Last updated: 11 November 2026. This guide contains affiliate links; if you book through one we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we make money.
Short answer: two weeks in a carry-on works if you pack for seven days and plan one wash in the middle. That means roughly five tops, two bottoms, seven sets of underwear, two pairs of shoes (one worn on the plane) and a single layer for warmth and rain. Liquids go into small containers or get replaced with solids, and spare batteries always stay with you in the cabin. The list below has been checked against the current cabin-bag limits of eight major airlines and the latest US and UK security rules, so the only thing left to test is your discipline.
In this guide
- Check your bag size first: airline limits in 2026
- The clothing maths: pack for seven days, wash once
- The two-week carry-on packing list
- Liquids and toiletries: the 2026 rules
- Electronics and power banks
- Doing laundry mid-trip (and hotels that make it easy)
- How to pack it: cubes, rolling and what to wear on the plane
- FAQ
Check your bag size first: airline limits in 2026
Everything else in this guide depends on one number: how big a bag your airline lets you take into the cabin. The good news is that most full-service carriers have settled on roughly the same size, about 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in), including wheels and handles. The bad news is that budget airlines and basic fares often give you only a small under-seat bag, and two weeks of clothes will not fit in one of those.
| Airline | Overhead carry-on | Personal / under-seat item | Weight limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta | 56 x 35 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in) | Purse, laptop bag or small backpack, no size given | None stated |
| American | 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in) | 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in) | None stated |
| United | 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in) | Under-seat item | None stated |
| Air Canada | 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in) | 43 x 33 x 16 cm (17 x 13 x 6 in) | None, but you must lift it into the bin yourself |
| British Airways | 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x 10 in) | Small under-seat item | Check your fare |
| Qantas (international economy) | 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in) | Small personal item | 7 kg (15 lb) in total |
| easyJet | 56 x 45 x 25 cm, paid add-on or Plus fares only (£60 at the gate) | 45 x 36 x 20 cm, free | 15 kg |
| Ryanair | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, with Priority only, 10 kg | 40 x 30 x 20 cm, free | 10 kg for the overhead bag |
Three things catch people out. First, fare type matters more than airline: Air Canada’s Basic fares bought since January 2025 include only a personal item on flights within North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Second, small regional aircraft often force bags into the hold at the gate; Delta says carry-ons may be gate-checked on Delta Connection flights with 50 seats or fewer. Third, Qantas international economy caps everything you carry on at 7 kg combined, which is tight once you add a laptop.
Our advice: buy a bag that measures 55 x 35 x 20 cm or slightly smaller, including wheels. It fits almost every overhead limit above, and a soft-sided bag or travel backpack of that size can be squeezed into a sizer that a rigid case cannot.
The clothing maths: pack for seven days, wash once
Nobody fits fourteen outfits into a cabin bag, and nobody needs to. The rule that makes two weeks possible is simple: pack for one week and do laundry once, around day six or seven. Everything you choose should survive a sink wash and dry overnight.
The second rule is colour. Pick a base of two neutrals (navy and grey, or black and white) and make every top work with every bottom. Five tops and two bottoms then give you ten combinations, which is more than enough variety for photos and dinners. Add one brighter piece if you want, but only if it also matches both bottoms.
Fabric decides how far this goes. Merino wool and synthetic blends dry overnight on a hanger and can be worn two or three times before they smell. Heavy cotton jeans and thick hoodies are the opposite: they take up space, dry slowly and are better worn on the plane than packed.
The two-week carry-on packing list
This is the list for a mild-weather trip (roughly 10°C to 25°C) in a 55 cm bag plus a small personal item. For a beach trip, swap the trousers and jumper for shorts and a swimsuit; for winter, wear your coat and boots on the plane and drop one pair of shoes.
Clothes
- 5 tops: three T-shirts, one long-sleeve, one smarter shirt or blouse
- 2 bottoms: one pair of travel trousers or jeans (worn on the plane) and one lighter pair, skirt or shorts
- 1 warm layer: a thin merino or fleece jumper
- 1 packable rain jacket
- 7 sets of underwear and 5 pairs of socks
- 1 set of sleepwear (a T-shirt from the list can double up)
- 1 swimsuit, if there is any chance of a pool or spa
Shoes
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes, worn on the plane
- 1 light second pair: sandals, flats or slim trainers, stuffed with socks
Shoes are the biggest space thief in any carry-on. Two pairs is the target; three is the absolute ceiling, and only if the third is flip-flops.
Toiletries
- Solid shampoo and conditioner bars in a tin
- Toothbrush, small toothpaste, deodorant (a stick takes the pressure off your liquids allowance)
- Sunscreen and moisturiser decanted into 100 ml or smaller bottles
- Razor, small hairbrush, any medicines in original packaging
- A few laundry sheets or a small bar of laundry soap
Tech and documents (in your personal item)
- Phone, one multi-port charger and one cable that charges everything you own
- Power bank of 100 Wh or less (most phone power banks are well under this)
- Universal plug adaptor
- Earbuds, e-reader instead of paper books
- Passport, cards, printed copy of your hotel bookings and travel insurance details
Small extras that earn their place
- A folding tote or packable duffel for shopping and souvenirs
- Two or three packing cubes, one of them compression
- A reusable water bottle (empty through security)
- A sink stopper and a short travel washing line if your hotel has no laundry
What to leave at home: a hairdryer (almost every hotel has one), full-size toiletries, “just in case” outfits, a third pair of jeans, physical guidebooks and a laptop you will not open. If you are unsure about an item, it stays.
Liquids and toiletries: the 2026 rules
Liquid rules are the part of carry-on travel that changed most in the last two years, and they now differ depending on the airport you leave from. Pack for the strictest airport on your route.
United States
As of November 2026 the TSA’s 3-1-1 rule is unchanged: containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, all inside one quart-sized clear bag, one bag per passenger. Newer scanners have not yet led to a nationwide change, so do not count on bringing larger bottles from any US airport. One welcome change is that travellers no longer have to take their shoes off at standard screening, a requirement that ended in July 2025.
United Kingdom
The UK government’s guidance says most airports still limit containers to 100 ml, but some now allow containers up to 2 litres. Where a bag is required, it must be a single clear resealable bag holding no more than a litre, roughly 20 cm x 20 cm. Medicines, special dietary needs and baby food or milk are allowed in containers up to 2 litres at all UK airports.
Which airports have relaxed the rule is a moving target. As of late October 2026, Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and Southend allowed up to 2 litres with liquids left in your bag, while Manchester, Stansted, Luton, Glasgow and several regional airports kept the 100 ml limit. Check your departure airport’s own security page a few days before you fly.
The simple fix
Even where 2 litres are allowed, your return flight may not be. The easiest approach is to pack as if the 100 ml rule applies everywhere and switch as much as possible to solids: shampoo and conditioner bars, stick deodorant, solid sunscreen and toothpaste tablets. Anything you cannot replace, decant into small bottles and buy the rest at your destination. Duty-free liquids are allowed through UK security if they stay sealed in the shop’s security bag with the receipt visible.
Electronics and power banks
Carry-on-only travellers have an advantage here, because the rules force batteries into the cabin anyway. According to the FAA’s PackSafe guidance, spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in carry-on bags only, never in checked luggage. If your cabin bag is taken at the gate, take the power bank out and keep it with you.
| Battery size | Allowed? | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 Wh | Yes, no quantity limit for personal use | Phone power banks, laptop batteries |
| 101 to 160 Wh | Only with airline approval, maximum two spares | Large laptop or camera batteries |
| Over 160 Wh | Not allowed | Portable power stations |
Cover the terminals of loose batteries with tape or keep them in their own pouch so nothing can short them. The FAA also notes that airlines can set stricter per-passenger limits on power banks than the government rules, so read your carrier’s battery page before you fly, and charge your phone at the gate rather than relying on the power bank in the air.
Doing laundry mid-trip (and hotels that make it easy)
The mid-trip wash is what makes the seven-day list work, so plan it when you book your hotels. You have three options, in order of effort.
Sink washing. Fine for underwear, socks and quick-dry tops. Wash in the evening, roll each item tightly in a towel and press to squeeze out the water, then hang it. Merino and synthetics are usually dry by morning; cotton often is not.
A local laundromat or wash-and-fold service. Most cities have both. A wash-and-fold service costs more than doing it yourself but saves an hour of your trip.
A hotel with a washing machine. This is the option we would pick. Book your middle stop, around nights six to eight, somewhere with guest laundry or a washer in the room, and the whole trip gets easier. A few examples confirmed on the hotels’ own websites:
- Lisbon: Locke de Santa Joana lists a washer/dryer in its apartments (not in the smaller Locke Rooms). See our guide to where to stay in Lisbon for the neighbourhoods around it.
- Paris: Le Jardin de Verre by Locke in the Latin Quarter has a washer/dryer in its Deluxe Studios, so book that room type specifically. More options in our Paris arrondissement guide.
- London: Locke at Broken Wharf, on the Thames near St Paul’s, has communal laundry facilities for guests.
- Tokyo: Sotetsu Fresa Inn Ginza 3-chome has a coin laundry on site, which is common in Japanese business hotels and very handy for carry-on travellers. Our Tokyo where-to-stay guide covers the best areas.
- Sydney: Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Town Hall has a washing machine and dryer in every one- and two-bedroom apartment. The studios do not, so check the room type before booking.
When searching on booking sites, filter by “washing machine” or “laundry” and read the room description, not just the hotel’s amenity list. Laundry is often limited to apartments or larger room types.
How to pack it: cubes, rolling and what to wear on the plane
Wear the bulk. Your heaviest shoes, jeans and jumper or jacket go on your body, not in the bag. Jacket pockets can take a phone, earbuds and a power bank, which also keeps them out of a gate-checked case.
Use two or three cubes. One for tops and bottoms, one for underwear and socks, and a compression cube for the warm layer and sleepwear. Cubes do not create space by magic, but compression cubes do squeeze soft items, and all cubes stop the bag turning into a mess after the first hotel.
Roll soft items, fold stiff ones. T-shirts, underwear and leggings roll tightly and fill gaps. Shirts and trousers that crease are better folded flat against the back of the case. Try both at home and keep whichever fits more.
Fill the dead space. Socks and chargers go inside shoes. Shoes go at the wheel end of a roller case, heels down. The toiletry bag sits on top or in an outside pocket so you can pull it out at security without unpacking.
Leave 10 per cent empty. If the bag only closes when you sit on it, it will not close on the way home with a few souvenirs inside. That is what the folding tote is for.
Do a test pack a week before. Pack the full bag, weigh it on a luggage scale or bathroom scale and measure it with the wheels. If you are flying Qantas economy or a budget airline, the weight test matters as much as the size.
FAQ
Can you really pack for two weeks in a carry-on?
Yes, as long as you pack for seven days and wash once. The bag size is not the limit; trying to bring a different outfit for every day is.
What size bag should I buy?
Around 55 x 35 x 20 cm including wheels. That fits the overhead limits of Delta, American, United, Air Canada, British Airways and Qantas, the paid cabin bag on easyJet and Ryanair’s Priority bag. On a budget airline’s free allowance you only get the small under-seat bag, so pay for the larger cabin bag when you book; it is usually cheaper than at the gate.
Can I take full-size toiletries if my airport allows 2 litres?
Only if every airport on your route allows it, including the return and any connection. The UK government advises checking the rules at your departure, transfer and return airports. In the US, the 100 ml (3.4 oz) limit still applies.
Do I still have to take my shoes off at US airports?
Not at standard TSA screening. The routine shoe-removal requirement ended in July 2025, although officers can still ask for extra checks.
What if my carry-on is taken at the gate?
Take out your power bank, spare batteries, medicines, passport and valuables before handing it over. Spare lithium batteries are not allowed in the hold, even when the bag was checked at the gate.
Is carry-on only worth it on a free checked-bag fare?
We think so. You skip the bag drop and the carousel, you cannot lose a bag at a tight connection, and moving between hotels by train or metro is far easier with one small case.
How we researched this: in November 2026 we checked the official baggage pages of Delta, American, Air Canada, Qantas and easyJet, the UK government’s hand-luggage guidance, the FAA’s PackSafe battery rules, recent reporting on TSA and UK airport liquid rules, and the official websites of each hotel mentioned to confirm its laundry facilities. United, British Airways and Ryanair figures are from a current third-party summary because their own pages were unavailable to us. The packing list is our own, built around those limits.
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