Carry-On Packing List (Free Printable Checklist)
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Last updated: November 2026
This carry-on packing list covers everything you need for a trip of about a week with no checked bag: documents, electronics, clothes, a TSA-friendly toiletry kit and the small things that make a flight easier. It also shows what to keep in your personal item, what has to stay out of your carry-on, and what changes for carry-on-only trips to Europe.
Want to tick things off as you pack? Download the free printable checklist below.
Download the free carry-on packing list (PDF)
Before you pack: check your bag size
A packing list only works if the bag it goes into is allowed on board. Most US airlines allow a carry-on up to 22 × 14 × 9 inches plus a personal item that fits under the seat, but limits vary, and many basic economy and budget fares include only the personal item.
Use the carry-on size checker to test your bag against 25 airlines before you start packing. If you’re shopping for a bag, see the best carry-on luggage or the best travel backpacks.
The carry-on packing list
Documents and money
- Passport, or a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or other accepted ID for US domestic flights
- Visa or electronic travel authorization, if your destination requires one
- Boarding pass on your phone, plus a screenshot in case the app won’t load
- Credit and debit cards, ideally with no foreign transaction fees
- A small amount of cash in the local currency
- Travel insurance details and emergency contacts
- Digital copies of your passport and bookings, saved offline
Electronics
- Phone and charging cable
- Wall charger, ideally one with two or more ports
- Power bank (carry-on only, never in checked luggage)
- Travel adapter for your destination’s outlets
- Headphones or earbuds
- Laptop or tablet and charger, if you need them
- Camera and spare batteries (spares must stay in your carry-on)
- eSIM or international roaming plan set up before you leave
Spare lithium batteries and power banks can’t go in checked bags, and many airlines now limit how many power banks you can bring or ban using them on board. See camera batteries on a plane for the full rules.
Clothes for about a week
- 4 to 5 tops that mix and match
- 2 bottoms (for example, jeans and one lighter pair of pants or shorts)
- 1 warm layer, like a sweater or fleece
- 1 light jacket or rain shell (wear it on the plane)
- 5 to 7 pairs of underwear
- 5 to 7 pairs of socks
- Sleepwear
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes (wear them) plus 1 lighter pair
- Swimsuit, if your trip needs one
The trick to fitting a week into a carry-on is planning to do laundry once instead of packing a fresh outfit for every day. Stick to two or three colors so everything goes together.
Toiletries (your 3-1-1 bag)
- Toothbrush and travel-size toothpaste
- Deodorant (solid sticks don’t count as a liquid)
- Travel-size shampoo and conditioner, or solid bars
- Face wash and moisturizer
- Travel-size sunscreen
- Hairbrush or comb and hair ties
- Razor (disposable or cartridge style)
- Lip balm
- Glasses, contact lenses and a travel-size bottle of solution
Health
- Prescription medication, in your carry-on rather than a checked bag
- Pain relievers and any motion sickness tablets you use
- A few bandages
- Travel-size hand sanitizer
For the flight
- Empty reusable water bottle (fill it after security)
- Snacks (solid food is fine through US security)
- Neck pillow, eye mask and earplugs
- A pen, for any arrival or customs forms
- Downloaded shows, music, maps and boarding passes
The TSA liquids rule in one minute
In the US, the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule still applies to carry-on bags. Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams and pastes must be in containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, and they all go in one quart-size bag per passenger. Larger containers go in checked luggage.
- Medication is the main exception. TSA allows larger amounts of medically necessary liquids in reasonable quantities for your trip. Take them out of your bag and tell the officer at the checkpoint. They don’t need to fit in your quart bag.
- Solids are not limited. Bar soap, solid shampoo, stick deodorant and solid snacks don’t count toward the liquids rule.
- Rules can change. In 2026, there were reports that TSA was considering letting some PreCheck travelers bring full water bottles at airports with newer scanners, but nothing had changed when this guide was updated. Check TSA’s website before you fly.
Keep the quart bag near the top of your bag or in your personal item, so you can pull it out quickly at security.
Personal item packing list
Your personal item sits under the seat in front of you, so it should hold everything you need during the flight and anything you can’t afford to lose if your carry-on gets gate-checked:
- Passport or ID, boarding pass, wallet
- Phone, charging cable and power bank
- Medication
- Your quart-size liquids bag, for quick removal at security
- Headphones, snacks and a water bottle
- Laptop or tablet
- Camera and spare batteries
- Jewelry and other valuables
- A light layer, since planes get cold
What can’t go in your carry-on
These items are the ones that most often get people stopped at US security:
- Liquids over 3.4 ounces (100 ml), except medication and a few other exceptions
- Knives of any kind, except plastic or round-bladed butter knives
- Scissors with blades longer than 4 inches
- Most tools longer than 7 inches
- Firearms, ammunition and anything flammable
Not sure about an item? Search TSA’s “What Can I Bring?” tool before you pack it.
What has to stay in your carry-on
Some things work the other way around: they’re not allowed in checked luggage, so they must ride in the cabin.
- Power banks and spare lithium batteries
- E-cigarettes and vapes
It’s also smart to keep medication, valuables and anything you need for the first night in your carry-on, in case your bag gets delayed or you’re asked to check it at the gate. If that happens, take out power banks and spare batteries before you hand it over.
Carry-on only packing list for Europe
The list above works for Europe too, with a few changes:
- Pack for the 100 ml liquid limit. Some European airports with newer scanners now allow containers up to 2 liters, including London Heathrow, Dublin and several airports in Italy, but many others, such as Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon, still use the 100 ml limit. At some airports it even depends on which security lane you use. Your return airport may be stricter than your departure airport, so packing for 100 ml is the safest choice.
- Check budget airline bag sizes. On Ryanair and Wizz Air, the free bag is a small one of 40 × 30 × 20 cm, and a larger cabin bag costs extra. easyJet’s free under-seat bag is 45 × 36 × 20 cm. A carry-on that fits US airlines often won’t count as a free bag on these airlines.
- Bring the right adapter. Most of continental Europe uses Type C and F plugs, while the UK and Ireland use Type G. Most phone and laptop chargers work on Europe’s 230 V, but check the label for “100–240V” before you plug in.
- Prioritize comfortable shoes. European city trips usually mean a lot of walking on cobblestones, and shoes take up the most space, so choose one pair you can walk in all day.
Flying a budget airline? Use the carry-on size checker and select Ryanair, Wizz Air or easyJet to see whether your bag counts as the free small bag.
How to fit it all in a carry-on
- Use packing cubes. One cube for tops, one for bottoms and one for underwear and socks keeps everything organized, and compression cubes save real space. See the best packing cubes.
- Roll soft clothes, fold stiff ones. T-shirts and underwear roll tightly. Jeans and button-down shirts usually pack better folded.
- Wear your bulkiest items on the plane. Your heaviest shoes, your jacket and your warmest layer take up the most space in a bag.
- Fill the gaps. Socks fit inside shoes, and chargers fit in corners.
- Weigh your bag. Some airlines, especially outside the US, set a weight limit for carry-ons. Check yours before you leave home.
FAQ
What should I pack in a carry-on for a week?
Pack 4 to 5 tops, 2 bottoms, a warm layer, a week of underwear and socks, sleepwear and one extra pair of shoes. Add your documents, electronics, a 3-1-1 liquids bag and medication. Plan to do laundry once so you don’t need a new outfit for every day.
Can I bring full-size shampoo in my carry-on?
Not in the US. Containers over 3.4 ounces (100 ml) aren’t allowed in carry-on bags, even if they’re partly empty. Use travel-size bottles or a solid shampoo bar instead.
Does my liquids bag have to be a zip-top bag?
TSA asks for a quart-size bag. A clear, resealable bag is the easiest option because officers can see what’s inside.
What’s the difference between a carry-on and a personal item?
A carry-on goes in the overhead bin. A personal item, like a backpack, purse or laptop bag, must fit under the seat in front of you. Many airlines allow one of each, but basic economy and budget fares may include only the personal item.
Can I bring a power bank in my carry-on?
Yes, and that’s the only place it can go. Power banks aren’t allowed in checked luggage, and many airlines limit how many you can bring or ban using them during the flight.
Sources
- TSA: Liquids rule
- TSA: Medications and special procedures
- TSA: What Can I Bring?
- FAA PackSafe: Lithium batteries
- Euronews: Which European airports have scrapped the 100ml limit?
Save this list for your next trip
