The Best Toiletry Bags for Keeping Personal Hygiene Products Safely Organized

On the list of things that will ruin a vacation, finding your toiletries smeared all over the inside of your suitcase ranks pretty high—not as bad as a crate of killer bees breaking open inside your aircraft, certainly, but it’s a serious annoyance. The solution is investing in a toiletry bag or dopp kit. Whether you’re traveling alone or with your family to a fancy hotel or into the wild, there’s something on our list of the best toiletry bags that’ll work for you.

Our picks for the best toiletry bags

How we selected the best toiletry bags

Our selections were made through a combination of thorough research, personal experience, and positive customer reviews.

How to choose the best toiletry bag

When choosing a toiletry bag, you want to find something that keeps your stuff safe, dry, easily grabbed, and with enough room for everything you need.

Water resistance

Depending where it is you’re trying to wash—the shower block in a campsite, say—it can be difficult to keep your stuff dry, so a wash bag that seals tight and keeps water out is a must. Conversely, you want the bag to stop any liquids spilling out when you travel.

Organization

Again, not every bathroom you find yourself in will be a luxurious five-star en suite. For bathrooms with little space, you want to be able to use everything in your toiletry bag without emptying it out. So a bag with multiple, easy-to-access compartments will be extremely helpful. Additionally, you want to consider where your travel organizer is going to “live” while you’re en route: Carry-on luggage, rolling suitcases, travel backpacks, and travel totes all have different capacities.

Capacity

Some people can travel with a toothbrush and not much else. Others require a little more in the way of toiletries. Still, others won’t leave the house without their entire medicine cabinet stuffed into their suitcase. Try to think exactly what you’re likely to take with you when you travel, and choose your bag size accordingly.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How many toiletry bags can you bring on a plane?

Technically, you can bring as many toiletry bags as you like, but when it comes to liquids (your shampoo, toothpaste, perfume, etc.), current TSA rules state that flyers may only take one quart-size, clear, zip-top bag in their carry-on. It’s called the 3-1-1 rule: Everything must be 3.4 ounces or less, it must all fit in one bag, and it’s just one bag per person. Bigger items will have to go into your checked luggage.

What are the measurements of the TSA-approved toiletry bags?

The TSA doesn’t officially endorse any products directly (so ignore any “TSA-approved” claim you see), but quart-size bags measure roughly six inches by nine inches, so aim for something close to that. And obviously, go for something transparent.

What should be in a toiletry bag?

That depends on you! If you’re planning on a longer trip with a large, checked bag, go nuts—take all the stuff you think you’ll need, so long as it fits into your suitcase and doesn’t break the airport scales.

For shorter trips with a carry-on, you’ll have to pare it down a little. Consider decanting liquids like shampoos and body washes into smaller plastic bottles (pro tip, only fill these two thirds full if possible—that way the liquid has space to move around rather than bursting out, if the bag is squashed en route). Put your toothbrush in a travel case, and if you’re taking cologne or perfume, bring a smaller, travel-sized one – you’ll be seriously bummed out if your expensive, full-sized bottle gets confiscated during your TSA check.

What you should not put in a toiletry bag?

All the usual suspects: Anything flammable or in an aerosol (e.g., hairspray), anything sharp, like nail scissors, and anything that breaks the 3-1-1 rule.

What fabric is best for a toiletry bag?

It depends on your situation, but in general you want something durable, water-resistant, and relatively light. With this in mind, nylon and polyester are the most common options.