Estimate the cost of building a 72-hour emergency supply kit for your family. Calculate water, food, first aid, and essential supplies by family size.
FEMA recommends every family maintain a 72-hour emergency supply kit — enough water, food, medication, and essential supplies to sustain the family for 3 days without outside help. Whether for hurricanes, earthquakes, power outages, or winter storms, a prepared family faces emergencies with confidence rather than panic.
A basic 72-hour kit for a family of four costs $150-$300 assembled from scratch, or $100-$200 purchased pre-made. An enhanced kit with comfort items, tools, communication devices, and extended supplies runs $300-$600. The cost per person decreases with larger families since many supplies (first aid kit, flashlights, radio) are shared.
This calculator estimates the cost of building a complete family emergency kit, itemized by category so you can build it gradually over several shopping trips. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this free online tool provides instant, reliable results without manual computation. By automating the calculation, you save time and reduce the risk of costly errors in your planning and decision-making process.
Only 39% of American households have an emergency supply kit. The cost of preparation ($150-$400) is trivial compared to the cost of being unprepared — hotel stays, emergency purchases at inflated prices, or health risks from contaminated water. Having a precise figure at your fingertips empowers better planning and more confident decisions.
Water = People × 1 gallon/day × Days × $0.80/gallon Food = People × $3-$5/day × Days First Aid = $25-$50 (shared, one per family) Light/Communication = $40-$80 (flashlights, radio, batteries) Sanitation = People × $5 × (Days/3) Documents/Cash = $50 reserve Total = Sum of all categories Per Person = Total / People
Result: $195-$285 for a 72-hour family kit
Water: 4 × 3 × $0.80 = $9.60. Food: 4 × $4 × 3 = $48. First aid: $35. Light/radio: $60. Sanitation: $20. Clothing/blankets: $40. Tools: $30. Documents/cash: $50. Total: ~$293. Budget version: ~$195.
FEMA's 72-hour recommendation assumes that within 3 days, emergency services will reach most areas. However, events like Hurricane Katrina and recent wildfires have shown that help can take longer. Families in disaster-prone areas should consider 7-14 day kits.
Don't try to build the entire kit in one shopping trip. Week 1: water and first aid. Week 2: food supplies. Week 3: lighting and communications. Week 4: sanitation and personal items. Week 5: documents and cash. This spreads the $200-$400 cost over a month.
Set reminders every 6 months (when clocks change for daylight saving time): rotate food and water, check battery dates, update medications, review documents for accuracy, and check that clothing still fits growing children.
FEMA recommends 1 gallon per person per day — half for drinking and half for sanitation. A family of four needs 12 gallons for 72 hours. Store in commercially sealed containers, not reused milk or juice jugs.
Non-perishable, shelf-stable food that requires no cooking: canned goods (with a manual opener), granola bars, peanut butter, dried fruit, crackers, and ready-to-eat meals. Aim for 2,000+ calories per person per day.
Check and rotate every 6-12 months. Replace expired food, refresh water, check battery expiration dates, and update documents. Set a calendar reminder on the same date you change your clocks.
Yes. A full 72-hour kit at home and a smaller go-bag in each car is the best approach. Car kits should include water, non-perishable snacks, blanket, flashlight, first aid, phone charger, and a set of warm clothes.
Add formula/baby food (3-day supply), diapers (24+ per child), wipes, bottles, pacifiers, and a change of clothes. If breastfeeding, ensure the nursing parent's nutrition is prioritized. Include any infant medications.
Add 1 gallon of water per pet per day, 3 days of pet food, medications, vaccination records, a leash/carrier, and bowls. This adds approximately $30-$50 to the kit cost per pet.