The size of the kit you need scales with the number of people, not everything in it. Water and food grow per person, while some items, a radio, a first-aid kit, are shared by the household. As a rule, one Kapsel Core covers one to three people for a week, and a household of four or more uses two. Sweden's Agency for Civil Defence (MCF, formerly MSB) recommends every household manage at least one week on its own. Here is how to size it.
Reviewed by Oskar Bjork, defence engineer (Swedish Armed Forces) and adviser to Kapsel. Last updated 2026-06-22.
Water by household size, for a week
| People | Drinking (3 L/day) | Total incl. hygiene (3 to 5 L/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | about 21 litres | 20 to 35 litres |
| 2 people | about 42 litres | 40 to 70 litres |
| 4 people | about 84 litres | 80 to 140 litres |
Food by household size
Plan around 2,100 kcal per person per day. That is food for 7 person-days for one person, 14 for a couple, and 28 for a family of four, all for a week. Choose food that needs no fridge or cooking.
What scales, and what is shared
- Scales per person: water, food, a sleeping bag, personal medicine and hygiene.
- Shared by the household: a radio, a stove, a first-aid kit, a water filter. You do not need one each.
How Kapsel scales
One Kapsel Core covers one to three people for seven days, with over 30 certified components across three capsules. At four or more people, the system doubles for full redundancy, so a family of four to six uses two. The structure stays the same and the capacity doubles. See the Kapsel Core.
Special cases to add
Babies need formula and nappies, see our guide for families with children. Add a week of any prescription medicine, and food and water for pets.
Frequently asked questions
How big an emergency kit do I need for a family of four?
Plan about 80 to 140 litres of water and food for 28 person-days for a week. With Kapsel, a family of four uses two systems for full redundancy.
How many Kapsel systems does a household need?
One Core covers one to three people. A household of four or more uses two. The structure stays the same, the capacity doubles.
Does everything in a kit scale with the number of people?
No. Water, food and sleeping bags scale per person. A radio, stove and first-aid kit are shared by the household.
Related: the complete checklist and food and water stores for a week. Sources: MCF (mcf.se), Livsmedelsverket.