Food-grade water containers
Rigid, tightly sealed containers sized so everyone in the household can safely lift and pour them.
Emergency Water Calculator
Enter your household size and storage goal below, and this tool tells you how many gallons, liters, and one-gallon containers to plan for.
Your emergency water supply
6 gallons
22.8 liters · 6 one-gallon containers
Storage snapshot
What that looks like in one-gallon jugs
Plan beyond drinking water
Most people underestimate emergency water because they think only about drinking. Cooking, brushing teeth, and basic sanitation also draw from the same stored supply, which is why the CDC baseline is broader than water by the glass.
The right storage target also depends on the emergency. A three-day supply covers many short disruptions, while a water-system contamination event, boil-water advisory, or extended outage makes a two-week buffer especially useful when space allows.
Recommended Water Storage Products
Choose storage and treatment supplies that fit the result above. Product links will be added after affiliate partners are approved.
Collapsible water jugs
Space-saving backup containers for collection and short-term use after an outage begins.
Water treatment supplies
Purification tablets or a portable filter for situations where stored water is unavailable.
Unscented household bleach
A 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite product kept for CDC-directed emergency disinfection and sanitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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CDC recommends storing at least 1 gallon per person per day for drinking, cooking, and basic sanitation. Hot weather, illness, pregnancy, and higher activity can increase that need.
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Start with at least 3 days. CDC advises trying to store a 2-week supply when possible, which gives a household more margin during extended outages or contamination events.
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Yes. This calculator adds a general pet allowance, but actual needs vary by species, size, diet, health, and temperature. Increase the estimate for large animals or hot conditions.
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Use food-grade containers with tight lids, label them with the storage date, and keep them cool, dark, and away from chemicals. CDC advises replacing home-filled stored water every 6 months.
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Boiling is CDC's preferred method for killing germs. If boiling is not possible, CDC provides bleach amounts based on the product's sodium hypochlorite concentration; follow the product label or the current CDC table rather than using one dose for every bleach product.