Home emergency kit checklist (UK): what to keep for 3 days

Written by James Frost, founder of Flaming Phoenix and the maker of Phoenix Bars. Updated 25 October 2026 and checked against the government's Be Ready checklist and the British Red Cross kit list.

A UK home emergency kit is a box of supplies that lets your household manage on its own for 3 days if the power, water or phone networks go down. The government's Be Ready checklist covers bottled water (3 litres per person per day for drinking), non-perishable food for 3 days, a torch with spare batteries, a battery or wind-up FM radio, a charged power bank, cash and cards, copies of important documents, a written list of phone numbers and medicines, a first aid kit and essential medication, hygiene items, blankets and warm clothing, and anything babies or pets need. Most homes already have half of it.

The Be Ready campaign, launched on 22 October 2026, asks every household to be ready for 3 days of disruption so help can reach the people who need it most. This page is the full kit, item by item. For the food and water in detail, see our 3-day emergency food supply list and our guide to emergency water storage.

Why I wrote this guide. Phoenix Bars began as my university project to design a better emergency ration, and the food and water side of a kit is what I know best. I have kept this list practical: what to keep, why, and how to build it without spending a fortune or filling a cupboard with things you will never use.

The UK home emergency kit checklist

This follows the government's Be Ready checklist, with a few useful extras from the British Red Cross.

Water

• Bottled water for 3 days: 3 litres per person per day for drinking, so 9 litres each. You will need more for cooking and washing.

Food

• Non-perishable food for 3 days that needs no fridge and no cooking, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. Buy food you would usually eat.
• A manual tin opener, unless every tin has a ring pull.

Light and warmth

• A torch and spare batteries. Torches are safer than candles.
• Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing, because homes get cold quickly when the heating goes off.

Communication and information

• A battery or wind-up FM radio, with the frequencies of your national and local news stations written down.
• A charged power bank for phones or compatible medical devices.

Money and documents

• Cash in coins and notes, plus cards, in case card payments or cash machines stop working.
• Printed copies of important documents: passports, birth certificates, insurance details and instructions for any medical equipment you rely on.
• A written list of phone numbers, including anyone who might need checking on, and a list of regular medication and doses.

Medical and health

• A first aid kit with waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape and tweezers.
• Essential medication and medical supplies. Order repeat prescriptions in good time, up to 5 working days before you need them.

Hygiene

• Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products.

Babies and pets

• Ready-made or ready-to-feed formula, because you may not be able to boil water for powdered formula, plus nappies and wipes.
• Pet food, bottled water for pets, and any pet medication.

Useful extras

• Spare house and car keys, a pen and paper, and a whistle.
• Waterproof bags for documents and phones.
• Spare glasses or contact lenses, and hearing aid batteries.
• Bin bags and duct tape, which solve a surprising number of problems.

What to add for the risks where you live

Different emergencies need slightly different kit. Use the Be Ready hazards pages to check what is most likely near you, then add:

• Power cuts: extra torches and batteries, a second charged power bank, warm layers and blankets. Save 105, the number to report a power cut in England, Scotland and Wales (03457 643643 in Northern Ireland).
• Flooding: documents and medication in waterproof bags, essentials packed together in case you need to leave quickly, and a grab bag by the door.
• Storms: charged power banks, torches, a radio, and enough food and water to stay in.
• Snow and ice: extra food and drinking water, extra medication if you can get it, warm clothing and bedding.
• Heatwaves: extra drinking water, sunscreen and a safe way to keep medication cool.

How to build your kit gradually: a four-week plan

Be Ready advises building your kit step by step during normal shopping trips to spread the cost. One way to do it in a month:

• Week 1, what you already have: find a box or crate, then gather the torch, radio, first aid kit and spare batteries you already own. Print your documents, write down your phone numbers and medication list, and put them in a waterproof bag.
• Week 2, water: buy or fill 9 litres per person, label the date, and add a tin opener to the box.
• Week 3, food: add 3 days of no-cook food per person. Our 3-day emergency food supply list shows one way to reach about 7,200 calories per adult from supermarket food.
• Week 4, comfort and power: a charged power bank, some cash, hygiene items, blankets or sleeping bags, and anything for babies or pets.

If money, space or time are tight, start with the Red Cross priority items: essential medication, a torch, a power bank, drinking water, long-life food, emergency contact details and basic first aid.

Where to keep a home emergency kit

• In one labelled box or crate that everyone in the house knows about, somewhere you can reach in the dark, such as a hall cupboard or under the stairs.
• Away from damp, heat and big temperature swings, so lofts, sheds and garages are a poor choice for food, water and medication.
• Water can live separately if it is heavy: under beds or in the bottom of wardrobes works well.
• Keep a lighter grab bag by the door in case you need to leave, and a few essentials in the car in winter.

Home kit, grab bag or car kit?

• Home emergency kit: for staying put for 3 days through a power cut, storm or water outage. This page.
• Grab bag: a light, personal bag for leaving home quickly. See our emergency grab bag list.
• Car kit: blankets, a torch, an in-car phone charger, warm clothes, high-visibility clothing, jump leads, food and drink and a shovel, in case you get stuck in wintry weather.

Prepare your home as well as your kit

Be Ready pairs the kit with a few simple steps that cost little or nothing:

• Learn how to turn off your gas, electricity and water.
• Test your smoke alarms once a month.
• Fill in the Be Ready household emergency plan, agree a meeting point, and keep the plan with your documents.
• Check whether anyone in your home can join the Priority Services Register, which tells energy and water companies you need extra support during an outage. Many households qualify, including those with children under five.
• Swap contact details with neighbours and agree to check on anyone who lives alone.

How often to check your emergency kit

Be Ready suggests a reminder every six months. Each time, check the dates on food, water and medication, recharge the power bank, test the torch and radio, update documents and phone numbers, and adjust the kit if your household has changed. Use food that is close to its date in everyday meals and replace it, so the kit never goes to waste.

Common questions about home emergency kits

What should be in a home emergency kit in the UK?

Bottled water for 3 days, non-perishable food for 3 days, a torch, an FM radio, a power bank, cash and cards, copies of documents, a written list of numbers and medicines, a first aid kit, essential medication, hygiene items, blankets and warm clothing, plus anything babies or pets need.

How much water should be in an emergency kit?

At least 3 litres per person per day for drinking, so 9 litres each for 3 days, with more for cooking and washing. A family of four needs 36 litres just to drink.

How much food should be in an emergency kit?

Enough for 3 days for everyone in the house: about 6,000 to 7,500 calories per adult. Our 3-day food list has household amounts, and our guide to non-perishable foods shows what keeps longest.

Does the government give out free emergency kits?

No. Be Ready is advice and a downloadable checklist. It suggests checking what you already have first and building up gradually, and donating any spare items to people who cannot afford to prepare.

Should I buy a ready-made emergency kit?

A ready-made kit is a quick start, but check what it actually contains. Some are sized at survival level for food, around 2,500 calories for 72 hours, and none can include your medication, documents or glasses. Many households buy a kit for the hardware and add their own food, water and personal items.

Can I use candles in a power cut?

Be Ready says torches are safer than candles. If you do use candles, never leave them unattended and keep them away from anything that can catch fire.

Do I need a generator?

Not for a 3-day kit. Charged power banks, torches and a radio cover the short power cuts that are most common in the UK, and they are far safer to use indoors.

Sources: GOV.UK Be Ready, be ready for emergencies; Be Ready checklist (PDF); British Red Cross, prepare an emergency kit; Priority Services Register.