Build your kit

Your 72-hour emergency kit

If everyday services stop, could your home manage for three days?

The government's Be Ready campaign asks every UK household to be able to. We size the emergency kit to your family, following the official checklist, and put it in one Amazon basket.

Updated , in line with the government's Be Ready advice

  1. 1Tell us who lives with you
  2. 2Pick a bundle or your own items
  3. 3One tap to your Amazon basket

What is a 72-hour emergency kit?

A 72-hour emergency kit is what a household needs to look after itself for three days if everyday services are disrupted. The UK government's Be Ready campaign, launched in October 2026, asks every household to have one. The core is 9 litres of drinking water per person, three days of food that needs no cooking, a torch, a battery or wind-up radio, a charged power bank, a first aid kit, some cash and copies of key documents.

Water
3 litres per person per day, so 9 litres each
Food
Three days of tins or packs that need no cooking, plus a tin opener
Cost
About £180 for Essentials or £280 for Complete, for a family of four
Buying
Build it up gradually. You don't need it all at once
Checking
Every six months, for use-by dates and charge
How much you need, by household
HouseholdWaterTinsEssentialsComplete
1 adult9 L6≈ £125≈ £225
2 adults18 L12≈ £140≈ £240
2 adults, 1 child27 L17≈ £170≈ £270
2 adults, 2 children36 L22≈ £180≈ £280
2 adults, 3 children45 L27≈ £210≈ £315
2 adults, 1 child, 1 baby36 L17≈ £230≈ £330

Children are 4 to 15. Essentials covers water, food, light, a radio and first aid. Complete adds hygiene, warmth, a power bank and a document wallet. Prices are Amazon UK estimates from and change often. Leave out anything you already own and the cost drops.

Step 2

Choose your kit

Your basket

Tap an item to add or remove it. Leave out anything you already have.

Also worth doing today

  • Keep some cash at home
  • Copy your IDs and documents
  • Write down key phone numbers
  • List regular medicines and doses
  • Keep a few days' medication
  • Check your kit every six months

What should be in a 72-hour emergency kit in the UK?

These are the 15 items on the government's Be Ready checklist. It asks every household to keep enough for three days, with 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, so 9 litres each.

Source: Be ready for emergencies, GOV.UK Be Ready campaign. Build it gradually during your normal shopping, and check it every six months.

Beyond the guidance

Ready for longer than three days.

The government list is the starting point. This adds a week of water, a safe way to cook, power that doesn't need the grid, and the thing almost everyone forgets: what happens when the toilet won't flush.

Chosen by a former senior UK government official.

Power

Light and charge without the grid.

Water

Takes you from three days to a week.

Cooking

Hot food without the hob.

Warmth

Never use gas heaters indoors.

Staying in touch

For when phones drop out.

Sanitation

When the water's off, flushing stops.

Home safety

Small fixes before they become big ones.

First aid and grab bag

Fuller first aid, and a bag if you need to leave.

These go into the same Amazon basket as your kit. Read the safety notes before you buy.

72-hour emergency kit questions

Why three days?

The UK government's Be Ready campaign asks every household to be able to look after itself for 72 hours, or three days, if everyday services are disrupted. It lets responders reach the people who need help most.

How much water do I need for 72 hours?

The government advises 3 litres per person per day for drinking. For three days that is 9 litres each, plus a little extra for cooking and washing. A family of four needs about 36 litres.

Do I need to buy everything at once?

No. The government suggests checking what you already have and building your kit gradually during regular shopping. Leave out anything you already own.

Is this about a particular threat?

No. Services can be interrupted for lots of reasons, most of them ordinary. The kit is the same whatever the cause.

What else should I keep at home?

Some cash in coins and notes, copies of your IDs and key documents, important phone numbers, and a few days of any regular medication. Order repeat prescriptions up to five working days before you need them.

How often should I check my emergency kit?

Every six months. Check use-by dates, replace anything that has expired and recharge the power bank.

How much does a 72-hour emergency kit cost?

For a family of four, about £180 for Essentials or £280 for Complete at current Amazon UK prices. A single adult is about £125 for Essentials. You'll pay less if you leave out things you already have, and you can spread it over a few shops.

What if someone at home needs extra help?

If anyone relies on electrically powered medical equipment, or would need extra support if supplies to the home are interrupted, sign up to the free Priority Services Register with your energy and water suppliers.

Essentials or Complete?

Essentials covers water, food, light, a radio and first aid. Complete adds hygiene, warmth, a power bank and a document wallet. Both are sized to your household.

How do you pick the products?

Plain, well-rated items at fair prices. We avoid gadgets and branded "survival" kits, which usually cost more for less.

Do you sell anything?

No. You buy from Amazon. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which keeps the site free.

What about babies?

The government advises ready-to-feed formula, because powdered formula may not be safe to make up if you can't boil water. Pack nappies and wipes too, and check amounts with your health visitor or GP.

Is this the official government site?

No. Three Days Ready is independent and not endorsed by the UK government. Quantities follow the government's Be Ready checklist, and the official guidance is at beready.campaign.gov.uk.

£302
16 items in your basket
Add to Amazon basket