Emergency food supplies calculator
Enter who lives in your home, any dietary needs and how long you want to be covered. We’ll work out how much food to keep in, in calories and meals.
Your result
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the calculator recommends – recommendations are sized to your household, not to the commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How the calculator works
We multiply the number of adults and children by a daily calorie allowance and the number of days, then turn that into an approximate number of meals (three a day).
| Who | Per day | 3 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | 2,500 kcal | 7,500 kcal | 17,500 kcal |
| Child (under 12) | 1,600 kcal | 4,800 kcal | 11,200 kcal |
Calories are printed on every food label, so you can add up what’s already in your cupboard and see what’s missing.
Emergency food supply list
Good non-perishable food for emergencies – no fridge or cooking needed:
- Tinned fish, meat, beans, lentils and vegetables
- Nuts, seeds and nut butter
- Dried fruit
- Crackers, oatcakes and rice cakes
- Cereal bars and chocolate
- Small cartons of long-life milk or plant milk
- Ready-to-feed baby formula and pet food, if needed
Tips for an emergency food store
- Store what you eat. Rotate it into your normal meals and replace it, so nothing goes out of date.
- Pick ring-pull tins or keep a manual tin opener with your kit.
- Include easy energy – nuts, cereal bars, dried fruit and chocolate are calorie-dense and need no preparation.
- Remember special diets, allergies, babies and pets.
- Check dates every six months.
Frequently asked questions
How much food should I store for an emergency?
Enough for everyone in your home for the number of days you want to cover. We plan on 2,500 kcal per adult and 1,600 kcal per child under 12 each day, which is on the generous side so nobody goes short.
What food is best for an emergency kit?
Food with a long shelf life that doesn’t need a fridge or cooking: tinned fish, meat, beans and vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, crackers, cereal bars and nut butter. It’s best to store food you normally eat and rotate it into your weekly shopping.
Do I need freeze-dried emergency food?
Not for a few days – ordinary tins and dry food work well. Long-life emergency food packs last for many years, so some people keep them as a back-up for longer plans or for a car or grab bag.
What if I can’t cook in a power cut?
Electric hobs and ovens won’t work, and many gas hobs need electric ignition. Plan around food you can eat cold. A camping stove can heat food, but only ever use it outdoors because of the risk of carbon monoxide.
More calculators
- Emergency kit calculator
Everything your household needs, in one checklist.
- Power station size calculator
What size power station you need for the devices you want to keep running.
- Power station runtime calculator
How long a power station will run a fridge, CPAP, router or laptop.
- Power bank calculator
What size power bank you need to keep phones charged.
- Emergency water calculator
How much drinking water to store for people and pets.
- Pet emergency kit calculator
Water, food and supplies for dogs, cats and other pets.
General guidance only – not a substitute for official or medical advice. See every figure we use and where it comes from.