Free · Takes under a minute · Based on GOV.UK advice
Emergency kit calculator for UK households
Power cuts, storms, flooding and water supply problems can leave a home without essential services for a few days. The government’s Be Ready campaign recommends being ready for 3 days. Tell us who lives in your home and we’ll work out exactly how much water, food and backup power you need, with a checklist you can print.
How the calculator works
- Water: 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, as advised by Be Ready, plus a rough allowance for dogs and cats.
- Food: calories for every adult and child, turned into an approximate number of meals, with ideas for your diet.
- Power: the energy your phones and chosen devices use each day, multiplied by the number of days. We then suggest the smallest power bank or power station that covers it – and tell you honestly when a battery alone isn’t practical.
- Everything else: light, warmth, first aid, hygiene, documents and cash, from the official Be Ready checklist.
Every figure we use, and where it comes from, is listed on our methodology page.
Practical guides
- Power cut checklist
What to do before, during and after a power cut.
- How much water to store
Litres per person, storing it safely and backups.
- What to put in a grab bag
A small bag ready if you have to leave home quickly.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of supplies does the UK government recommend?
The government’s Be Ready campaign says being ready for 3 days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need. The calculator uses 3 days by default, with 7 and 14 days if you want more cover.
How much water should I store for an emergency?
Be Ready advises 3 litres of drinking water per person per day – so 9 litres per person for 3 days. More is needed for cooking and washing. Water purification tablets or a filter are a useful backup.
What food should I keep in an emergency kit?
Non-perishable food with a long shelf life that doesn’t need a fridge or cooking – for example tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. It’s best to buy food you would usually eat, and remember a manual tin opener.
What size power station do I need for a power cut?
It depends on what you want to keep running and for how long. Charging phones for a few days only needs a power bank. Keeping a fridge-freezer running needs roughly 1,000 Wh or more a day, which for several days usually means a large power station plus a way to recharge it, such as solar. The calculator works out the size for your household.
What should I do about baby formula?
Be Ready says ready-made or “ready-to-feed” formula is best, because you may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely. Your health visitor can advise on amounts.
How often should I check my emergency kit?
Be Ready suggests setting a reminder every six months to check expiry dates, swap out anything that needs replacing and update the kit if your household has changed.
Is this the official government checklist?
No. Household Emergency Kit is an independent site. The calculator is based on the GOV.UK Be Ready checklist and turns it into quantities for your household. The official checklist is at gov.uk/beready.
Do you store the details I enter?
No. The calculator runs in your browser. Your answers and ticked items are saved only on your own device so you can come back to your list.
How does this site make money?
Some product links are affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are sized to what your household needs, never to the commission.