UK family emergency kit checklist: what to keep for three days

What the government actually recommends

The government’s Be Ready checklist asks households to prepare for three days. It specifies three litres of drinking water per person per day, plus extra for cooking and washing. It includes food, hygiene supplies, light and warmth, a battery or wind-up FM radio, a charged power bank, first aid, essential medicines, documents, cash, and baby or pet supplies where needed. Follow the official checklist linked below for the full advice.

Your family shopping list

Water: one person needs 9 litres for three days; two people 18 litres; three people 27 litres; four people 36 litres; five people 45 litres; six people 54 litres. These are drinking-water totals, calculated from the government figure, before other uses and pets. Split the quantity into containers the people in your home can lift.

Food: plan nine familiar meals per person, allowing for your usual portions and snacks. Check which tins can be eaten cold and add a manual opener if required. Do not build a cupboard around foods your children will refuse or that need appliances you cannot run.

Hygiene: check toilet paper, hand sanitiser, wipes, period products, nappies and rubbish bags. Buy enough for the household’s normal use rather than guessing a huge quantity. Bulk packs are convenient only if the delivered unit price and storage space make sense.

Equipment checklist

Check a torch for each place where people may need to move in darkness, a room light if useful, the right spare batteries, a radio that receives local broadcasts without broadband, and a charged power bank with cables that fit your phones. Read the separate equipment guides before replacing anything you already have.

Keep warm layers, existing blankets, a first-aid kit, written contact information and copies of key documents accessible. Add your household’s particular needs: glasses, hearing-aid supplies, mobility equipment instructions, baby supplies and pet items. Agree medication and powered-medical-equipment contingencies with the relevant professional or supplier.

Make the kit useful rather than expensive

Choose a named cupboard and tell everyone where it is. Keep heavy water packs low, away from anything that could be damaged by a leak. Place a torch where it can be reached without crossing a dark room. Keep personal documents private, especially if a bag is stored near the front door.

Try the radio and phone cables now. Write down who will collect children or check on relatives if messaging fails. A purchase only helps if the household can find it and knows how to use it. Put a dated inventory beside the supplies and use older food in ordinary meals before replacing it.

How to use this series

Start with the family or budget list, then choose the equipment guide matching a real gap. Individual evaluations are desk research from manufacturer documentation, with limitations clearly stated. None of the products is government-endorsed. Water, toilet paper and other consumables are shopping links only.

What to consider before buying

• Check existing supplies before ordering.
• Compare total delivered prices and pack quantities.
• Keep an inventory and review it when household needs change.
• Use local official instructions during an actual incident.

How this guide was prepared

This guide uses official specifications, manufacturer guidance, retailer model information and MainBuyer editorial judgement. It explains trade-offs rather than claiming one product is right for everyone, and it does not describe research-based assessments as hands-on tests.

See how we review, our editorial policy and corrections policy.

Last editorial review: 2026-10-24

Research references

• UK Government — Be Ready checklist