delays.

Key points
• Shipping marks identify each carton and link it to the shipping documents.
• There are three types: main marks (who, where, which order, which carton), information marks (weights, size, origin) and handling marks (symbols such as fragile or this way up).
• The “Marks and Numbers” on the bill of lading, commercial invoice and packing list should match what is printed on the cartons.
• Put the marks on at least two sides of every carton, and on pallets too.
• Missing or wrong marks lead to lost cartons, mixed-up LCL cargo and customs questions.

What Are Shipping Marks?

A shipping mark (also called a carton marking or packing mark) is the information printed or labelled on the outside of a package for transport. In an LCL container or an air freight consolidation, your cartons travel together with goods from many other shippers. The marks are how everyone along the way knows which cartons are yours.

Shipping marks also connect the cargo to the paperwork. The bill of lading, commercial invoice and packing list all have a field called “Marks and Numbers”. Customs officers may compare it with the cartons during an inspection, so the two should match.

The Three Types of Shipping Marks

The handling pictograms are standardised in ISO 780, so workers can understand them without reading any language. Use the standard symbols rather than words alone.

Common handling symbols and when to use them

Only use the symbols that really apply. A carton covered in every warning sign tells handlers nothing.

Shipping Mark Example

A simple shipping mark for a carton from China might look like this:

On the bill of lading, the same mark is usually written as “ABC / PO 2026-118 / LOS ANGELES / C/NO. 1-50”, or simply as “N/M” (no marks) for goods such as bulk cargo that have none. The carton number shows each carton’s position in the order (1 of 50, 2 of 50 and so on), so you can check at once whether any carton is missing.

Good mark vs bad mark

Shipping Marks for Several Suppliers

When cartons from several factories travel together, the marks must show at a glance which supplier and which order each carton belongs to. A simple system is to give each supplier a code and its own carton count:

At the warehouse, each delivery is checked against its own count, so a missing carton is spotted before the container is loaded. The packing list then shows 92 cartons in three groups. See freight consolidation.

What to send your supplier

Send your shipping mark in writing before production finishes, ideally with your purchase order. You can copy and adapt this:

Please print the following shipping mark on two sides of every master carton, in black, clearly readable:
Front: ABC / PO 2026-118 / LOS ANGELES, USA / C/NO. 1/50
Side: QTY / G.W. / N.W. / MEAS. / MADE IN CHINA
Please add “This way up” and “Keep dry” symbols. Do not show prices on the cartons. Send us photos of the marked cartons before delivery.

Where to Put Shipping Marks

• At least two sides: the main mark on the front and the information mark on the side, so it can be read however the cartons are stacked. Many buyers ask for marks on all four sides.
• Pallets: if cartons are palletised, label each pallet too, with the pallet number and total cartons, for example “PLT 1/6”.
• Master and inner cartons: the shipping mark goes on the master (outer) carton. Inner boxes carry product labels, not shipping marks.
• Clear and lasting: large letters, dark waterproof ink or printed labels, not handwriting that can smudge in a humid container.
• Nothing extra: do not print prices or brand names you want to keep private on the outside. They invite theft and are not needed.

Country Rules That Affect Carton Marks

• USA: imported goods must show their country of origin, such as “Made in China”, in English on the goods or, where that is not possible, on the container. Cartons that reach the end customer unopened also need the marking. Missing origin marks can lead to customs holds or extra duty.
• UK and EU: there is no general rule to mark the country of origin on cartons, but product rules such as CE or UKCA marking, and labelling rules for food, textiles and toys, apply to the products themselves.
• Amazon FBA: every carton needs its FBA box ID label, placed on a flat side and not over a seam. Each carton in a multi-carton shipment has its own label. See shipping from China to Amazon FBA.
• Wooden packaging: pallets and crates made of solid wood must be heat-treated or fumigated and carry the ISPM 15 stamp for most countries.

Marks and Numbers on Your Documents

Before the goods ship, check that the “Marks and Numbers” field matches the cartons on all of these:

• Commercial invoice and packing list: the packing list should list carton numbers, weights and dimensions in the same order as the marks.
• Bill of lading or air waybill: the forwarder copies the marks from the packing list, so errors there carry through.
• Certificates such as a certificate of origin, if you need one.

If the documents say 50 cartons marked 1/50 to 50/50 and customs finds cartons with a different mark, expect questions, an inspection or a delay.

Special Marks

• Lithium batteries: shipments with batteries may need a lithium battery mark showing the UN number and a contact phone number, depending on the battery type, quantity and mode of transport.
• Dangerous goods: hazardous materials need the correct UN number, proper shipping name and hazard labels under the dangerous goods rules for sea (IMDG) or air (IATA).
• Amazon FBA: Amazon requires its own carton labels (FBA box ID labels) in addition to normal shipping marks. See our packing and labelling service.
• Country of origin: many countries require the origin, such as “Made in China”, on the goods or packaging. Check the rules for your market.

Common Shipping Mark Mistakes

• No marks at all, especially on goods from small factories. In a shared container, unmarked cartons are easily lost or mixed up.
• Different marks from different suppliers in one consolidated order, so nobody can tell they belong to the same buyer.
• Marks that do not match the packing list, such as a wrong total number of cartons.
• Only one side marked, so the mark is hidden once the cartons are stacked.
• Handwritten marks that fade or smudge.
• Old marks left on reused cartons, which confuse warehouses and customs. Cover or remove them.

A Real Shipment: Crushed Cartons Found at the Warehouse

A US customer ordered storage boxes and kitchen racks from two suppliers and shipped them LCL from Shenzhen to New York.

• The problem: when the goods arrived at our warehouse, some outer cartons were deformed.
• What we did: we replaced the damaged outer cartons, reinforced the packing, and checked every carton number against the packing list again before the goods were loaded.
• The result: the shipment left with complete, correctly marked cartons. From pickup in Shenzhen to delivery at the customer’s warehouse in New York took 45 days.

Replacing an outer carton also means re-marking it. Clear carton numbers made it easy to confirm that nothing was missing or mixed up after repacking.

Shipping Marks When You Ship with JIEYI

If your suppliers deliver to our warehouses in Dongguan, Shenzhen or Guangzhou, contact us before they send the goods. We will tell you what to write on the cartons so we can identify your cargo as soon as it arrives, especially when several suppliers deliver for the same order.

If cartons arrive with no marks, wrong marks or marks that do not match the packing list, our warehouse can print and apply new shipping marks or carton labels before the goods ship. We also apply Amazon FBA labels and consolidate cargo from several suppliers. See pickup and consolidation.

FAQ

What is a shipping mark?

The information printed on the outside of an export carton, such as the buyer’s name or code, destination, order number and carton number, plus weights and handling symbols. It identifies the cargo and links it to the shipping documents.

What should a shipping mark include?

At least the buyer’s name or code, the destination, the order number and the carton number (for example 1/50). Most shippers also add the gross and net weight, dimensions and “Made in China”.

What does “Marks and Numbers” mean on a bill of lading?

It is the shipping mark printed on the cartons, copied onto the bill of lading so the cargo can be matched to the document. If there are no marks, it says “N/M”.

What is the difference between main marks and side marks?

Main marks, usually on the front, identify the buyer, destination, order and carton number. Side marks give details about the carton such as weight, size and origin.

Can I use stickers instead of printed marks?

Yes. Printed labels are fine if they are large, waterproof and firmly stuck to a flat side of the carton. Avoid labels that can peel off in a humid container, and do not place them over seams or tape.

Should my brand name be on the cartons?

It is not required. Many importers use a short buyer code instead of their brand, especially for valuable goods, to reduce the risk of theft.

What if my supplier forgets the shipping marks?

Ask for photos before the goods leave the factory. If cartons still arrive unmarked at a forwarder’s warehouse, they can usually be labelled there before loading, but it costs time and money.

Who is responsible for shipping marks?

Usually the seller, who packs the goods. The buyer should send the required mark to the supplier before production finishes, and the forwarder can relabel cartons if needed.

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Checked on 2 November 2026. Buying from several suppliers in China? Ask us how to mark your cartons and get a shipping quote within 2 hours.