Setting up your list
- Pick the trip types that match your plans. Basics is always part of the list; a beach week with a flight, for example, adds the Beach and On the plane sections.
- Type anything specific to this trip into Your own items: a gift, a charger for one device, sports gear, papers for a meeting.
- Add a trip name and dates if you like. They print at the top of every page, which helps when two people pack from separate copies.
- Choose the paper in your printer, download the PDF and print it at 100 % or actual size so boxes and lines keep the size they have in the file.
What is on the list
Every list starts with documents and money, clothes, toiletries, health, and tech and ends with other, which holds things like house keys, an umbrella and a day bag. Each trip type adds one section:
| Trip type | Section | A few of the items |
|---|---|---|
| Beach | Beach | Swimsuit, Beach towel, Sunscreen, After-sun lotion |
| Cold weather | Cold weather | Warm coat, Thermal underwear, Fleece or wool sweater, Warm hat |
| Business | Business | Suit or blazer, Work shirts or blouses, Formal shoes, Tie or accessories |
| Hiking | Hiking | Hiking boots, Hiking socks, Daypack, Rain jacket |
| Flying | On the plane | Boarding pass, Luggage tags, Neck pillow, Eye mask |
| With kids | For the kids | Kids' clothes and spares, Kids' pajamas, Comfort toy, Books and games |
| With a baby | For the baby | Diapers, Baby wipes, Changing mat, Diaper cream |
The items are general, so cross out what you don't need with a single line before you start. Every section ends with 2 empty lines with a tick box, for the things only you know you will want.
Packing with a paper list
Lay the list next to the open suitcase and tick an item only when it is actually in the bag, not when you have found it in a drawer. Things you still have to buy or charge are easy to mark with a small dot in the box, so they stand out from the rest.
Keep the sheet in the suitcase once you are done. Before you head home, go through it again and look in the bathroom, the wardrobe and next to the sockets for anything still missing. If something on the list stayed unused for the whole trip, note it on the sheet and leave it out next time.
Families can print one copy per person, or one list for the shared things and a separate one for each child. With the trip name at the top, the copies don't get mixed up.
Rules for flights are not part of the list
The list names items only. It leaves out what may go in carry-on or checked bags, how much liquid you can take and how to carry batteries. Look those rules up before you fly: for US airports, the TSA's What Can I Bring? search lets you check single items for carry-on and checked bags, and for UK airports GOV.UK has an overview of hand luggage restrictions. Check your airline's baggage rules as well.
Tools for the rest of the trip
If you would rather have a list that counts clothes for the number of days and travelers, the packing list generator builds one from the trip length, weather and activities. The travel budget calculator adds up what the trip will cost in total, per person and per day. Before you leave, the currency converter shows prices in the local money, and the time zone converter tells you what time it is at home when you want to call. At a restaurant, the tip and split calculator works out the tip and each person's share of the bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is the packing list free?
Yes. Print it for every trip, for yourself, your family or a group. There is no signup and no watermark; the only branding is one small line with our web address at the bottom of each page.
Can I add items that are not on the list?
Yes. Type them into Your own items, one per line, up to 30 items. They print in a section of their own called Your items, just before the Other section. Each section also ends with 2 empty lines for things you think of after printing.
Why does my list have two pages?
The list runs in three columns. When you pick several trip types or add many of your own items, the rest continues on a second page, or a third for a very long list. A page break never falls inside an item, a section that runs over repeats its heading with the word continued, and every page repeats the title line and shows a page number.
Why are some characters missing from my items?
The PDF uses a plain font that covers English and most Western European letters, but no emoji and no other scripts such as Greek, Cyrillic or Chinese. Those characters are left out, a few rare accented letters print without the accent, and a note under the fields tells you when that happens. The preview shows the text as it will print.
Does the list tell me what I can take on a plane?
No. It lists items only, without rules on liquids, batteries or sizes. Look those up before you fly: the TSA "What Can I Bring?" search covers US airport security, the GOV.UK page on hand luggage restrictions covers UK airports, and it is worth checking your airline's baggage rules too.
Should I print on Letter or A4?
Pick the paper that is in your printer. The page starts on US Letter when your browser is set to US or Canadian English or Canadian French, and on A4 for every other language, and you can switch before you download. Both sizes use the same three-column layout.