How the packing list generator works
Whether it is a beach vacation, a city break, a business trip or a week of camping, most forgotten items are the boring ones: a charger, a rain jacket, the second swimsuit. This packing list generator starts from a core travel checklist that every trip needs (documents, clothes, toiletries, health, electronics and the travel day) and adds what your trip calls for. Hot weather adds shorts, sandals and sunscreen. Cold adds thermal layers, a winter coat, hat and gloves. Rain adds a rain jacket and an umbrella. Each trip type you pick adds its own category, and kids and babies get their own lists with their own quantities.
You can pick several kinds of weather and several trip types at once. A spring trip to a city with a weekend in the mountains might be mild, rainy, city and hiking. The list merges everything and never lists the same item twice.
How the quantities are worked out
Clothes are counted per person from the number of days you need clothes for. Without laundry that is the length of the trip (up to 30 days). With laundry available it is 7 days at most, or 4 days with carry-on only, because you wash and wear things again.
| Item | Rule (D = days of clothes) | 7 days | 7 days, laundry, carry-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underwear, socks | D + 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Tops, hot weather | D | 7 | 4 |
| Tops, otherwise | 70% of D, at least 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Pants, shorts | D ÷ 3, rounded up | 3 | 2 |
| Business shirts | D | 7 | 4 |
| Kids’ underwear | D + 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Kids’ tops | D + 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Baby bodysuits | 2 × D | 14 | 8 |
The extra pair of underwear covers the travel day and a surprise. Kids get one more change than adults because spills happen, and babies two outfits a day. These are starting points, not rules: if you rewear jeans for a week or your toddler goes through three shirts before lunch, change the quantities in your head or add and remove items. Items without a number are one per person (shown as “each”) or one for the whole group.
Carry-on rules for US flights
Tick Carry-on only and the list adds the notes that matter at a US airport checkpoint. The rules below are from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA):
- Liquids (3-1-1 rule): liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes in a carry-on must be in travel-size containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of them. Pack larger containers in checked baggage.
- Medications: TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols in reasonable quantities for your trip, but you must declare them to TSA officers at the checkpoint.
- Baby formula, breast milk and baby food: allowed in carry-on bags in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces and do not need to fit in the quart-size bag. Tell the TSA officer at the start of screening.
- Power banks: portable chargers and power banks with a lithium ion battery must go in your carry-on. Spare lithium batteries are prohibited in checked luggage.
- ID: since May 7, 2025, adults need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted ID, such as a passport, to fly within the US. TSA does not require children under 18 to show ID on domestic trips.
Rules for flights in other countries differ, and TSA officers have the final say at the checkpoint, so check the official rules before you fly.
Packing tips that save the trip
- Pack from the list, not from memory. Lay everything out on the bed, tick it off as it goes into the bag, then check the list once more before you leave.
- Build outfits, not piles. Pick clothes in two or three colors that all go together, so fewer pieces make more outfits.
- Wear the bulkiest things. Your heaviest shoes and your jacket take no space in the bag if you wear them on the travel day.
- Keep essentials with you. Medications, documents, keys, chargers and a change of clothes belong in your personal bag, not in a checked suitcase.
- Leave a little room. A bag that only closes with force has no space for anything you buy on the way.
Print, share and save your checklist
Print gives a clean checklist on paper, with boxes to tick and nothing else on the page. Copy as text gives the same list for a notes app or a message. Copy link shares the full list, including items you added, removed or already checked off, so a partner can open it and pack the kids while you pack the car. If you want the list to wait for you on this device, tick Remember my list on this device. Nothing is sent to a server either way.
How to use the packing list generator
- 1Enter how many days you travel, pick the weather and the kind of trip, and set how many adults, kids and babies are coming.
- 2Tick Carry-on only or Laundry available if they apply. The quantities update right away.
- 3Remove what you do not need, add your own items, then check things off as you pack. Print the list, copy it as text or send the link.
Frequently asked questions
How many pairs of underwear should I pack?
One per day plus one spare. For a 5 day trip that is 6. If you can do laundry, the list packs for 7 days at most (4 with carry-on only) and you wash on the way, so even a three week trip needs 8 at most.
What are the TSA rules for liquids in a carry-on?
Under the TSA 3-1-1 rule, liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes in your carry-on must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, and each passenger may bring one quart-size bag of them. Larger containers go in checked baggage. Medically necessary liquids and baby formula, breast milk and baby food are allowed in larger amounts; tell the TSA officer about them at the checkpoint.
Can I pack a power bank in my checked bag?
No. TSA says portable chargers and power banks with a lithium ion battery must be packed in carry-on bags, and spare lithium batteries are not allowed in checked luggage. The list adds this note to the power bank.
Can I share the packing list with my family?
Yes. Copy link puts the whole list in the link: your trip settings, items you added or removed and what is already checked off. Whoever opens it sees the same list. Each person’s check marks stay in their own copy unless they send the link back.
Is my list saved?
Only if you tick Remember my list on this device. The list is then kept in your browser’s local storage on this device and never sent anywhere. Untick the box to delete it. Without it, the address bar and Copy link still keep your list.
How do I print the packing list?
Press Print. The printout shows only the checklist with empty boxes, grouped by category, without the settings or the rest of the page. In the print dialog you can also choose Save as PDF.
Does a toddler need ID to fly in the US?
TSA does not require children under 18 to show identification when traveling within the United States. Airlines can have their own rules for young passengers, so check with yours before you fly.