A packing list for 5 days: count what you will use
Start with the days and activities, then count the clothes. This five-day example shows how to avoid counting travel clothes twice and check whether laundry will be dry before you need it.
Describe the trip first
Write down the dates, planned activities and weather forecast close to departure. Then check what your accommodation provides: an available washing machine does not mean your clothes will be dry when you need them. If you cannot confirm both washing and drying, make a plan that does not depend on them.
Our example is a five-day, four-night city break with walking and casual activities. The clothes have already been chosen and work together. This is a planning example, not a complete packing list or an ideal quantity for everyone. Adapt it to your comfort, the weather and your actual activities.
Give each garment a letter
Choose three tops: A, B and C. Choose two pairs of trousers: P and Q. The letters identify individual garments, not new outfits. This example reuses trousers if they are still fit to wear; otherwise you need to change or wash them.
A and B are washed at the end of day 2, with both assumed to be fully dry before getting dressed on day 4. C covers day 3. That is a condition to check, not a promise that clothes dry within a fixed number of hours.
The five-day plan
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Day 1: A + P — wear these when you leave
Day 2: B + P — wash A and B afterwards
Day 3: C + Q — A and B are still unavailable
Day 4: A + P — only if A is clean and dry
Day 5: B + Q — only if B is clean and dryA, B and C are tops; P and Q are pairs of trousers. The plan allows repeat wear but does not require wearing dirty or damp clothes.
Count distinct items, not appearances
A appears twice and B appears twice; you still need three tops, not five. P and Q make two pairs of trousers. For each category, first record the total number of distinct items you need, then subtract what you will wear when leaving.
In the count below, only A and B are washed. There is a clean change of underwear and socks for each day. Add items if you need more changes, different sleepwear or activity-specific shoes. The warm layer is one garment chosen for this example’s conditions, not a guarantee of comfort in any climate.
From the total to the bag
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Category Total | Wear when leaving | Pack
Tops 3 | 1 | 2
Pairs of trousers 2 | 1 | 1
Warm layer 1 | 0 | 1
Underwear 5 | 1 | 4
Pairs of socks 5 | 1 | 4
Sleepwear 1 | 0 | 1
Pairs of shoes 1 | 1 | 0Pack = total needed − what you wear when leaving. “1” for sleepwear means one set. These counts do not establish the weight or volume of your luggage.
Check what happens if laundry is delayed
Imagine you cannot do the washing, or A and B are still damp on day 4. The plan no longer guarantees clean tops for days 4 and 5. One solution is to add D and E: five tops in total, with four in the bag. Another is to confirm an alternative wash and dry that finishes before day 4. Do not assume a shop or laundry will be available.
Try the same check on another dependency: if the shared charger is unavailable, who brings one? Put a name beside each shared item. “We’ll bring it between us” does not identify the person responsible.
Add what the example does not count
- Documents, keys, payment methods and phone: write down what you need and where it will go.
- Toiletries and personal needs: make your own specific list; the clothing table does not cover them.
- Activity-specific equipment: add it to the day when you will use it.
- Last-minute items such as a charger: keep a visible list and tick them off only after putting them in your luggage.
Use the sheet and check the list
On the PDF sheet, first enter the activities and garment letters for each day. Then fill in the inventory: total, wear when leaving and pack. In the notes, identify items available at your destination and who confirmed them; do not also count them as things you are bringing.
Walk through the plan from day 1 to day 5. Check that every garment is available when it appears and that each inventory row satisfies the subtraction. Finally, lay out your items and check actual space and weight for your transport. The worksheet does not check baggage limits.
Download the blank packing planner
One A4 page to print: five days, an inventory and a backup if laundry fails. This is a blank sheet for handwriting, not a fillable PDF form. You can also copy the columns onto paper.
Where the method comes from
Coru created the example, the calculation, the failure check and the worksheet. REI and Rick Steves provide background guidance on matching clothing to activities, combining garments, and considering washing and drying. They do not validate these quantities as a standard. You can use this method without buying new clothes or accessories.