How to Pack a Suitcase for a Week Trip

You’re gearing up for a week-long trip packed with exciting activities, exhilarating adventures and picturesque destinations. Now your only question before this exciting trip is “What should I bring?” We’ll give you expert tips on how to pack your suitcase for 7 days, from how much clothes to bring to tips on saving space in your suitcase.

Table of Contents

Use a carry-on or medium-sized suitcase.

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A 22-inch (56 cm) suitcase is large enough to hold a week’s worth of clothes. Carry-on suitcases are convenient for the summer months, when you only need to bring light clothes and a few coats. ^{[1] X Research Source} But in winter, you may need to use a slightly larger suitcase because you will have to carry more bulky clothing and more coats. For a 7-day winter trip, you should use a medium-sized suitcase, measuring 24- to 27-inches (60-69 cm). ^{[2] X Research Source}

Choose soft-shell suitcases for flexibility and extra space (especially if you’re buying souvenirs).
Choose a hard case if you want extra protection.
Airlines are usually not required to measure 22-inch (56 cm) hand baggage on domestic flights, but international flights only allow carry-on baggage that is 21 or more in size. -inches (53 cm) or less.
Hand baggage is usually charged by height. For example, a 22-inch (56 cm) suitcase is typically 22 inches (56 cm) high, 14 inches (35.5 cm) wide and 9 inches (23 cm) thick.

Make a plan to wear the clothes again on your take-out list.

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Bring 5 shirts and 2-3 pants or skirts for a 7-day trip. The first is to choose at least one jacket or coat; Bring an extra jacket if the destination is cold. ^{[3] X Research Resources} Next, review the activities you plan to do. If you’re planning a date night or attending a formal event, don’t forget to bring an elegant dress or top with smart shoes. Here’s a sample list of items you’ll need to pack for a week-long trip:

5 shirts
2-3 trousers, shorts or skirts
1-2 beautiful clothes
1 sweater or jacket (add a jacket if it’s colder)
1 pair of sports shoes
1 pair of beautiful western shoes
1 pair of sandals or sandals (for beach and warm weather)
1 swimsuit
1 gym suit (increase the number if you’re a sports fanatic)
1-2 sets of pajamas
5-7 pairs of socks
5-7 sets of underwear
Accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, jewelry)

Choose basic items that can be combined with each other.

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Choose clothes with colors that go well together. For the classic “minimalist wardrobe” color scheme, choose clothes in black, white, gray and navy. ^{[4] X Research Source} You can easily add pops of color to your outfit with accessories like scarves or hats.

For example, you might bring a pair of black trousers or dark denim, a white t-shirt and a denim jacket.

Shorten your carry-on list.

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Separate “necessary” and “backup” items. Place all items on the floor or on the bed. Imagine pieces that you can mix and match and discard the ones that don’t seem very practical. As you visualize all the clothes you’ll wear for the week, you may find that the other shirt doesn’t go well with these pants, or that the wide-brimmed straw hat can only be worn once during the entire trip. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Some “backup” things are sometimes still needed. For example, do not hesitate to bring an umbrella or raincoat if there is a chance of rain.

Use travel bags.

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The travel bags will help you organize your clothes and items. These are basically lightweight zippered canvas bags that you can use to keep items separate. For example, you can keep underwear and socks in one bag and swimwear in another. ^{[6] X Research Source} These bags can be stacked neatly in a suitcase, so it’s great because you want to make the most of the space in your suitcase!

Keep cords and phone chargers in one pocket so they’re easy to find.

Roll and wrap lightweight items.

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Roll thin t-shirts and jackets for compactness. Rolling clothes into a curl is much faster than folding, and rolled clothes are also more compact. ^{[7] X Research Source} Place the sleeves of a thin shirt or sweater in the center, fold the shirt in half lengthwise, and then roll it up.

This works best for synthetic fabrics like ppyester and lycra because it doesn’t wrinkle as easily as natural fibers like cotton or linen.
Fold bulky items like warm clothes, especially woolen items. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
You should also fold (do not roll) items that are prone to wrinkles like shirts and linen clothes. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Optionally combine the method of curling clothes and bags. You can even roll up your clothes and put them in a pocket to make them more compact.

Stuff the knick-knacks in spare shoes.

Wrap shoes in a shower cap.

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Use this tip to prevent shoes from soiling your clothes. Take a shower cap from the hotel to cover your shoes, and place the sole of the shoe in the center of the shower cap. You can use a shoe cover if you don’t have a shower cap. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Once you’ve wrapped each shoe separately, you can tie the two shoes together, with the tops facing each other. This is the most efficient way to pack shoes! ^{[12] X Trusted Source Consumer Reports Go to Source}

Place heavy items at the bottom of the suitcase.

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Put the suitcases in the correct order to save space and keep the suitcase balanced. Place heavy items on the bottom of the suitcase (near the wheels) to prevent it from tipping over. Heavy items include bulky warm shoes or clothing. Next, you will arrange the items horizontally, the first is the rolled clothes placed on top of the heavy items, the top is the easily wrinkled clothes in a dry cleaning bag to protect the clothes. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Consumer Reports Go to Source}

Wear the bulkiest clothes.

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Wear a thick warm coat and boots if you’re flying. There’s no reason to waste space in your suitcase for big and heavy items like boots and thick coats. The multi-layer jacket also helps you stay warm on the plane and frees up a lot of space in your luggage. ^{[14] X Research Source} If it’s hot, you can take off your jacket and roll it up into a homemade travel pillow.

For example, if it’s a picnic, you should wear heavy boots on the plane.

Keep personal hygiene products in a bag.

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Put personal hygiene products in clear plastic bags. Separate these items for easy access when you go through security if you are carrying on the plane. Remember that cleaning products should not exceed 3.4 oz. (100 mL). ^{[15] X Trusted Source US Transportation Security Administration Go to source} Pack cleaning products in clear plastic bags to protect clothing, in case it leaks during travel. ^{[16] X Research Source}

If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s a good idea to buy small containers so you can dispense things like shower gel or shampoo to take away instead of buying your favorites in small sizes.
You want to travel very light? If you rent a hotel, there will be no need to bring shampoo, conditioner and soap.
The hotel hair dryer is one of the dirtiest items in the room. You should consider letting your hair dry naturally or buying a small hair dryer for travel. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Bring only essential electronics.

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Limit the number of devices you carry and pack them carefully. It is safest to store electronic devices in a padded laptop bag. If you don’t have a laptop bag, you can use clothing, bubble wrap, or paper pellets to protect your electronics. Wrap the cable neatly and tie it with an elastic or twist tie to prevent tangles. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Consider using a phone camera instead of a full-sized camera to reduce the amount of equipment and cables you have to carry.
Consider e-books on your computer, tablet, or phone instead of having to carry an extra reader and charger.
When you need it urgently, you can use foam wrapping bags to make homemade laptop bags.
Bring a power adapter suitable for the voltage of the country you are visiting when traveling abroad.
If any device uses a lithium-ion charger, you will have to carry it on board – You cannot keep it in checked baggage because of the risk of fire.

Bring some snacks.

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Bring snacks to save money. Everyone knows that leaving on an empty stomach is no fun! You can freely bring dry food through airport security. As long as you are willing to take it out of your suitcase like electronic devices. ^{[19] X Trusted Source US Transportation Security Administration Go to source} Prepare small bags of fresh fruit like apples and carrots for a healthy snack. For extra protein, you can bring a boiled egg or a handful of nuts and beef jerky. If nothing else, grab a few cereal bars to munch on along the way. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Bring an empty water bottle. You can get drinking water when you go through airport security.
Choose a water bottle with a hook or handle. That way, you can hang the empty bottle outside your luggage to save space.

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