Home > Blog > What to Pack for a House Sit
Quick Facts
| Clothing | 3-4 days' rotation — you have a washing machine |
| Pet supplies to bring | Poop bags — homes sometimes run out |
| Pet treats | Leave them at home — many pets are on strict diets |
| Tech essential | GaN charger (charge multiple devices from one block) + universal adapter for international sits |
| Cleaning supplies | Not needed — homes are fully equipped |
| Physical sit documents | Not recommended — carry standard travel documents only |
| Mindset | You are moving into a home, not checking into a hotel |
Based on 18 sits across 11 countries, the most common packing mistake is the same one almost every new sitter makes: treating a house sit like a hotel stay and packing accordingly.
You are not going to a resort. You are moving into a fully functional home with a kitchen, a washing machine, cleaning supplies, and usually more than enough of everything you need. Join TrustedHouseSitters with 25% off and you will understand this on your very first sit.
This article covers what to pack, what to leave behind, and the specific supplies that are worth bringing, based on what we have actually needed across three years of full-time sitting.
The One Packing Rule That Changes Everything
You have a washing machine. That one fact cuts your required clothing in half.
For a week-long sit, you do not need seven outfits. Three or four days of rotation is enough: a few shirts, a couple of pairs of trousers or shorts, underwear, and a warm layer. Run a load mid-sit and you are covered. Caro follows the same logic: a handful of tops, a dress or skirt, and the essentials. We have done month-long sits from a single carry-on each.
Think of it like staying at a friend's house for a week. You pack comfortably and lightly because you know you have all the amenities of home. That mindset is what makes house sitting as a lifestyle actually sustainable rather than exhausting.
House Sitter Supplies: What You Actually Need to Bring
This is the section most packing guides skip. The question people search for is not just what clothes to pack. It is what supplies to bring as a house sitter. The answer is shorter than you might expect.
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Poop bags | Homes sometimes run out — they weigh nothing and take up no space |
| GaN charger | Charge your phone, laptop, and tablet from one block — saves bag space and outlets |
| Universal power adapter | Essential for international sits — one adapter covers most countries |
| Passport and travel documents | Your standard travel documents are all you need |
| Prescribed medications | Bring enough for the full sit plus extra; carry generic name in local language for international sits |
| Personal toiletries | Your specific products only — shampoo, face wash, non-negotiables |
| 3-4 day clothing rotation | Enough for a week with one mid-sit wash |
| One smart-casual outfit | For unexpected social situations — a neighbour stopping by, a coffee invitation |
| Small gift for the homeowner | A bottle of wine or a local treat — not required, always appreciated |
What the Home Already Has (Do Not Pack These)
Cleaning supplies, washing powder, kitchen tools, cooking oil and pantry staples, pet food, pet toys, towels and bedding, and pet leads. Every sit we have done has had all of this ready. Bringing your own duplicates adds weight for no reason.
One exception worth noting on pet supplies: do not bring your own pet treats. This feels like a kind instinct, but many animals are on strict diets and homeowners have specific approved treats already. Arriving with your own and giving them to the animal without checking can cause digestive issues and creates an awkward situation. Leave the treats at home and ask the homeowner what is appropriate.
Tech: The Two Items Worth Prioritising
A GaN charger is the single most practical tech upgrade for house sitters. A GaN (gallium nitride) charger can power your phone, laptop, and tablet simultaneously from one compact block. This means you travel with one item instead of three separate chargers, use one outlet instead of three, and keep your bag significantly lighter. For long sits where you are working remotely, the difference is noticeable.
A universal power adapter is non-negotiable for international sits. Even if the home has plenty of outlets, your devices need to be compatible. One good universal adapter covers most countries and lasts for years. For domestic sits you can skip it, but the GaN charger is still worth having regardless.
Everything else tech-related (monitors, keyboards, desk lamps) the home usually has, and you can ask the homeowner in advance if you have specific remote work needs. Our guide to house sitting for remote workers covers how to set up a proper workspace in someone else's home.
Documents: Keep It Simple
We do not carry physical documents related to the house sit itself. Our standard travel documents (passports, visas, any required travel permits) are what we carry, the same as any traveller.
On the broader question of documentation when crossing borders as a house sitter: immigration rules vary by country and change regularly. We approach every trip as travellers first. House sitting is something we do while already travelling. It is not the declared reason for entering a country. If you have questions about what documentation is required for your specific nationality, destination, and travel situation, consult the official immigration authority for that country or speak to a qualified immigration adviser. This is one area where personal research based on your own situation matters far more than general guidance.
For the sit itself, everything we need is digital: the THS confirmation, the welcome guide, the homeowner's contact details, and the vet information. A phone with good battery life covers it, which brings us back to the GaN charger.
Clothing: The Minimalist Framework
The checklist that has worked across 18 sits:
Daily wear: 3-4 sets of comfortable clothes. For warmer climates this means light trousers, shorts, and a few t-shirts. For cooler climates, add a thermal base layer and a fleece.
One smart-casual outfit: A pair of decent jeans and a button shirt for Konrad, something equivalent for Caro. Homeowners sometimes invite you for a meal before they leave, neighbours might stop by, or you might head somewhere nicer for dinner. You will not regret having one outfit that is not a t-shirt.
Layers for longer sits: If a sit crosses seasons or goes from warm to cold, a packable rain jacket and a warm mid-layer cover most situations without adding much weight.
Footwear: One comfortable walking pair and one slightly nicer pair. That is enough.
The Welcome Gift
Not a supply, but worth including: a small gift for the homeowner. A bottle of wine, something from your home region, a local specialty from somewhere you passed through on the way. It costs very little, it is never expected, and it starts the sit on a completely different footing than arriving empty-handed. Every homeowner we have given a gift to has mentioned it. It is our single most consistent recommendation to new sitters.
What a Well-Packed Bag Actually Looks Like
For a two-week sit, our combined kit fits into one carry-on and one personal bag each. The carry-on holds the clothing rotation, one smart outfit, and the personal toiletries. The personal bag holds the laptop, GaN charger, universal adapter, medications, travel documents, and a few poop bags tucked in a side pocket.
That is it. We have arrived at a house sit in Greece and a house sit in France from the same bag. The weight of what you carry should not be a limiting factor in how freely you move. Packing light is not a compromise. It is the point.
If You Are Travelling to the Sit by Car or Van
Everything above describes the bare minimum: what you need if you are flying or arriving by train with limited luggage. If you are driving to your sit, the calculus changes completely.
We travel to most of our sits in a VW T4 campervan, which means we arrive with our full kitchen, cleaning supplies, spices, a water filter, and anything else we use day to day. There is no reason not to bring it all when you have the space. The home will have what it needs, but if you have your own coffee setup, your preferred cooking oil, or a water filter you rely on, bring it. You will use it and you will be glad you did.
This applies to anyone arriving by car, not just van travellers. A boot full of your own kitchen preferences, toiletries in full sizes, and a few home comforts costs you nothing extra and makes a longer sit feel genuinely like living somewhere rather than camping lightly in someone else's space.
The supplies table above still holds as the minimum for anyone travelling light. But if you have the vehicle space, treat it as a starting point rather than a ceiling. A house sit is as close to a real home as travel gets. There is no prize for arriving with less than you need.
Conclusion
The supplies you actually need as a house sitter fit in a side pocket: poop bags, a GaN charger, a universal adapter, and your personal medications and toiletries. Everything else is already in the home. The rest of your bag is for your clothing rotation, one decent outfit, and a small gift for the homeowner.
Pack once, pack well, and adjust after your first sit. You will almost certainly arrive home having used half of what you brought and already know what to leave out next time.
If you are new to TrustedHouseSitters, use our 25% discount link to get started. Read our guide to getting your first house sit before you apply.
DM us @housesittersguide on Instagram with any packing questions. We answer everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to bring my own towels and bedding to a house sit?
Almost never. The home is fully equipped. Towels, bedding, and kitchen essentials are provided. Pack as if you are staying at a friend's house, not a hostel.
Should I bring pet supplies for a house sit?
Only poop bags. Homes occasionally run out and they weigh nothing. Do not bring pet treats. Many animals are on strict diets and the homeowner will have their own approved options. Everything else (leads, food, toys, grooming tools) will be in the home.
What is the most useful tech item to pack for a house sit?
A GaN charger. It charges your phone, laptop, and tablet from one compact block, saves bag space, and means you only need one outlet for all your devices. Add a universal power adapter for international sits.
Should I pack food for my first few days?
We recommend buying groceries on arrival. It helps you settle in and get a feel for the local area. Most homeowners leave kitchen staples like salt, pepper, and oil, and some leave a welcome gift.
How much luggage is too much for a house sit?
If you cannot carry it all yourself in one go, you have packed too much. A carry-on and a personal bag are ideal for sits up to a few weeks. You have a washing machine. Use it.
