planning
Travel Packing List Generator
Tell it where you are going, for how long and what you plan to do. It builds a checklist sized to the trip rather than a generic list of two hundred things you will never use.
Your trip
pack this
Your trip · 10 days · 48 items
Clothing
- 8 pairs of underwear
- 6 pairs of socks
- 7 t shirts or tops
- 2 pairs of trousers
- 1 warm mid layer
- 1 long sleeve shirt for sun, mosquitoes and places of worship
- Light jacket
- Packable rain shell
- 1 outfit you would happily be photographed in
- Sleepwear
- Worn on the plane: heaviest shoes and jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes already broken in
Toiletries
- Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and soap in refillable bottles under 100ml
- Razor and any grooming basics
- Sun cream, factor 30 or higher
- Lip balm with sun protection
- Hand sanitiser and a small pack of tissues
- Quick dry travel towel
- Moisturiser
Health and first aid
- Prescription medication in original packaging with a copy of the prescription
- Painkillers and rehydration sachets
- Anti diarrhoea tablets and antihistamines
- Plasters, blister pads and antiseptic wipes
- Any vaccination records the destination requires
Documents and money
- Passport with at least six months validity
- Visa or entry approval printout
- Travel insurance policy number and emergency line
- Two payment cards kept in different places
- Printed copies of the first night booking and return ticket
- Photo of your passport stored offline and emailed to yourself
- Small amount of local cash for the first taxi
- Emergency contact written on paper
Technology
- Phone and charger
- Universal travel adapter
- Power bank of 10,000mAh or less for cabin rules
- Headphones
- Charging cables, one spare
- Offline maps downloaded before you fly
- eSIM installed or an unlocked phone for a local SIM
Bags and gear
- 40 litre cabin bag within airline limits
- Packing cubes
- Laundry bag or dry bag for wet clothes
- Padlock for hostel lockers
- Reusable water bottle, empty through security
- Foldable tote for markets
- Two spare carrier bags
Packing for the trip you are really taking
Every generic packing list is written for the longest, coldest, most formal version of a trip. This one is built from the answers you give, so a five day city break in June does not get thermal base layers and a hiking week in October does not skip the blister tape.
Weight is the thing that ruins trips, not missing items. Almost everything on the list can be bought within a mile of wherever you land. The exceptions are prescription medication, your documents and shoes that already fit your feet.
The full reasoning, with airline size limits and a costed kit, is in the carry on packing guide. When the list is done, price the trip with the travel budget calculator.
Questions people ask
+How many clothes should I pack for two weeks?
Seven days of clothing and one wash. Beyond ten days the list stops growing, because a laundry costs three to five pounds nearly everywhere and weighs nothing to plan for.
+What fits in carry on only?
Most airlines allow a 55 by 40 by 20 centimetre bag up to about ten kilos, and liquids in containers of 100ml or less inside one clear litre bag. Wear the boots and jacket rather than packing them.
+What do people always overpack?
Shoes, books and outfits for a version of the trip that does not happen. Two pairs of shoes is enough for almost any trip that is not a wedding or a ski holiday.
+Can I print or save the list?
Yes. Use the print button for a paper checklist with tick boxes, or download it as a text file to keep on your phone offline.