A delivery note is a document that goes with goods when you deliver them. It lists what was delivered and gets signed by the person who received them. You can make one for free in a minute with an online delivery note generator and print it or send it as a PDF.
- The words “Delivery note” and a delivery note number.
- Your business name and contact details.
- The customer’s name and the delivery address.
- The delivery date, and the order or invoice number it belongs to.
- Each item with a description and the quantity delivered.
- Signature boxes for whoever delivered and whoever received the goods.
Delivery note vs invoice
An invoice asks for money. A delivery note shows what actually arrived. They often go together: the delivery note travels with the goods, and the invoice is sent for payment. A delivery note shows no prices, which keeps it simple for drivers and for staff who receive the goods. For the full picture, see quote vs estimate vs invoice.
Example delivery note
A designer, Northwind Studio, delivers printed menu cards and table stands to a café.
| From | Northwind Studio · 12 Market Street · [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Deliver to | The Corner Café · 3 Station Road |
| Delivery note no. | DN-0004 |
| Delivery date | 18 October 2026 |
| Order / invoice no. | Order 1043 |
| Delivered by | Sam |
| Description | Quantity | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Printed menu cards (A5) | 50 | pcs |
| Table stands | 20 | pcs |
At the bottom: Delivered by and Received in good condition by, each with a signature and date.
When you need one
- Deliveries of goods: shops, suppliers, wholesalers and makers who send items to customers.
- Deliveries by someone else: a driver or courier drops the goods off, so you need proof they arrived.
- Large or valuable orders: a signature protects you if the customer later says something was missing or damaged.
- Part deliveries: when an order is sent in several lots, each lot gets its own note.
How to make a delivery note in a minute
These steps use the free TaskingMint delivery note generator — no sign-up, and it works on your phone.
- Add your business details once Name, address, phone, email, logo and, if you have one, your tax or registration number. They are remembered in your browser for next time.
- Add who it is going to Under Deliver to, enter the customer’s name, their contact details and the Delivery address if it is different from their usual address.
- Add the delivery details Enter the Delivery note number and Delivery date. Add the matching order or invoice number under Order / invoice no. and, if you like, who made the delivery under Delivered by.
- List the items For each item add a Description, the Quantity and the Unit. Use + Add item for more rows. If everything was delivered, leave Delivered empty; if not, fill in what was actually delivered.
- Add notes and signature boxes Use Notes for delivery instructions or a short thank-you, and tick Signature boxes to print spaces for Delivered by and Received in good condition by.
- 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.
Already made the invoice? Open it in the invoice generator and click Delivery note at the top of the form. The customer and items stay, and prices are not shown. Then add the invoice number under Order / invoice no.
Make a delivery note now
Free, no sign-up. A clean PDF with boxes to sign on delivery.
Good habits with delivery notes
- Number them in order (DN-0001, DN-0002…) and never reuse a number.
- Check the goods before anyone signs. Count the items with the customer, and note any damage or shortage in the notes.
- Get the signature and date on delivery, then keep a copy.
- Match it to the invoice. Write the order or invoice number on the note so the two documents can be found together.
- Keep copies safely, in one folder, with the invoice.
A note on rules: whether you must issue a delivery note, and how long you must keep records, depends on your country and business. This guide covers good practice; for the exact rules, ask your local tax office or an accountant.
Questions people ask
What is a delivery note?
A delivery note is a document that goes with goods when you deliver them. It lists what was delivered and how many, and the customer signs it to confirm they received the goods.
What is the difference between a delivery note and an invoice?
A delivery note says what was delivered. An invoice asks for payment. A delivery note shows no prices; an invoice shows prices, tax and the total to pay. You can send both with the same order.
Do I need a delivery note if I send an invoice?
It is not always required, but it is very useful for goods. A signed delivery note is proof that the customer received the items, which helps if they later say something was missing.
Should a delivery note show prices?
Usually not. The driver or the person receiving the goods does not need to see the prices, and the invoice is the document for money. Keep prices on the invoice.
What if only part of the order is delivered?
List the quantity ordered and the quantity actually delivered for each item, and say so in the notes. The rest can go on a later delivery note.
How long should I keep delivery notes?
Keep a copy of every signed delivery note, ideally with the matching invoice. Many tax offices expect business records to be kept for several years, so check the rule where you are.
Related tools
- Delivery note generator — free PDFs with boxes to sign on delivery.
- Invoice generator — bill the delivery; the customer and items carry over.
- Receipt generator — confirm payment when it arrives.
- Delivery note vs invoice vs packing slip — what each one is for.
- Delivery note template for goods — an example with ordered and delivered columns.