Packing list generator

Most packing lists are written for an imaginary trip. This one takes the five things that actually change what you bring (how many nights, what kind of trip, the climate, your bag, and whether you will do laundry) and sizes the quantities to match.

How the quantities are worked out

The arithmetic is deliberately simple, because the complicated versions are not more accurate, just harder to argue with.

Tops: one per day, capped at six if you can do laundry.
Bottoms: one per three days, minimum two. Cold trips get one extra.
Underwear and socks: one per day plus one spare, capped at eight with laundry.
Outer layers: one in mild weather, two when cold, plus a shell if the trip type is outdoors.
Carry-on mode: every cap drops by roughly a third, which is the honest cost of not checking a bag.

The ceiling matters more than the ratio. Past about six days, extra clothes stop being useful and start being weight, because you will do laundry whether you planned to or not. That is why the counts flatten rather than climbing with trip length.

After the list

Check the bag fits: carry-on size checker.
Check your toiletries clear security: liquids & 3-1-1 calculator.
Going carry-on only for the first time: the carry-on guide.
Travelling as a group: group trip guide.

Common questions

How many outfits do I need for a one-week trip?

For seven nights with one laundry cycle, roughly five tops, three bottoms and seven sets of underwear and socks. Without laundry, plan one top per day and one bottom per two or three days. The generator applies exactly this, scaled to the nights you enter.

Does this work for carry-on only?

Yes. Switch the bag to carry-on and the quantities drop to what fits a 55 × 40 × 20 cm bag, with laundry assumed. Check the bag itself against your airline with the carry-on size checker.

Is my list saved anywhere?

No. Everything is computed in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. Copy the list before you close the tab, or use the Packalong app if you want it to persist and sync.

What does it not include?

Anything specific to you: prescriptions, gear for a particular sport, work equipment, gifts. Treat the output as the boring 80% so your attention goes to the rest.

Check things off as you pack

This page gives you the list once. Packalong keeps it, remembers what you packed last trip, and shares it with whoever you are travelling with.