A budget 72-hour emergency kit: the essentials only
You can build a complete 72-hour kit for one person from nine inexpensive basics: water, food, a torch, a crank radio, a power bank, first aid and a document pouch. Use what you already own and you’ll need to buy even less.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Brands never pay for placement. Read our disclosure.
The budget kit, item by item
| Item | Why | Tip | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottled water, 6 × 1.5 L (51 fl oz) | 9 L (2.4 US gal) for one person for 3 days | Supermarket bottles are fine | Check price on Amazon |
| LED torch | Bright, AA batteries | Choose a known brand | Check price on Amazon |
| AA batteries, 12 pack | Spares for torch and radio | Match your devices | Check price on Amazon |
| Crank and solar radio | Official updates without power | Don’t buy the cheapest | Check price on Amazon |
| Power bank, 10,000 mAh | Two to three phone charges | Keep it charged | Check price on Amazon |
| First-aid kit | Basic home kit | Top up with your medicines | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 days of long-life food | Tins, crackers, bars | Buy what you already eat | Check price on Amazon |
| Waterproof document pouch | For copies and cash | Any zip-seal pouch works | Check price on Amazon |
| Whistle and foil blanket | Signal and warmth | Pocket-sized | Check price on Amazon |
We don’t list prices because they change often. Use the buttons to see the current price on Amazon.
Where to save, where not to
Save on water (supermarket bottles are fine), food (buy what you already eat) and the pouch. Don’t skimp on the radio and torch: cheap ones fail exactly when you need them, and they are the items civil-protection agencies list first.
Scale it for your household
Add 9 litres (2.4 US gal) of water and three days of food per extra person. Torches, radio and first aid can be shared. Use the interactive checklist to calculate it.
Questions people ask
Is a budget kit enough?
For one person and the essentials, yes. It covers water, food, light, information, first aid and documents. Add a second set of water and food for each extra person.
Are ready-made kits good value?
Some are, but many pad the list with low-quality items. Check what’s inside against our checklist before buying.
Why don’t you show prices?
Prices on Amazon change often and vary by country, so we link to the current listing instead of quoting figures that may be out of date.