提单的内容一般有正反两面内容。正面载有的主要内容有：船名、航次÷提单号、承运人名称、托运人名称、收货人名称、通知人名称、装货港、卸货港、转运港、货物名称、标志、包装、件数、重量、体积、运费、提单签发日。提单签发地点、提单签发份数、承运人或船长或其授权人的签字或盖章等。提单的这些内容，在缮制提单中详细介绍。在提单的正面和背面还分别印有承运人条款。通常这些条款是根据国际公约、各国法律和承运人规则而印制，对于托运人和承运人双方都有约束。不同的提单印制不同的条款，但基本条款相似，主要有：
1．提单正面的确认条款
“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．”
上述英文措辞条款的大意是：承运人在货物或集装箱外表状况良好的条件下接受货物或集装箱，并同意承担按照提单所列条款，将货物或集装箱从起运地运往交货地，把货物交付给收货人。
2．提单正面的不知条款
“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．”
上述英文措辞条款的大意是：承运人没有适当的方法对接受的货物或集装箱进行检查，所有货物的重量、尺码、标志、数量、品质和货物价值等都由托运人提供，对此，承运人并不知晓。
3．提单正面的承诺条款
“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．”
上述英文措辞条款的大意是：经承运人签发的提单是有效的，承运人承诺按照提单条款的规定，承担义务和享受权利，公平地也要求货主承诺接受提单条款规定，承担义务和享受权利。
4．提单正面的签署条款
“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．”
上述英文措辞条款的大意是：承运人签发的正本提单份数，具有相同法律效力，提取货物时必须交出经背书的一份正本提单，其中一份完成提货后，其余各份自行失效。
5．提单背面的承运人赔偿责任条款
承运人责任限制是用以明确承运人对货物的灭失和损坏负有赔偿责任应支付赔偿金时，承运人对每一件货物或每单位货物支付最高赔偿金额的条款。
此外，提单正面还印有单据名称、承运人名称和地址，或代理人名称和地址。提单背面还有许多其他条款，如承运人的运价本条款、通知与支付条款、承运人的集装箱条款、托运人的集装箱条款、索赔通知与时效条款、运费与附加费条款、共同海损与救助条款、管辖权条款和新杰森条款等。