Emergency kit for a family of four: the cost in the UK, built in stages
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 8 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 8 doneWhat a family of four needs, and what it costs to plan for
Be Ready, the government campaign launched on 22 October 2026, asks households to plan for about three days. For four people that means 36 litres of water, which is 3 litres each per day for three days, as our guide to how much water to store explains. It also means 12 person-days of food that needs no cooking, light for everyone, warmth, basic first aid and a few extras.
Our budget emergency kit guide is the £25 starting point for any household. This guide scales that up for four people, and shows what to buy in what order if money is tight.
Emergency kit for a family of four: the cost in the UK, stage by stage
The amounts below are budgets to plan with, not quotes. They are our own planning figures, not prices we have checked at any shop. Prices change, and what you spend depends on what you own, so stop when you have what you need.
Before any stage: a carbon monoxide alarm. If your home has a boiler, a gas fire or any fuel-burning appliance and no working alarm, a carbon monoxide alarm that meets UK standards (Retailer link coming soon) comes before every other stage. Test it as the maker advises.
Stage 1: the free stage
Before you spend anything, gather what you have.
- Water. Wash clean 2-litre drinks bottles, fill them from the cold tap and put the date on them. Store them in a cool, dark cupboard.
- Warmth. Pull together spare duvets, blankets, coats, hats and gloves.
- Food. Check the cupboard for tins and packets you already eat. Our no-cook food guide helps you choose.
- Light. Find every torch in the house and test it.
- Paper. Write a contact sheet and your emergency plan on paper.
Our guide to free preparedness actions goes further.
Stage 2: about £25 for the basics
Buy the things that make the first day easier.
- Light: a plain AA battery LED torch (Retailer link coming soon) for each adult, plus spare batteries. Children can share a lantern.
- A manual tin opener. A manual tin opener (Retailer link coming soon) works when the cooker and microwave do not. Test it on a real tin.
- Tins and packets you already like, enough for a day or two of cold meals for four. Add a few each shop.
Stage 3: about £50 for water, warmth and first aid
- Water containers. Thirty-six litres is a lot to keep in small bottles. Food-grade water storage containers (Retailer link coming soon) are sturdier and easier to stack. Fill them from the cold tap and keep them cool and out of sunlight. A full 10-litre container is heavy, so check who can lift it.
- Blankets. If you do not have a spare for each person, a fleece blanket multipack (Retailer link coming soon) is a cheap fix.
- First aid. A pack of assorted plasters and dressings (Retailer link coming soon) covers everyday scrapes. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about anything for medical conditions. Do not stockpile prescription medicines beyond what a clinician agrees.
Stage 4: about £100 to finish
- A radio and a power bank. Both are in the official checklist. They are upgrades, so add them last.
- Basic hygiene. Wipes, tissues and bin bags.
What children change
A family with children needs a few extras.
- Babies. Nappies, wipes and formula. Ready-to-feed formula needs no water or heating, but speak to your health visitor or pharmacist about what is right for your baby.
- Toddlers and school-age children. Snacks they will eat, a spare set of clothes, and a favourite book or toy.
- Everyone. A light of their own helps older children feel in charge. Our emergency plan for kids has ideas for including them.
Spreading the cost
You do not have to buy everything at once. Our £5-a-week preparedness plan shows how to build a kit over a month. Add one or two tins to each shop, pick up a torch when it is on offer, and fill a bottle each evening. If money is very tight, stage 1 is still real progress. Our list of emergency items under £10 shows single buys that earn their place.
What to skip
- Gadgets before basics. A hand-crank gadget is no use until you own a torch and a tin opener.
- A ready-made kit you have not checked. Compare the contents with our emergency kit list before you pay.
- Food nobody will eat. If your family will not eat it, it will not help.
- Lots of everything at once. A small kit you check beats a large one you forget.
Do this today (free)
- Wash and fill three or four clean bottles from the cold tap, and date them.
- Test every torch in the house.
- Gather blankets and coats into one cupboard.
- Write down what you still need, in the order above.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.
- About £10: a torch and spare batteries, plus a manual tin opener.
- About £25: add tins you will eat cold and a fleece blanket if you are short.
- About £50: add water containers and first-aid basics. Buy a carbon monoxide alarm first if you have none.
Questions people ask
How much does an emergency kit for a family of four cost in the UK?
It depends on what you already own, so we give no single price. Many families can build a basic kit in stages: a first stage of light, a tin opener and food for a modest budget, then water containers, blankets and first aid. Check current prices before you buy.
How much water does a family of four need?
Be Ready advises 3 litres per person per day. For four people over three days, that is 36 litres. Store tap water in clean, food-grade containers in a cool, dark place, and check it twice a year. Add extra for babies, pets and hot weather.
What should I buy first for an emergency kit?
Start with light, a manual tin opener, a few days of food you can eat cold, and tap water in clean bottles. Add warmth and basic first aid next. If your home has any fuel-burning appliance, make sure you have a working carbon monoxide alarm.
How can I afford a family emergency kit?
Build it slowly. Use what you already own, add one or two items to each shop, and buy the basics before any gadgets. A staged plan can run over a month or longer. Even a few filled bottles and a tested torch is real progress.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/budget/emergency-kit-for-a-family-of-four-cost-uk · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk