Footwear commercial invoice template

Footwear commercial invoice template: shoes and boots by upper and sole material, pairs per carton and size run, with HS code and origin per line.

Free footwear commercial invoice template: sample document with HS code and origin columns, prices and the total
Shown with sample figures. The template itself starts blank.

Templates by industry

  • Leather derby shoes, leather sole, per pair
  • Textile running shoes, rubber sole, per pair
  • Rubber rain boots, ankle height, per pair

Preparation guide

Example workflow

  1. Describe the goods

    Example: describe "Leather derby shoes, leather sole, per pair" precisely enough for customs, with HS code, origin, quantity and unit value.

  2. Add the shipment details

    Enter the Incoterms, ports of loading and discharge, gross and net weight and packages, and check "Rubber rain boots, ankle height, per pair" matches the packing list.

  3. Sign and send

    Sign the declaration and send the invoice to the importer and your freight forwarder or customs broker with the other shipping documents.

Footwear is classified largely by its materials: the heading depends on the upper and on the outer sole, and on whether the shoe covers the ankle. A commercial invoice that says only “shoes” forces the importer’s broker to open cartons. A line per style that names both materials with the origin and HS code is what the importer’s broker needs, and the pairs per carton and the size run let the count be checked at the port.

Fields to prepare

Deliverables and line items
Leather derby shoes, leather sole, per pair, Textile running shoes, rubber sole, per pair, Rubber rain boots, ankle height, per pair: give each line a precise description, its HS code, country of origin, quantity and value.
Leather derby shoes, leather sole, per pair
Write leather upper and leather sole, and the number of pairs per carton; a leather sole and a rubber sole on otherwise identical shoes are different goods.
Textile running shoes, rubber sole, per pair
Describe the upper as textile, mesh or synthetic and the sole as rubber or plastics, and state whether it is a sports shoe; the line is checked against these words.
Rubber rain boots, ankle height, per pair
State that the boots are waterproof and of rubber or plastics throughout, and how high they reach; boots to the knee and boots to the ankle go under different headings.
Parties and terms
Name the exporter, the importer and, if the goods go to someone else, the consignee, with the Incoterms, the currency and the payment terms.
Shipment
Give the ports of loading and discharge, the shipping method, the gross and net weight, the number of packages and the reason for export.
Scope to agree
Note the upper and outer sole materials for every style, because they decide the tariff line, and give the pairs per carton and the size run so the importer can check the count.

Before sending

  • Does “Leather derby shoes, leather sole, per pair” have the HS code and country of origin customs will check?
  • Is the value of “Textile running shoes, rubber sole, per pair” the price actually paid, in the invoice currency?
  • Do the quantity and weight of “Rubber rain boots, ankle height, per pair” match the packing list?
Show 3 more
  • Check the Incoterms, ports, weights and package count against the shipping documents, and the importing country's customs requirements.
  • Check each HS code and country of origin with your freight forwarder or customs broker; QuoteBill does not look them up.
  • Check the tax rate: it starts at 0% because exports are often zero-rated, so change it if your sale is taxed.

Worked example with sample figures

The figures below are invented to show how the template adds up: 3 lines in USD, with no tax added.

  • Leather derby shoes, leather sole, per pair (HS 6403.59, origin PT): 600 × $38.00 = $22,800.00
  • Textile running shoes, rubber sole, per pair (HS 6404.11, origin VN): 1,200 × $14.00 = $16,800.00
  • Rubber rain boots, ankle height, per pair (HS 6401.92, origin PL): 400 × $9.00 = $3,600.00

Value of the goods $43,200.00, tax $0.00, invoice total $43,200.00.

  • Sales order SO-FW-4416.
  • Shipment: CIF Montreal, from Rotterdam, NL to Montreal, CA; gross weight 2,300 kg, net weight 1,700 kg, 190 CTNS.

What the document must show

These details make a commercial invoice easier to approve and to file.

  • Exporter and importer names and addresses, and the consignee if different
  • Invoice number and date
  • Each item with description, HS code, origin, quantity, unit price and value
  • Incoterms, currency and payment terms
  • Ports of loading and discharge, shipping method
  • Gross and net weight, number of packages
  • A signed declaration

A commercial invoice starts at 0%, because exports are often zero-rated; change the rate if your sale is taxed. The sales tax depends on where the work is supplied, so set the rate that applies to your customer before sending.

Official rate reference: US government: state and local taxes

Frequently asked questions

How do I show the size run on the invoice?

Put the sizes and the pairs per size in the description or in an attached breakdown, for example sizes 39 to 45 with the pairs in each. The cartons are then packed to that run, and the importer can check what arrived against it.

Should a free pair of samples be on the same invoice?

Put it on its own line with a value, marked as a sample, so customs counts the pair and the buyer does not pay for it. Hidden extra pairs are the quickest way to a count mismatch at the port.

How is the sales tax worked out on this commercial invoice?

A commercial invoice starts at 0%, because exports are often zero-rated; change the rate if your sale is taxed. The sales tax depends on where the work is supplied, so set the rate that applies to your customer before sending. With nothing added, the total in the worked example above stays at the net amount of $43,200.00.

Is this template free?

Yes. You can fill in this template and print it or save it as a PDF without an account, and there is no payment step and no watermark on the document. Saving it to your account and downloading Excel or Word files need a free account.

Can I download it as Excel, Word or PDF?

Yes. A PDF needs no account: fill in the template and use Print / PDF. The Excel and Word files download from this page with a free account, and the spreadsheet keeps its formulas, so changing a quantity updates the tax and the total.

Read next

Reading for the Footwear commercial invoice template: Proforma vs invoice and down payment invoice and International invoice payment: currency, IBAN and SWIFT. The currency converter converts the amounts when you invoice in another currency.