How Much Should You Stockpile? What Governments Around the World Tell Families
Three days, one week or ten days? Governments from Ottawa to Oslo to Tokyo now publish emergency supplies lists for households, and they do not all agree. Here is a plain side-by-side look at what each one recommends, how much water to store, and what it means for your family.
Start with the basics: get our free one-page 72-hour go-bag checklist (printable), or read the full 72-hour go-bag checklist online.
Three Days, One Week or Ten Days? The Short Answer
Governments agree on the idea and differ on the length. Most of North America and Western Europe set three days, or 72 hours, as the minimum. Norway, Sweden and Taiwan ask for a week, and Japan now asks for up to a week. Germany suggests ten days. None of these is a warning about a specific disaster. They are all about the same calm idea: if households who can look after themselves do, help can reach the people who need it most.
For most US and Canadian families, a sensible path is to build a 72-hour kit first, then grow it toward a week. Our free 72-hour go-bag checklist covers the first step.
What Governments Recommend: Comparison Table
| Country | How long | Water per person per day | Standout items | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States | Several days (3 is the common start) | 1 gallon (about 3.8 L), drinking and sanitation | Manual can opener, whistle, local maps | Ready.gov |
 Canada | At least 72 hours | 2 L (Health Canada: 2 L more for cooking and cleaning) | Cash in small bills, copies of documents | Canada.ca |
 United Kingdom | 3 days | 3 L, for drinking | Coins and notes, printed ID copies, ready-to-feed formula, FM radio | GOV.UK Be Ready |
 European Union | At least 72 hours (2025 strategy goal) | Not set at EU level | EU guidelines for member states planned | European Commission |
 Netherlands | 72 hours | 3 L | Whistle, cash, spare house and car keys | Denk vooruit |
 Denmark | 3 days | 3 L (9 L per person total) | Power bank, payment card plus small cash | Danish Emergency Management Agency |
 Japan | At least 3 days, ideally 1 week | 3 L per person | Toilet supplies alongside food and water | Our Japan article |
 Norway | 1 week | About 20 L per person for the week | A plan to keep warm, an “emergency friend” | DSB |
 Sweden | At least 1 week | At least 3 L | Bucket with lid for toilet use, pet supplies | The Local (MSB booklet) |
 Taiwan | At least 1 week (go-bag: 1–3 days) | At least 3 L | Go-bag kept by the front door | Taiwan MND |
 Germany | 10 days* | 2 L (20 L per person total) | Detailed food list by weight | BBK (German) |
*Notes. Japan: the official request issued November 2, 2026 asks for at least 3 days, ideally 1 week, with 3 L of water per person per day. EU: the March 2025 Preparedness Union Strategy sets a 72-hour self-sufficiency goal; individual countries publish their own checklists. Sweden: figures from the 2024 “If Crisis or War Comes” booklet as reported by The Local and other outlets. Germany: the federal civil protection office (BBK) advises households to be able to look after themselves for up to 10 days if possible, with at least 3 days as a first step, and about 2 litres of liquid per person per day (20 L for 10 days).
- United States3 days
- Canada3 days
- United Kingdom3 days
- European Union3 days
- Netherlands3 days
- Denmark3 days
- Japan7 days
- Norway7 days
- Sweden*7 days
- Taiwan7 days
- Germany*10 days
Minimum or target days of household supplies. *See notes under the table.
How Much Water to Store: Why the Numbers Differ
The water figures look different mostly because they count different things. The UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Taiwan figure about 3 litres per person per day, mostly for drinking and cooking. Germany uses 2 litres. Ready.gov’s one gallon (about 3.8 litres) includes basic sanitation. Norway’s 20 litres covers a whole week of minimum needs.
| Family of 4 | 3 Days | 1 Week |
|---|---|---|
| US (1 gallon per person per day) | 12 gallons | 28 gallons |
| 3 litres per person per day (UK, Denmark, Taiwan) | 36 litres (about 9.5 gallons) | 84 litres (about 22 gallons) |
| Norway (20 L per person per week) | — | 80 litres (about 21 gallons) |
Add extra for pets, hot weather, nursing mothers and anyone who is sick. If you fill your own containers, Ready.gov says to replace the water every six months.
Emergency Supplies List: What Almost Everyone Agrees On
- Water and no-cook, non-perishable food your family already eats
- A flashlight, spare batteries and a battery or wind-up radio
- A first aid kit and a supply of daily medicines
- Some cash, because card readers and ATMs can fail
- Copies of important documents and a written list of phone numbers
- Hygiene and toilet supplies
- Warm blankets and clothing
- Baby and pet supplies if you need them
The Family Guard binder turns this list into a ready-made home plan, with fill-in pages for supplies, contacts and medical details, for a nominal one-time $39.
Read the Series
- Japan: Japan Is Urging Households to Stock a Week of Supplies
- United Kingdom: The UK’s New 3-Day Emergency Checklist
- Germany: the 10-day supply list (coming soon)
- Norway: one week, ready for cold weather (coming soon)
- Sweden: If Crisis or War Comes (coming soon)
- Netherlands: the 72-hour emergency kit (coming soon)
- European Union: 72 hours for 450 million people (coming soon)
- Taiwan: the go-bag by the door (coming soon)
Each article compares that country’s advice with US and Canadian guidance. Want everything for your own home in one place? The Family Guard binder has it ready-made.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Days of Emergency Supplies Should I Have?
The US and Canada recommend at least 72 hours (three days), as do the UK, the Netherlands and Denmark. Norway, Sweden and Taiwan recommend a week, and Germany suggests ten days. Start with three days and build toward a week.
How Much Water Should I Store per Person?
Ready.gov recommends one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation. Canada recommends two litres for drinking, cooking and hygiene. Many European countries and Taiwan use about three litres per person per day, mostly for drinking and cooking.
What Is a 72-Hour Kit?
A 72-hour kit is a set of supplies that lets your household manage on its own for three days: water, food, light, a radio, first aid, medicines, cash, documents and hygiene items.
Why Do Some Countries Recommend a Week or More?
Norway's DSB explains that a week is rarely exceeded for outages of power, water and networks, gives families and authorities time to plan next steps, and is realistic for most people. Longer supplies give more cushion in large or long-lasting emergencies.
Official Guidance Used on This Page
- United States: Build a Kit, Ready.gov
- Canada: Emergency Kit Checklist, Get Prepared
- United Kingdom: Be Ready checklist, GOV.UK
- European Union: Preparedness Union Strategy, European Commission (March 2025)
- Netherlands: Putting together an emergency kit, Denk vooruit
- Denmark: Prepared for crises, Danish Emergency Management Agency
- Japan: FNN Prime Online (Japanese), October 2026
- Norway: Self-preparedness FAQ, DSB
- Norway: Emergency water, DSB
- Sweden: The Local, October 8, 2024, on the MSB booklet
- Taiwan: In Case of Crisis, Ministry of National Defense (PDF)
- Germany: Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen, BBK (German PDF)
This page is general household guidance. Always follow instructions from local emergency officials first.