提單的內(nèi)容一般有正反兩面內(nèi)容。正面載有的主要內(nèi)容有：船名、航次÷提單號、承運人名稱、托運人名稱、收貨人名稱、通知人名稱、裝貨港、卸貨港、轉(zhuǎn)運港、貨物名稱、標(biāo)志、包裝、件數(shù)、重量、體積、運費、提單簽發(fā)日。提單簽發(fā)地點、提單簽發(fā)份數(shù)、承運人或船長或其授權(quán)人的簽字或蓋章等。提單的這些內(nèi)容，在繕制提單中詳細(xì)介紹。在提單的正面和背面還分別印有承運人條款。通常這些條款是根據(jù)國際公約、各國法律和承運人規(guī)則而印制，對于托運人和承運人雙方都有約束。不同的提單印制不同的條款，但基本條款相似，主要有：
　　1．提單正面的確認(rèn)條款
　　“Received in apparent good order and condition except as otherwise noted the total number of containers or other packages or unites enumerated below for transportation from the place of receipt to the place delivery subject to the terms and conditions hereof．”
　　上述英文措辭條款的大意是：承運人在貨物或集裝箱外表狀況良好的條件下接受貨物或集裝箱，并同意承擔(dān)按照提單所列條款，將貨物或集裝箱從起運地運往交貨地，把貨物交付給收貨人。
　　2．提單正面的不知條款
　　“Weight，measure，marks，numbers，quality，contents and value of mentioned in this bill of lading arc to considered unknown unless the contrary has expressly acknowledged and agreed to．The signing of this Bill of Lading is not to be considered as such an agreement．”
　　上述英文措辭條款的大意是：承運人沒有適當(dāng)?shù)姆椒▽�接受的貨物或集裝箱進行檢查，所有貨物的重量、尺碼、標(biāo)志、數(shù)量、品質(zhì)和貨物價值等都由托運人提供，對此，承運人并不知曉。
　　3．提單正面的承諾條款
　　“On presentation of this Bill of Lading duly endorsed to the Carrier by or on beha of the Holder of Bill of Lading．the rights and liabilities arising in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof shall，without prej udice to any rule of common law or stature rendering them of the Bill of Lading as thoush the contract evidenced hereby had been made between them．”
　　上述英文措辭條款的大意是：經(jīng)承運人簽發(fā)的提單是有效的，承運人承諾按照提單條款的規(guī)定，承擔(dān)義務(wù)和享受權(quán)利，公平地也要求貨主承諾接受提單條款規(guī)定，承擔(dān)義務(wù)和享受權(quán)利。
　　4．提單正面的簽署條款
　　“One original Bill of Lading must be surrendered duly endorsed in exchange for the goods or delivery order．In witness whereof the number of original Bill of Lading stated under have been signed，all of this tenor and date，one of which being accomplished，the other to stand void．”
　　上述英文措辭條款的大意是：承運人簽發(fā)的正本提單份數(shù)，具有相同法律效力，提取貨物時必須交出經(jīng)背書的一份正本提單，其中一份完成提貨后，其余各份自行失效。
　　5．提單背面的承運人賠償責(zé)任條款
　　承運人責(zé)任限制是用以明確承運人對貨物的滅失和損壞負(fù)有賠償責(zé)任應(yīng)支付賠償金時，承運人對每一件貨物或每單位貨物支付最高賠償金額的條款。
　　此外，提單正面還印有單據(jù)名稱、承運人名稱和地址，或代理人名稱和地址。提單背面還有許多其他條款，如承運人的運價本條款、通知與支付條款、承運人的集裝箱條款、托運人的集裝箱條款、索賠通知與時效條款、運費與附加費條款、共同海損與救助條款、管轄權(quán)條款和新杰森條款等。