UtilibyWritten by the Utiliby editorial team · Last updated October 17, 2026 · Rules and formulas reviewed October 2026
What this free packing list generator does
Most trips go wrong in small ways: a forgotten charger, a bag a kilo over the limit, nothing warm for a cold evening. A packing list generator turns your trip into a checklist before you start throwing things in a suitcase. This free online tool asks for the trip type, weather, nights away, who is travelling and the activities you plan, then builds a checklist grouped into documents, clothing, shoes, toiletries, electronics, comfort and extras, activity gear and items for children and babies.
Quantities are calculated from your trip length. You can tick items as you pack, see your progress on a ring chart, add your own items and remove the ones you do not need. A second tab estimates the packed weight against a cabin or hold bag limit. Print gives you a clean checklist and nothing else, and everything runs in your browser.
How to use the packing list generator
- Choose the trip type and weather. Beach, city, hiking, ski, business or road trip, and hot, mild, cold or wet.
- Enter nights, adults, children and babies.
- Tick the options that apply: international travel, laundry, carry-on only, swimming, hiking, gym, formal events, photography, remote work and a modest dress code.
- Tick items off as you pack. The ring shows how much is done.
- Add your own items and remove any you do not need.
- Check the weight on the second tab, then print or download the list.
How the quantities are worked out
The number of days of clothes is the nights away plus one. A 7-night trip therefore needs 8 days of tops and 9 pairs of underwear and socks, which allows for one spare. Trousers, skirts or shorts are one for every three days, with a minimum of two, so 3 for the same trip. If you tick that you can do laundry, the day count is capped at 7, so a 14-night trip still needs only 7 tops. Carry-on only caps it at 6 days, a limit that keeps the bag within about 7 to 10 kg for most people.
| Trip | Days of clothes | Tops | Underwear | Bottoms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 7 nights, no laundry | 8 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
| 7 nights, with laundry | 7 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| 14 nights, with laundry | 7 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| 10 nights, carry-on only | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
Baggage weight and airline limits
Cabin bag allowances commonly range from 7 to 10 kg, and checked bags from 15 to 32 kg depending on the airline and fare. Some low-cost carriers are strict at the gate, and overweight fees can cost more than the ticket. The weight tab adds typical item weights to the empty weight of your bag and compares the total with your limit. Jeans are around 500 g, a laptop and charger 2 kg or more, and a warm coat over a kilo. Wear the heaviest shoes and jacket on the plane, and move dense items such as chargers and toiletries to a personal item if the airline allows one.
Documents, money and health
For international trips, check that your passport is valid for as long as the destination requires, which is often at least six months from arrival. Confirm visa or electronic travel authorisation requirements with the destination's official sources. Keep offline copies of passports, insurance and bookings, and take a back-up payment card in a different place from your main wallet. Carry prescription medicines in original packaging in your cabin bag, with enough for delays, and check whether any are restricted at your destination.
Packing for children and babies
Children need more spare clothes than adults because of spills and accidents, so the generator adds one outfit per day plus one. For babies it adds about seven nappies a day plus spares, wipes, feeding items and spare outfits. Keep a full change of clothes, snacks and entertainment for the whole family in the cabin bag in case checked luggage is delayed.
Packing tips that save space and stress
- Pick a colour palette so tops and bottoms mix and match.
- Roll or compress soft clothing, and use packing cubes to keep categories together.
- Pack the list, not your worries. Everything not on the list needs a reason.
- Leave room for souvenirs, or pack a foldable bag.
- Photograph your bag contents in case of loss.
- Pack the night before and tick items as they go in.
Common packing mistakes and how to avoid them
- Overpacking shoes and outfits. Shoes are the heaviest item in most bags. Take one comfortable pair to wear, and at most two more for a special purpose.
- Not checking the weather. Look at the forecast a few days before you leave and adjust layers, rain gear and sun protection.
- Packing power banks or spare lithium batteries in the hold. Airlines require them in the cabin, so check the rules before you pack.
- Leaving liquids unsealed. Put them in a sealed plastic bag so a leak does not ruin your clothes, and keep cabin liquids within the allowed size.
- Forgetting adapters and chargers. Check the plug type for each country and pack one multi-port charger instead of several.
- Packing new, unworn shoes. Break them in at home to avoid blisters.
- Having no spare clothing in the cabin bag. A change of clothes and essential toiletries protects you if checked luggage is delayed.
- Not keeping copies of documents. Store scans of passports, insurance and bookings online as well as on paper.
Limits and privacy
The list is a general guide and cannot know your destination's rules, your airline's allowance or your own needs. Quantities and weights are estimates. Nothing you enter or tick is stored or uploaded, so if you want to keep the list, print it, copy it or download the CSV.
Related free tools
Use these free online tools together with this one:
- See whether your bag fits the cabin limits with the carry-on size checker.
- Plan what the trip will cost with the travel budget calculator.
- Confirm your passport is valid long enough with the passport validity checker.
- Plan your sleep before a long flight with the jet lag calculator.
- Keep your pre-trip tasks in order with the online to-do list.
- Track the days you spend abroad with the days in country tracker.
- Plan daylight for hikes and sightseeing with the sunrise and sunset calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How does the packing list generator decide quantities?
Clothing follows the days away: nights plus one day, with one extra pair of underwear and socks and one pair of bottoms for every three days. If you can do laundry, the count is capped at 7 days, and for carry-on only it is capped at 6.
Is the packing list free to print?
Yes. Use Print to get a clean checklist with tick boxes. Only the list prints, not the rest of the page.
Can I add my own items?
Yes. Type an item and press Add, and it appears under My own items. You can also remove any suggested item with the cross.
How do I know if my bag will be too heavy?
Open the Weight check tab, pick your baggage limit and enter the empty weight of your bag. The tool adds typical item weights and shows how far you are over or under.
How accurate are the item weights?
They are typical estimates. A pair of jeans, a laptop or a coat varies a lot, so always weigh the packed bag on a home scale.
How many days of clothes should I pack for a long trip?
Pack for about a week and plan to do laundry. Most people find more than 7 days of clothes unnecessary, and hotels, hostels and laundromats make washing easy.
What should I pack in my carry-on rather than my checked bag?
Passport, money, medicines, valuables, electronics, power banks and one change of clothes. Lithium batteries and power banks must travel in the cabin.
What are the rules for liquids in hand luggage?
Many airports allow containers of up to 100 ml in a single clear bag, though some now use scanners that relax this. Check your departure and arrival airports, as rules differ.
What should I pack for a trip with a baby?
Add nappies at about seven a day plus spares, wipes, feeding items, spare clothes for you and the baby, and a carrier or compact stroller. The generator adds these when you enter babies.
What should I pack for a cold-weather trip?
Layers work better than one thick coat: thermal base layers, a fleece or jumper, an insulated coat, a hat, scarf and gloves, and waterproof boots.
What documents should I take on an international trip?
Passports valid for the period the destination requires, visas or travel authorisations, travel insurance details, bookings, copies of key documents and a back-up card.
What does the modest dress code option add?
Long sleeves, long trousers or skirts and a scarf or shawl, which are useful for mosques, temples, churches and conservative regions.
Can I save my checklist?
Download it as a CSV file, copy it as text or print it. The list is not stored by the site, and ticks are lost when you close the page.
How do I pack light for a carry-on only trip?
Choose a colour scheme so everything matches, wear the bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane, use solid toiletries and plan to wash clothes mid-trip.
Does it work for road trips and camping?
Road trip is a trip type and adds licence papers, a phone holder and car charger. For camping, add your own gear in My own items.
Is my information stored or sent anywhere?
No. The list is built in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Is this packing list generator really free?
Yes. It is free to use online with no sign-up.
Sources and further reading
- International Air Transport Association, Passenger lithium battery guidance.
- Transportation Security Administration, Liquids rule (3-1-1).
- U.S. Department of State, Travel.State.Gov.
- GOV.UK, Foreign travel advice.
Sources were consulted in October 2026. Standards and rules can change, so always check the official page for your situation.