Packing List Generator

Packing weight and bag size estimation helps travelers avoid airline overweight fees and back strain. The calculation combines estimated item weights, compression efficiency, and bag volume capacity.

Total packed weight formula: Total Weight = Σ (Item Count × Average Weight per Item) + Bag Weight

Bag volume needed: Volume (liters) = Σ (Item Volume × Count) × Compression Factor

Compression factor:

• No compression bags: 1.0×
• Packing cubes: 0.85×
• Compression packing cubes: 0.65–0.70×
• Vacuum compression bags: 0.40–0.50×

Average item weight reference:

• T-shirt: 0.15–0.25 kg
• Long-sleeve shirt: 0.25–0.35 kg
• Jeans/trousers: 0.5–0.8 kg
• Lightweight pants (linen/travel): 0.25–0.35 kg
• Underwear/socks (pair): 0.05–0.10 kg
• Sneakers: 0.6–0.9 kg per pair
• Dress shoes: 0.9–1.2 kg per pair
• Toiletry bag (full): 0.5–1.5 kg
• Electronics (phone + charger + cables): 0.5–0.8 kg
• Laptop (13-inch): 1.2–1.5 kg

Airline weight limits:

• US carry-on size limit: 22″ × 14″ × 9″ (56 × 36 × 23 cm), which typically allows bags up to 40L
• International carry-on weight limits: usually 7–10 kg (varies significantly by airline)
• Checked bag: typically 23 kg (50 lbs) in economy; fees from $35–$100 for overweight bags
• Budget airlines (Ryanair, EasyJet): stricter limits and higher fees, so always verify before packing

Two different philosophies, and this calculator follows the second one

The 1-2-3-4-5-6 rule is the minimalist carry-on packing list: 1 pair of shoes, 2 bottoms, 3 tops, 4 pairs of socks, 5 pairs of underwear, 6 accessories. It lands around 5 to 7 kg and it works, but it assumes you will do laundry roughly twice in a week.

This calculator packs one top per day up to a ten-day cap, which is the way most people actually travel and is deliberately more generous. Expect its list to come out heavier than the 1-2-3-4-5-6 rule by a few kilograms. If the weight estimate below is over your airline limit, the minimalist rule is the fastest way down: cutting from 7 tops to 3 saves nearly a kilogram on its own.

Worked example: 7-day temperate sightseeing trip.

• 7 tops (0.22 kg each), 3 bottoms (0.40), 8 underwear and 8 socks (0.07), 2 sleepwear (0.30) = 4.5 kg
• 1 pair of shoes = 0.8 kg
• 5 gear items at 0.35 kg = 1.8 kg
• Toiletries, charger, documents, medication = 1.3 kg
• Contents: 8.3 kg, plus about 3.0 kg for the empty suitcase
• Total: 11.3 kg

Those are the figures this page returns. Note what that total says: a top per day does not fit a 10 kg carry-on, and it is not close. Half the excess is the seven tops and the other half is the bag itself. This is the honest arithmetic behind the minimalist packing rules, and it is why experienced travellers own a 1.5 kg bag rather than a 3 kg one.

Change the climate to Cold and the same trip goes to about 13.2 kg. A winter jacket, thermals, hat, gloves and scarf are the single biggest swing in packing, worth more than two days of clothing.