One cabin bag, seven days
Carry On Packing List for a 7 Day Trip
No checked luggage for a week. The counts that actually fit, the liquids rule the way the TSA writes it, and the four things to wear onto the plane instead of packing them.
Free on iPhone. No account.
The liquids rule, precisely
The part people get wrong is not the size of the bottle, it is which size counts. The TSA rule allows containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, and all of them have to fit inside one clear quart size bag, one bag per passenger. What gets measured is the container, not how much is left in it, so a half empty 200 ml bottle of shampoo is still refused at the checkpoint.
Check the current wording at tsa.gov before you fly, and remember that other countries word it slightly differently even though the 100 ml figure is close to universal.
In the app: choosing Flight puts "Liquids in a clear bag, nothing over 100 ml" into Essentials with the note "carry on security rule", so it sits at the top of the list rather than being remembered in the taxi.
What fits for seven days
| Item | Without laundry | With laundry |
|---|---|---|
| Underwear | 8 | 8 |
| Socks | 8 | 8 |
| Tops | 7 | 5 |
| Trousers or skirts | 3 | 2 |
Two tops and one pair of trousers is the whole difference between a cabin bag that closes and one that does not. If the place you are staying has a washing machine, say so and pack the smaller column. The rules behind these numbers are short enough to check yourself.
Wear it, do not pack it
Every bulky thing you wear through the airport is a slot you get back in the bag.
- The heaviest shoesBoots or trainers take more space than any other single item.
- The jacketCabins are cold anyway, and it doubles as a pillow.
- The bulkiest trousersJeans pack badly. Wear them, pack the light pair.
- One sweaterTie it round the bag handle if the cabin is warm.
The cabin bag itself
Goes in the bag
12 items- Passport or IDNothing else gets you on the plane
- Travel tickets and bookingsBoarding passes and reservations
- Wallet, cards and cashPay your way
- Phone and chargerMaps, tickets, photos
- Power bankLong travel days drain batteries
- HeadphonesFor the journey
- Liquids in a clear bag, nothing over 100 mlCarry on security rule
- Personal medicationNever put it in the hold
- Toothbrush and travel toothpasteUnder 100 ml, so it stays with you
- One change of topFor the day the bag and you arrive separately
- Neck pillowRest on the flight
- A packable tote or day bagFor the trip home when you bought things
What the app changes for a carry on trip
- Flight adds the clear liquids bag and a neck pillow.
- Hotel removes shampoo and a travel towel, which are two of the bulkiest things in a small bag.
- Hostel does the opposite: it adds a padlock, a travel towel and flip flops for the shared showers.
- Laundry available cuts the clothing counts by about a third from five days upward.
Free. iOS 17.0 or later.
More packing lists
Every list on this site is written out in full, so you can use it without installing anything.
- Beach packing listSeven days by the sea, with quantities and the four things people leave at home.
- Ski trip packing listThe ski kit the app adds for you, plus the rest of a week in the mountains.
- Family packing list with kidsWhat appears when you add a child, and the baby items you still add yourself.
- How many clothes to packOne table for five trip lengths, with and without laundry.
- Best packing list app for iPhoneFive questions to ask any packing app, answered honestly for this one.
- A Packr alternativeAn honest comparison, including the three places Packr is ahead.