Traveling with only a carry-on means no baggage claim, no waiting at the carousel and no risk of a checked bag arriving a day after you do. It can also save you the checked bag fee, depending on your airline and fare. The catch is fitting a trip into one bag. These five tips are how to do it.
1. Pick the Bag Against Your Airline's Limits
Carry-on rules differ by airline, so choose your bag against the airline you fly most. As an example, Delta's limit is 22 by 14 by 9 inches including handles and wheels, and the three sides combined can't exceed 45 inches. Measure the bag you plan to buy or use, and check your own airline's page before you pack.
Beyond size, look for a bag that will last: sturdy stitching on the zippers, durable material, wheels that roll easily, and enough pockets to find things quickly.
2. Use Your Personal Item
Most airlines let you bring a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you, in addition to your carry-on. On Delta, one carry-on and one personal item are free of charge, and the personal item can be a small backpack, a laptop bag, a purse or a briefcase. Put the things you need in flight in it, along with your laptop, charger, book and valuables. Check your airline's rules for your fare before you count on both bags.
3. Wear the Bulkiest Items
Your heaviest shoes, jacket and sweater take up the most room in a bag. Wear them to the airport and take them off once you're seated. Layers work well here: a coat you can remove on the plane costs you nothing in bag space.
4. Pack Small and Pack Smart
Roll your clothes instead of folding them, and use packing cubes or compression bags to reduce each group of items to its smallest size. Use every pocket and side pocket for socks, chargers and small items.
For toiletries, follow the TSA liquids rule: each container must be 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, and all of them go in one quart-sized bag. Anything larger has to go in checked baggage. Medications and infant and child nourishments are listed as exemptions, so check TSA's pages for how to pack them. A solid shampoo bar or a travel-size bottle from the hotel saves space.
Weigh the bag before you leave. Some airlines enforce weight limits on carry-ons, and some don't state one, so confirm your airline's policy.
5. Plan to Do Laundry
If you're away for more than a few days, don't pack for every day. Stay somewhere with a washer, a nearby laundromat or hotel laundry service, and pack for about a week. Fewer outfits is the biggest single way to shrink a bag.
Next Step
Check your airline's carry-on size page, measure your bag, and pack a week of clothes in cubes. Then weigh it before you head to the airport.
Updated October 19, 2026: carry-on packing tips.
