How much food should you actually store for an emergency? The honest answer depends on how many people you’re feeding and how long you want to be covered. Use the calculator below to get a starting number, then read the plan underneath to turn it into a shopping list.
How this calculator works
Enter the number of adults and children in your household and how many days you want to cover. The result is a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Most adults need roughly 2,000 calories a day, so a 30-day supply for one adult is about 60,000 calories. Children need less, and very active people or nursing mothers need more.These numbers are minimums, not ideal targets. If your household has kids, higher activity levels, or specific dietary needs, adjust upward.
How much emergency food should you have?
Official preparedness guidance usually starts at 3 days of food and water, then recommends building toward 2 weeks. Many preppers aim for 30 days first, then 3 months. A simple way to build up without a big upfront cost: Phase 1: 3 days. Ready-to-eat items that need no cooking or refrigeration. Phase 2: 2 weeks. Add shelf-stable staples you already eat. Phase 3: 30 days and beyond. Add bulk staples and long-shelf-life food.Sample 30-day staples plan (per adult) :
These are rough starting points, so adjust to what your family will really eat:
| Category | Amount per person/month |
|---|---|
| Grains (rice, oats, wheat, pasta) | 25 lbs |
| Beans / legumes | 5 lbs |
| Canned or dried protein (meat, fish) | 5–7 lbs |
| Fats & oils | 2 lbs |
| Sugar / sweeteners | 2 lbs |
| Dairy (powdered milk, etc.) | 2 lbs |
| Fruits & vegetables (canned/dried) | 8–10 lbs |
Multiply by your household size and the number of months you’re planning for to get your full shopping list.
Water — Don’t Underestimate This
FEMA guidance is 1 gallon per person, per day, minimum — covering drinking, basic cooking, and hygiene. For a family of 4 planning for 2 weeks, that’s 56 gallons minimum. Hot climates or anyone doing physical labor should plan for more.
Common mistakes
Storing food you won’t eat. Rotate what you store into normal meals. Forgetting water and a way to cook. Food is useless without both. Ignoring storage conditions. Heat, moisture and pests ruin food faster than its printed date. Buying everything at once.
What to buy first:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food should I store per person for 3 months?
For a 3-month supply, plan on roughly 75 lbs of grains, 15 lbs of beans, 15–20 lbs of canned or dried protein, and proportional amounts of fats, sugar, and produce per adult — plus at least 90 gallons of water. Use the calculator above to get exact numbers for your household size.
How much water should I store per person for an emergency?
FEMA recommends a minimum of 1 gallon per person per day for drinking, cooking, and basic sanitation. For a 2-week supply, that’s 14 gallons per person minimum — more in hot climates or for anyone who is pregnant, nursing, sick, or physically active.
What’s the best food storage calculator for a family of 4?
Any calculator that lets you input household size and duration and breaks results down by food category (not just total calories) will give you an actionable shopping list. Enter your family size above to get exact quantities across grains, protein, fats, and water.
How much food do I need for a 72-hour emergency kit?
For 72 hours, plan on roughly 6,000–7,500 calories per person total (about 2,000–2,500 per day), plus a minimum of 3 gallons of water per person. Ready-to-eat or no-cook items are recommended for this short-term kit since power or cooking access may not be available.
Do I need to adjust these numbers for kids or pets?
Yes. Children generally need 1,200–1,800 calories per day depending on age, so you can scale down slightly for younger kids. Pets need their own separate food and water supply — a general guideline is 1 oz of water per pound of body weight per day for dogs and cats.
How accurate are food storage calculators?
They give you a solid planning baseline based on standard nutritional guidelines (USDA, FEMA), not a personalized medical or dietary prescription. Treat the output as a starting point and adjust for allergies, medical conditions, and your household’s actual eating habits. Once you establish your calculations, you can review our full survival gear & resources list to source your items securely.