Travel Checklist
Generator
Pick your trip type and check things off as you pack. No more standing in the doorway wondering what you forgot. Save or print your list and take it with you.
Interactive Packing List
Choose your trip type
Beach holiday packing list
What is the Travel Checklist Generator?
The Travel Checklist Generator is a free tool that puts together a packing list for your trip in seconds. Choose your trip type, whether it’s a beach holiday, city break, hiking trip, business travel, backpacking, a family holiday, or a ski trip, and you’ll get a ready-made checklist with clothes, toiletries, tech, documents, and other essentials.
Tick items off as you pack, remove anything you don’t need, and keep an eye on your progress. Your list saves on your device, so you can come back to it later. Once everything is packed, print the list or save it as a PDF on your phone for easy access when you’re offline.
How To Use It
Planning a trip and not sure what to pack? The Travel Checklist Generator takes the guesswork out of packing by creating a simple list based on your trip type.
- Choose your trip type. Pick your trip and the checklist loads instantly.
- Tick items as you pack. Check things off and watch your progress update.
- Remove what you don’t need. Uncheck anything that doesn’t apply to your trip.
- Save or print it. Use Print / Save as PDF to keep a copy on your phone or print it out.
- Come back later. Your progress stays saved on your device, so you can continue whenever you’re ready.
The 10 Things Travellers Forget Most
These are the items people scramble for at the airport or wish they had packed once they arrive. Check them first.
How Much To Pack, By Trip Length
A simple rule: pack for a week, not for a month. If your trip is longer, plan to do laundry instead of carrying more.
| Trip length | Weekend (2–3 days) | One week | Two weeks+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tops | 2–3 | 4–5 | 6–7 |
| Bottoms | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–4 |
| Underwear & socks | 3 sets | 7 sets | 7 sets + laundry |
| Bag that fits | Carry-on only | Carry-on or small check | Checked bag & Carry-on |
Rolling clothes and one mid-trip laundry keeps a two-week trip inside a single carry-on for most people.
Pack Smarter, Carry Less
Carry-on and Liquids Rules
Airport security limits the liquids, gels and aerosols you can bring in your carry-on. Getting this right saves you from tossing products at the checkpoint.
The 3-1-1 rule, in plain terms: Each liquid, gel or aerosol must be in a container of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less. All containers go in one clear, quart-size bag, and each traveller gets one bag. Anything larger goes in checked luggage. Medication, baby formula and breast milk are exempt, just tell the officer at screening.
The size printed on the container is what counts: a half-empty 6 oz bottle still won't pass. When in doubt, buy travel sizes or check them.
What Not to Pack in Your Carry-On
Some everyday items aren't allowed through security or on a plane at all. Packing them wrong means a slower checkpoint or leaving them behind.
Rules change and vary by country. When you're not sure about an item, check it before you pack.
Baggage Size and Weight Limits
These are the typical limits most airlines use. Budget carriers are often stricter, so always check your airline before you fly.
| Bag type | Personal item | Carry-on | Checked bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical size | 18 × 14 × 8 in (45 × 35 × 20 cm) | 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm) | 62 linear in (158 cm) total |
| Typical weight | Usually no limit | 7–10 kg on many airlines | 23 kg (50 lb) in economy |
Weigh your bag at home. Going even a kilo over the checked-bag limit can mean a fee that costs more than the item inside.
Build a Travel Health Kit
A small health kit handles the minor problems that would otherwise ruin a day—and covers you where a pharmacy is hard to reach.
Everyday basics:
Pain and fever relief, plasters and a small first-aid kit, motion-sickness tablets, antihistamine, hand sanitiser, and any personal prescriptions in their original bottles.
Depending on where you go:
Insect repellent, high-SPF sunscreen, diarrhoea medicine, rehydration sachets, water purification tablets, and altitude medicine for high-elevation trips.
Carry medicine the right way:
Keep medication in your carry-on, in original labelled containers, and pack enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days for delays. For controlled or injectable medicines, carry a note from your prescriber. Some countries restrict certain medications, so check before you fly.
Before You Leave Home
The list isn't about the suitcase. Run through these the day before you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a packing list?
+
Start with the essentials you cannot replace: documents, phone, charger, medication, and payment cards. Then work through categories: clothing, toiletries, tech, and trip-specific gear. Base your clothing on the trip length and the weather, and pack for a week even on longer trips. A ready-made checklist or interactive tool keeps you from forgetting anything.
What are the 5 biggest packing mistakes to avoid?
+
The five most common mistakes are overpacking clothes you will not wear, putting liquids over 100 ml in your carry-on, forgetting chargers and adapters, packing medication in checked bags, and leaving packing to the last minute. Avoid them by packing for a week, checking security rules, keeping essentials in your carry-on, and working from a checklist.
What is a good minimalist packing list?
+
The minimalist list consists of a few versatile, color-matched pieces: 4–5 tops, 2–3 bottoms, one jacket, comfortable shoes plus sandals, and 7 sets of underwear and socks. Add travel-size toiletries, a phone and charger, a power bank, documents, and any medication. Choose items that mix and match, and plan one mid-trip laundry load to carry less.
How can I create a free packing list online?
+
Use a free web-based packing list tool, no app download needed. Pick your trip type and it loads a ready checklist you can tick off, edit, and print or save as a PDF. Good free tools let you customize by destination, weather, and trip length, then open your list from any device.
What should I pack first?
+
Pack your essentials first: travel documents, phone and charger, medication, and payment cards, since these are hardest to replace. Next, place heavy, bulky items like shoes at the bottom of the bag, roll clothes on top, and slot small items into the gaps. Keep a "first night" pouch somewhere easy to reach.
What do most people forget when packing?
+
The most forgotten items are phone chargers and cables, universal travel adapters, prescription medication, sunglasses and sunscreen, a spare payment card, a power bank, and copies of important documents. They're easy to overlook but disruptive to be without on arrival. Check these off first, before you pack anything else.
What's the most efficient packing method?
+
Rolling clothes is the most space-efficient method for soft items; it saves room and cuts creases. Combine it with packing cubes to stay organised, wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket while travelling, and choose pieces that work in several outfits. Keep stiff garments like blazers folded flat on top.
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method?
+
The 5-4-3-2-1 method is a simple formula for packing light, ideal for about a week in a carry-on: 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 dresses or jackets, and 1 set of accessories. Pick mix-and-match pieces in matching colours. It's flexible to scale the numbers up or down for your trip.
How to pack for 7 days?
+
For a week, pack 4–5 tops, 2–3 bottoms, 7 sets of underwear and socks, one jacket, and comfortable walking shoes plus sandals. Choose mix-and-match pieces so a few items make many outfits, add travel-size toiletries and essentials, and roll everything to save space. This usually fits in a single carry-on.
How to pack carry-on only?
+
Pack carry-on only by choosing versatile, mix-and-match clothes, rolling them, and using packing cubes. Wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane. Keep liquids in containers of 100 ml or less inside one clear quart bag, and plan a mid-trip laundry for longer stays. Most trips up to a week fit easily.
How can I create a free checklist?
+
Create a free checklist with an online tool: pick a template or trip type, edit the items to fit your needs, tick them off as you go, and print or save it as a PDF. Free web-based checklists need no app, save on your device automatically, and work from anywhere.
What should I never forget to pack?
+
Your travel documents, phone and charger, a power bank, any prescription medication, a payment card, and a universal adapter. These are the items that are hardest to replace or most disruptive to be without on arrival.
How many outfits do I need for a one-week trip?
+
Around 4–5 tops, 2–3 bottoms and 7 sets of underwear and socks. Mixing and matching a few versatile pieces beats packing a separate outfit for each day, and it keeps you inside a carry-on.
Can I bring liquids in my carry-on?
+
Yes, within the 3-1-1 rule: containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, all fitting in one clear quart-size bag, one bag per traveller. Larger liquids go in checked luggage. Medication and baby formula are exempt.
Should I pack a carry-on only or check a bag?
+
For trips up to a week, carry-on only is usually possible and saves time and baggage fees. For longer trips, cold-weather gear, or family travel, a checked bag makes sense but keep essentials and a change of clothes in your carry-on in case of delays.
How do I fit everything in one bag?
+
Roll soft clothes, use packing cubes, wear your bulkiest shoes and jacket on the plane, and choose items that work for more than one outfit. Doing laundry once mid-trip removes the need to pack more.
How much can my checked bag weigh?
+
Most airlines allow up to 23 kg (50 lb) for a checked bag in economy, with size around 62 linear inches (158 cm). Budget airlines are often stricter and charge for anything over, so weigh your bag at home and check your airline's limit.
What am I not allowed to pack?
+
Liquids over 3.4 oz (100 ml) and sharp objects do not belong in your carry-on, and flammable items or fireworks cannot fly at all. Keep power banks in your carry-on, never checked luggage. When unsure, search for the item on the official TSA "What Can I Bring?" page.