The essentials kit
Everything a family needs for 3 days
The government's Be Ready campaign asks every household to keep three days of food, water and basics at home. This is the Essentials kit: a simple, complete set for a family of four, picked so you don't have to work it out yourself.
Every item is here for a reason, and we tell you why. We don't sell the products. We link you to Amazon so you can buy exactly what you need, when you need it.
Before You Buy
Several items in this kit are rechargeable, so charge them when they arrive and top them up every few months. A torch with a flat battery is no help in a power cut. That's why the kit also includes a battery torch as a fail-safe.
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Water & Food
Bottled Water
Why it's here:Water is the item most households are missing. Tins are easy; water is not.
How much: Around 2 litres per person per day for drinking. For a family of four over three days, that's about 24 litres. Add more if you want extra for cooking and washing.
Good to know: Store bottles somewhere cool and dark, and check the date on the bottle. Check the official Be Ready list on gov.uk for the latest recommended amounts.
3 Days of ready to eat food
Why it's here: Food that needs no cooking works when the power's off.
What to pick: Tinned meals, soup, beans, pasta and tuna, tinned fruit, crackers, cereal bars, and anything your family actually eats. Don't forget food for kids and any allergies or dietary needs.
Good to know: Eat from the stock and replace it, so nothing goes out of date.
Rechargeable Head Torches, 2-Pack
Why it's here: Head torches keep your hands free, which matters when you're looking after children or moving around in the dark.
Good to know: These are rechargeable, so charge them as soon as they arrive. Brightness figures on cheap torches are often exaggerated, so judge them by the reviews, not the headline numbers.
Battery-Powered backup torch
Why it's here: It's your fail-safe. When everything rechargeable is flat, this one still works as long as you have spare batteries.
Good to know: It takes AAA batteries. 3 batteries are included in the listing. Keep the spare batteries outside the torch until you need them, so they can't leak or drain.
Spare AAA batteries, 20-pack
Why it's here: They power the backup torch, with plenty left over.
Good to know: Check the dates every six months.
Power bank, 10,000mAh
Why it's here: It keeps a phone alive for a couple of top-ups, which is enough to make calls and check updates.
Good to know: This is a basic backup, not a replacement for mains power, so it won't keep a whole family's devices going for three days. Charge it when it arrives and recharge it every few months, since power banks slowly lose charge in storage. Use it sparingly: keep screens dim and apps closed.
Light & Power
Staying Informed
Wind up radio with usb phone charging
Why it's here: When the power and the internet are down, a radio is how you hear what's happening. It runs on a hand crank or solar panel, so it never needs batteries.
Good to know: It picks up AM and FM radio. It also has a built-in torch and can charge a phone, but treat that as a small extra, since it takes a lot of cranking.
emergency foil blankets, pack of 6
Why it's here: Light, cheap and compact, and a good backup if the heating fails.
Good to know: These are for short-term emergency use. They work best with the shiny side facing your body, and they're usually single use, so they're a backup, not a substitute for proper bedding. In winter, use your normal duvets and blankets first.
First Aid Kit (BS 8599)
Why it's here: It meets the British Standard for first aid kits, so you know it has the basics, such as plasters, dressings and bandages.
Good to know: It's a small, workplace-style kit. Kits like this generally don't include painkillers or other medicines, so keep your own paracetamol, any child medicine you normally use and a thermometer alongside it. If anyone in your home takes regular medication, the government's advice is to keep a few extra days' supply.
Warmth & Health
Kitchen & Home
Manual Tin Opener
Why it's here: Tins are useless without one, and it's the item most people forget.
Waterproof Document Pouches
Why it's here: Keep copies of your ID, insurance, tenancy or mortgage details and medical information dry and together.
wet wipes, hand sanitiser, bin bags, and toilet paper
Pick-your-own, no links.
Why they're here: The unglamorous basics. Wipes and sanitiser matter when the water's off, and bin bags double as emergency sanitation.
Kids' bits
Pick-your-own, no links.
Why they're here: A few snacks, a small toy or activity, and nappies or formula if you need them, to keep children calm and comfortable.
Things we can't sell you
Cash: Keep some in small notes. Card machines and cash machines may not work in a power cut.
Medication: Keep a few extra days' supply of any regular prescriptions, as the government's advice suggests.
Your own documents: Put copies in the pouch with your kit.
Keeping it ready
Set a reminder every six months to:
• Charge the head torches, handheld torch and power bank
• Check the dates on food, water and batteries
• Test the torches and the radio
• Refresh anything for children, which changes as they grow
Safety reminder: Never run a camping stove, barbecue, generator or heater indoors or in an enclosed space. They can produce carbon monoxide, which has no smell and can kill. (Stoves are in our Complete kit, but everyone should know this.)
Want the full checklist?
Our free UK Family Emergency Checklist covers everything on this page and more, with a guide for the first hours of a power cut. Put your email in and we'll send it straight over.
Three Day Pantry is an independent guide. We choose products based on reviews, value and usefulness, and we don't sell the items ourselves. Availability and prices on Amazon change often, so check the current price before you buy. Three Day Pantry is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the UK government.Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.