How many calories does a person need per day in an emergency?

It depends on activity and body size, but a useful short-term planning range runs from about 1,200 calories for bare subsistence up to roughly 2,000 to 2,400 calories for more normal activity.

Do children need the same amount of food as adults?

No. This calculator estimates child needs at about 75% of the adult target, though older teens may need closer to a full adult amount.

What foods are best for emergency storage?

Shelf-stable, calorie-dense foods that do not require refrigeration are easiest to manage: rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, canned proteins, and freeze-dried or dehydrated meals.

How often should I rotate emergency food?

Check expiration dates at least once a year and rotate older stock into regular use, replacing it with fresh food your household will actually eat.

Emergency Food Calculator - How Much Food to Store Per Person

Drag the slider to your comfort level, enter your household, and see exactly how many calories and meals you need to store.

Plan by calories, then shop by foods

Calorie-based planning works better than fixed can counts because household sizes, ages, and activity levels vary enough that a generic list either overshoots or leaves people short. Knowing the total calorie target lets you build a stockpile from whatever mix of shelf-stable food, freeze-dried meals, and bulk staples fits your budget and storage space.

Shelf-stable calorie-dense foods such as rice, beans, peanut butter, canned goods, and freeze-dried meals make hitting these numbers in a small footprint much easier than storing fresh-food equivalents. That is also why many emergency food kits are sold by total calorie count rather than weight.

What to Buy

Product links will be added after affiliate partners are approved. For now, use the categories below to build a balanced shopping list.

Freeze-dried meal kits

A compact way to cover several days quickly, especially when labels make total calories easy to compare.

Bulk staples in sealed buckets

Rice, beans, oats, and pasta are inexpensive calories when you have a way to cook them.

Canned protein variety packs

Tuna, chicken, beans, and similar shelf-stable protein help the plan feel like real meals.

Manual can opener

A small tool that prevents a very silly failure point when the power is out.

Frequently Asked Questions

: It depends on activity and body size, but a useful short-term planning range runs from about 1,200 calories for bare subsistence up to roughly 2,000 to 2,400 calories for more normal activity.
: No. This calculator estimates child needs at about 75% of the adult target, though older teens may need closer to a full adult amount.
: Shelf-stable, calorie-dense foods that do not require refrigeration are easiest to manage: rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, canned proteins, and freeze-dried or dehydrated meals.
: Check expiration dates at least once a year and rotate older stock into regular use, replacing it with fresh food your household will actually eat.

Source: FoodSafety.gov - FoodKeeper and storage guidance