Packing checklists
This page contains reusable packing checklists for different types of Travel and vacations.
Master packing checklist
Essentials
- Wallet
- Identification
- Driver's license
- Passport, if needed
- Credit/debit cards
- Cash
- Keys
- Phone
- Travel reservations and confirmations
- Tickets or boarding passes
Clothing
- Shirts
- Pants or shorts
- Underwear
- Socks
- Sleepwear
- Sweater or sweatshirt
- Jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Dress shoes, if needed
- Belt
- Hat
- Swimsuit
- Exercise clothes
- Laundry bag
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Soap or body wash
- Hairbrush or comb
- Razor
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
- Contact lenses and supplies, if needed
- Glasses
- Nail clippers
Health
- Prescription medications
- Medications I may need during the trip
- Bandages
- Hand sanitizer
- Health insurance information
Keep essential medications in my carry-on rather than checked baggage.
Electronics
- Phone
- Phone charger
- Charging cables
- Portable battery
- Headphones
- Laptop or tablet
- Laptop/tablet charger
- Smartwatch charger
- Camera
- Camera batteries
- Camera charger
- Memory cards
- International power adapter, if needed
Carry-on checklist
Things that should normally stay with me rather than going into checked luggage:
- Identification/passport
- Wallet
- Phone
- Prescription medications
- Keys
- Travel documents
- Electronics
- Chargers
- Headphones
- Valuable or irreplaceable items
- One change of clothes
- Essential toiletries
- Anything I will need immediately after arriving
International travel
In addition to the master checklist:
- Passport
- Required visas or travel authorizations
- International power adapter
- Foreign currency, if useful
- International phone/data plan
- Copies or secure backups of important travel documents
- Travel insurance information
- Check entry requirements
- Check passport expiration requirements
- Check whether any medications require documentation
- Download offline maps
- Download airline and transportation apps
- Download language/translation resources if useful
Beach vacation
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Sandals
- Beach towel, if necessary
- Beach bag
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Book or e-reader
Cold-weather trip
- Winter coat
- Gloves
- Hat
- Scarf
- Warm socks
- Boots
- Sweaters
- Thermal layers
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
Hiking or outdoor trip
- Hiking shoes or boots
- Appropriate socks
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Insect repellent
- Rain gear
- First-aid supplies
- Portable battery
- Offline map
Photography
- Camera
- Lenses
- Extra batteries
- Battery charger
- Memory cards
- Lens cloth
- Camera bag
- Tripod, if needed
- Card reader
- Backup/storage device, if needed
Before leaving home
These aren't things to pack, but they are useful to check while packing for a trip.
- Take out the trash
- Empty perishable food from the refrigerator
- Wash dishes
- Check windows
- Lock doors
- Adjust thermostat
- Turn off unnecessary lights and electronics
- Water plants or arrange for someone to water them
- Arrange care for pets
- Hold or arrange collection of mail/packages if necessary
- Charge electronics
- Check weather at destination
- Check flight/train status
- Confirm transportation to airport or station
See Preparing my home for travel for a more complete checklist.
Things I tend to forget
This section is for improving my packing checklist after each trip.
- Phone charging cable
- Sunglasses
- Something to read on the plane
- Extra camera battery
- Comfortable shoes for long days of walking
Lessons from previous trips
- Don't pack clothing for every possible situation. Check the forecast first.
- Keep medications and important documents in my carry-on.
- Charge all batteries the night before leaving.
- Download offline maps before international trips.
- Leave some unused space in my luggage for things I may bring home.
- Update this checklist whenever I discover something I wish I had packed.