Carry-on only packing list

Carry-on only is usually a volume problem, not a weight problem — and the volume is mostly toiletries. Swap your bulkiest liquids for solids and the rest of the bag stops being tight.

54 items · 5-day city break, mild weather, carry-on only · tick them off, print, or adjust the list to your trip below

The liquids bag is the binding constraint

One clear resealable bag, containers of 100ml or less, and the container's stated size is what counts — a half-empty 200ml bottle is confiscated. That bag is small, and shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen and shower gel will fill it before you've thought about toothpaste. Solve this first and the clothing follows easily.

Solids don't count against it

A shampoo bar, toothpaste tablets, a solid deodorant and a stick sunscreen all travel outside the liquids bag entirely. Swapping four bottles for four solids frees the whole bag for the things that have no solid equivalent — contact lens solution, medication, anything liquid you actually need.

Check your specific airline's dimensions

Cabin bag allowances vary by several centimetres and several kilos between carriers, and budget airlines charge more at the gate than the flight cost. Measure your bag including wheels and handles. Many airlines also allow a separate 'personal item' that goes under the seat — a bag that fits that slot effectively adds a third of your capacity for free.

Roll, wear the bulk, and buy the rest

Rolling saves space and creases less than folding for most fabrics. The heaviest jacket and shoes go on your body through the airport, where they cost nothing. And whatever you forget, you buy — the one hard rule is that medication and documents travel on you, in the cabin, always, because those are the only two categories a destination can't sell you.

Packing List for International Travel: The Complete Checklist A copy-paste packing list for international travel: documents, carry-on essentials, the 5-4-3-2-1 clothing formula, tech, meds, and what to leave home.
Travel Checklist: Everything to Do Before Leaving Home The complete pre-departure travel checklist — what to do 2 weeks out, 1 week out, the day before, and the day you leave, from documents to door locks.

Each one is a full list with advice specific to that trip — and the generator underneath it, so you can adjust it to yours.

Carry-on only packing list

The liquids bag is the binding constraint

Solids don't count against it

Check your specific airline's dimensions

Roll, wear the bulk, and buy the rest

Your list