You are standing at the TSA checkpoint, digging through your bag trying to find your laptop.
There are cords tangled around your charger, your tablet is buried under clothes, and the line behind you is getting longer.
You finally pull everything out, lay it across three bins, and hope you remembered to grab it all on the other side.
Most people scatter their electronics throughout the bag instead of keeping them in one organized system.
One pouch for cords, one spot for your laptop, and a plan for security. That is all it takes.
Use the one-pouch cord system below, know what comes out at security, and keep everything in your carry-on. That covers electronics packing for any trip.
TL;DR: Electronics do not have to be the stressful part of packing.
What TSA Requires at Security
Knowing what comes out of your bag at the checkpoint removes the guessing.
Must come out of your bag:
- Laptop (placed flat in its own bin)
- Large tablets (iPad-sized or bigger, at most checkpoints)
Stays in your bag:
- Phone
- E-reader (Kindle-sized devices)
- Chargers and cables
- Portable battery pack
- Headphones
- Camera (most checkpoints)
- Small tablets (varies by airport)
If you have TSA PreCheck: Everything stays in your bag.
Laptop, tablet, all of it.
This alone makes PreCheck worth considering if electronics packing stresses you out.
If you are not sure about a device: Take it out.
It is never wrong to place a device in its own bin.
It is only a problem if you leave something in the bag that the X-ray cannot see through clearly.
For the full TSA checkpoint walkthrough, see TSA rules explained.
Here’s a video I made walking through electronics packing, including cords, documents, and power banks:
The One-Pouch System for Cords and Chargers
Cords are the mess.
Not your laptop, not your phone.
The chargers, cables, and adapters that tangle together at the bottom of your bag are what make electronics feel chaotic.
The fix is a single electronics organizer pouch that holds everything.
What goes in the pouch:
- Phone charger and cable
- Laptop charger (if it fits; some laptop chargers are too large for a pouch and go in the main bag)
- Earbuds or headphone case
- Portable battery pack
- International power adapter (if needed)
- Any other cables (watch charger, e-reader cable, camera cable)
How to keep cords from tangling:
- Coil each cable individually and secure it with a small velcro strap or a rubber band
- Use the elastic loops inside the pouch if it has them
- Keep each cable in its own slot or pocket
Where the pouch lives: In your personal item (backpack or tote), in an outside pocket you can reach without unpacking.
You need access to it on the plane (for charging), at the hotel, and sometimes at security.
One pouch, one location, every time.
When you need a charger, you know where it is.
When you repack, everything goes back in the pouch.
Travel Tips by Laurie covers what to know before packing electronics for a flight:
How to Pack Your Laptop
Your laptop is the most valuable and most fragile item in your bag.
It deserves a specific spot, not just “somewhere in the backpack.”
Use the laptop sleeve in your bag. Most backpacks and travel bags have a padded laptop compartment against the back panel.
This compartment is designed to absorb impacts and keep the laptop separate from everything else.
If your bag does not have a laptop sleeve: Use a separate padded laptop sleeve inside the bag.
A sleeve adds minimal weight and prevents screen cracks from hard items pressing against the laptop.
Keep the laptop accessible. At security, you need to pull it out quickly.
Place it in a compartment you can open without removing other items.
On the plane: Keep your laptop in the bag under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead bin.
Overhead bins shift during flight.
Under the seat, your bag stays put and your laptop is within reach.
Protecting Electronics in Your Carry-On
Electronics and clothes live in the same bag.
A few placement decisions keep them from damaging each other.
Phones and tablets: Keep them in your personal item, not your main carry-on.
If your carry-on goes in the overhead bin and shifts during turbulence, a phone wedged between clothes can get cracked by a heavy shoe or toiletry bag.
Your personal item stays under the seat and stays still.
Cameras: If you are bringing a camera, keep it in a padded case in your personal item.
A camera body and lens in a soft bag surrounded by clothes is not protected enough, so even a simple neoprene case makes a difference.
E-readers: These are durable enough to go anywhere in your carry-on.
A thin case protects the screen from scratches, but e-readers handle bumps well.
Portable battery packs: These must go in your carry-on, not your checked bag.
Airlines prohibit lithium batteries in checked luggage because of fire risk.
According to TSA’s battery guidelines, portable chargers must be carried on and cannot be placed in checked bags.
International Travel: Power Adapters
If you are traveling outside the U.S., your chargers may not fit the outlets at your destination.
What you need: A plug adapter, not a voltage converter.
Modern electronics (phone chargers, laptop chargers, camera chargers) are dual-voltage, meaning they work on both 110V (U.S.) and 220V (Europe, Asia, most of the world).
Check the fine print on your charger.
If it says “100-240V,” you only need a plug adapter to change the shape of the prongs.
What you do NOT need: A voltage converter.
These are heavy, expensive, and unnecessary for modern electronics.
They are only needed for older devices like hair dryers or curling irons that are not dual-voltage.
A universal travel adapter works in most countries. One adapter replaces a collection of country-specific plugs.
Look for one with USB ports built in so you can charge multiple devices from a single outlet.
Pack the adapter in your electronics pouch. When you arrive, it is right where you need it with your other chargers.
The Electronics Packing Checklist
Before you close your bag, check this list:
- [ ] Phone charger and cable
- [ ] Laptop and laptop charger
- [ ] Headphones or earbuds
- [ ] Portable battery pack (carry-on only, not checked)
- [ ] E-reader or tablet
- [ ] Camera and camera charger (if bringing one)
- [ ] International power adapter (if traveling abroad)
- [ ] Electronics pouch with all cables organized
What to leave home:
- Extra cables for devices you are not bringing
- A second charger “just in case” (one is enough for a phone that charges overnight)
- Devices you will not use (if you are bringing a phone and a tablet, do you really need the laptop too?)
Not sure if your bag fits airline size limits? Check it free with our luggage calculator.
For the complete carry-on packing system, see the carry-on only packing guide.
One pouch for cords, laptop in the back sleeve, battery packs in your carry-on only.
That system handles electronics for any trip.
Want the full packing system?
Get the free space-saving packing cheatsheet or grab the packing checklist so you never forget a charger.
Pin this page for the next time you are untangling cords the night before a flight.
12-year nomad, carry-on-only traveler across 5 continents, and creator of Organizing.TV.
I help you pack smaller, stress less, and actually enjoy the packing part of travel.
