Travel Packing Statistics and Most Forgotten Items

Packing can be one of the most important things you do when preparing for a trip. Being well-prepared with all of the items you need can be the difference between a seamless travel experience and a stressful one.

Whether you’re jetting off for a family vacation, going on a city break, or hitting the beach, packing the right items can help you have a more enjoyable trip without forgetting any of the essentials.

We’ve surveyed over 1,000 travelers to find out their most packed items for different types of trips, and the things that are most commonly forgotten, so you can make sure you’ve got everything you need for your trip.

Key statistics

People forget an average of two essential items each time they pack for a trip.
The items most often left behind when packing are toothbrushes and toothpaste (22%) and chargers for phones, laptops and other electricals (19.1%).
80.4% of travellers make sure to pack a portable charger when going on a city break.
People spend an average of $53 to replace items they forgot to pack when on a trip.
72.9% make a list of what they need to pack for each trip, and 77.1% say a packing list makes them less likely to forget things.
Three-quarters (75.6%) of women pack their partner’s suitcase for them, compared to 58.8% of men who pack their partner’s suitcase.
People going on ski trips are more likely to pack first aid kits (78.1%) compared to those going on family vacations (73.7%), beach trips (69.6%), or city breaks (64.9%).
71.7% of people have overpacked for a trip and 40% say they have come home with clothes they didn’t even wear.

Most forgotten items when packing for a trip

It’s easy to leave things behind by accident when packing for a trip, which could lead to stress and extra expense if you have to replace the items you’ve forgotten at the airport or when you arrive at your destination. The majority (84.5%) of people say they worry about forgetting things when packing for a trip.

People forget an average of two essential items each time they pack for a trip, but which items are the most commonly forgotten? [1] We asked travelers which items they had forgotten to pack on a previous trip to find out which items were left behind most often.

Toothbrushes and toothpaste are most commonly forgotten (22%)

The items that are left behind most often by travelers are toothbrushes and toothpaste, with 22% of people saying they have forgotten to pack their toothbrush or toothpaste at least once.

This is followed by chargers for phones, laptops and other electricals (19.1%), and sunscreen (18.3%).

Aligning with our findings, a 2023 study of British travelers found that 21% of people have forgotten to pack sunscreen, 20% have forgotten phone chargers, and 17% have forgotten toiletries like toothpaste and deodorant. [1]

More than half (57.2%) of people have forgotten to buy travel insurance at least once when going on a trip, although 19.9% say they never use travel insurance.

Most people (54.4%) say that if they forget to pack something for a trip, they will buy a replacement when they reach their destination. Around a quarter (27.2%) said they would buy a replacement, and 18.4% said they would just manage without the item.

The average person spends $53 on replacing forgotten items

Around half (50.3%) of people say the typical cost to replace items they have forgotten to pack is between $11 and $50. 13.6% of people say they have had to spend over $100 on replacing items they have left behind.

Why do people forget to pack certain items?

Packing for a trip can be stressful and there are many reasons why you might forget to pack an essential item. 29% of people say they have forgotten items because they put them to one side but never actually put them in their bag. Having a lot on your mind (26%) and having too much to remember (22%) are other common reasons that lead to things being left behind. [1]

Packing and making lists

When it comes to packing, who takes responsibility and how do we stop ourselves from forgetting the things we need?

Most people (72.9%) make a packing list

Almost three-quarters (72.9%) of people say they always make a list of items they need to pack before they start packing for a trip, and 14.4% said they will sometimes make a list.

Alongside this, another study found that 42% of people make a packing checklist and tick items off as they pack. [1]

77.1% said that making a packing list helps them to forget fewer things and avoid needing to make last-minute airport purchases.

People are more likely to make packing lists for long trips over 7 days (71.8%) than shorter weekend trips (65.3%).

Women (75.6%) are more likely to pack for their partner than men (58.8%)

Three-quarters (75.6%) of women say they pack their partner’s suitcase for them at least some of the time, compared to 58.8% of men who pack their partner’s suitcase. 37.2% of women pack for children when going on a trip, which is slightly higher than the 32.3% of men who pack for children.

Most people (76.5%) make packing lists for other people such as partners and children as well as themselves, however, there was not much difference between men and women here (76.5% and 77% respectively).

71.7% of people have overpacked for a trip

The majority of people (71.7%) say they have packed too much and ended up not using some of the items they brought on a trip.

Another study found that 19.3% of Americans have had to pay overweight bag fees when travelling on a plane, and 40.1% say they often struggle to close their suitcase when packing for a long trip. A further 40% say they often return home with clothes they didn’t even wear. [2]

51% of people write notes to remind them what to bring

Over half (51%) of people leave themselves notes around the house to remind them what they need to pack, and 48.8% say they leave important items near the front door so they remember to grab them before they leave.

What people pack for a family trip

We asked people which items would be most important for them to pack if they were going on a family trip, this included anything they would pack for themselves and other people they usually pack for, such as children.

Aside from the obvious items like clothes and toiletries, the top items people pack for family vacations are portable chargers (80.1%) and electronics like tablets and laptops (79.3%).

What people pack for a city break

Around one in four people (43%) say they have been on a city break in the last 12 months, and 44% are planning one for the coming months. If you’re going on a city break to somewhere like Rome or Prague, you’ll want to make sure you have practical items so you can enjoy taking in the sights of a new city. [3]

Portable chargers are key items for those going on a city break, with 80.4% of people saying they would pack one for this kind of trip. If you’re exploring a city all day, you definitely don’t want your phone to run out of battery.

What people pack for a beach holiday

If you’re heading off to the beach, you might be planning some swimming, sunbathing, and other beach activities, but which items do most travelers see as essential for a beach trip?

When it comes to beach holidays, the top item aside from clothes is sunglasses (83.1%), followed by portable chargers (82%). Other key items for the beach include (unsurprisingly) swimwear (82.6%), sunscreen (80.4%), and beach towels (80.1%).

One study into sunscreen use found that around 1 in 10 people say they don’t use sunscreen at all, and 52% said they only wear it while doing certain activities on sunny days. [4]

What people pack for a ski trip

For a skiing trip, you will of course need to pack warm clothes to keep you safe and comfortable on the slopes. However, the top item for people going on ski trips is electronics, including tablets, laptops, and e-readers, with 81.3% of people making sure to pack these for a skiing holiday.

Of those who go on ski trips, 79.5% said they bring their own skis, and 77.6% bring their own ski jackets and gloves. Aligning with our findings, another study found that 80% of skiers and 56% of snowboarders took some or all of their own equipment on their last winter sports holiday. [5]

People are more likely to pack a first aid kit for a ski trip than any other type of trip, with 78.1% making sure to have one of these on hand if they’re going skiing.

Packing tips

Make a list – The first thing you should do before you pack a single item is make a list of all the items you need. Consider which clothes you’ll need for different activities, as well as toiletries, electronics, and any location-specific items like beach towels, ski jackets or walking boots. Checking each item off the list when you’ve packed it will make you much less likely to forget things.
Use travel minis where possible – Using travel-sized versions of your favorite toiletries can help save a lot of space in your suitcase. Alternatively, you could decant your products from larger containers into smaller refill bottles and tubs to use for travel. Using smaller containers for toiletries can also help if you’re bringing these items in your hand luggage as there is a limit on the size of liquids you can bring through airport security.
Use packing cubes – These can help keep your clothes organized, making it easier to find things when you arrive at your destination. Packing cubes also tightly compress your clothes, helping to save space in your bag.
Vacuum pack – Try using vacuum bags to save space in your suitcase, but remember you’ll need to be able to vacuum them again for your return journey.
Avoid overpacking – Think about any items you took on your last trip and didn’t end up using, and consider leaving them at home. Plan your outfits with versatile items that can be worn together, so you don’t need two completely different outfits for each day of your trip.
Put heavy items at the base of your case – Placing things like shoes, books and larger clothing items at the wheel end of your suitcase can help stabilize it and stop more delicate items from being squashed in transit.

Are packing lists important?

Having a comprehensive packing list can be the difference between being well-prepared for your trip and having to fork out extra money at the airport for things you have forgotten. People typically spend $53 replacing items they have forgotten to pack, and we forget an average of two items every time we go on a trip. [1]

So next time you’re packing for a vacation, check through our lists and packing tips to make sure you have everything you need.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,511 Americans in September 2024 to ask about the items they most commonly pack for different types of trips, as well as the items they have forgotten when packing for a previous trip.

Sources

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