So you’ve planned a great trip (hooray!), but now you’re staring at a large pile of clothes and a small-looking suitcase and wondering how you could fit it all.
I used to be there. From packing for a three-week business trip in a 26-liter backpack to packing a duffle bag light enough for transport to the Himalayas, I faced some serious packing challenges. And I learned a lot along the way.
Learning how to pack a suitcase for a big trip (or even a small one) can be intimidating, but luckily, there are some easy packing tips that will help you along the way.
I’ll walk you through how to pack everything from socks to bottles of wine, and top packing tips to maximize space in your suitcase. It’s a bit like Tetris, and after you’ve played it a few times, packing your suitcase to make the most of your available storage space can become a fun challenge.
What are you waiting for? Grab your suitcase, and be prepared to pack!
How to Pack Clothes in a Suitcase
Most of your suitcase will be filled with clothes (unless you’re smuggling weapons, of course). It is extremely important to pack your suitcase to maximize space for your clothes. Here are some top tips for making the most of the space in your suitcase.
Only pack necessary clothes
The most common problem is overload. Of course, clever packing tips can help you maximize the space inside your suitcase, but there’s still a limited amount of space in the end. Unless you’re Mary Poppins, there’s no way to fit everything in your pocket.
The standard instruction you’ll hear for a weeklong trip is to follow the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule (5 pairs of socks and underwear, 4 shirts, 3 pants, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 hat). I find that it works as a good starting point for trips of any length. It should get you through a seven-day trip, and if you’re staying longer, you can find a local laundromat.
Know when to roll and when to fold
Rolling clothes saves space in your suitcase and makes it easy to fill every little nook and cranny, but it can also cause clothes to wrinkle.
The trick is to mix and match the rolling method with the normal folding. Soft items like underwear, t-shirts, and cotton pants can be rolled up easily and won’t be too wrinkled. Fold stiffer items like buttons, more formal dresses, trousers and blazers.
Divide to conquer with packed blocks
I don’t like too much chaos, and it seems like that’s what you always get after a few days of travel: a big mess in your suitcase. Packing blocks are a great way to tame chaos and keep things tidy.
I highly recommend buying a set of packing boxes in different sizes if you travel often. You can then dedicate each one to a specific purpose: one for socks and underwear, one for shirts and trousers, etc.
Not only will this help organize items, but it can also save space by compressing clothes into manageable packages.
Some of my favorites are Eagle Creek Pack-It Reveal Cubes. They are lightweight and fully open. Plus, each packing box has a mesh screen so you can easily see what’s inside.
Pack blocks to win!
Carrying bulky items
If you’re traveling in the winter and need to carry cold-weather clothing, carrying bulky items like an airplane jacket can save space by leaving them outside your bag. Airplanes tend to be cold anyway.
How to Pack Shoes in a Suitcase
Let’s face it, the shoes have a really weird shape. They’re bulky, heavy, and it’s hard to figure out how to pack them. Here are some of my top tips for shoe packing:
Don’t Bring Too Many Pairs
Do you really need five pairs of shoes? Actually?
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the most important thing when you’re trying to pack your suitcase to maximize space is knowing what to leave behind. Especially if you’re traveling with just a hand bag, there won’t be much room left.
For most rides, you’ll most likely be able to walk in two pairs of shoes (or even one pair). I recommend trying to never wear more than three unless you absolutely need to: a pair of sandals, a pair of nicer/work boots and a pair of casual/sports/walking shoes.
Stuff other things inside
Don’t waste precious extra space inside your shoes! I want to fill that volume with socks. Not only does it help maximize space, but it also helps keep your shoes from getting deformed.
Use a shoe bag
To keep clothes and other items clean, I recommend using a dedicated bag to keep clothes separate. This could be a simple trash bag or some additional packing blocks.
Pack them in the corner
I like to put my shoes in the bottom corner of my suitcase. I put the soles of the shoes under or to the sides, and let the heels point towards the wheels. This saves luggage space and keeps things tidy.
How to pack toiletries
One of the worst experiences I’ve ever had was when a tube of toothpaste exploded on my clothes during a trip. Okay, maybe I’ve had worse experiences, but it wasn’t fun at all.
Here are the best ways to pack your toiletries and liquids while traveling.
Use plastic bags for liquids
The standard method for packing liquids such as shaving cream, lotions, soaps, etc. is to have a dedicated plastic bag. Not only will this prevent a leak from spreading, but it will also make it easier for you to get liquid out if needed for a TSA scan. For that reason, it’s a good idea to keep your liquid bag in an easy-to-access place.
I recommend using one of the slip-on zipper bags, they’re just slightly more secure than regular Ziploc bags.
Use toiletry bags for other items
I love having a small zippered toiletries bag for the rest of my bathroom kit. The Monos Metro toiletry box Compact, simple and very easy to use. There are plenty of functional options out there though that should get the job done.
How to pack dirty laundry
All the clothes you pack will eventually turn into dirty clothes (you guessed it, the way these things work is amazing). Instead of just throwing it all back in your suitcase, I recommend having a system to separate the dirty stuff from everything else so your bag doesn’t get too cluttered.
It’s pretty easy to use a drawstring trash bag or a water- and odor-resistant fabric bag to store your laundry and keep it separate from everything else. Throw all your clothes in there at your hotel room and toss the bag in your carry-on when it’s time to go.
How to pack a suit or outfit in a suitcase
The best way to pack a suit, dress, or other formal outfit is to use a dedicated garment bag. garment bag Great for packing your formal clothes by hanging them in a closet or laying them flat, then folding them while keeping everything in place to prevent wrinkling.
If you don’t have a garment bag, you can still pack your suit or outfit neatly to minimize wrinkles. There are all sorts of complicated folding methods out there, but they are time consuming and hard to remember. Here’s the simpler method that I’ve found works best:
Step 1: Keep it on the hanger
If you keep your suit or skirt on a hanger, it will hold its shape better and you will reduce the risk of it getting crumpled. Plus, it makes packing and unpacking easier.
If you have a pair of casual pants, simply hang them on the bottom bar of the clothes hanger.
Step 2: Pack in advance
Before adding any of your other clothes, place the suit or skirt in the bottom of the suitcase. Let the long head hang down to one side. In checked baggage, you can orient your clothes using the hangers at the top, but for carry-on baggage, you may need to fold the clothes aside.
Step 3: Then pack everything else
With the end of your suit or skirt still hanging from the outside of the box, start packing everything else in. You can use all the other space-saving tips here: packing blocks, rolling clothes, stuffing shoes, etc.
Step 4: Fold the ends
Once everything else is in, get that end hanging over the edge and fold it over everything else.
This method allows you to pack efficiently, maximize space and prevent wrinkles for your best clothing items.
How to Pack Fragile Items in a Suitcase
One of the hardest things is how to pack fragile items so they don’t break. Whether you bring a few bottles of wine or bring home a ceramic vase you bought as a souvenir, packing fragile items can be stressful.
Pack them in your hand luggage
If you’ve ever watched an airline’s baggage handlers throw checked baggage into the cargo hold of an airplane, you’ll wince at the idea of putting anything fragile in your checked bag. Seriously, those guys don’t check baggage easily.
The better choice is to put any fragile items in your hand luggage. That way you’re in control and can ensure there aren’t too many bumps and clutter.
Use clothes as cushions
Wrap any fragile items in clothing for cushioning and protection. Thicker, softer clothes like sweaters and jackets are a great fit.
Use Hardside suitcase
This may not be an option if you already own soft side luggage, but hard side suitcases provide the best protection from bumps and impacts for fragile items. If you are shopping for a suitcase and know that you will have to travel a lot with fragile items, a suitcase with a hard case may be the best option.
Other considerations when packing suitcases
We’ve covered the basics, so here are some final tips to help you pack efficiently and avoid unnecessary headaches.
Make a packing list
You don’t want to forget anything on your trip and the best way to avoid that is to make a packing list full of everything you need to bring. Start making your packing list in advance so you have time to think about all those forgettable items.
Don’t forget the weight limit
We’ve talked a lot about making the most of the space in your suitcase, but weight is also an issue as airlines have weight restrictions on baggage. Normally, you can bring a bag that exceeds the weight limit, but you will have to pay some hefty fees for it.
Airline weight limit normally 50 lbs for checked baggage, 35 lbs for domestic hand baggage and 15-25 lbs for international hand baggage.
Packing practice
If you want to avoid the stress of packing, I recommend practicing packing your suitcase first instead of trying to cram everything the night before your trip. Try a few different methods and get a feel for how much stuff you can fit. That way, when it’s time to actually pack up, you’ll have an idea of what to do.
How to pack suitcase FAQ
What is the packing method 5 4 3 2 1?
This rule says that you pack 5 pairs of socks and underwear, 4 shirts, 3 pants, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 hat.
How do you pack a suitcase to maximize space?
Some ways to save space are to roll clothes, tuck socks in shoes, and put shoes in a corner.
Is it better to roll or fold clothes when packing a suitcase?
You should roll softer clothes like t-shirts, underwear and fold stiff clothes.
How do you organize outfits in a suitcase?
Pack the last outfit you’ll wear first and your first at the top so you can get them in order.
How do you roll clothes to pack a suitcase?
Fold the shirt in half, then roll from the bottom up. Fold the pants in half and roll from the waist down.
