Even when you’re excited about an upcoming vacation, packing can be a stressful part of travel, especially if you’re not exactly the most organized person (hey, no judgment here!). Fortunately, packing cubes make things a lot easier, and once you try them, they’ll easily become one of your traveling essentials.

When your clothes and other packed items are neatly contained in packing cubes, it’s much easier to rearrange them for the perfect fit—like suitcase Tetris. If you check your bag and TSA inspects it, they probably won’t make a mess of your belongings, and when you arrive at your destination, you’ll be able to quickly find whatever you need.

Packing cubes come in various sizes and are typically sold in color-coordinated sets of three or more. Consider buying at least two colors, because if you’re sharing a suitcase with a traveling companion, you’ll be able to instantly identify whose stuff is whose, and when it’s time to pack to go home, you can place unworn clothes in certain colors of cubes and dirty laundry in others. (By the way, machine washing packing cubes isn’t typically recommended, but when they need freshening up, you can try hand washing them or using your washing machine’s hand-wash cycle.)

Here are the best packing cubes that are sure to up your packing game.

The best packing cubes on the market

eBags, Classic Packing Cubes (Pack of 6) — $38.00

Originally $50, now $38

The cubes, which have a limited lifetime warranty, are made from a Techlite poly fabric and each have a partial mesh top and a handle. The largest cube measures 17.5″ x 12.75″ x 3.25″. With a pack of six, you can easily store big-ticket items like tops and bottoms as well as undergarments.

One happy customer writes, “I was so impressed with how much the cubes simplified packing, unpacking, and living out of a suitcase, whether staying in a given place for only one night or a more extended period, that I got online in the middle of my trip and ordered more in different colors: ‘his,’ ‘hers,’ and ‘dirty’.”

Pros

• Made of nylon
• Offers different cube sizes
• Has handles

Cons 

• Cube size may be too small for some

Eagle Creek, Travel Gear Pack It (Pack of 3) — $44.00

Eagle Creek has been making travel products forever, and these packing cubes have earned more than 1,000 5-star ratings at Amazon. They’re available in the pictured bright blue as well as red and black, and the mesh top shows you what’s inside each one. The three sizes are a nice assortment for underwear, socks, and clothes, with the largest measuring 14” x 10” x 3”. Bonus: The company’s products have a lifetime warranty.

One traveler writes, “We’re buying more before our next trip and probably giving them as stocking stuffers this holiday season. These are awesome.”

Pros 

• Has handles
• Comes with a lifetime warranty
• Easy to open

Cons 

• Only comes with three cubes

Dot & Dot, Packing Cubes for Suitcases — $27.00

This is the rare packing cubes set that has an assortment of colors in a single set—perfect for color-coding (for two people’s clothing, for example), and a little more fun, too. They are all the same size (17.5” x 12.75” x 3.25”), are water-resistant, and have mesh tops. Sets in other sizes are also available at slightly different price points.

One of the 1,800 5-star reviews—from a packing-cubes convert—reads, “The zippers and handles are strong, and the mesh is a great detail. The material is durable and easy to maintain. This was a new way for me to pack, and I will continue to do it this way. It was easy, and so practical!”

Pros 

• Colorful cubes
• Lightweight
• See-through mesh

Cons 

• Some reviewers say the corners rip

YAMIU, Packing Cubes — $22.00

Besides standard packing cubes, this set includes a water-resistant shoe bag and two clear waterproof bags, one of which is a TSA-approved size for carry-on toiletries/liquids. (The larger of the two could work well for a bathing suit that hasn’t had time to dry before your trip home.) The largest of the six cubes is 17.5” x 12.5” x 4”. The six color options include black, pink, and red, and the set comes with a lifetime warranty and “100% satisfaction guarantee.”

One happy customer writes a review to say, “Sometimes my husband and I end up packing in the same bag if we’re only going away for a short time. Our clothes get tossed about trying to find what we’re looking for and half the time I think I forgot something because I can’t find it in the mess. I used these packing bags for the first time last week on a camping trip and I LOVED how neat and organized I was able to keep my clothes.”

Pros

• Comes with seven pieces
• Lightweight
• Comes with waterproof bags

Cons 

• May be difficult to see contents

Amazon Basics, 4 Piece Packing Travel Organizer Cubes Set — $7.00

Originally $26, now $7

Amazon Basics’ packing cubes come in several colors, from black to sky blue, which gives you the option of color-coding by combining two sets (for pajamas vs. daytime clothes, for example). A few nice features are the double zipper pulls, mesh tops to reveal what’s inside, and little handles on top. The largest size is 17.5” x 12.75” x 3.25”.

One review shared this praise: “Packing is so easy now; pants and sweaters go into the large cube, shirts go in the medium cube, and everything else goes in the small cube. My clothes never wrinkle in these.”

Pros 

• Features a double zipper
• Has handles
• Durable

Cons 

• May not be sturdy for some

Itzy Ritzy, 3-Piece Pack Like A Boss Packing Cubes — $30.00

Marketed as a product to organize a diaper bag, this set of packing cubes would work just as well in a suitcase, especially if you want smaller bags (for underwear, socks, and so on). Plus, they’re cute! They’re available in black, a floral print, and two herringbone options, and the gold-tone and rose gold-tone zippers are a nice detail. Note that the cubes are machine washable, which is a rare and welcome feature.

One reviewer notes, “These packing cubes are great for organizing any bag! The materials all feel super luxurious, and the zippers are high quality and slide super smoothly! Love the grab handles.”

Pros 

• Fits easily into a backpack or luggage
• Includes 30-day manufacturing warranty
• Features a double zipper

Cons 

• May be too small for some

Samsonite, 3-Piece Packing Cube Set — $40.00

Originally $48, now $40

Samsonite not only makes suitcases, but all kinds of handy travel accessories, too. This set of packing cubes has mesh tops and handles for convenience, and the largest cube measures 18” x 13” x 3”. The material is durable nylon, and the color choices are turquoise and a dark gray.

One of the many positive reviews reads, “These cubes … have taken ALL the anxiety of packing & keeping my travel bag organized! I’ve tried all kinds of packing suggestions & still seemed to spend so much time looking for looking for items/clothing, but no more! Highly recommended!”

Pros 

• Mesh top
• Has handles
• Three sizes available

Cons 

• Expensive

REI Co-op, Expandable Packing Cube Set — $45.00

This set of packing cubes is available in blue and an orange-y red—standard colors for these—but also a subtle geometric print in green, orange, and yellow. The ripstop nylon is water-repellant, each packing cube is expandable to 6” deep, and the tops are made from mesh. The largest cube measures 14.5” x 10.5” x 3”. Bonus: The packing cubes meet bluesign® criteria, which denotes a high safety level for consumers and more sustainable manufacturing.

Reviewers recommend them not only for suitcases to bring on the plane or in the car, but also for backpacks for hiking and camping (thanks to their sturdy material).

Pros 

• Water-repellent finish
• Has handles
• Mesh top

Cons 

• Expensive

Made By Design, 5-Piece Packing Cube Set  — $45.00

These packing cubes, which come in black and a pretty shade of blue, are from one of Target’s home brands, Made By Design. They have mesh tops so that you can easily identify the contents, and the largest bag is 18” x 2.62” x 12”. Bonus: They come with a 1-year limited warranty and are “100 percent satisfaction guaranteed.”

One customer shares, “I LOVE these packing cubes. I have several different brands and sizes already and these are some of the best. They are very well-made. The stitching is tight. The zipper slides easily. I will never travel again without packing cubes.”

Pros 

• Has handles
• Comes with five pieces
• Stylish

Cons 

• Expensive

Baggallini, Clear Travel Pouches — $27.00

Most packing cubes are designed to hold clothing, but this set is perfect for toiletries or small items such as charging cables, a glasses case, a hairbrush, and so on. You can instantly see everything that’s inside. The set has earned a 4.9 rating out of 5 at Amazon, and the choices for the bags’ trim are black and a gray camo.

Note that the smallest bag meets TSA guidelines for a carry-on toiletry/liquids bag.

Pros

• Easy to see content
• Water-resistant
• TSA-friendly

Cons 

• One zipper only

DIMJ, 8-Piece Packing Cubes Set — $22.00

This set of packing cubes has a nice variety of sizes, and is meant to hold more than just clothing; it includes five clothing bags, two waterproof drawstring bags, and one bag for small items such as charging cables and earbuds. They have mesh tops, and the larger ones have handy straps inside to secure your clothes.

One of the 2,800+ reviewers who gave the set five stars raves, “These packing cubes have changed how I will travel from now on! I began using the larger cubes for my clothes etc. and it was awesome how much less space everything took up. On top of that, it’s all organized! When I arrived to my destination, I just took each cube and placed it into the drawer.”

Pros

• Comes with eight pieces
• Lightweight
• Has handles

Cons 

• Some experienced ripping

Veken 6 Set Packing Cubes — $22.00

Originally $29, now $22

Several sizes and types of packing cubes are included in this set: extra large, large, medium, and small, along with a shoe bag and laundry bag. The largest measures 17.5” x 12.15” x 4”. The bags are water-resistant, and the ones for clothing have transparent tops and little labels with pictures of what’s packed inside (which may or may not be a welcome feature, depending on how you choose to sort things). The set even comes with a printed guide on how to fold clothes for packing!

One of the 2,300 (!) 5-star reviews reads, “Everything now has its own place and doesn’t get all jumbled up with everything else. These cubes make it easy and fast to find things also. They are lightweight and the little window helps you quickly remember what’s inside.”

Pros

• Durable
• Mesh top
• Waterproof

Cons 

• Some find the product smaller than anticipated

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