Packing list generator
Answer a few questions and get a checklist built for your trip. Or start from a preset: carry-on only, family beach, camping weekend or digital nomad.
Build your packing list
Pick a preset or fill in your trip, then generate your list.
Packing lists are suggestions only. Verify passport, visa, medication and airline liquid rules for your itinerary. Not affiliated with airlines or booking platforms.
The questions
- Trip name. Optional. Handy if you save more than one trip.
- Trip type. Beach, city, camping, business, digital nomad, family, winter sports or carry-on only.
- Climate. Hot, temperate, cold or mixed. Pick mixed if you're not sure or the forecast swings.
- Nights. 1 to 60.
- Adults (1 to 8) and kids (0 to 8).
- Include toiletries. On by default. Turn it off if you're staying with family or packing toiletries separately.
- Include tech / work. On by default for business and digital nomad trips, off for the rest. Turn it on to add your phone, chargers, power bank, adapter and headphones. Carry-on only trips always include a phone and charger.
- Flying or crossing a border. On by default, off for camping. When it's on, passports and visas or entry forms are counted for every traveler, kids included. When it's off, passports, visas, boarding passes and the luggage lock stay off the list.
- Trip start date. Optional. Only used for an email reminder 3 days before your trip.
How quantities work
- Documents, toiletries and gear are counted per traveler, per adult, per kid or as one shared item, depending on what makes sense. Four toothbrushes for a family of four. One tube of toothpaste.
- Tops and underwear: one per night plus one, up to 10 per person.
- Bottoms: about one for every two nights plus one, up to 7 per person.
- Carry-on only trips cap tops at 5 per person and leave out bulky items like tents, strollers and luggage locks.
These are starting points. Change any quantity from 1 to 99, or tap the remove button to drop an item. The full rules, with worked examples, are on the methodology page.
Using your list
- Tick items off as they go in the bag. The progress bar counts items packed, not the total quantity.
- Add your own items with a label and a category.
- Add a note to any line, like "blue cube" or "in Sam's bag".
- Save trip keeps up to 5 named trips in this browser. Saving a sixth drops the oldest, and you'll see a notice when that happens.
- Print gives a clean checklist without menus or ads.
- Copy as text pastes neatly into a notes app or a message.
- Email my list sends it to your inbox. Add a start date to get a reminder 3 days before your trip. Packing tips are optional and only sent if you also tick "Also send me occasional tips from Site Wise Software. (Optional, unsubscribe anytime.)" That box is separate and starts unticked.
- Reset clears the current list after you confirm.
Lists are saved in your browser only. If your browser blocks storage, your list still works while the page is open, but Save is turned off.
If you remove everything
Every trip gets a list, whatever mix of trip type, climate and toggles you choose, because the basics are always included. If you remove every item yourself, you'll see "You removed every item. Press Generate my list to start again."
Before you zip it up
- Liquids in your carry-on. In the US, TSA allows containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in one quart-size bag. In Canada, CATSA allows containers of 100 ml or less in one clear, resealable bag of up to 1 L. Medications and baby food have exceptions.
- Power banks go in your carry-on. The FAA says spare lithium batteries, including power banks, can't go in checked bags.
- Passport validity. Some countries want your passport valid for months after you leave. Check before you book. See the travel documents checklist.
FAQ
Is the packing list generator free? Yes. It's free, needs no sign-up, and your saved trips stay in your browser.
How does it decide how many clothes to pack? Tops and underwear are one per night plus one, up to 10 per person. Bottoms are about one for every two nights plus one. Documents, toiletries and gear are counted per traveler or as one shared item, whichever makes sense.
Can I save more than one trip? Yes. Save trip keeps up to 5 named trips in this browser. Saving a sixth drops the oldest.
What liquids can I take in my carry-on? In the US, TSA allows containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less in one quart-size bag. In Canada, CATSA allows containers of 100 ml or less in one clear, resealable bag of up to 1 L. Medications and baby food have exceptions.
Sources
- TSA, "Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels Rule": https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-aerosols-gels-rule
- CATSA, "Liquids, Non-solid Food & Personal Items": https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/what-can-bring/liquids-non-solid-food-personal-items
- FAA, "Airline Passengers and Batteries": https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/airline-passengers-and-batteries