How Much to Pack for a Trip: Packing Calculator by Trip Length
Overpacking is the default. You throw in “just in case” clothes, end up lugging a heavy bag, and wear half of what you brought. The fix isn’t willpower — it’s a simple formula based on how many days you’re gone and whether you can do laundry. This guide gives you that formula, with a packing calculator that turns your trip into an exact clothing list and a suggested bag size.
Pack tops for about two-thirds of your trip days, bottoms for a third, and one set of underwear and socks per day plus one spare. If you have laundry access, cap it around 7 days’ worth no matter how long the trip. That alone usually shrinks a suitcase to a carry-on.
Trip packing calculator
Enter your trip length, climate, and whether you can wash clothes. You’ll get a clothing list and a bag-size suggestion.
Counts assume you’ll re-wear bottoms and layer. Laundry access caps everything at about a week’s worth — the single biggest way to travel carry-on only.
The rule that fits any trip in a carry-on
Length stops mattering once you can do laundry. A 4-day trip and a 3-week trip need almost the same clothes if you’ll wash mid-way — so the moment your stay has a machine, a laundromat, or even a sink and detergent sheets, pack for a week and stop. Choose bottoms and outer layers you can re-wear, keep colors coordinated so everything mixes, and the bag shrinks itself.
- One outfit per day, no re-wearing
- “Just in case” extras
- Bulky single-use shoes
- Cap at a week + laundry
- Re-wear bottoms, layer tops
- Coordinated colors that mix
Frequently asked questions
How many outfits for a 7-day trip?
About 5 tops and 3 bottoms if you re-wear bottoms and layer. If you can do laundry, cap everything at a week’s worth no matter how long the trip is.
Can I do a 2-week trip carry-on only?
Yes — as long as you’ll wash clothes once mid-trip. Pack for about a week and do a single load of laundry halfway through.
How many pairs of shoes should I pack?
Two at most: one on your feet, one in the bag. Shoes are the single biggest space cost, so pick versatile pairs that work for several situations.
Pack tops for two-thirds of your days, bottoms for a third, and cap everything at a week if you can wash. Run your trip through the calculator, pack that list, and leave the “just in case” pile at home — you won’t miss it.