Do Packing Cubes Actually Save Space?
You've probably seen those amazing before-and-after photos online. Someone takes a huge pile of clothes, stuffs them into packing cubes, and suddenly they fit perfectly in a tiny suitcase. But do packing cubes really save that much space, or is it just clever marketing?
We decided to find out for ourselves. After testing dozens of different cubes with real clothes and real luggage, here's what we discovered.
Do packing cubes actually save you space?
The short answer is yes, but not in the way you might think.
Regular packing cubes don't actually make your clothes smaller. What they do is help you use every inch of space in your suitcase more efficiently. Instead of having random gaps and air pockets, you're fitting rectangular blocks together like Tetris pieces.
Compression packing cubes are different. These actually squeeze your clothes down and can save you 20-50% of the space, depending on what you're packing.
Our real-world test results
We packed the same clothes three different ways:
- Loose packing (just throwing everything in)
- Regular packing cubes
- Compression packing cubes
Loose packing: Everything barely fit in a large suitcase with lots of wasted space around the edges.
Regular packing cubes: Same clothes fit more neatly with about 15% space savings. The biggest difference was organization - we could actually find things.
Compression cubes: We fit the same clothes in a medium suitcase with room to spare. That's about 20-50% space savings.
Do packing cubes compress your clothes?
This is where people get confused. Regular packing cubes don't compress anything - they just organize it better.
Regular packing cubes
Think of regular cubes like boxes. They keep your clothes contained and make them easier to stack, but the clothes inside stay the same size. The space savings come from better organization and using awkward corners of your suitcase.
Compression packing cubes
These actually squeeze your clothes smaller. Most use a two-zipper system. You pack normally, zip the first zipper, then zip a second compression zipper that pushes everything down.
At Carry Cubes, our compression system can reduce volume by up to 20-50% for soft items like t-shirts and sweaters.
How do packing cubes compress clothes?
The magic happens in the design. Compression cubes have two separate zippered compartments.
The compression process
- Pack your clothes in the main compartment like normal
- Zip the inner zipper closed
- Push down on the contents to remove air
- Zip the outer compression zipper, which forces everything smaller
The result is a much flatter, denser cube.
What compresses best
Great for compression:
- Cotton t-shirts and casual clothes
- Fleece and soft sweaters
- Underwear and socks
- Pajamas and loungewear
- Workout clothes
Don't compress well:
- Dress shirts and formal wear
- Jeans and heavy denim
- Structured jackets
- Anything with padding or hardware
Does packing cubes really make a difference?
After using both types for years of travel, here's the honest truth about what difference they make.
For organization: huge difference
This is where both types of cubes shine. Instead of digging through your entire suitcase to find clean underwear, you grab the underwear cube. When you get to your hotel, you can pull out whole cubes instead of unpacking everything.
For space savings: it depends
Regular cubes make a small difference - maybe 10-15% space savings through better organization. Compression cubes can save significant space, but only if you're packing the right types of clothes.
For travel stress: major improvement
The biggest difference isn't space or compression - it's peace of mind. You know where everything is, packing is faster, and you're way less likely to forget something important.
The downsides nobody talks about
- Wrinkles happen more. Compressed clothes come out more wrinkled than loose-packed clothes. If you're packing dress clothes, this matters.
- Overpacking becomes easier. When you can fit more stuff, you might pack more than you actually need.
- Extra weight. The cubes themselves add weight to your luggage. High-quality compression cubes can add 1-2 pounds to your bag.
Real traveler experiences
"I used to struggle fitting a week's worth of clothes in my carry-on. Now I can pack for two weeks easy." - Sarah, business traveler
"The space savings are real, but the organization is what keeps me using them. I know exactly where everything is." - Mike, family traveler
"I pack one compression cube with bulky clothes and regular cubes for everything else. Best of both worlds." - Lisa, backpacker
Making the most of your space savings
- Pack strategically: Put your bulkiest, most compressible clothes in compression cubes. Use regular cubes for delicate items and things you need to access quickly.
- Roll before you compress: Rolling clothes before putting them in compression cubes can save even more space. The combination of rolling + compression is incredibly efficient.
- Don't over compress: You can squeeze too hard and damage the zippers or create permanent wrinkles. Compress until it feels snug, not until the zippers are about to break.
The bottom line on space savings
Packing cubes do save space, but the amount depends on what type you choose and how you use them.
Regular cubes save space through better organization - probably 10-15% for most people. Compression cubes can save 20-50% for soft, bulky clothes.
But here's what matters more than the exact numbers: cubes make packing less stressful and more organized. The space savings are just a bonus.
Ready to see the difference for yourself? Check out our compression cube collection at Carry Cubes. All our cubes come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test the space savings on your own clothes.
Want to learn more about packing efficiently? Read our complete guide to packing cubes vs compression packing cubes to find the right system for your travel style.
