How To Pack Using Packing Cubes

Do you want to know how to pack using packing cubes, not only to make the packing process easier, but to make your entire trip easier?

I love using packing cubes. They are one of the best tools for organizing your luggage and making “living” out of a suitcase easy.

They help you organize your clothes, fit more in a bag, and give you “drawers” to use during your trip. I like leaving my clothes in my carry-on bag throughout the trip, and packing cubes make this easy and neat.

There are several ways to use them, and different people prefer different ways.  I’ll show you a few so you can see which works best for you.

In this article, I’m going to show you how to pack using packing cubes, applying a few different methods. I’ll show you:

• How to use packing cubes for clothes in both medium and large cubes
• Different methods of folding clothes
• Helpful ways to organize your cubes

I am a carry-on-only packer, so everything I am showing you works in any type of luggage, including a carry-on.

Medium vs Large Packing Cubes

Most packing cube sets come with small, medium, and large cubes.  This is my favorite set.  When it comes to how to use packing cubes for clothes, I think the medium or large cubes are good for tops and bottoms, and the small ones are perfect for undergarments.

I can fit all of my clothes in either 2 medium cubes or 1 large cube, which is

My preferred method is using 1 large cube. I can fit all my clothes in one large cube, which is enough for a weekend getaway or for three weeks across the world. I pack the same way, no matter how long the trip.

I usually pack enough clothes for about one week, even for longer trips. This normally includes about 6-8 tops and 3-4 bottoms plus pajamas and layering items, like tanks or camisoles. 

You can learn how we make laundry easy when we travel in this article: How to Travel With Just a Carry On

If I use 2 medium cubes, I put half in each one.  I use different folding or rolling methods with these cubes. I get into that more below, as well as different ways to arrange them.

File vs Fold vs Roll

There are three main methods of packing clothes that I am familiar with:  filing, folding, or rolling

Filing Method

I’ve always called this the “file” method because it looks like a filing system.  This is my favorite way and what I consider the best way to use packing cubes.

I use my large packing cube when I pack like this.  I fold each item (tops and bottoms) into a rectangle that is all the same length and width.  Then I place each piece next to the others so I can see the tops of each one.

I prefer this method because I can easily see each item, and I don’t have to unpack when I’m in hotels.  I just live out of my bag during my trip.

I could pack this way without using the packing cube, but I prefer using the packing cube because it neatly separates it from other things in the carry-on. When it’s zipped, I have room on the side and the end for more things.

Folding Method

In my experience, this method works well when using two medium cubes.  I can get all of my clothes for about a week into these cubes.

Because the medium packing cubes are not as thick, I cannot use the filing method, so folding is one option for these cubes. I fold each item to the size of the medium cube – the exact width and length of the cube.  Then I stack them all in the cube.  Then I use the second zipper to compress it all.

One disadvantage of this method is that you cannot see what’s in the cube, so you have to take it all out to choose what to wear. For me, that’s a little more trouble and more time-consuming. But that’s just me.

Rolling Method

This method can work with two medium cubes or 1 large cube.  I fold each item to the width of the cube I’m using.  I then roll it tightly and place each next to the last.  If using the large cube, I can stack more rolls on top. Then I compress it with the second zipper if I can.

This method allows you to see all of your items at once, but it requires two separate cubes. That could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your preferences.

If you prefer to separate your clothes in some way (more details in next section), it could be a good thing.

How to Organize Packing Cubes

As I mentioned, if you use multiple packing cubes (two medium cubes, for example), you can separate and organize your clothes in a few different ways:

• Clothes type – You can separate tops and bottoms, neutrals and colors, outer layers and inner layers
• City or destination – You can separate them by destination, one cube for Rome and cube for Florence. That way you only use one cube during one part of your trip. You could also choose to divide them by clothes for the city and clothes for the mountains, or for rainy locations and those that are dry.
• Clean and dirty clothes – I know people who like to use one cube for clean clothes and one for dirty clothes.
• Cold and warm temperatures – If you’re traveling to both cold and warm locations during one trip, you could divide into one cube for Switzerland and one for Sicily, for example. You could also have varying temperatures in one destination, in Colorado, for example. In that case, you have one cube for mountain days and one for days out of the mountains.

How to use packing cubes for travel can vary for every trip, depending on the location(s) and your needs.

Some packing cubes (like mine) have a clear pocket to put tags to identify each bag, making it easy identify.

I love using packing cubes.  For me (someone who loves organization!), they make packing and traveling much easier, especially when you move around from place to place during one trip. It eliminates “packing and repacking,” which is a huge time saver.

You’ll need to play around with how to pack using packing cubes. Try different ways to use them to see what works best for you! 

You can see all my favorite organizers in my HERE.

Recommended reading:

• How to Travel With Just a Carry On