Prep

Grab bag checklist: what to pack

A grab bag is a spare bag of essentials for leaving home at short notice. Tell us who it's for, tick things off as you pack, and print the list. Nothing leaves this browser.

Who's it for?

Adults
2
Children
0
Pets
0

Saved in this browser for the other tools.

Supplies in the bag

Your grab bag

Water, snacks, layers and masks scale with your household. One torch, radio and first-aid kit covers the bag.

Check it again every 6 months.

Water and food

Light, power and news

Health

Warmth and shelter

Tools

Papers and money

For your household

What not to pack

Our own suggestions, based on the advice cited below.

  • Candles. Be Ready says torches are safer than candles.
  • Food that needs cooking or a fridge. Be Ready asks for food that needs neither.
  • Camping stoves and fuel. They add weight and a fire and carbon monoxide risk, and the food in this bag doesn't need heating.
  • Original documents, if copies will do. Be Ready asks for copies.
  • More than you can lift. Put the bag on and try the stairs. Keep any extra water by the door instead.
  • Anything past its date. Check food, water, medicine and batteries when you check the bag.

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

This is our own list. The government's Be Ready checklist covers three days at home and doesn't itemise a bag. Its flooding page suggests medication, a first aid kit, important documents, a torch, bottled water, warm waterproof clothing and baby care items. All of those are here. We added the rest from the grab bag kit in the Prep app and from the British Red Cross emergency kit list.

Water and snacks are multiplied by people and days. Layers, emergency blankets and masks are per person. Babies, children, pets, medical needs and a car or flat add their own lines, and the tags show which is which. Six snacks a person a day is our planning figure, not an official one.

Example: two adults, one day, needs 6 × 1 litre bottles and 12 snacks. That's 6 kg of water before anything else goes in. For three days it's 18 litres and 18 kg, which is more than most people can carry far, so keep the extra by the door or in the car.

In the 2026 UK public survey, 19% of people said they had a grab bag. If you're starting from nothing, the British Red Cross puts medication first, then water and food.

Common questions

What should I put in a grab bag in the UK?

Water, snacks, a torch, a radio, a power bank, a first-aid kit, your medicines, copies of documents, cash, warm layers and a waterproof. Add baby and pet items if you need them. Be Ready's flooding page lists the core items in its own words.

How is a grab bag different from an emergency kit?

An emergency kit stays at home and keeps you going for 3 days, which is what Be Ready asks for. A grab bag is a smaller set you can carry out of the door if you're asked to leave quickly.

How much water should go in a grab bag?

Be Ready says 3 litres per person per day for drinking. Three 1 litre bottles is one person's water for a day, and weighs 3 kg. Pack what you can carry.

Where should I keep a grab bag?

Somewhere within reach, and tell everyone at home where it is. Near the front door or in a hall cupboard is a good place, but not where it blocks your way out.

Can I carry a multi-tool in a grab bag?

UK law allows a folding pocket knife with a blade of 3 inches or less that doesn't lock. It's illegal to carry most other knives in public without a good reason, so choose your multi-tool with that in mind.

How often should I check my grab bag?

Be Ready suggests a reminder every six months to check expiry dates and swap items. Update the bag when your household changes, and check clothes still fit.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

Next