Reading a Marble or Travertine Packing List

When a shipment of marble or travertine leaves a Turkish factory, every crate and bundle is documented in a packing list. Reading this document correctly is essential for checking quantities, dimensions, finishes and thicknesses when your natural stone arrives on site.

This article explains the typical structure of a packing list for Turkish marble and travertine tiles or slabs, and how to compare it with your purchase order and quality grading requirements. If you are new to Turkish materials, you may also find it useful to review our Denizli Travertine Overview and main stone collection.

1. Basic Shipment Information

At the top of a typical marble packing list you will find general information about the shipment:

• Exporter name and address in Turkey.
• Consignee (the importer or project company).
• Project name or reference number.
• Purchase order or proforma invoice number.
• Container number(s) and loading port.

This section helps you match the packing list to the correct Turkish marble shipment among other incoming goods. It should align with the commercial invoice and shipping documents described in Step-by-Step Overview of Exporting Turkish Marble.

2. Understanding Crate and Bundle Numbers

Below the header, the packing list is usually organized by crate, bundle or pallet numbers. Each line will identify a package such as:

• Crate no. 1–10: Travertine tiles 600 × 600 × 20 mm, honed & filled.
• Bundle no. 11–14: Marble slabs 2 cm polished.
• Pallet 15–16: Cut-to-size steps and risers.

These references are painted or stenciled on the actual wooden crates and bundles. When your container arrives, you can quickly identify each package and compare it to the travertine or marble description on the list. For more on packing systems, see Crates, Bundles & Pallets: Packing Systems for Natural Stone.

3. Dimensions, Thickness and Format

The heart of any natural stone packing list is the table of sizes and thicknesses. For each crate or bundle, you should see:

• Length × width: e.g. 600 × 600 mm or 305 × 610 mm.
• Thickness: e.g. 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm (or 2 cm / 3 cm).
• Format: tile, slab, step, riser or special piece.

Check these against your original specification and the guidance in Stone Thickness Recommendations for Floors, Walls & Countertops. Any deviation (for example, 18 mm instead of 20 mm) should be discussed with your stone supplier before installation.

4. Quantity and Surface Area

For each line item, the packing list usually states the number of pieces and sometimes the total surface area in square meters:

• 120 pieces 600 × 600 × 20 mm — 43.20 m².
• 35 slabs 2 cm — 235.70 m².
• 24 steps 1500 × 300 × 30 mm.

When you perform your site check, count the crates, roughly check piece counts in a sample of crates, and compare the total square meters with your order. This is also useful when budgeting, as described in Budgeting for Marble, Travertine & Limestone Packages.

5. Finishes and Edge Details

A good packing list will also state the finish and any special edge treatment for each item:

• Polished marble tiles with beveled edges.
• Honed & filled travertine with eased edges.
• Brushed marble slabs for a soft texture.

These descriptions should match your original selection based on Understanding Natural Stone Finishes . If a crate contains mixed finishes by mistake (for example, some tiles honed and others polished), this should be flagged immediately with the exporter.

6. Net and Gross Weights

At the bottom of the list, you will usually find net weight (stone only) and gross weight (stone plus crates and packing materials) for each crate or for the full container. These numbers are crucial for logistics, especially when planning forklifts, cranes and structural loading limits.

Turkish marble and travertine are heavy materials, so it is important to coordinate with your freight forwarder and site team. The information on the packing list should align with the container loading approach, as outlined in Container Loading Methods for Slabs and Tiles.

7. Cross-Checking with On-Site Inspections

When the container is opened, the packing list becomes your checklist:

• Confirm that all crate and bundle numbers are present and undamaged.
• Sample a few crates to verify tile or slab sizes and finishes.
• Compare the actual look of the stone with your approved samples.

This process is part of a broader protocol described in Receiving, Inspecting and Storing Stone Deliveries on Site . Any discrepancies should be documented with photos and communicated quickly to the Turkish stone exporter.

8. Working with Atlas Natural Stones, Inc.

As an independent Turkish natural stone trading company, Atlas Natural Stones, Inc. prepares clear, detailed packing lists for marble, travertine, limestone, granite and onyx shipments. Our goal is that architects, contractors and distributors can easily verify every item when the container arrives.

If you are planning a new project and want structured documentation from quarry to site, you can start by browsing our Products page, reviewing the Checklist for Successful Marble and Natural Stone Projects , or sending your stone schedule through our contact form.