A well-organised suitcase means more space, fewer wrinkles, and no more endless rummaging to find a T-shirt at the bottom of your bag. The packing cube — also known as an organiser or storage cube — is the accessory that solves all this: it allows you to categorise your belongings and optimise every centimetre, provided you choose the right model for your travel style.
To get straight to the point, there are four main types of packing cubes:
- Classic packing cubes: to compartmentalise your belongings by category.
- Compressible organisers: to save even more space on long-haul trips.
- Hanging organisers: for wash bags and small accessories.
- Cabin and backpack models: designed for smaller volumes.
Let's see how to differentiate them according to your needs.
Our Selection at a Glance
Why Use a Packing Cube?
The principle is simple: instead of piling your clothes haphazardly, you distribute them into dedicated pouches that structure the space. It's the simplest solution to keep everything organised and find what you're looking for. The benefits are clear:
- You save space: by grouping and compressing, you can easily reclaim 20 to 30% of volume.
- You find everything at a glance: one cube per category, no need to unpack everything.
- Your clothes wrinkle less: secured items move less during transport.
- Your suitcase remains stable: the blocks fill the space and don't shift when opened.
On a carry-on travel bag where every litre counts, these few centimetres regained really make a difference.
Which Packing Cube to Choose? The Types
Each type serves a specific purpose. Here's a quick comparison before diving into the details.
| Type of organiser | Ideal use | Space saving | Indicative price | Our model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic cube | Compartmentalise by category | ●●○ | £ | Luggage Organiser Kit |
| Compressible | Long-haul trips, large volume | ●●● | ££ | Compressible Suitcase Organiser |
| Hanging | Bathroom, accessories | ●○○ | £ | Hanging wash bag |
| Special cabin / backpack | Carry-on, small volumes | ●●○ | £ | Cabin Suitcase Organiser |
Classic Packing Cubes
These are the most versatile. Tops, bottoms, underwear, and accessories are distributed into pouches of different sizes, usually sold in a set of organisers. Ideal for keeping a suitcase tidy from departure to return without much thought.
Compressible Organisers
The same principle, but with an additional closure that compresses the contents to expel air. It's the choice for long stays and large volumes: a compressible organiser can halve the thickness of a stack of clothes. Best reserved for materials that can handle creasing (jeans, T-shirts, pyjamas).
Hanging Organisers
Designed for the bathroom, they unfold and hang on a hook. Handy for wash bags and anything that tends to scatter in a hotel room. They're often combined with cubes rather than replacing them.
Cabin and Backpack Specific
These models fit the small volumes of a carry-on bag or backpack. Thinner formats, often semi-rigid to fit into a special cabin organiser without wasting a centimetre. The right choice for travelling light on a weekend escape or short flight.
See all our packing organisers →
Choosing Well: The Criteria (and Avoiding Low Quality)
There's no single best packing organiser for everyone: the best suitcase organiser for you depends on your usage and criteria. An organiser that fails on the second trip saves neither time nor space. Before buying an organiser, check:
- The material: a ripstop nylon or polyester is more durable than a thin fabric. A waterproof canvas protects in case of a leaking wash bag.
- The zips: the number one weak point of low-quality models. Opt for a sturdy zip, ideally with a double slider.
- The stitching: double and even, with no loose threads.
- The sizes: a set of various formats is better than a single large cube, to suit each category of items.
- Ventilation: a mesh or netting on top allows clothes to breathe and lets you see the contents.
- The weight: lightweight, so it doesn't eat into your baggage allowance.
- The budget: a cheap entry-level model is a stopgap, but a slightly higher-end model lasts for years.
How to recognise a good organiser in hand? Three details are telling. First, the zip: a double slider (two pullers that meet) distributes tension and doesn't snag when the cube is full — it's the first element to fail on entry-level models. Next, the stitching: look for tight stitches, neat finishes, and reinforced stop points at the corners and base of the handles, where stress is highest. Finally, the material: a ripstop nylon, identifiable by its grid pattern, resists snags much better than a thin polyester that tears at the first contact with a suitcase zip. A low-end model sacrifices these three points to fall under £10 — and deforms or tears after a few trips. The initial saving ends up in a repurchase.
It's on these criteria, not an adjective, that a good organiser is judged.
How to Fill Your Organisers (5-4-3-2-1 Method)
Once you've chosen your cubes, it's time to fill them smartly. The 5-4-3-2-1 method is a simple guideline for a week's travel:
- 5 tops (T-shirts, shirts)
- 4 bottoms (trousers, shorts, skirts)
- 3 accessories (scarf, belt, cap)
- 2 pairs of shoes
- 1 dressy or spare outfit
Distribute each category into its cube, and roll clothes instead of folding them: they take up less space and crease less. For more on organising your luggage, our guide preparing your travel bag complements the method well; gov.uk also shares its official tips for packing your suitcase.
Cabin and Light Travel: Making the Most of Your Cubes
In a carry-on, the organiser isn't about taking more, but about travelling lighter without sacrificing order. The constraint changes: every litre counts, and the bag must fit under the seat or in the overhead compartment. Two habits suffice. Limit yourself to two or three thin cubes — one for tops, one for bottoms, a small pouch for underwear and cables; beyond that, you lose the space-saving benefit. And favour compressible or semi-rigid models: they hold their shape and make the most of the nooks in a backpack or cabin suitcase better than a soft cube. For a weekend or short flight, this organisation is enough to carry the essentials in a single bag, without checking in luggage. That's when an organiser becomes a true tool for light travel, not just a storage accessory.
FAQ
What is the 5-4-3-2-1 method for packing a suitcase?
It's a clothing count rule for a week: 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 accessories, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 spare outfit. It prevents overpacking and pairs perfectly with packing cubes to fit everything in.
How many organisers for a carry-on suitcase?
Count on two to three cubes: one for tops, one for bottoms, a small one for underwear and accessories. Beyond that, you lose the space-saving advantage on a carry-on.
Organiser or vacuum compression bag: what's the difference?
The cube organises and slightly compresses; the vacuum compression bag expels all air for maximum space-saving but creases more and closes less quickly. Many travellers combine both: cubes for daily use, compression for large volumes.
