How to Save Suitcase Space with Packing Cubes and Clothes Rolling

Find out how to pack a suitcase in the most efficient way with these helpful tips

a gif of clothes folded or rolled in packing cubes being placed into a suitcase

AARP (Shutterstock, 3; Getty Images)

Berit Thorkelson,

AARP

Published September 05, 2025

How you pack affects how you travel. Enter one key adjustment travelers can make to improve their packing skills, and therefore their trip: using packing cubes, small zippable, and oftentimes compressible fabric pouches meant to organize your luggage’s main compartment.

“I’m always surprised when it’s not on people’s radar to use [them]. They make travel a lot easier,” says Janice Moskoff, founder of Gather & Go Travel, a travel tips and destinations website.

Moskoff is talking about cubes’ effect on the packing and repacking experience. The cubes streamline the process by separating items into organized, manageable chunks. This is especially welcome to those like her who love travel but abhor packing.

Anne McAlpin, packing pro, speaker and author of the book (and website) about organized travel, Pack It Up, says cubes also make it easier to manage luggage. This is helpful for travelers with back problems or mobility issues. To avoid repeated stooping, pack them on your bed first, then arrange them in your suitcase.

Another cube perk helps those with problems hauling luggage, among the most burdensome issues facing travelers 50-plus with an age-related condition, according to a 2024 AARP survey on travel challenges. Set your empty suitcase by the door and carry your packed cubes to it. “That’s what I do now. It’s just easier … and then do the reverse when you unpack,” McAlpin says.

What’s more, the compression feature effectively shrinks your belongings, allowing you to travel smaller, which can save you money in baggage fees or free up room in a larger bag. Plus, if you find your bag is over the weight limit, you can calmly transfer one cube into your carry-on rather than rifling through your luggage in the middle of the airport looking for items to remove.

Jessica Parker, founder and travel adviser at Trip Whisperer, a travel planning and public relations agency, recently took a trip with her mother, who’s in her 70s. “She’s like, ‘Your cube system really would have helped me stay organized,’ ” Parker says, adding that her mom appreciated how the cubes’ compression created space for souvenirs on the way home. “She said she’s going to adopt [them] now.”

Using the cubes is more art than science. Here are some tips to get you started.

How to roll clothes

Rolling clothes helps maximize space, too, so pairing the methods — compression cubes plus rolling — is the ultimate space-saver. “It’s so ingrained in me to roll my clothes when I pack, it doesn’t even occur to me that it would be a topic up for debate,” Moskoff says, for space-saving and wrinkle-prevention reasons.

McAlpin rolls everything, too, and then tucks those rolls neatly into her cubes. Her husband embraces cubes, but prefers folding items into them. Parker uses a combination of folding and rolling, both inside and outside cubes, depending on the trip’s clothing requirements. Which is to say, experiment. Then, you do you.

A few tips to help:

Fold items on preexisting creases before rolling, when possible.
Roll clothes based on the width of your cube. The rolled item should be a little smaller than the cube you’ll pack it into.
Roll items tightly, starting with the end that you’re less concerned about wrinkling. For items with high wrinkle potential, line with a plastic bag before rolling, or fold flat instead. Consider skipping compression.

How to use packing cubes

Think in categories. Cubes are to your suitcase as drawers are to your dresser. Fill them similarly. This may mean corralling like items, but grouping by outfit is an option, too, for all or even just part of your trip.

Limit your cubes. McAlpin recommends about five per suitcase. If you upsize your luggage, upsize cubes, too, versus adding more. “You can have too many cubes,” she says. “It can be overwhelming.”

Create specialized cubes. McAlpin sometimes packs a pool-specific cube stocked with her swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses and other pool necessities. “If your hotel room isn’t ready, or your cruise ship isn’t ready, you can just give somebody your suitcase behind the counter … grab [the] cube … and hit the beach or pool,” she says.

Use cubes like drawer organizers. Just transfer them to the dresser at your destination. “I fold the top back … and that way, my items stay organized. They don’t slide to the back of the drawer. And I don’t have to worry about the drawer being clean,” McAlpin says. “I have not put anything [directly] in a drawer in 30 years.”

Segregate dirty clothes. Parker and Moskoff shift things around to create a dirty clothes cube as soon as one’s free, and continue doing so through the trip. “When you get home … it makes it really easy to unpack and just [transfer clothes to] the laundry,” Moskoff says. McAlpin prefers to transition dirty clothes into a reusable plastic compression sack, to keep smells contained and her cubes clean.

How to select packing cubes

Here’s help wading through the variety on the market.

Don’t skimp. Durable material and quality zippers are essential for a long-lasting, easy-to-use cube. If you have arthritis or dexterity challenges, the zipper type may be a concern, too. “Tiny zippers can get frustrating,” McAlpin says. She recommends practicing before your trip.

an open suitcase filled with rolled clothes

Using compression packing cubes and rolling your clothes, in whatever combination you choose, makes packing more efficient. It saves space, too.

Getty Images

Compression is key. Usually, this is in the form of a zipper and creates up to 50 percent more space.

High visibility. You don’t want to have to guess what’s in each cube. McAlpin likes mesh since it’s both breathable and see-through. Clear panels work, too.

Well structured. When cubes hold their shape, they’re stackable and can better work as a drawer organizer.

Consider colors. “We have them in different colors for all of our family members,” Moskoff says. You could also match color to clothing type.

Try sizes. Parker recommends a variety to play around with. “The pack that I got was really great. There were so many pieces that I just rotate depending on the bag I’m using and the trip.”

Handles help. “It’s just nice if you’re carrying the cube from your suitcase somewhere,” McAlpin says.

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Berit Thorkelson is a travel writer and editor for aarp.org. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens and The Minnesota Star Tribune's travel section.