Packing Cube Sizes: Dimensions, Which Set Fits Your Bag, and a Pattern Chart
Packing cubes come in roughly five sizes, but brands label them differently. This chart gives the typical dimensions and volume of each, the combinations that fill common suitcases and travel backpacks, and the panel sizes for making cubes yourself.
Packing cubes typically come in small (about 10 × 7 × 3 in, 25 × 18 × 8 cm), medium (about 14 × 10 × 3.5 in, 36 × 25 × 9 cm) and large (about 18 × 13 × 4 in, 46 × 33 × 10 cm), with extra-small and slim cubes for socks and shirts and XL cubes for checked bags. A 22-inch carry-on usually takes one large cube or two medium cubes per layer.
- Small
- 10 × 7 × 3 in
- Medium
- 14 × 10 × 3.5 in
- Large
- 18 × 13 × 4 in
- Carry-on set
- 2 M + 2 S
On this page
Packing cube size chart
Size names are not standardized: one brand's medium is another's large. The dimensions below are typical for each name across major brands, as length × width × thickness when filled.
| Size | Inches | Centimeters | Volume | Typical contents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extra small | 8 × 6 × 3 | 20 × 15 × 8 | 2.4 L | Socks, underwear, cables, chargers |
| Small | 10 × 7 × 3 | 25 × 18 × 8 | 3.4 L | Underwear for a week, swimwear, T-shirts for a weekend |
| Slim | 14 × 5 × 3 | 36 × 13 × 8 | 3.4 L | Rolled shirts, leggings, fills gaps beside the handle |
| Medium | 14 × 10 × 3.5 | 36 × 25 × 9 | 8.0 L | 6 to 8 rolled T-shirts, or shorts and trousers |
| Large | 18 × 13 × 4 | 46 × 33 × 10 | 15.3 L | A week of summer tops and bottoms, or a sweater and jeans |
| Extra large | 20 × 14 × 4 | 51 × 36 × 10 | 18.4 L | Bulky knitwear, jackets; checked suitcases |
Two smalls fit in the footprint of a medium (2 × 7 in = 14 in), and two slims in a medium's footprint the other way (2 × 5 in = 10 in). Many sets are designed on this grid so the cubes tile without gaps.
Which packing cubes fit which suitcase
What matters is the suitcase's interior, which is smaller than its outside. Wheels, the handle channel and the shell take about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) from the length and width, and a hard-shell case splits its depth between two halves.
| Bag | Outside size | Typical interior | Cube set that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal-item backpack (20–25 L) | 17 × 13 × 8 in | about 15 × 11 × 6 in | 1 medium or 2 small, plus 1 extra small |
| Travel backpack (40 L) | 21–22 × 13–14 × 8–9 in | about 20 × 12 × 7 in | 2 medium stacked lengthwise, plus extra-small cubes in the gap at the end |
| Carry-on suitcase | 22 × 14 × 9 in | about 20 × 13 × 8 in | 2 medium + 2 small, or 1 large + 2 small |
| Medium checked | 25 × 17 × 11 in | about 23 × 15 × 10 in | 1 large + 1 slim in one layer, 2 medium in the other |
| Large checked | 28 × 20 × 12 in | about 26 × 18 × 11 in | 2 large side by side, then 2 medium + 2 small on top |
In a carry-on, the two mediums sit with their 10 in sides along the 20 in length, filling the floor; the 14 in length presses gently against a 13 in interior, which soft cubes absorb. In a hard-shell case, use one half for cubes and the other for shoes and a toiletry bag. Full suitcase dimensions are in the luggage size chart, and the outside limits for cabin bags in the carry-on bag guide.
Open the bag, push the lining flat and measure the floor between the handle channel ridges, then the depth with the lid closed. Buy cubes whose length and width tile that floor. A cube 1 in wider than the floor will ride up and stop the lid from closing.
Compression cubes vs standard cubes
Compression cubes
- A second zip pulls the walls together after packing, typically taking an inch or more off the thickness
- Best for soft, springy clothes: knitwear, fleece, down
- Help a weekend's packing fit a 20 to 25 liter backpack
Watch out for
- They make a bag denser, not lighter; on airlines with 7 to 10 kg cabin limits, weight runs out before space
- Firm, compressed cubes do not squash into an odd-shaped duffel the way soft ones do
- More creasing in shirts and trousers than an uncompressed cube
For a weight-capped flight, check your airline's numbers on the carry-on rules by airline page before relying on compression. In soft bags such as duffels, standard cubes help a bag keep a flat, sizer-friendly shape.
How many cubes you need for a trip
- Weekend, personal item only: 1 medium for clothes, 1 extra small for underwear and chargers.
- 4 to 7 days, carry-on: 1 medium for tops, 1 medium for bottoms, 1 small for underwear and socks, 1 extra small for electronics.
- 1 to 2 weeks, checked: 1 large for tops, 1 medium for bottoms, 1 medium for sleepwear and exercise clothes, 1 small for underwear, plus a laundry bag.
- Family travel: one color of cube per person in a shared large suitcase makes unpacking at the other end faster.
Suits and dresses that should not be rolled travel better in a garment folder; see garment bag sizes.
Packing cube pattern sizes for sewing your own
A packing cube is six panels: top, bottom, two long sides and two short sides, usually with a zipper running around three edges of the top. The cut sizes below include a 1/2 in (or 1.25 cm) seam allowance on every edge, so each cut is 1 in (2.5 cm) larger than the finished panel.
| Finished cube | Top and bottom (cut 2) | Long sides (cut 2) | Short sides (cut 2) | Zipper length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small 10 × 7 × 3 in | 11 × 8 in | 11 × 4 in | 8 × 4 in | 24 in + 2 in extra |
| Medium 14 × 10 × 3.5 in | 15 × 11 in | 15 × 4.5 in | 11 × 4.5 in | 34 in + 2 in extra |
| Large 18 × 13 × 4 in | 19 × 14 in | 19 × 5 in | 14 × 5 in | 44 in + 2 in extra |
| Small 25 × 18 × 8 cm | 27.5 × 20.5 cm | 27.5 × 10.5 cm | 20.5 × 10.5 cm | 61 cm + 5 cm extra |
| Medium 36 × 25 × 9 cm | 38.5 × 27.5 cm | 38.5 × 11.5 cm | 27.5 × 11.5 cm | 86 cm + 5 cm extra |
| Large 46 × 33 × 10 cm | 48.5 × 35.5 cm | 48.5 × 12.5 cm | 35.5 × 12.5 cm | 112 cm + 5 cm extra |
The zipper runs along one long edge and both short edges of the top, so its length is the cube's length plus twice its width. Buy it a little longer than that so the pull can travel past the corners. A mesh top panel lets you see the contents, and lightweight ripstop nylon of about 1.1 to 1.9 oz per square yard (about 40 to 65 g/m²) keeps a finished medium cube under 3 oz (85 g).
Frequently asked questions
What sizes do packing cubes come in?
Most sets include some of extra small (about 8 × 6 × 3 in), small (10 × 7 × 3 in), slim (14 × 5 × 3 in), medium (14 × 10 × 3.5 in), large (18 × 13 × 4 in) and extra large (20 × 14 × 4 in). Brands vary by an inch or two in each direction, so compare the listed dimensions, not the size names.
What packing cubes fit a carry-on?
A 22 × 14 × 9 in carry-on has an interior of about 20 × 13 × 8 in. Two medium cubes (14 × 10 in) side by side on the 10 in edges, plus two small cubes on top, is the most common fit. One large cube (18 × 13 in) fills the floor in a single piece but leaves less flexibility.
How much does a packing cube hold?
A medium cube of 14 × 10 × 3.5 in is 490 cubic inches, about 8 liters: roughly 6 to 8 rolled T-shirts or 3 to 4 pairs of shorts. A large cube of 18 × 13 × 4 in is about 15 liters, enough for a week of tops and bottoms in summer.
Do packing cubes save space?
Standard cubes do not add space; they keep clothes organized and tightly packed, which often lets you fit the same load in a smaller bag. Compression cubes have a second zip that flattens the cube after filling, typically taking an inch or more off its thickness.
What size packing cubes for a backpack?
A 40 L travel backpack has an interior of roughly 20 × 12 × 7 in. Medium cubes (14 × 10 in) fit lengthwise, one per layer, with extra-small cubes (about 8 × 6 in) in the gap at the end. A large 18 × 13 in cube is usually too wide. Slim cubes (14 × 5 in) fit two across.