It’s time to head out on that week-long trip looking forward to the fun activities, exciting adventures, and picturesque destinations you’ve been planning. The only question now is how to pack it. Here’s how much clothing you should pack on a weeklong trip, along with some space-saving tips to help you pack efficiently.

Use Carry-on-Sized or Medium-Sized Luggage.

A 22-inch (56-cm) suitcase should be enough to hold a week’s worth of clothing. If you are traveling in summer, your clothes are lighter and you don’t need to wear so much. You can transport it in a carry-on suitcase. However, you may need to bring a larger suitcase when traveling in winter, as winter clothes are thicker and require multiple layers of clothing. If you’re traveling for a week in the winter, bring a medium suitcase that’s 24-27 inches (60-69 cm).

• The internal space of soft-shell suitcases is relatively flexible, especially if you plan to buy some souvenirs, they can hold more things.
• If you want a little more protection, go for a hard-shell suitcase.
• Most airlines allow carry-on luggage up to 22 inches on domestic flights, but carry-on luggage on international flights must not exceed 21 inches (53 cm). But in China, whether it is a domestic or international flight, luggage over 20 inches must be checked.
• When we talk about suitcase size, we usually refer to the height. For example, a 22-inch suitcase is usually 22 inches (56 cm) high x 14 inches (35.5 cm) wide x 9 inches (23 cm) thick.

Plan to Re-Wear the Clothes You Pack

Pack 5 tops and 2-3 bottoms for a 7-day trip. Bring at least a coat or jacket, and if your destination is cold, bring a few extra layers. Then, look at the activities you plan to do. If you’re going out for a date or formal event in the evening, bring a nice blouse or dress and dress shoes. Here’s an example of a clothing list to pack for a weeklong trip:

• 5 tops
• 2-3 pairs of pants, shorts or skirts
• 1-2 pieces of formal wear
• 1 coat or jacket (you can add more if the weather is cold)
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 1 pair of more formal shoes
• 1 pair of flip-flops or sandals (ideal for beaches and warmer weather)
• 1 swimsuit
• 1 set of sportswear (if you are a fitness fanatic, you can bring more sets)
• 1-2 sets of pajamas
• 5-7 pairs of socks
• 5-7 sets of underwear
• Accessories (scarves, gloves, hats, jewelry)

Choose Basic Pieces That Can Be Mixed and Matched

Choose clothes of the same color. For a minimalist tonal look, choose black, white, gray and dark blue. You can then add eye-catching colors with accessories such as scarves or hats to keep your look from looking too boring.

• For example, you could bring a pair of black trousers or dark jeans, a white T-shirt, and a denim jacket.

Cut down on Your Packing List

Distinguish between “must bring” items and “optional” items. Lay all clothes out on the floor or bed. Think about which pieces of clothing can be put together and which ones don’t look practical. When you spread out all the clothes and look at them together, you may find that a certain top does not match all the pants, or that a wide-brimmed straw hat cannot be worn more than once and there is no need to bring it.

• Some “take or leave” items are still very important. For example, if there is a chance of rain at your destination, don’t omit your raincoat and umbrella.

Use Storage Bags

Organizer bags help organize your clothing and reduce the space occupied by your items. You can use these lightweight zippered fabric bags to keep items separate. For example, you could put socks and underwear in one bag and swimsuits in another bag. Stack the organizers in your suitcase to make the most of every inch of space!

• Keep your phone charger and cords all in one storage bag so you can find them easily.

Roll Up Lightweight Clothing

Roll up T-shirts and light clothes to improve packing efficiency. Rolling clothes into a tube is faster than folding them, and rolled clothes are lighter and take up less space. Fold the sleeves of the dress and light jacket inward, then fold the entire dress in half, and then roll it up like a burrito.

• This method works best for clothes made of synthetic fibers such as polyester and spandex, which won’t wrinkle as easily as natural fibers such as cotton and linen.
• Fold heavier clothes and outerwear, especially woolen items.
• Clothes that wrinkle easily should also be folded rather than rolled, such as dress shirts and linen clothes.
• Use a combination of rolling clothes and storage bags. You can even put rolled clothes into a storage bag to save even more space.

Stuff Small Items into Spare Shoes

Tuck socks, underwear, and even sunglasses into your shoes. This method not only saves space but also protects fragile items. For example, if you have a lot of coins or various small items like chargers, you can put them in a plastic bag and stuff them into your shoes.

Wear a Shower Cap over Your Shoes

This packing tip will prevent your clothes from getting stained by dirty shoes. Get a hotel shower cap and put your shoe soles down into the cap. If you don’t have a shower cap, you can also use a shopping bag.

• Now that the shoes are individually wrapped, you can place them crisscrossing the toes to the heels and the soles of the feet opposite each other. This is the most efficient way to pack your shoes!

Press Your Heaviest Pieces toward the Bottom

Correct packing orders can save space and keep your suitcase balanced. Place heavy items near the bottom of the wheels to prevent the suitcase from tipping over due to being top-heavy. The heavy items included shoes and a heavy folded coat and trousers. You can then stack other items horizontally, first pressing the rolled clothes on top of the heavy object. Finally, place wrinkle-prone clothes on top, preferably in a dry cleaning bag or laundry bag to protect them.

Wear Your Heaviest Clothes

If you’re flying, wear your heaviest clothing and boots. Don’t waste space by stuffing heavy jackets and shoes into your suitcase. Wearing layers of clothing can help you stay warm on the plane and save a lot of space in your luggage. If it gets a little hot on the plane, you can take off your jacket and roll it up to use as a pillow.

Gather Travel-Sized Toiletries Together

Place all toiletries in clear bags. Pack toiletries separately to make them easier to remove when going through customs in your carry-on suitcase. The capacity of each toiletry item must not exceed 100ml. Even if you choose to check your luggage, put your toiletries in a clear plastic bag to prevent them from leaking out and staining your clothes during your trip.

• If you travel frequently, you might as well buy empty travel-size bottles that you can refill yourself, so you don’t have to buy travel-size shampoo and other care products every time.
• Want to travel light? The hotel may provide shampoo, conditioner, and soap so you don’t have to bring your own.
• The hotel hair dryer is one of the filthiest things in the room. Consider letting your hair dry naturally or bringing a small, portable hair dryer.

Bring Only Necessary Electronic Equipment

Reduce the number of electronic devices you carry and pack them appropriately. Electronic devices are most securely placed in a padded, dedicated laptop bag. If you don’t have a laptop bag, you can use clothing, bubble wrap, or rolled-up newspaper to protect your electronic devices. Fold the wires neatly and tie them with rubber bands or zip ties to prevent them from getting tangled.

• Consider taking photos with your phone instead of a bulky video camera, reducing the number of electronic devices and cords you have to carry.
• See if you can upload all your e-books to your laptop, tablet, or phone, so you don’t need to carry your e-reader and its charger.
• You can use a bubble envelope bag as a makeshift laptop sleeve.
• If you are traveling abroad, remember to bring a plug adapter suitable for the country of destination.
• Devices that use lithium-ion batteries must be carried on board the aircraft and cannot be checked as these batteries are highly flammable.

Bring a Few Snacks for the Trip

Bringing your snacks can save you money. Traveling on an empty stomach is not pleasant at all. Solid foods can pass through airport security, as long as they are packaged like electronic devices so they can be easily taken out for inspection by security personnel. Prepare a few bags of apples, carrots, and other fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snacks. If you want to increase your protein intake, prepare hard-boiled eggs or a few nuts and beef jerky. If necessary, buy a few cereal bars to eat on the way.

• Bring an empty, reusable water bottle. After going through airport security, find a water dispenser to fill up with water.
• Choose water bottles with carabiner clips or handles so you can attach them to the outside of your backpack without taking up space in your luggage.