Travel Packing Weight Calculator
Estimate your luggage weight before you get to the airport and avoid surprise fees.
Smart Packing for Stress-Free Travel
Nothing spoils a vacation faster than hefty baggage fees or frantic repacking at the airport check-in counter. Knowing how much your luggage weighs before you leave home saves time, money, and stress. This calculator estimates total weight by summing up common categories and adding the weight of the suitcase itself—a factor many travelers forget!
Common Weight Culprits
- Jeans & Jackets: Denim and heavy coats are surprisingly heavy. Wear your heaviest items on the plane to save space and weight.
- Shoes: A pair of hiking boots can weigh over 1.5 kg. Limit yourself to 2-3 pairs maximum.
- Toiletries: Full-size shampoo bottles add up fast. Use travel-sized containers or buy supplies at your destination.
- The Suitcase: Hard-shell suitcases can weigh 3-5 kg when empty. Lightweight soft-shell bags or duffels give you more allowance for your actual stuff.
Carry-On vs. Checked Baggage
Carry-On (7-10 kg): Ideal for short trips. You skip the baggage claim wait and eliminate the risk of lost luggage. However, you must adhere to strict liquid limits (usually 100ml containers).
Checked Bag (20-32 kg): Necessary for long trips or if you plan to bring back many souvenirs. Be careful—going even 1 kg over the limit can result in a fee of $50-$100 depending on the airline.
Strategies for Reducing Weight
Weigh heavy items individually and ask yourself whether you need them for your trip. Bulky shoes or hardcover books quickly consume valuable kilograms. Digitizing documents and guidebooks can save space and reduce weight. If you're close to the limit, consider mailing souvenirs home instead of cramming them into your luggage.
Using Portable Luggage Scales
Investing in a small handheld luggage scale can remove guesswork from the packing process. Hook the scale to your bag's handle, lift, and instantly see the weight displayed. Portable scales typically weigh only a few ounces and easily fit in your suitcase, making them great for verifying weight when you repack before the return flight.