This Online Calculator Will Help You Pack Your Next Bag.
If you’re looking forward to a long-awaited summer trip, you might be worried that you’ll have to pay last-minute baggage fees at the airport . You already have to pay extra for Wi -Fi, seat selection and sometimes even headphones, and when it comes to your luggage, it’s safe to assume that all airlines will try to cut down on extra costs as soon as they can.
Of course, you can optimize your suitcase strategy with all the best packing tips the internet has to offer. (Did you make a packing list after your last trip ?) But when you’re hauling that suitcase to the airport, all that matters is the number on the scale.
Baggage fees vary depending on the airline you’re flying with, and you can easily find your particular flight’s rules online. In general, let’s assume that your hand luggage should fit neatly on the top bunk (about 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches). If your suitcase is a little bigger, your first checked bag will usually cost around $30-$50 if it weighs less than 40-50 pounds. As your baggage exceeds this weight, fees continue to rise.
Luckily, there are plenty of online tools to help you pack as cheaply as possible (like the ability to create a quick checklist of travel essentials). However, one of my favorite tools is the excellent calculator from Wayfairer Travel. Here’s how you can use this calculator to predict how much your suitcase will weigh once packed.
How to use the suitcase calculator
The Wayfairer calculator is simple. First, you have the option to select the airline you’re flying with to see their baggage limit rules. Then you can add adult and kids products one by one. The calculator has all the travel essentials you’re likely to take with you, divided into categories such as clothing, toiletries, and technology.
As you add items to your virtual suitcase, the tool adds up the total weight so you can see how much you are under or over your allowable weight.
According to their website, everything is weighed and calculated as accurately as possible. For reference: women’s jeans weighed 247 grams, while men’s jeans usually weighed 273 grams. On the other hand, women’s denim shorts typically weighed 250 grams and men’s 220 grams.
This calculator is especially useful for experimenting with items to throw away before you even get to the airport. For example, I realized that I could easily replace my extra pair of jeans with much lighter leggings on my upcoming trip (to Iceland, if you’re interested. Leave me travel tips in the comments below, please).
Use the calculator here and then check out the smartest travel hacks from TikTok .