The complete travel packing list (2024)

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Want to make sure that you’ve packed everything you need for your trip? Super! Here’s a free printable vacation packing list that’ll help you do just that!

The complete travel packing list (1)

This week I wanted to make you another printable that’ll simplify your traveling. It’s a complete vacation packing list so that you can feel at ease that you won’t forget to pack anything important.

I absolutely love traveling and it’s one of those things that’s always on my “dreams and goals list”.

But the packing part is the one that stresses me so much.

And I can’t tell you how many times I double-check that I have my passport and wallet with me on the departure day. Only after I’ve gotten rid off the checked luggage and have my boarding pass in my hand I start enjoying the trip… if even then. But at that point I can’t do much about anything anymore so I just “surrender” and accept that I’ve packed what I’ve packed and that’ll have to do.

So if you’re anything like me and you worry about your packing, then you’ll love this ultimate packing checklist!

I want you to enjoy every bit of your trip and the time before your departure day should be equally enjoyable.

So I hope this printable packing list will simplify your traveling and give you a bit more peace of mind so that you can have the best trip ever.

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Packing properly is one of the biggest things you need to take care of so that you can enjoy your vacation. But it’s not the only thing. There are different things you’ll need to do and arrange

  • before booking
  • a few weeks before your trip
  • just before your departure day
  • and on the departure day

I’ve also made you achecklist for all those things you need to do so that you can feel at ease when you’re planning your trip and that you get to enjoy your travels without worrying if you forgot something.

But in this post there’s a complete list of things that you might want to pack on your next trip.

I’ll guide you through this complete travel packing list so that you can be organized and stress-free and feel confident that you remembered to packed everything needed.

Note! I made you also a pre-written packing list printable, but because I know that different trips and situations need different items to be packed (like you don’t need a beach towel if you’re going skiing), so there’s also a blank packing list that you can customize to your needs.

So here we go!

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The categories on the printable packing list

I’ve categorized the vacation packing list into four categories: clothes, miscellaneous, toiletries and carry-on bag.

And here are the sub-categories for each main category. I’ll go into details after I’ve introduced these categories for you.

Psst! If you’d like to make your own packing list, these are a great starting point for that purpose.

Clothes

  • Basics
  • Casual/formal
  • Outerwear
  • Other

Miscellaneous

  • Footwear
  • Accessories
  • Other
  • Health
  • Important info

Toiletries

  • Hair
  • Dental care
  • Personal care
  • Beauty

Carry-on

  • Must-haves
  • Electronics

Packing tips: And the best suitcase brandis this one. Without a doubt. They last forever.

Packing list for vacation – all Items

Here’s the complete list of items, products, papers and other things you (might) want to pack. You can also find all of these in the pre-written packing list printable. Or you can use the ones that you need and create your own packing list (there’s also a blank packing list printable for you to do so).

Clothes

Basics

  • Underwear
  • Bras/undershirts
  • Socks/tights
  • Nightwear
  • Bathrobe

Casual everyday clothes & formal

  • T-shirts
  • Casual shirts
  • Dress shirts
  • Sweaters/sweatshirts
  • Jeans
  • Pants
  • Slacks
  • Shorts
  • Skirts
  • Dresses
  • Blazers
  • Suits
  • Formal weal

Outerwear

  • Jackets/coats
  • Raincoats
  • Hats
  • Gloves
  • Scarves

Other

  • Sports wear
  • Swimsuits
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Miscellaneous

Footwear

  • Athletic shoes
  • Casual shoes
  • Dress/formal shoes
  • Sandals/flip-flops
  • Slippers

Accessories

  • Belts
  • Ties
  • Jewellery
  • Backpack/day bag
  • Purses
  • Tote bags

Other

  • Umbrella
  • Plastic bags
  • Laundry bag
  • Sewing kit
  • Torchlight
  • Beach towel

Health

  • Small first-aid kit
  • Medication
  • Vitamins

Important info

  • List of medications
  • Credit card companies contacts
  • Emergency contacts
  • Address book
  • Phone numbers

Packing tips: Check out also the free printable travel checklist I’ve made for things to do at home before your travels. You can print it out from this post. And order a set of packing cubes. These luggage organizers are awesome and affordable.

Toiletries– what to pack in your toiletry bag

Hair

  • Shampoo+conditioner
  • Hairbrush/comb
  • Styling products+tools
  • Hair accessories

Dental care

  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Dental floss

Personal care

  • Soap/shower gel
  • Deodorant
  • Perfume/cologne
  • Moisturizer
  • Sunscreen
  • Shaving products
  • Face cleanser
  • Face lotion
  • Lip balm
  • Nail file/clippers
  • Tweezers
  • Contact lenses+case
  • Feminine hygiene products

Beauty

  • Makeup
  • Makeup remover
  • Cotton buds
  • Compact mirror

Packing tips: If I travel light and have to choose what to take with me, then this is THE product I go nowhere without.

What to pack: carry-on luggage / Personal item

Must-haves

  • Wallet/cash
  • Credit cards
  • Passport, visa & ID
  • Travel documents
  • Insurance cards
  • Keys
  • Glasses + cases
  • Sunglasses + cases
  • Valuables
  • Travel pillow
  • Travel blanket/shawl
  • Sleeping mask
  • Earplugs
  • Medication
  • Notebook + pen
  • Book
  • Trip itinerary
  • Guidebook
  • Maps & directions
  • Bottled water
  • Snacks
  • Tiessues
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Chewing gum
  • Footrest

Packing tips: I don‘t travel anywhere anymore without this footrest. This is the best few bucks I’ve ever spent. And the people sitting next to me always ask what it is and secretly (and sometimes openly) wish they would have one too.

Electronics

  • Phone + charger
  • Laptop + charger
  • Tablet + charger
  • Camera + charger
  • Travel plug adapter
  • Video/music player
  • Headphones
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How to use the free printable packing list for vacation

So there are three versions to choose from:

  • The pre-written one with all items and categories on it.
  • A blank one with the main categories on it
  • And a totally blank one with just checkboxes on it that you can customize to your needs

The ultimate packing list PDFs come in US letter size, but you can resize and use it for example as half letter or A4 size paper (or A5).

You can also keep the packing lists in your planner, in your travel binder or in your home management binder so that you can revisit them and use them multiple times.

Thecomplete travel packing listhas a place to write

  • Your destination
  • When you’re traveling
  • And who you’re traveling with

And then there are four different categories.

  • Clothes
  • Miscellaneous
  • Toiletries
  • Carry-on

You can either use the pre-written one or customize your own and use the complete packing list as an inspiration.

Psst! Check out also the complete traveling checklist for things to do at home before your travels.

And this is how the complete travel packing lists look like.

This is the pre-written ultimate vacation packing list:

The complete travel packing list (6)

And this is the blank packing list with the main categories:

The complete travel packing list (7)

And this is the totally blank packing list:

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The complete travel packing list (9)

How to download vacation packing list template

You can download the ultimate packing list printables by clicking the download links under the images. These are printable gifts so please feel free to print out as many as you need for your personal use.

The printables (of course) come without the big bow logo.

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DOWNLOAD: Complete Travel Packing Lists(ALL THREE IN ONE PDF FILE)

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The complete travel packing list (2024)

FAQs

What is the 5-4-3-2-1 packing method? ›

Its version of the 5-4-3-2-1 method includes "five tops, four bottoms, three accessories, two shoes (a practical pair and a nice pair), and one swimsuit," though like the Times this formula allows the wiggle room to swap out accessories based on your destination and type of travel.

What is the rule of 3 travel packing? ›

While we've covered other packing systems here on Inc.com, Appelt's is even easier and boils down to a simple principle we'll call the "Rule of 3." "Appelt says the key to a light, functional travel wardrobe is having pieces that can be worn in at least three different ways," reports Insider.

What to pack for a 10 day trip list? ›

How many clothes are required for a 10-day trip? Follow the 5-4-3-2-1 packing trick, where you pack five tops, four bottoms, three dresses, three pairs of shoes, two swimsuits, two bags, and one of each of a few miscellaneous accessories.

What might I have forgotten to pack? ›

What are some commonly forgotten travel items? Frequently overlooked items include padlocks, chargers, toiletries, travel adapters, and first aid kits.

What is the 333 packing rule? ›

The concept of this packing rule is that you choose three tops, three bottoms, and three pairs of shoes to create more than a dozen outfit looks that fit easily into your carry-on.

What is the 12345 rule of packing? ›

Consider the 1-2-3-4-5-6 Rule

One general guideline is to pack one hat, two pairs of shoes, three bottoms, four tops (short or long-sleeve or outer layer), five pairs of socks, six pairs of underwear. This should be enough to last you for two weeks.

What is the golden rule of packing? ›

This may seem an ambitiously small suitcase, but the golden rule of packing is to always take half the clothes you were planning to bring (and twice the money).

What is the 3 shoe rule for travel? ›

Whittling down your choices to just a few pairs can be tough, so we're sharing a favourite travel tip: the '3 shoe rule. ' Yes, you guessed it – the '3 shoe rule' is only pack THREE pairs of shoes. For a summer vacation, this typically means a pair of sneakers and two pairs of sandals – one dressy and one casual.

What is the 333 rule for travel? ›

What is the 3-3-3 Rule of RV Travel? The 3-3-3 rule is a set of guidelines for how you can structure your travel for maximum enjoyment by driving only 300 miles per day, camping for three nights in every campground, and arriving at your site by 3 PM.

How do I not overpack for a 10-day trip? ›

How to Avoid Overpacking for Vacation: 10 Useful Tips
  1. Make a checklist beforehand.
  2. Pack a mini capsule wardrobe.
  3. Choose outfits ahead of time.
  4. Replace full-size toiletries for travel size.
  5. Book a destination with a laundry service.
  6. Consider packing multipurpose footwear.
  7. Avoid packing items “just in case”
Jul 12, 2022

How many days of clothes fit in a carry-on? ›

Yes! You can pack 10 days of clothes in one carry-on bag. The key is to pack clothes that all work together, and of course, to use clothing organizers that maximize the space in your bag.

How far in advance should I pack for a trip? ›

2 Weeks Prior to Departure:

This ensures that everything you want to bring will fit in your luggage and make sure your bag isn't over weight (here are my tricks for dropping your bag's weight). By doing this two weeks before, you have the time to rethink or reduce the number of items you've packed if need be.

What is the most overlooked item when packing for a trip? ›

Toothbrush is the #1 most forgotten item with 18% of respondents. Men are less forgetful than women -- at least, according to how they responded. The least forgotten thing is food; with men being more forgetful of food compared to women. Younger travelers forget socks and phone chargers most often.

What not to bring when traveling internationally? ›

  • Excessive Valuables: Leave expensive jewelry and unnecessary valuables at home.
  • Unnecessary Gadgets: Think twice before packing items you rarely use.
  • Too Many Clothes: Overpacking can make your luggage heavy, make travel difficult and limit space for souvenirs.
Oct 17, 2023

How do you pack when you hate packing? ›

should know!
  1. Don't fold your clothing, roll them. Rolling your clothes will take up far less space than. ...
  2. Make a packing list. Be sure to start your packing process days or ideally. ...
  3. Layer your clothes. ⠀ ...
  4. Never check in essential items ⠀ Keep valuable, essential items in your carry-on rather. ...
  5. Use packing aids⠀
Aug 3, 2022

What is the 5 4 3 2 1 travel rule? ›

Do the clothing countdown: If you need a mantra to help streamline your wardrobe, use the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule for a weeklong trip: Limit yourself to no more than five sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one hat.

What is the 123456 rule for packing? ›

The 123456 rule is a popular strategy for packing light when traveling. It involves packing one hat, two pairs of shoes, three bottoms, four tops, five pairs of socks, and six pairs of underwear.

What is the 5 4 3 2 1 packing method for cold weather? ›

Going somewhere cold? 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes, 2 sweaters, 1 coat.

What is the 54321 winter packing list? ›

Implement the 54321 packing method, which outlines the ideal way to pack light and is especially helpful when packing for cold weather. This viral hack contends that all one needs to pack on any given trip are five tops, four bottoms, three pairs of shoes, two (dresses or handbags), and one each of small accessories.

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