Packing List Generator
| Category | Item | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | Underwear | 8 |
| Socks | 8 | |
| T-shirts | 8 | |
| Trousers or shorts | 4 | |
| Essentials (cont.) | Toiletry bag | 1 |
| Phone charger | 1 | |
| Passport or ID | 1 | |
| Medications | 1 | |
| Beach extras | Swimwear | 2 |
| Sunglasses | 1 | |
| Sunscreen SPF30+ | 1 | |
| Flip-flops | 1 | |
| Beach towel | 1 | |
| Beach read | 1 | |
| Layer | Jacket or layer | 1 |
Generic packing lists fail for one reason: they don't scale. This generator builds the list from two inputs - trip length and trip type - with the clothing quantities computed per day (underwear and socks at one-per-day-plus-one, bottoms at half that), so a 3-day city break and a 14-day beach trip produce genuinely different lists, not the same list with a shrug.
Bottom line: the formulas do the remembering - days+1 for daily-wear items (the +1 is the travel-day outfit), half for bottoms, doubled swimwear and layers for the type-specific rows - and the count at the top is the suitcase reality check. Four trip types cover the classics: beach, city, ski and camping.
The honest part: the list is a starting scaffold, not a verdict. Medications and documents travel with you (never in the hold - the TSA note explains the liquids line); everything else is a suggestion your own habits outrank. The generator's job is that nothing obvious gets forgotten while you optimize the non-obvious.
How to use
- Set trip length (1-30 days) and pick the trip type - the list rebuilds instantly with exact quantities.
- Pack in section order: essentials first (they are the cannot-buy-there items), then the type extras.
- Use the count at the top as the suitcase sanity check - if your bag holds half the number, the trip needs laundry planning or a bigger bag.
Frequently asked questions
How many outfits should I pack for a week?
The formula here: one outfit per day plus one spare (8 tops for 7 days), with bottoms at half the days because they re-wear invisibly. Add the type layer - swimwear doubled for beach, thermals doubled for ski - and the arithmetic covers a week without laundry. Beyond 10 days, plan a mid-trip wash instead of packing proportionally; the list's half-rate bottoms are already that compromise.
What goes in carry-on versus checked luggage?
The non-negotiables travel with you: medications, documents, the irreplaceables, and one full day's outfit (in case the checked bag spends an extra night somewhere else). Liquids over 3.4 oz / 100 ml must be checked - the TSA's 3-1-1 rule (3.4 oz containers, 1 quart bag, 1 traveler) governs what stays in the carry-on toiletry kit.
How does the generator handle different trip types?
Each type appends its own extras: beach adds doubled swimwear, sunglasses and SPF; city adds walking shoes, a daypack and an umbrella; ski adds thermals, goggles and a helmet; camping adds the sleep system, headlamp and stove. The essentials layer stays constant - it is the part every trip shares, which is why it is computed rather than listed.
What do people most commonly forget to pack?
The boring electronics and the boring health: phone chargers (the most-forgotten item in most surveys), medication refills sized for the whole trip plus delay, and the adapter for the destination's outlets. The essentials section exists to make the boring rows unskippable - the swimwear was never in danger.