A week in a carry-on: a practical packing list

Check the allowance for every flight and fare you booked. Write down the cabin bag dimensions, weight limit, number of pieces and whether a separate personal item is included. Do the same for the return journey and any connecting or domestic flights.

A bag sold as “cabin size” is not a guarantee that your airline will accept it. Measure the outside, including wheels and handles, using the airline’s stated method. Check whether the weight limit applies to one bag or all your cabin items together.

Once the allowance is clear, choose the lightest bag you already own that fits it and suits the journey. Think about stairs, uneven paths and how comfortably you can carry it. Leave room for anything you expect to bring home.

This is an example for a mild-weather city break, not a winter, trekking or formal-event kit. The quantities include the travel-day outfit. Rewear outer clothes when comfortable and wash underwear and other needed items around day four.

Lay out two complete outfits before putting anything into packing cubes. If a top works with only one item, consider a more versatile replacement. Packing cubes help organize your bag, but compressing clothing does not make the bag lighter.

Confirm laundry access, opening hours, turnaround and drying time. Avoid depending on clothes drying overnight just before a hotel change. Carry a separate bag for worn clothing so you can find the clean pieces quickly.

Put your daily toiletries on the counter, then remove duplicates and anything your accommodation reliably supplies. Pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, the skincare and haircare you need, and personal hygiene items. Use smaller containers only where appropriate for the product, and label them clearly.

For U.S. TSA screening, the standard liquids rule permits containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less in one clear quart-size bag per passenger. The container size matters, even when it is only partly full. Check TSA’s current liquids guidance and exceptions, including provisions for medically necessary liquids and infant supplies.

Other airports may have different procedures. Check every airport where you will pass through security, including a connection and the return flight. Do not assume a procedure at your departure airport applies elsewhere.

Keep the items you cannot comfortably lose access to together. If your larger cabin bag needs to be checked at the gate, you should be able to remove the essentials quickly and follow the crew’s instructions.

The FAA’s PackSafe guidance requires spare lithium batteries and power banks to stay in the cabin, with protection against short circuits. Remove them if your carry-on is checked at the gate. Airlines can impose stricter limits, so check the carrier rather than treating a general rule as permission for your particular device.

The U.S. State Department travel checklist covers preparation for U.S. travelers, including documents and medicines abroad. Use your own government and destination authorities for requirements that apply to your circumstances.

Put infrequently needed items at the bottom and the first day’s essentials near the opening. Keep the wash kit accessible for screening where required. Protect fragile items and avoid overfilling external pockets, which can change the bag’s measured size.

If the bag is too heavy, remove extra shoes, duplicate electronics and clothes for imagined occasions first. Do not remove essential personal or weather items simply to hit an arbitrary packing target. A different baggage option may suit the trip better.

For a list tailored to your activities, try the free packing list generator. For destination adjustments, use the Japan packing list or Thailand packing list. Review the generated list yourself and apply your airline’s rules separately.