Packing Weight Budget Calculator
Calculate your total luggage weight against airline limits.
Allocate weight across clothing, shoes, toiletries, and electronics to stay under limits.
Exceeding airline baggage weight limits results in expensive fees — typically $25–$100 per extra kilogram on international flights. Careful packing planning prevents this. The key is knowing your limits, estimating item weights, and making smart choices before you get to the airport scale.
Typical Airline Baggage Allowances
| Class / Ticket | Checked Bag | Carry-On |
|---|---|---|
| Economy (budget airlines) | 20–23 kg (44–50 lbs) | 7–10 kg (15–22 lbs) |
| Economy (full service) | 23 kg (50 lbs) | 10 kg (22 lbs) |
| Business class | 32 kg (70 lbs) | 12 kg (26 lbs) |
| First class | 32–40 kg (70–88 lbs) | 14 kg (30 lbs) |
Note: Budget airlines like Ryanair and Spirit charge separately for any checked bag and sometimes for carry-ons too. Always check your specific airline’s current policy.
Average Item Weights (Reference)
Knowing typical weights helps with planning:
| Item | Approximate Weight |
|---|---|
| T-shirt | 150–200g (5–7 oz) |
| Jeans | 700–900g (25–32 oz) |
| Dress / skirt | 200–400g (7–14 oz) |
| Sneakers | 500–800g (18–28 oz) |
| Dress shoes | 700–1,000g (25–35 oz) |
| Toiletry bag (full) | 500g–2kg (18 oz–4 lbs) |
| Laptop | 1.5–2.5kg (3–5 lbs) |
| Tablet | 400–600g (14–21 oz) |
| DSLR camera + lens | 1.5–3kg (3–7 lbs) |
| Empty suitcase (large) | 3–5kg (7–11 lbs) |
| Empty carry-on bag | 1.5–3kg (3–7 lbs) |
The 80% Rule
Never pack to 100% of your weight limit — airport scales vary slightly and you may buy things on your trip. Pack to 80–85% of the limit as a buffer.
Weight-Saving Strategies
- Roll clothes instead of folding, saves space, not weight
- Choose multi-purpose clothing (items that work for multiple occasions)
- Wear your heaviest items on the plane (heavy shoes, thick jacket)
- Buy toiletries at your destination
- Use packing cubes to organize, but they add weight (~100–200g per cube)
- Choose a lightweight suitcase
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
SuperGlobalCalculator is independently built and maintained. See how we build and verify our calculators.