What to keep in a home emergency kit: a UK list
Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · 6 min read
Quick checklist
Quick checklist
0 of 9 doneThe emergency kit list UK households need, in three tiers
Start at the top and stop when your budget does. Each tier is complete enough to be useful.
Free: what you probably own already. Blankets, coats, hats, a pen and paper, tins from the cupboard, clean bottles for tap water, a phone charger and a list of numbers.
Cheap: the first things worth buying. A torch and batteries, a few tins, a manual tin opener, a basic first aid kit, wipes and bin bags.
Worth upgrading: when you have a bit more. A head torch, a battery radio, a power bank, proper water containers and a carbon monoxide alarm.
Water
The official Be Ready advice is 3 litres per person per day, for three days. Tap water in clean, food-grade containers is the default. Work out your total with our guide to how much water to store for an emergency. Food-grade water storage containers (Retailer link coming soon) are sturdier than reused milk cartons, which are hard to clean and can split.
Food
Choose food that needs no cooking or heating, that you will actually eat and that keeps. Think tins with ring pulls, crackers, nut butter, dried fruit and long-life milk. Check dates every six months, as Be Ready advises, and eat the oldest first. Include baby formula (Be Ready suggests ready-to-feed), nappies and wipes if you have a baby, and pet food if you have a pet.
Light, power and news
Keep a torch for each person and a spare set of batteries. A head torch (Retailer link coming soon) leaves your hands free. A battery-powered FM radio (Retailer link coming soon) keeps you informed when broadband and phones are down. A charged power bank (Retailer link coming soon) keeps a phone usable for 105 and weather warnings. Our power-cut checklist shows how the pieces fit together.
Warmth and hygiene
Blankets, warm clothing and a hat for each person cover most winter nights. Add wipes, hand soap, toilet paper and bin bags. Hygiene supplies are on the official list because water may be limited.
First aid and medicines
A basic first aid kit (Retailer link coming soon) is on the official list. Learn the basics through a recognised course, such as one from St John Ambulance or the British Red Cross. Keep a written list of regular medicines. Speak to your GP or pharmacist about what to keep, and do not stockpile prescription medicines beyond what a clinician agrees.
Documents, cash and numbers
Be Ready lists cash in coins and notes, printed copies of IDs and documents, and written phone numbers. Keep copies in a folder with the kit. Write them down once and store them dry.
Home kit or grab bag?
Official advice separates a home kit from a grab bag. The home kit helps you stay put. The grab bag is a small packed bag for leaving in a hurry. Our grab bag list covers the second. If money is tight, our £25 starter kit shows what to buy first, and emergency kit mistakes will save you from the common wastes.
Do this today (free)
- Open the cupboards and tick off what you already have against the quick checklist.
- Fill two or three clean bottles with tap water and label them with the date.
- Gather blankets, a torch and a phone charger in one place.
- Write down numbers and the list of regular medicines.
If you have £10, £25 or £50
These are budgets, not quotes. Prices change, so check the current price first.
- About £10: a torch, batteries and a manual tin opener.
- About £25: add a first aid kit and some tinned food and nut butter.
- About £50: add a head torch, a radio and a power bank.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum I need in an emergency kit?
Start with water, food that needs no cooking, a torch with spare batteries, a radio, a charged power bank, blankets and a first aid kit. Official advice is to build up to three days of supplies gradually, doing what you can afford.
How much does it cost to build an emergency kit?
It depends on what you already own. Many people can cover the basics with items from their cupboards and a small shop. We give budget tiers above, but prices change, so check the current price of anything you plan to buy.
Where should I store my emergency kit?
Choose a cool, dry, easy-to-reach place, such as a cupboard or under a bed. Avoid damp garages and lofts. Tell everyone in the home where it is, and keep a torch somewhere quicker to grab.
How often should I check my emergency kit?
Check expiry dates every six months, as Be Ready advises. Swap out food and batteries that are close to their dates, refresh stored tap water, and update the medicines list. Our monthly 15-minute check keeps this simple.
Sources and further reading
Sources
firesidefolk.com/kits-and-grab-bags/emergency-kit-list-uk · Last reviewed 24 October 2026 · Fireside Folk