A good delivery note for goods lists what was ordered, what was actually delivered and who signed for it. Below is a filled-in example with a short delivery, wording to copy, and steps to make one as a PDF with the free delivery note generator, with no sign-up.
- The words “Delivery note”, a delivery note number and the delivery date.
- Your business name and contact details.
- The customer and the delivery address (“Deliver to”).
- The order or invoice number the goods belong to.
- Each item: a description, the quantity ordered, the quantity delivered and the unit.
- A notes line for shortages, damage or items to follow.
- Signature boxes for who delivered and who received.
Example delivery note for goods
A made-up example: a wholesaler delivers drinks and napkins to a shop, and two cases of juice are out of stock.
| From | Brightside Wholesale · 40 Depot Road · [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Deliver to | Maple Corner Shop · 9 High Street |
| Delivery note no. | DN-0027 |
| Delivery date | 30 October 2026 |
| Order / invoice no. | Order 2214 |
| Delivered by | Tom |
| Description | Ordered | Delivered | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottled water, 500 ml (24 per case) | 20 | 20 | case |
| Fruit juice, 1 litre (12 per case) | 10 | 8 | case |
| Paper napkins (100 per pack) | 15 | 15 | pack |
Notes: “2 cases of fruit juice to follow on the next delivery.” At the bottom, Delivered by and Received in good condition by, each with a signature and date.
Wording you can copy
Type these into the delivery note’s Notes box, and change them to match what happened.
Short delivery: 2 cases of fruit juice are out of stock and will follow on the next delivery. This delivery note covers what was delivered today.
Damaged item: 1 pack of napkins arrived with a torn wrapper. Noted at delivery and agreed with the receiver.
Left at the door: Goods left at the side entrance as instructed by the customer. Photo taken at delivery.
Only write what is true, and count the goods with the customer before anyone signs.
Make a delivery note in a minute
These steps use the free TaskingMint delivery note generator. It works on your phone, so you can make it at the loading bay.
- Add your business details once Under Your business, add your name, phone, email and, if you like, your logo. Your browser remembers them for next time.
- Add who it is going to Type the customer’s name in Deliver to, with the delivery address.
- Add the delivery details Check the delivery note number, set the Delivery date, type the order number in Order / invoice no. and, if you like, who is making the delivery in Delivered by.
- List the items with Ordered and Delivered One row per product. Fill in Ordered, and in Delivered put what really arrived, and set the Unit. If everything was delivered, you can leave Delivered empty.
- Add notes and signature boxes Write any shortage or damage in Notes, and tick Signature boxes to print spaces for the person who delivered and the person who received.
- Download or print Click Download PDF to send it by email or WhatsApp, or Open / print to print a copy for the driver to take along.
Make your delivery note now
Free, no sign-up. A clean PDF with Ordered and Delivered columns and boxes to sign.
Good habits for deliveries
- Count with the customer before they sign, not after.
- Write shortages and damage on the note on the day.
- Number every note in order (DN-0001, DN-0002) and never reuse a number.
- Match it to the invoice with the order or invoice number, and see delivery note vs invoice vs packing slip for how they fit together.
- Keep the signed copy with the invoice.
Sending deliveries every week?
The free generator keeps your business details in your browser, but not your customers or past delivery notes. The Starter plan saves your delivery notes and customers in an account, so a repeat customer’s note starts ready, and it removes the “Made with TaskingMint” line from your PDFs. Starter costs $0.99 for a day or $3.99 a month, with a free 7-day trial and no card needed. The free delivery note generator stays free.
A note on local rules: whether you must issue a delivery note and how long you must keep records depends on your country. This guide covers good practice. For the exact rules, ask your local tax office or an accountant.
Questions people ask
What should a delivery note for goods show?
A delivery note number and date, your details, who the goods are for and the delivery address, the order or invoice number, each item with the quantity ordered and the quantity delivered, and signature boxes for the person who delivered and the person who received.
Why show both ordered and delivered quantities?
It shows at a glance if anything is missing. If a customer ordered 10 cases and 8 arrived, the note records that, so there is no argument later about what was sent.
What if the goods arrive damaged?
Write what is damaged in the notes before anyone signs, and ask the receiver to note it too. A clear record on the day is much easier to deal with than a complaint a week later.
Should a delivery note for goods show prices?
Usually not. Keep prices on the invoice. A delivery note is a record of what physically arrived.
Who keeps the signed copy?
Both sides should. Take a photo or keep a copy of the signed note and file it with the matching invoice.
Do I need a separate note for each delivery?
Yes. If an order is sent in several lots, give each lot its own delivery note number and say in the notes what is still to come.
Related tools and guides
- Delivery note generator — free PDF delivery notes with boxes to sign.
- What to include on a delivery note — the checklist and a first example.
- Delivery note vs invoice vs packing slip — what each one is for.
- Invoice generator — turn the same order into an invoice.