How to Pack a Suitcase for a Week

Use a carry-on or medium-size suitcase.

A 22-inch (56 cm) bag gives you space for a week’s worth of clothes. Carry-ons work well for the summer months when you’re packing light clothes and only a few layers. However, you might have to size up your suitcase for the winter months, since you’ll have bulkier clothes and more layers. For a 7-day trip in the winter, go up to a medium-sized suitcase, meaning a 24- to 27-inch (60-69 cm) bag. Pick a softshell suitcase for a little more flexibility and space (especially if you’re planning on buying souvenirs). Choose a hard suitcase for more protection. Most airlines won’t require you to check a 22-inch (56 cm) bag on domestic flights, but international flights may require your carry-on to be 21-inches (53 cm) or less. Carry-ons are usually referred to by their height. For instance, a 22-inch (56 cm) bag is typically 22 inches (56 cm) tall, 14 inches (35.5 cm) wide, and 9 inches (23 cm) deep.

Plan to re-wear clothes on your packing list.

Pack 5 tops and 2-3 bottoms for a 7-day trip. Start with at least 1 jacket or layering piece, and bring more layers if your destination will be chilly. Then, take a look at the activities you’ve planned. If you’ll be going out for a date night or attending a formal event, add in a nice shirt or dress, as well as your formal shoes. Here’s a sample checklist of what you need to pack for a week-long trip: 5 shirts 2-3 pairs of pants, shorts, or skirts 1-2 dressy pieces of clothing 1 sweater or jacket (add more layers for colder weather) 1 pair of sneakers 1 pair of dressier shoes 1 pair of flip flops or sandals (for beach vacations and warmer weather) 1 bathing suit 1 set of workout clothes (bump up this number if you’re a gym fiend) 1-2 pairs of pajamas 5-7 pairs of socks 5-7 pairs of underwear Accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, jewelry)

Choose basic items you can mix-and-match.

Pick clothes that fit within the same color scheme. For a classic “capsule wardrobe” color scheme, pick clothes with black, white, grey, and navy. You can always add in a pop of color with accessories like scarves or hats. For instance, you could pack a pair of black pants or dark denim, a white tee-shirt, and a jean jacket.

Edit down your packing list.

Separate the “must-have” items from “just in case” items. Lay all your clothes out on the floor or on your bed. Try to visualize outfits you can put together, and remove items that don’t seem as practical. When you see all your clothes for the week together, you might realize that shirt really doesn’t go with those pants! Or, you might realize you can’t imagine wearing that wide-brimmed straw hat more than once on the trip. Some “just in case” items are still important. For instance, don’t skimp on bringing raincoats and umbrellas if there’s a chance it’ll rain.

Use packing cubes.

Packing cubes help organize your clothes and keep things compact. These cubes are basically lightweight, zip-up fabric containers that you can use to separate items. For instance, you can put your socks and underwear in one cube, and try putting swimwear in another. The cubes stack together in your suitcase, which is perfect since you want to maximize every bit of your suitcase space! Pack your phone chargers and cords all in one cube or bag so you can easily find them.

Roll and bundle lighter clothes.

Roll your tee shirts and thin layers for packing efficiency. Rolling clothes into cylinders is a lot faster than folding, and rolling is also more compact. Fold in the sleeves of your shirt or light sweater, fold the garment in half lengthwise, then roll up the material. This method’s best for synthetic materials like polyester and lycra, since those won’t wrinkle as easily as natural materials like cotton or linen. Fold up bulkier clothes and sweaters, especially items made from wool. You should also fold (not roll) clothes that are prone to wrinkling, like dress shirts and linen clothes. Feel free to combine this rolling method with using packing cubes. You can even put rolled clothes inside packing cubes to squeeze more into the cubes.

Stuff smaller items into your spare shoes.

Fill your shoes with socks, underwear, or even sunglasses. This method saves space, and you can even use it to protect delicate items. For instance, if you have a lot of miscellaneous small items like coins or chargers, put them in a plastic bag and throw the bag into your shoes.

Wrap your shoes in shower caps.

Protect your clothes from dirty shoes with this packing hack. Take a hotel shower cap, and place your shoes sole-side down inside the cap. If you don’t have shower caps, just use grocery store bags! Now that your shoes are individually wrapped, you can pack them toe-to-heel with the insteps facing each other. This is the most efficient way to pack your shoes!

Put your heavier items at the bottom.

The right packing order saves space and makes your suitcase balanced. Place heavy items close to the wheelbase to keep your suitcase from tipping. Heavy items include your shoes or your bulkier folded sweaters and pants. Then, you’ll layer items horizontally, starting with your rolled clothes on top of the heavier layer. Finally, put wrinkle-prone garments on top–preferably in a dry-cleaning bag or laundry bag to keep them protected.

Wear your bulkiest clothing.

Throw on your heavy layers and boots if you’re hopping on a plane. There’s no sense in wasting space in your smaller bag with bulky jackets and shoes. Wearing your layers will keep you warm on the plane, and it’ll free up a significant amount of space in your bag. If you get a little toasty, take off the layer and roll up your jacket for a DIY travel pillow. For instance, if you’re going on an outdoorsy trip, wear your heavy hiking boots on the plane.

Pack travel-sized toiletries together.

Keep your toiletries together in a clear bag. Separating your toiletries makes it easier to take them out as you go through security if you’re carrying on. Just make sure to keep your toiletries under 3.4 oz. (100 mL). If you’re checking a bag, keep your toiletries in a clear plastic bag anyway to protect your clothes in case anything leaks during travel. If you’re a frequent traveler, invest in travel-sized bottles so you can refill your own without having to buy mini versions of your favorite shampoo, etc. Want to travel ultralight? If you’re staying at a hotel, you might be able to get away with relying on their shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Hotel hairdryers are often one of the dirtiest items in the room. Consider letting your hair air dry or invest in a small travel hairdryer.

Take only essential electronics.

Pare down the number of devices you’re bringing and pack them safely. It’s safest to pack your devices in a dedicated laptop bag with padding. If you don’t have a laptop bag, use clothes, bubble wrap, or crumpled balls of paper to protect your electronics. Fold up your cables neatly, and use a rubber band or twist tie to prevent dreaded cable tangles. Consider swapping your big camera out for your phone camera to reduce the number of cables and devices you have to bring. See if you can load up all your e-books onto your computer, tablet, or phone, rather than bringing an extra e-reader and its charger. In a pinch, use a bubble-wrap mailing envelope for a DIY laptop sleeve. Bring country-specific power outlet adapters if you’re traveling abroad. If any of your devices have lithium-ion batteries, you have to carry them on–you can’t check them due to flammability concerns.

Bring a few travel snacks.

Save money by packing your own snacks. We all know it’s no fun to start a trip out on an empty stomach! You’re welcome to bring solid food through airport security. Just be prepared to take your snacks out of your bag, like you would with electronics. Prep baggies of fresh fruit and veggies like apples and carrots for a healthy snack. For a protein boost, hard boil eggs or grab a few handfuls of nuts and jerky. In a pinch, grab a few granola bars for an on-the-go snack. Bring an empty reusable water bottle. You can fill it up after you get through airport security. Pick a reusable water bottle with a carabiner hook or handle. That way, you can clip the empty bottle to the outside of your bag so it won't take up space.