Whether you are jetting off for a business meeting interstate or flying to a destination wedding, arriving with a wrinkled suit undermines your preparation and confidence. The good news is that with the right techniques and a bit of care, you can pack a suit in a regular suitcase and have it arrive looking nearly as fresh as when it left your wardrobe. Here is everything you need to know about travelling with suits.
Choosing Your Packing Method
There are several approaches to packing a suit, each with advantages depending on your luggage and travel circumstances. Let us explore the main options.
The Garment Bag
A dedicated garment bag remains the gold standard for suit travel. These bags allow the suit to hang relatively flat, minimising folding and the creases that come with it. Bi-fold garment bags fold once at the waist and can be carried on most flights. Tri-fold bags are more compact but create additional fold lines.
If you travel frequently for business, investing in a quality garment bag is worthwhile. Look for bags with sturdy handles, quality zips, and enough length to accommodate your suits without forcing them to bunch at the bottom.
Airline Considerations
Most airlines allow garment bags as carry-on items, either in addition to or instead of a small personal item. Check your specific airline's policy before travel. Carrying your suit on avoids the risk of lost luggage and the rough handling of checked bags.
The Suitcase Roll Method
If you must pack a suit in a regular suitcase—perhaps for a longer trip requiring more luggage or when travelling with only checked bags—the roll method minimises creasing effectively.
Step-by-Step: Packing the Jacket
The jacket is the trickier piece to pack because of its structured shoulders. Here is the best approach:
- Empty all pockets completely. Items left inside create pressure points and wrinkles.
- Turn the jacket inside out, but only flip one shoulder. Push your hand into one shoulder from the inside, then tuck the other shoulder into it, so both shoulders are nested together inside-out.
- Fold in half lengthwise, with the back of the jacket on the outside and the lapels protected inside.
- Lay flat in your suitcase, using it as a foundation layer, or roll loosely from bottom to top.
This technique protects the lapels—the part most prone to visible creasing—while the inside-out shoulders provide a soft padding that reduces sharp fold marks.
Alternative: The Bundle Method
Some travellers prefer bundling, where the jacket wraps around a core of softer items like t-shirts or underwear. This eliminates hard folds entirely. Lay the jacket flat, place your bundle core in the centre, and wrap the jacket around it progressively, tucking in sleeves as you go. The result is a rounded bundle with no sharp creases.
The key principle for any packing method is avoiding sharp folds. Gentle curves and rolls create wrinkles that hang out easily, while hard creases can be stubborn to remove.
Packing the Trousers
Trousers are more forgiving than jackets but still benefit from careful packing.
The Fold Method
Lay trousers flat and fold along the natural crease line, so one leg sits exactly atop the other. Then fold in half at the knee, or in thirds for smaller suitcases. Place near the top of your suitcase where they are less likely to be compressed.
The Roll Method
Alternatively, roll the trousers from the waist down. This works particularly well for casual trousers or suit trousers in wrinkle-resistant fabrics. Start with a tight roll and keep consistent pressure throughout.
Using the Suitcase Lid
Many suitcases have straps or compartments in the lid. Laying trousers flat in this space, with minimal folding, keeps them separate from heavier items and reduces compression wrinkles.
Additional Packing Tips
Plastic Dry Cleaning Bags
Wrapping your suit in the plastic bag from dry cleaning creates a slippery layer that reduces friction between fabrics. This friction is what creates many packing wrinkles. The plastic allows layers to slide against each other rather than grabbing and creasing.
Fabric Matters
Some fabrics travel better than others. Tightly woven wool suits with higher twist yarns resist wrinkling naturally. Linen and loosely woven fabrics will wrinkle regardless of how carefully you pack. For frequent travellers, consider investing in a suit specifically selected for wrinkle resistance.
Pack Tight, Not Loose
Counterintuitively, a well-packed, full suitcase often results in fewer wrinkles than a loosely packed one. Items that can shift during transit will bunch and crease. Fill gaps with socks, underwear, or packing cubes to keep everything stable.
Accessories and Shoes
Pack ties rolled rather than folded—rolling prevents the center crease that folding creates. Place them inside shoes to save space and maintain their shape. Belts should follow the perimeter of your suitcase, curved along the edge rather than folded.
Dress shoes should be stuffed with socks or shoe trees to maintain shape and stored in cloth bags to protect your clothes from any residue.
Upon Arrival: Wrinkle Recovery
Even with perfect packing, some wrinkles may appear. Here is how to address them:
The Bathroom Steam Method
Hang your suit in the bathroom while you take a hot shower. Close the door to trap steam, and the humidity will relax the fabric fibres. After 15-20 minutes of steaming, hang the suit in a dry area to dry completely before wearing. This simple technique removes most light wrinkles.
Travel Steamer
A portable garment steamer is invaluable for business travellers. These compact devices produce steam that relaxes wrinkles quickly without the risk of iron burns or shine marks. Run the steamer a few centimetres from the fabric, working in vertical strokes.
Hotel Iron with Caution
If you must use an iron, use the lowest effective heat setting and always iron through a pressing cloth—a cotton handkerchief or thin towel works. Never iron directly on suit fabric, especially wool, as this can create permanent shine marks.
Steam Setting Warning
Hotel irons often spit water due to mineral buildup. Test any iron on a towel before using it near your suit. Water spots on wool can leave marks that require professional cleaning to remove.
Hang Immediately
As soon as you arrive at your accommodation, unpack your suit and hang it properly. The sooner it can hang and relax, the fewer wrinkles will set. If possible, unbutton the jacket and hang it on a proper hanger—not a wire one from the hotel closet. Travel with a collapsible travel hanger if your destinations typically lack quality hangers.
Planning Ahead
The best wrinkle prevention starts before you pack. If you have time, hang the suit in a steamy bathroom the day before travel to remove any existing wrinkles—this gives the fabric the best starting point. Consider wearing the suit jacket on the plane if it is a short flight, eliminating packing concerns entirely.
For destination weddings or critical business meetings, arriving a day early gives you time to send the suit for hotel pressing or steam it yourself without rushing. The small cost of an extra night or professional pressing is worthwhile insurance against appearing anything less than your best.
With these techniques, you can travel confidently, knowing that your suit will arrive ready to make the right impression. The key is care, preparation, and understanding how fabrics behave—skills that serve you well beyond just packing.