How to Build Your Own DIY Survival Kit, Step by Step

A homemade kit can be just as good as a store-bought one. It is often better, because you pick each item for your own family. This guide shows how to build one in an afternoon and keep it working.

Step 1: Choose your container

Ready.gov says to keep your kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers. Which one depends on how you will use it.

Container	Best for	Pros	Cons
Backpack	Go-bag for evacuation	Hands free, easy to grab and walk with	Limited space, weight adds up fast
Plastic bin with lid	Home supply	Holds a lot, stacks well, keeps out pests and damp	Heavy, hard to carry far
Duffel bag	Car kit	Soft, fits in a trunk	Less organized, not waterproof
Rolling bag	Older adults, heavy loads	Less strain on back	Hard on rough ground or stairs

Many families use both: a backpack per person for leaving fast, and a bin at home for sheltering in place.

Step 2: Start with what you already own

Most homes already have half a kit spread across drawers and closets. Walk through your home with the checklist below and pull out what you have.

• Flashlights and spare batteries
• A first aid kit or loose bandages and pain relievers
• Duct tape, scissors and garbage bags
• A wrench or pliers
• A manual can opener
• Canned food and bottled water
• An old phone charger and a power bank
• Spare blankets and a change of clothes for each person
• Old backpacks or plastic bins

Only use items that work. Test every flashlight and check every date before it goes in the kit.

Step 3: Buy what is missing

Compare what you gathered with the Ready.gov basic kit list. Then fill the gaps in this order, starting with what you need most.

1. Water. At least 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day, for at least 3 days (CDC). Ready.gov says several days.
2. Food. At least 3 days of non-perishable food per person.
3. Light and power. Flashlight, extra batteries, phone charger and backup battery.
4. Radio. Battery or hand-crank, plus a NOAA Weather Radio if you can.
5. First aid kit.
6. Whistle and dust masks.
7. Plastic sheeting for sheltering in place.
8. Moist towelettes and plastic ties for sanitation.
9. Local paper maps.

For a detailed look at each item, read 10 must-have items for your basic survival kit.

Budget tiers

Prices vary a lot by store, region and brand, so we do not list exact costs. Use these tiers to plan in stages.

Tier	What it covers	How to build it
Starter	Ready.gov basics for several days	Mostly items from home. Buy water, a radio and batteries.
Standard	Basics plus a 2-week home supply (Red Cross)	Add a few cans and water jugs to each grocery trip.
Extended	Longer outages and evacuations	Add a water filter, backup power and better gear. See our advanced survival kit guide.

A small amount each week adds up. Buying all at once is not required.

Step 4: Pack by category

Ready.gov says to store items in airtight plastic bags. Group them by job so you can find things fast in the dark.

Bag	What goes in it
Water and food	Bottled water, food, can opener, utensils, cups
Light and power	Flashlights, headlamps, batteries, charger, power bank
First aid and medicine	First aid kit, 7-day supply of prescriptions, glasses
Hygiene	Soap, hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, toilet paper, feminine products, garbage bags
Tools	Wrench or pliers, duct tape, scissors, plastic sheeting, work gloves
Documents and cash	Copies of IDs, insurance and medical info, contact list, cash
Warmth	Emergency blanket, hat, socks, rain poncho

Packing tips

• Label each bag with a marker.
• Put heavy items, like water, at the bottom and close to your back.
• Keep the flashlight, whistle and first aid kit on top or in an outside pocket.
• Store spare batteries in their original packs or a small case, away from metal objects.
• Tape a list of contents and expiration dates inside the lid.

Step 5: Tailor it to your household

Medicines and medical needs

The Red Cross suggests a 7-day supply of medicines and medical items. Include:

• Prescription medicines and a written list of doses
• Glasses and contact lens solution
• Hearing aid batteries
• Over-the-counter pain relievers, antacids and anti-diarrhea medicine

If anyone needs powered medical equipment, plan backup power with the supplier. Our guide on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities goes deeper.

Babies and children

• Formula, bottles, baby food and diapers
• Wipes and diaper rash cream
• A change of clothes for each child
• Games, books or a small toy

The Red Cross suggests keeping recent photos of your children in the kit. Update them every 6 months, since kids change fast.

Pets

• Pet food and extra water
• Collar, leash and ID tag
• A carrier and a bowl
• Copies of vaccination records and a recent photo of your pet

Your local risks

The Red Cross suggests adding items based on the disasters in your area. Examples include rain gear in flood areas, N95 masks in wildfire areas, and warm layers in cold climates.

Step 6: Store kits in the right places

Ready.gov advises kits for home, work and the car, because you never know where you will be.

• Home. Keep the kit in one set spot that everyone knows. A hall closet near an exit works well. Avoid hot attics and damp basements.
• Work. Plan to shelter for at least 24 hours. Pack food, water, medicine and comfortable walking shoes in a grab-and-go bag.
• Car. Keep supplies in case you get stranded. Add water, snacks, a flashlight, a blanket and a phone charger.

Water should be stored cool, around 50°F to 70°F, and out of sunlight (CDC). That rules out most car trunks for long-term water. Swap car water more often.

Step 7: Keep it fresh every 6 months

A kit you never check will fail when you need it. Pick two dates a year you will remember, and do this list each time.

• Replace water you bottled yourself (CDC: every 6 months).
• Check dates on store-bought water, food and medicine.
• Eat food that is close to expiring and replace it.
• Test flashlights and radios. Replace weak batteries.
• Charge the power bank.
• Update photos, contacts, documents and the medication list.
• Swap clothes for the coming season, and resize kids’ clothes.
• Practice your evacuation plan (the Red Cross suggests twice a year).

Once a year, review the whole kit as your family changes, as Ready.gov advises. Pair the kit with a plan: our guide to creating a family emergency plan covers meeting places and contacts.

Common mistakes

• Packing too heavy. Lift the go-bag and walk around the block with it. If it is too heavy, split it between family members.
• Forgetting the can opener. Canned food is useless without one.
• Batteries that do not fit. Match each battery to a device before you seal the kit.
• Hiding the kit. If only one person knows where it is, the kit is hard to use.
• Never checking it. Water, food, medicine and batteries all expire.

Related guides

• 10 Must-Have Items for Your Basic Survival Kit

Sources

• Water — Ready.gov
• Build a Kit — Ready.gov (FEMA)
• Be Red Cross Ready — American Red Cross
• Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply — CDC
• Power Outage flyer (FEMA P-2143) — FEMA / Ready.gov