How to Pack a Suitcase to Maximize Space – 15 Tips to Pack Efficiently!

Before Starting to Pack

Wait a bit before rushing to get your suitcase! Let’s pause for a moment to think before packing.

If you’re aiming to pack swiftly and smartly while making the most of every inch, having a solid strategy is crucial. It’s all about finding the best way to pack a suitcase to maximize space and efficiency, so take a moment to ponder what you truly need for your upcoming journey.

The items you pack will differ depending on whether you’re embarking on a thrilling backpacking adventure or heading out on a professional business trip. That’s why packing is a task that warrants some pre-planning.

1. Choose the right luggage for your trip

This first tip is pretty straightforward: select the perfect container for all your items. To do so, here are 4 key factors to consider:

1. Your plane ticket: Double-check whether you’re permitted a checked bag, a carry-on, or just a trusty backpack. For carry-on luggage, make sure you’re aware of the size and weight restrictions to avoid any unwelcome surprises at the boarding gate.
2. Trip duration: Whether you’re off for a quick weekend getaway or a luxurious two-week vacation, the amount of clothing you’ll need will naturally vary. Pack accordingly!
3. Trip type: If your trip involves hiking or camping, don’t forget to account for the space needed for your essential outdoor gear.
4. Season: Remember, packing differs between winter and summer excursions. Winter clothing tends to occupy more space, so keep that in mind.

Based on all these elements, you will be able to assess how much space you have and require and make the right decision about the type of luggage.

2. Prepare your packing list

After choosing the right luggage, you need to create a comprehensive list of all the items you plan to bring, organized by category.

Although it may seem tedious, it will help you avoid overpacking or forgetting important stuff. Plus, having this inventory will come in handy if something goes missing during your trip, as you’ll know exactly what to look for.

There are various ways to tackle this. You can opt for the traditional pen-and-paper method, jot it down in your phone’s notes, or even use a mobile app.

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, I’ve got your back with my very own meticulously crafted packing list. After years of wrestling with my suitcases, this trusty companion accompanies me on all my travels, allowing me to breeze through the packing process in no time. Download it for free right below.

Get your FREE Packing List

Need some help packing for your next trip? This free packing list will turn your trip preparation into a breeze. It features a printable packing list covering all the essentials + additional lists for different seasons for you to tailor your equipment to the specific season you'll be traveling in. Get it straight to your inbox now!

No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

3. Get packing cubes

Packing cubes are my absolute favorite travel hack for packing space in recent years. Trust me, I’m not exaggerating (cue the irony).

Packing cubes are like magical zippered storage pockets that allow you to compartmentalize your belongings, compress them, and provide an extra layer of protection. The goal: to have almost everything fit in a cube and no loose clothes in the bag.

Since I started using them, I no longer have to rummage through my luggage, desperately looking for a t-shirt, underwear, or even electronics. Everything has its place and stays organized.

So if you don’t have any yet, I strongly recommend buying Veken’s packing cubes. They are at a good price and of good quality since I have been using them for 2 years.

How to Save Space When Packing

Now that we have the right luggage, the finalized packing list in hand, and the packing cubes ready, we can now delve into the heart of the matter, i.e. how to save space packing.

4. Organize items by category

This step should’ve been partially completed beforehand when you created your packing list (or downloaded mine). All you have to do now is follow it! This is also where your packing cubes come in handy.

In general, it’s best to assign one packing cube per category of items. Your electronic gadgets can easily fit into one cube. But for your clothes, you can have multiple cubes. For instance, use a small cube for underwear, a medium-sized cube for t-shirts and shorts, and a large cube for sweaters and pants.

A helpful tip is to gather everything you plan to take with you on your bed and assign a cube to each category. Only once this is done can we move on to folding and packing your suitcase.

5. Eliminate unnecessary “just-in-case” items

Choosing between what is essential and what is superfluous is in fact the most difficult task. Personally, this is where I could easily get lost in indecision for hours.

The goal: pack less but smart. This is actually the ultimate space-saving trick in the suitcase and allows you to really sort through things.

To do so, ask yourself the following questions before selecting each piece:

1. Do I really need it? If yes, how many times I will use it?
2. Is it suitable for the weather/activities at my destination?
3. Can I share it with my travel buddy?

6. Pack clothes that can easily be mixed and matched

Let’s discuss what is for me, the core of the problem: clothes!

The key to maximizing suitcase space is selecting versatile clothes that can be worn for multiple days and mixed and matched to create various outfits. Basically, it’s about building a capsule wardrobe that suits the local climate and planned activities.

Opting for synthetic fabrics is a smart choice as they dry quickly and require minimal upkeep. Jeans, leggings, shorts, and simple T-shirts in neutral colors are a good base to create an easily mixable look that also offers ample layering options to keep you cozy in cooler temperatures. Don’t forget to pack a waterproof jacket or coat and a hat or scarf if necessary.

When it comes to footwear, avoid packing more than 2. Choose comfy sneakers for walking and flat sandals that can easily be paired with almost any outfit.

7. Use travel-sized containers

While it may seem like common sense, it’s crucial to keep in mind: opt for smaller containers, particularly for your beauty and toiletry items.

If you’re limited to a single carry-on bag, remember that this is mandatory, otherwise, you risk having your favorite products thrown away at the checkpoint. And trust me, this is no laughing matter, there’s no room for negotiation!

Even if you have the luxury of a checked luggage, I recommend buying the travel version of your products or repackaging your products in travel-sized containers. Transfer your shampoo, day cream, or lotion into smaller bottles or a lens case, for instance. This avoids carrying bulky bottles that take up valuable space in the toiletry bag and therefore in the suitcase.

For toiletries, pack them in a sealable transparent bag or a freezer bag to avoid leaks. If you only have a carry-on bag, place it on top of your belongings because you’ll have to take them out when passing through security.

8. Heavy items first!

When you start packing your suitcase, start with the heaviest and largest items you are carrying.

Place them at the bottom of your luggage, as close to the wheels as possible, so they are stable and won’t interfere with the rest of your load. This will also prevent your heaviest items from crushing the others and distribute the weight evenly to move your suitcase more easily.

Then place smaller items on the sides or on top if necessary.

9. Don’t fold but roll your clothes

Instead of stacking t-shirts and jeans on top of one another, as you would see in a clothing store, a space-saving technique is to roll each item, similar to the KonMari method.

Lay the garment flat and start rolling it up from the bottom. By doing so, you can create compact rolls that can be neatly placed together. You can then tuck them into packing cubes or arrange them vertically in rows one after the other like folders.

Reserve folding for “wrinkle-free” garments like t-shirts, sweaters, and jeans. Rolling is preferred for dresses, shirts, blouses, skirts, and lightweight pants – essentially, any soft materials likely to wrinkle.

10. For big clothes, try bundle packing…

Bundle packing is the best solution in case you need to carry with you big volumes like long-sleeved winter clothes or thick sweaters that don’t fit in packing cubes.

The method consists of stacking the clothes with sleeves and pants hanging over the top, then folding all the clothes around a single central element, such as a pile of socks or a pair of shoes (previously put in a protective bag).

Keep in mind that with bundle packing, you’ll need to unfold all the clothes each time you want to access a specific item. So this is not the best option if you want to leave your things in the suitcase for the whole stay.

11. …Or carry the largest items with you

You’ve probably already seen plenty of videos of people wearing layers and layers of clothes on them at the airport. While I’m not suggesting going to that extreme, the concept behind it can be quite helpful!

On the day of your departure, try wearing the bulky items such as your coat, scarf, heavy sweater, and walking boots because that’s always one less thing in your suitcase!

As for the return trip, if you already have very little space and you plan to bring back small souvenirs, take a folded tote bag in your luggage that can always be used in case of extras.

12. Place your shoe soles towards the outside

I used to struggle to find the perfect way to fit shoes into a suitcase without them monopolizing all the available space. But I’ve found a nifty solution!

Pack shoes in a tote bag, canvas bag, or even a hair cap to shield the other items from any dirt or marks. Once they’re secured, position the shoes toward the top of the luggage to protect them from getting scuffed or losing their shape.

For optimal space-saving, place the soles of the shoes against the edges of the suitcase, with the soles facing outward. By laying them flat against the sides, you’ll gain a few precious inches and find it much easier to fill in the remaining gaps.

13. Bring a resealable bag for dirty laundry

You never know what to do with your dirty laundry in your suitcase. Well, if you have packing cubes, a bag dedicated to dirty laundry is often part of the package.

If you don’t, just bring along a resealable bag. Fold and pack your clothes that can handle a bit of wrinkling without any harm. Then, starting from the bottom, roll the bag to squeeze out the air and place it closer to the bottom of your luggage.

By doing this, you prevent your clean clothes from mingling with the dirty ones, and you also prevent your suitcase from turning into a laundry bag as your trip progresses. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep things organized and maintain a fresh travel experience.

14. Optimize empty spaces

Every corner counts! Fill any empty gap with small items such as belts, socks, lingerie, jewelry, and more.

For example, fragile beauty products can be safely placed in socks to prevent them from bursting into your suitcase and the external pockets can be used for non-important items. And don’t forget about the extra space inside your shoes; it’s perfect for storing small items and helps keep your shoes from getting squashed during travel!

If you are taking a hat, here’s a clever trick: roll up a piece of clothing in it and place it in the center of the suitcase then spread your other things around. This will also prevent it from being flattened.

— 

I really hope this post helped you pack easily and learn how to save space while packing.

I won’t sugarcoat it – it might take a bit of time and practice to master these techniques at first. But with experience, you’ll find that it will eventually turn out to be a piece of cake and become second nature.

As for me, I must admit that I still don’t enjoy this task, but following these hacks has significantly reduced my stress and frustration. It has allowed me to leave on my trips more serenely and to pack much more than I used to.

However, if you find yourself in a real bind and need an extra trick for those extreme cases, there’s one more pro tip to share with you.

Bonus Space Saving Packing Hacks: Use a Pillowcase!

If, despite all your efforts to sort and use the space saving luggage packing tips mentioned earlier, you still find yourself with a small pile of items that just won’t fit into your luggage, here’s one last trick: the pillowcase!

Grab a pillowcase and start filling it with clothes or any other soft items you have left. Create a makeshift pillow by packing it nice and snug. Like in the video below, make sure to close the pillowcase securely to avoid losing objects whether by using the buttons or zipper on the pillowcase or safety pins.

The best part? You won’t have to worry about it going through security (as long as you only have authorized items in it). Plus, during your journey, it will come in handy for resting your head on the plane, especially during those long flights (btw, check out this post if you need some gear to survive those flights).

Just so you know, I haven’t tried that hack yet so I can’t give you a personal review about it. But if you do, I’d love to read your feedback in the comment below 🙂

Final Thoughts on the Best Packing Hacks to Save Space

 If I had to summarize in a few words, packing while maximizing space requires good thinking first. It requires some pre-planning and a willingness to make compromises by listing all the items you intend to bring along.

The goal is not to find yourself empty-handed at your destination or to feel regret for leaving behind your beloved pair of pants. It’s all about finding the right balance between what you truly need, what brings you joy, and those extra items that can enhance your experience.

To provide you with a clearer picture, I’ve compiled all the tips for you to follow:

1. Choose the right luggage for your trip
2. Prepare your packing list
3. Get packing cubes
4. Organize items by category
5. Eliminate unnecessary “just-in-case” items
6. Pack clothes that can easily be mixed and matched
7. Use travel-sized containers
8. Heavy items first!
9. Don’t fold but roll your clothes
10. For big clothes, try bundle packing…
11. …Or carry the largest items with you
12. Place your shoe soles towards the outside
13. Bring a resealable bag for dirty laundry
14. Optimize empty spaces
15. Use a Pillowcase!

Loved this post? Share it with your friends by using the buttons below, I’m sure they’ll love it 🙂