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.
Guides worth reading next
the carry on packing list, best destinations for first time travellers, finding authentic local food while travelling.
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.