Delivery Note Template (Lieferschein)

With this free delivery note template (German: Lieferschein) you create a complete delivery document in minutes – as a fillable PDF, a Word document you can adapt to your company layout, or an Excel sheet with automatic quantity totals. For cross-border shipments there is a bilingual German/English version with every field label in both languages.

What belongs on a delivery note?

German law does not prescribe a fixed format, but these fields are standard practice – and all template variants include them:

• Name and address of sender and recipient
• Delivery note number plus order or purchase-order number
• Delivery date and shipping method
• Line items with description, article number, and quantity
• Notes on partial deliveries or remaining quantities
• Signature fields for handover and acceptance

For the legal background – what a Lieferschein is and how long it must be retained – see our glossary entry Lieferschein.

How to fill in the template

1. Complete the header: sender (your company) and recipient with full addresses.
2. Assign numbers: use a consecutive delivery note number and carry over the customer's purchase-order or reference number so goods-in can match the shipment instantly.
3. List the items: one line per article with quantity and unit. The Excel version totals quantities automatically.
4. Document the handover: collect the recipient's signature and date on delivery – the signed delivery note is your proof of handover.

Why bilingual matters

As soon as goods cross a border, recipients, customs brokers, and warehouse teams expect an English-language document. The bilingual variant shows German and English field labels side by side – you fill in one document and both sides understand it.

Paper delivery note or digital?

The template is the fastest way to a correct paper delivery note. Once you deliver regularly, going digital pays off: the driver captures signature, photos, and timestamps right at the handover, and dispatch and accounting see the proof of delivery immediately – nothing gets lost, nothing needs re-typing.

Frequently asked questions

Is the template really free? Yes – all variants are free to use without registration, including commercial use.

Does a delivery note have to be signed? There is no legal obligation, but the recipient's signature documents acceptance of the goods and protects both sides in case of disputes.

Do prices belong on a delivery note? No – prices belong on the invoice. Many companies deliberately omit them, for example when shipping directly to a trading partner's end customers.

What is the difference to a consignment note? The delivery note documents what was delivered; the consignment note documents the carriage contract between sender, carrier, and recipient. For carrier transports, use the matching consignment note template.