Short answer. Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) asks every household to be able to supply itself for 10 days if possible: water, food, medicine and hygiene items. It adds that even a 3-day supply already helps a lot 1. Plan on 2 litres of water per person per day, of which 0.5 litre is for cooking, or 20 litres per person for 10 days 1.
How many days does the German government ask you to cover?
The BBK guide states: "Alle Haushalte sollten sich möglichst 10 Tage selbst versorgen können. [...] Aber auch ein Vorrat für zumindest 3 Tage hilft schon sehr." In English: all households should, if possible, be able to supply themselves for 10 days, but a supply for at least 3 days already helps a great deal 1.
The 10-day target is a goal, not a legal obligation. The BBK checklist lets you plan food for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days for everyone in the household 2, so you can build up in steps.
How much water per person?
The BBK figure is 2 litres per person per day: 1.5 litres to drink and 0.5 litre for cooking 13. For 10 days that makes 20 litres per person 1. A family of four therefore needs 80 litres for the full 10 days, or 24 litres for 3 days (simple multiplication of the BBK figure).
The BBK checklist also lists separate containers for fire-fighting or utility water, without a quantity 2. For general guidance on storing and rotating water, see How much water to store per person per day?.
How much food per person per day?
The federal food-supply calculator (Ernährungsvorsorge) is based on 2,200 kcal per person per day 3. Its per-person quantities are:
| Food group | Per person per day | For 10 days |
|---|---|---|
| Cereal products, bread, potatoes | 0.33 kg | about 3.3 kg |
| Vegetables, mushrooms (mostly canned) | 0.40 kg | about 4 kg |
| Fruit (canned, dried, fresh), nuts | 0.25 kg | about 2.5 kg |
| Milk and dairy (UHT milk, hard cheese) | 0.25 kg | about 2.5 kg |
| Eggs, meat, sausage, fish (canned or cured) | 0.12 kg | about 1.2 kg |
| Fats and oil | 33 g | about 0.33 kg |
The 10-day totals are the daily figures multiplied by ten 3. Choose long-life foods your household actually eats, and rotate them; see How long does emergency food last, and how do you rotate it?.
What else belongs in the household supply?
The BBK checklist goes beyond food and water 2:
- an alternative cooking stove (camping stove or gas grill) and its fuel;
- an off-grid heater and fuel, plus warm clothing, blankets and sleeping bags;
- a torch, spare batteries, candles and a lighter;
- a solar, battery or crank radio, a charged power bank and a warning app such as NINA;
- a home pharmacy and your personal medication;
- hygiene items, including strong bin bags to line the toilet and a camping toilet;
- pet food for your animals;
- cash and a paper list of important phone numbers.
The full list, item by item, is on our Germany emergency kit page. Pets and people with specific needs deserve their own planning: see How do I prepare my pet for an emergency? and Emergency preparedness for children, seniors and people on medication.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 10-day supply mandatory in Germany?
No. The BBK says households should be self-sufficient for 10 days "if possible" and stresses that 3 days already helps a lot 1. It is a recommendation.
Does the 2-litre figure include cooking water?
Yes. The 2 litres per person per day include 0.5 litre for cooking; 1.5 litres are for drinking 13.
Where can I calculate a supply for my household?
The federal Vorratskalkulator at ernaehrungsvorsorge.de computes quantities for your household size, based on 2,200 kcal per person per day 3.
Is there an official English version of the BBK guide?
Yes. The BBK publishes an English version of its household preparedness guide alongside the German edition (2nd edition, November 2025) 1.
Sources
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (2. Auflage, Stand 11/2025) — https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/BBK-Vorsorgen-fuer-Krisen-und-Katastrophen.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=44 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) — Checklisten zur Vorsorge – Krisen und Katastrophen — https://www.bbk.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Mediathek/Publikationen/Buergerinformationen/Ratgeber/Checklisten-zur-Vorsorge-Krisen-und-Katastrophen.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=19 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Heimat – Ernährungsvorsorge — Vorratskalkulator — https://www.ernaehrungsvorsorge.de/private-vorsorge/notvorrat/vorratskalkulator (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
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Sources
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Vorsorgen für Krisen und Katastrophen (2. Auflage, Stand 11/2025) checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Checklisten zur Vorsorge – Krisen und Katastrophen checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Heimat – Ernährungsvorsorge · Vorratskalkulator checked 2026-10-20