The Ultimate Carry-On Packing Checklist (Every Category)

Keep track as you pack

Tick completed preparation steps, reset them for another trip or print the list. Progress stays in this browser. Use the category lists below to choose quantities for your plans; ticking everything does not prove it all fits or is permitted.

Your packing checklist

0 / 15 checked. Saved only in this browser. A checked box records your preparation, not airline or security approval.

• Checked identity, entry and transit documents
• Confirmed each operating airline and fare
• Measured the packed main bag including protrusions
• Measured the packed personal item
• Weighed both bags and checked any combined cap
• Checked security rules at departure, transfer and return
• Prepared required medicines and documentation
• Checked battery capacity and airline restrictions
• Protected spare battery contacts
• Packed documents, keys and essential medicines accessibly
• Packed clothing for actual plans and laundry access
• Removed unnecessary duplicates
• Closed all zips without forcing the bag
• Checked additions bought before boarding
• Saved or printed the current route check

Reset checklistPrint

Check both bags and your fare · Save a multi-airline trip

Use this category checklist as a starting point, then remove things you will not use. Quantities are planning suggestions, not a guarantee that everything fits your airline allowance.

Documents and essentials

• Passport or accepted identity document, plus any required visa or entry permission. Check validity for your nationality, destination and transit; six months is not a universal rule.
• Boarding pass in a format accepted by your airline, booking references and accommodation address.
• Payment methods, emergency contacts, keys and insurance details if applicable.

Keep sensitive documents secure and save the information you need offline.

Clothing by trip length

Add underwear, socks and layers for your needs. Test the complete packed bag rather than assuming a litre capacity guarantees a number of days. Follow garment care labels and confirm laundry access with your accommodation.

Toiletries and personal health items

• Toothbrush, toothpaste and the toiletries you use.
• Your personal medicines and any documentation required for transport or import. Choose medicines with a qualified professional, not from a generic packing list.
• Glasses, contact-lens supplies or other personal essentials as needed.

Check the liquid rules at departure, transfer and return airports. UK guidance explicitly distinguishes airports; a worldwide 100 ml rule is not a reliable claim. Check individual restrictions for razors and other sharp objects. Solid toiletries do not make every item unrestricted.

Electronics

• Phone, suitable chargers and cables.
• Laptop, tablet or camera only if needed, with protective storage.
• An adapter compatible with your destination and device input rating; a plug adapter is not necessarily a voltage converter.
• An eligible power bank if needed. Keep power banks and spare lithium batteries in the cabin, including when your bag is gate-checked. Check airline capacity, quantity and onboard-use rules.

Do not infer phone-charge counts from mAh alone.

Comfort and optional items

Consider a book, headphones, an eye mask, earplugs or a light layer if useful to you. Choose activity-specific clothing and equipment only after checking carriage restrictions. Do not rely on buying an essential item cheaply at the destination or finding it supplied by every hotel.

Final bag check

Measure the filled bag including handles and wheels and weigh it according to the flight's individual or combined allowance. Check the number of bags included in your fare. Use the bag checker and route checker for supported comparisons, then confirm route-specific rules with the operating airline.