I used to think packing cubes were unnecessary. They seemed like one more travel product people bought to feel organized without actually making more room in a suitcase.
Then I shared one enormous suitcase with my three boys on a trip where we stayed in four different places.
Those packing cubes saved my sanity. Everyone’s clothing stayed separate, we could find what we needed without dumping the entire suitcase onto the hotel floor, and packing up for the next destination was much easier.
I have used packing cubes ever since, but I don’t organize them the same way for every trip. If we are changing hotels frequently, I pack by day so I can pull out only what we need at each stop. If we are staying in one place, I organize the cubes by clothing type.
The best way to use packing cubes depends on how you are traveling, who is sharing the suitcase, and how often you will need to unpack.
How to Use Packing Cubes at a Glance
Changing hotels frequently? Pack each cube by day or destination so you only have to open what you need.
Staying in one hotel? Organize cubes by clothing type, such as shirts, pants, underwear, and pajamas.
Sharing a suitcase? Give each person a separate cube or cube color.
Using compression packing cubes? Fill the cube evenly before compressing it, and remember that compression reduces bulk—not weight.
Best tip: Don’t automatically use the largest cube. Several smaller cubes are usually easier to organize inside a carry-on or suitcase.
What Are Packing Cubes?
Packing cubes are lightweight zippered containers that divide the inside of your suitcase into smaller, easier-to-manage sections. They come in different sizes and can be used for clothing, underwear, shoes, swimsuits, pajamas, and even dirty laundry.
They don’t magically create more room in your suitcase, but they make the space you have much easier to use. Clothing stays contained instead of shifting every time you open your bag, and you can remove one cube without disturbing everything else.
Packing cubes are especially useful for:
Trips where you change hotels frequently
Families sharing one suitcase
Carry-on-only travel
Cruises and road trips
Keeping clean and dirty clothing separate
Travelers who tend to make a giant mess while searching for one shirt
I am naturally a messy traveler, so packing cubes give me a level of organization I would never maintain on my own. Instead of my suitcase exploding across every hotel room, everything has somewhere to go.
Do Packing Cubes Save Space?
Regular packing cubes primarily help with organization, although they can save some space by keeping clothing folded or rolled tightly together.
Compression packing cubes save more room because an additional zipper squeezes out some of the extra air. They are especially helpful for sweaters, sweatshirts, and other bulky clothing.
However, compression cubes do not make your belongings weigh less. It is surprisingly easy to fit too much into a carry-on and then discover that it exceeds the airline’s weight limit.
How to Use Packing Cubes Effectively
The most effective way to use packing cubes is to decide how you want to unpack before you begin packing. Someone staying in one resort for a week needs a different system from someone changing hotels every night.
1. Choose How You Want to Organize Your Clothes
I use two different packing methods depending on the trip.
If we are staying in several hotels, I pack by day or destination. Everything needed for that portion of the trip goes into one cube. When we arrive, I can pull out that cube without unpacking the rest of the suitcase.
If we are staying in one hotel, I pack by item instead. Shirts go in one cube, pants in another, and underwear and socks go into a smaller cube.
Families sharing a suitcase can also assign one cube or color to each person. This prevents everyone’s clothing from becoming mixed together.
2. Choose the Right Size Packing Cube
Use larger cubes for pants, dresses, sweatshirts, and other bulky clothing. Medium cubes work well for shirts and pajamas, while small cubes are ideal for underwear, socks, swimsuits, and accessories.
Several small or medium cubes are often easier to arrange than one enormous cube, especially inside a carry-on.
3. Fold or Roll Your Clothes
You can either fold or roll clothing before placing it inside a packing cube. I use whichever method fits the clothing best.
Rolling works well for T-shirts, leggings, pajamas, and other casual clothing. Folding is generally better for jeans, sweaters, button-down shirts, and anything likely to wrinkle.
The important thing is to pack clothing neatly and evenly. This helps the cube maintain its shape and fit more easily into your suitcase.
4. Fill the Cube Without Overstuffing It
Fill each cube completely enough to prevent clothing from shifting, but don’t force the zipper closed. Overstuffing can damage the zipper and turn the cube into a hard, awkward lump that is difficult to fit into your luggage.
If a cube won’t close easily, move one or two items into another cube.
5. Arrange the Cubes Inside Your Suitcase
Place the heaviest or largest cubes near the wheels of a rolling suitcase. Fit smaller cubes around them and use narrow spaces for shoes, toiletries, or a laundry bag.
Before closing your suitcase, make sure you can remove the first cube you will need without unpacking everything else. This is particularly helpful when arriving late at night or staying somewhere for only one evening.
How to Use Compression Packing Cubes
Compression packing cubes have an additional zipper that reduces the cube’s depth after it has been packed. They are useful for bulky clothing, but they work best when filled carefully.
Start by opening the compression zipper completely. Fold or roll your clothes and place them evenly across the cube instead of piling everything in the center.
Close the main zipper first. Then slowly close the compression zipper, pressing down gently as you work around the cube. If the zipper becomes difficult to move, stop and rearrange or remove an item. Forcing it can damage the zipper or fabric.
Compression packing cubes work particularly well for:
Sweaters and sweatshirts
Jackets and other bulky layers
Pajamas
Casual clothing that does not wrinkle easily
Dirty laundry on the trip home
I don’t use compression cubes for everything. When clothing is compressed too tightly, it can come out badly wrinkled, and the cube can become an awkward shape.
Remember that compression packing cubes reduce bulk, not weight. You may be able to fit more inside your suitcase, but you still need to stay within your airline’s luggage allowance.
How to Use Packing Cubes in a Carry-On
This is where packing cubes really are worth it! Packing cubes are especially helpful when you are trying to fit everything into a carry-on, but bigger is not always better. One enormous cube can take over the entire suitcase and leave awkward spaces around the edges.
I prefer using several small and medium cubes that I can rearrange. Place the largest cube in first, then fit smaller cubes around it. Shoes, toiletries, and oddly shaped items can fill the spaces between the cubes and around the suitcase handles.
If you are packing a carry-on for 10 days, use one cube for your largest clothing category and smaller cubes for underwear, pajamas, swimsuits, or accessories. You can also pack by day if you will be moving between several hotels.
Try arranging the empty cubes inside your suitcase before filling them. This shows you exactly how many will fit and prevents you from packing more cubes than your carry-on can hold.
Packing cubes can help you fit more into a carry-on, but don’t forget about weight. Compression makes clothing smaller, not lighter, and some international airlines have strict carry-on weight limits.
Use an Empty Packing Cube for Dirty Laundry
Pack at least one empty cube or laundry bag for worn clothing. Packing cubes fold almost completely flat when empty, so bringing an extra one takes very little room.
As the trip continues, move dirty clothing into the empty cube. This keeps it separated from anything clean and makes repacking much easier.
On the trip home, the entire cube can go directly into the laundry room instead of being unpacked item by item.
An extra cube can also hold:
Damp swimsuits
Clothing that has been worn but can be worn again
Souvenirs
A change of clothes for an overnight stop
Items that need to be moved quickly if your suitcase is overweight
If you use a cube for wet swimsuits, choose a waterproof or water-resistant bag rather than a regular mesh packing cube.
What Should You Not Put in Packing Cubes?
Not everything in your suitcase needs to go inside a packing cube. Trying to force every item into one can actually make your luggage harder to organize.
I usually pack these items separately:
Shoes: Place them in shoe bags or along the edges of the suitcase so they do not transfer dirt to your clothing.
Liquids: Toiletries can leak through fabric cubes. Keep them in a waterproof bag.
Hair tools: Straighteners, curling irons, and hair dryers are awkwardly shaped and often fit better between cubes.
Heavy or rigid objects: Books and other solid items can distort the cube and damage its zipper.
Items needed during the flight: Medication, passports, chargers, and anything valuable should remain accessible in your personal item.
Very bulky clothing: Heavy coats and thick shoes are usually better worn during travel than packed.
Packing cubes should make your suitcase easier to use. If an item fits better in an open space around the cubes, leave it there.
Common Packing-Cube Mistakes
Using Only Large Cubes
A set filled with enormous cubes may look useful, but large cubes are difficult to arrange inside a carry-on. A combination of small and medium sizes gives you more flexibility.
Overfilling Every Cube
Packing cubes should close without a fight. Forcing the zipper can damage the cube and leave you with a hard, rounded bundle that wastes space inside the suitcase.
Compressing Everything
Compression cubes are helpful for fluffy clothing, but they do not improve every type of packing. Clothing that is already rolled tightly may not compress much, while dress shirts and delicate fabrics can become badly wrinkled.
Forgetting About Weight
A compressed suitcase may look wonderfully small while being surprisingly heavy. Weigh your bag before leaving home, especially when flying internationally.
Packing Liquids Without Protection
Most packing cubes are not waterproof. Place toiletries and anything else that could leak inside a sealed plastic or waterproof bag.
Bringing Too Many Cubes
You do not have to fill the suitcase with cubes from edge to edge. Leave some flexible space for shoes, jackets, souvenirs, and oddly shaped items.
How to Choose Packing Cubes
You do not need the most expensive packing cubes, but a few features make them much easier to use.
Choose a Variety of Sizes
Look for a set with small and medium cubes rather than several enormous ones. Medium cubes work well for most clothing, while smaller cubes are useful for underwear, socks, swimsuits, and accessories.
Look for Strong Zippers
The zipper receives the most strain, especially on compression packing cubes. It should move smoothly without catching on the fabric.
Consider a Mesh Top
Mesh makes it easy to see what is inside each cube and allows clothing to breathe. A solid or water-resistant cube is better for dirty laundry, damp swimsuits, or anything you want to keep separated.
Use Different Colors for Family Members
When several people share a suitcase, assign each person a different color. This is much faster than opening every cube to find one child’s pajamas.
Decide Whether You Need Compression
Regular packing cubes are best for organization. Compression packing cubes are more useful for bulky sweaters, sweatshirts, and cold-weather clothing.
If you are buying your first set, I recommend choosing one with several practical sizes rather than the set with the greatest number of pieces. You can see the packing cubes and travel organizers I recommend on Amazon.
Veken 6 Set Packing Cubes
No products found.
Veken is a reputable brand that manufactures the best packing tubes for travel. Veken uses 290D nylon fabrics to manufacture packing cubes, making them 26% thicker and resistant. These packing cubes are waterproof that prevent your clothes and other items from moisture, heat, and water.
I have used these particular packing cubes for years on end.
Gonex Compression Packing Cubes
No products found.
Gonex is a well-known packing cubes brand.
Gonex packing cubes are durable and lightweight because the honeycomb fabric accompanies the soft and smooth nylon material. The honeycomb fabric resists wear and tear, and the mesh-top panels help you see inside to what you have packed. The are great for when you need to compress a few of your items.
Are Packing Cubes Worth It?
Packing cubes are worth using if you want to keep your suitcase organized, especially when sharing luggage or moving between several hotels.
I went from thinking packing cubes were completely unnecessary to using them on almost every trip. They do not magically make a suitcase bigger, but they stop clothing from shifting, make it easier to find what you need, and prevent the entire contents of your suitcase from ending up on the hotel floor.
The best system depends on your trip. I pack by day when we are changing hotels frequently and by clothing type when we are staying in one place. Families can also assign each person a separate cube or color.
Once you find a system that works for you, packing and unpacking become much easier—which means less time digging through your suitcase and more time enjoying your trip.
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Last update on 2026-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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