The UK government's advice on an emergency kit is the Be Ready checklist, published on the GOV.UK Be Ready campaign site. It asks you to be ready for 3 days: "Being ready for 3 days helps you manage while support reaches those most in need." Here is the full list, the amounts it gives, and how it compares with the 23 other national guides we compiled.
The official guide
| Title | Be ready for emergencies |
| Publisher | UK government, Be Ready campaign (GOV.UK) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Horizon | 3 days |
| Link | beready.campaign.gov.uk |
We read the page in November 2026. It shows no publication date.
The checklist
| Section | Items |
|---|---|
| Water | Bottled water for 3 days |
| Food | Non-perishable food for 3 days, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables |
| Hygiene | Hand sanitiser, wet wipes and bathroom products |
| Light and warmth | A torch and spare batteries; blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing |
| Communication and information | An FM radio, battery or wind-up; a charged power bank |
| Money and documents | Cash, a mix of coins and notes, and cards; copies of IDs and documents; important phone numbers and information |
| Medical and health | A first-aid kit or first-aid items; essential medication and medical supplies |
| Baby products | Baby formula; nappies and wipes |
| Pet products | Pet food and bottled water |
The page adds that some people call this a "grab bag". Under preparing your home, it also says to check your smoke alarms at least once a month, and suggests setting a phone or calendar reminder.
Quantities
The checklist gives one figure: 3 litres of water per person per day for drinking. For 3 days:
- 1 person: 9 litres
- 2 people: 18 litres
- 4 people: 36 litres
Add water for pets. That matches the higher end of Europe's range: Sweden and the Netherlands also plan 3 litres, Germany and France 2. Our guide to how much water to store covers bottles, containers and rotation.
How it compares with the other guides
The UK checklist covers 20 of the 51 items we track across 24 official guides, and includes all six that every guide agrees on: water, a torch, a radio, medication, first aid and cash.
What it adds
The UK is one of only four guides, with Germany, Finland and Poland, to mention smoke alarms. That matters because candles and camping stoves raise the risk of fire just when help is slowest.
What it leaves out
- Candles, matches and a lighter. 19 of the 24 guides list them. The UK sticks to a torch, which is the safer light anyway.
- A camping stove. 13 guides list one. Without it, choose food you can eat cold: see emergency food that needs no cooking.
- A manual can opener. Ten guides list one. If your food is in tins without ring pulls, you need it.
- Water containers to fill from the tap when a warning comes, which five guides list.
A note on the radio
The UK list specifies an FM radio, battery or wind-up. When mobile networks fail, broadcast radio is how the authorities reach you. Our emergency radio guide explains what to look for.
Keep it current
Pick two dates you will remember, such as when the clocks change in spring and autumn, and check your kit: expiry dates on water, food and medicines, batteries, and whether the power bank is still charged. Replace anything you have used or opened. The smoke alarm check is monthly, so set that reminder separately.
Building your kit
The UK checklist is a sound 3-day home kit. Add a can opener, and a way to heat food if you want hot meals. Our checklist combines the UK list with the 23 other guides and works out the amounts for your household. For leaving home in a hurry, see our grab bag checklist.