The companies, references and amounts below are invented to explain the fields. This is not a customer shipment, a shipping-price quote, an HS-code recommendation or a document ready for customs.
A completed commercial invoice example.
This example uses two cotton canvas sample tote bags moving from a fictional supplier in China to a fictional buyer in the UK. It shows how quantities, unit values and charges add up, and where real shipment details belong.
- Invoice reference
- EXAMPLE-001
- Shipper
- Example Supplier A — fictional China exporter
- Consignee
- Example Buyer B — fictional UK receiver
- Reason for export
- Sample — product evaluation
- Currency
- USD
- Packages / gross weight
- 1 carton / 1.5 kg (illustrative)
| Goods description | Qty | Unit value | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unbranded cotton canvas tote bags, adult size, for product evaluation | 2 | USD 12.00 | USD 24.00 |
Goods subtotalUSD 24.00
Illustrative freight chargeUSD 18.00
Total invoice valueUSD 42.00
Try this example in the generator →
What each part is doing.
1. Identify the actual parties.
Replace the fictional names with the full shipper and receiver details, including complete addresses and the relevant contact and identification information. Identify the importer separately if they are different from the receiver. FedEx lists the sender and receiver details among the core invoice information. FedEx’s commercial-invoice guidance.
2. Describe the goods precisely.
The description identifies the product, material and use. “Samples” on its own does not explain the contents. The reason-for-export field and the product description serve different purposes.
3. Keep the values and currency consistent.
In this fictional example, two items at USD 12 each produce a USD 24 goods subtotal. Adding the illustrative USD 18 freight charge gives a USD 42 invoice total. Use the real, supportable values and actual charges for your shipment. This arithmetic is not a calculation of import taxes or an authoritative customs valuation.
4. Supply the correct origin and classification.
The generator’s example identifies China as the fictional manufacturing origin. No HS code is supplied: you must confirm the classification for the actual goods. A dispatch country and a manufacturing origin are not interchangeable fields.
5. Add the remaining booking details.
Complete the full addresses, relevant identifiers, correct Incoterm and named place, actual weights, transport reference and responsible person’s declaration as appropriate. Do not copy illustrative data into a real declaration.
Does a free sample still need a value?
Yes. FedEx’s guidance says samples, gifts and returns have a value and require accurate goods descriptions. Providing a product free of charge does not make a zero customs value automatically appropriate. Read the carrier guidance.
Check the document against the shipment.
Use the commercial invoice checklist, compare the details with the packing list and air waybill, and confirm mainland China eligibility before collection. A completed invoice does not guarantee that a shipment can be accepted or cleared.