Special needs
Small children, older or ill people at home may need extra formula, nappies or care products. Pets need food and water.
Denmark
Denmark's three-day home supply list
Danish authorities recommend that you and your household can manage for three days (tre døgn) if a crisis hits, with 3 litres of water per person per day. The advice is in the brochure Forberedt på kriser from Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed.
Read6 min read
Updated11 Nov 2026
TopicHour zero
Official sources3
What Denmark recommends
Three days. The brochure says: "Det er myndighedernes anbefaling, at du og din husstand kan klare jer i tre døgn, hvis en krise rammer." In English: the authorities recommend that you and your household can manage for three days if a crisis hits.
The campaign is run by Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed (samsik.dk), and the advice was drawn up by Beredskabsstyrelsen, the Danish Emergency Management Agency, with a range of other authorities. We read the page and the brochure on 11 November 2026.
Water for a family of four
36 litres
4 people×3 days×3 L
Three days at the Danish figure
The brochure counts 3 litres per person per day for drinking and cooking. For three days that is 9 litres each.
Source: Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed, Forberedt på kriser
3 Lper person, per day
9 Lper person for three days
112 callambulance, police, fire
The official checklist
The checklist at the back of the brochure, the basics only.
| Group | What it lists |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | 3 litres per person per day, plus water for any animals |
| Food | Three days of food that keeps and is easy to prepare |
| Medicine and first aid | The medicines your household needs, at least three days' worth, and a first-aid kit |
| Iodine tablets | If relevant, for people under 40 and pregnant or breastfeeding women |
| Hygiene | Toilet paper, hand sanitiser, nappies, sanitary pads or tampons |
| Warmth | Blankets, duvets, warm clothes |
| Power and light | A power bank for your phone, a torch, batteries, candles and matches |
| Payment | A physical payment card (know the PIN) and some coins and small notes |
| Radio | An FM radio on batteries, a hand crank or solar cells, or your car radio |
Source: Forberedt på kriser (PDF), Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed, and samsik.dk/forberedt. Checked 11 Nov 2026.
Water for your household
People times 3 litres times 3 days.
| People | Per day | Three days |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 L | 9 L |
| 2 | 6 L | 18 L |
| 3 | 9 L | 27 L |
| 4 | 12 L | 36 L |
| 5 | 15 L | 45 L |
| 6 | 18 L | 54 L |
At 3 litres per person per day (Forberedt på kriser). Pets drink on top of this. samsik.dk has its own calculator, Beredskabsberegneren, and our water calculator works it out too.
How long stored water keeps
Four rules from the brochure.
- Bottled water: keep it cool and dark, and only until the date on the bottle. Replace it as you go.
- Tap water should be as fresh as possible, but keeps for several months in a closed bottle or container stored cool and dark.
- Containers: use only ones approved for food, and clean them as the maker says before use.
- Change it regularly. Water the plants with the old supply, wash the containers and fill them again.
Food for three days
Food that keeps outside the fridge and freezer.
Pick things that need no oven or hob, such as tinned food and crispbread, and that your household already eats and likes. There is no need to buy it all at once: add a few long-life items to the normal shop, eat from the stock and top it up so nothing gets old.
For rice, pasta and anything else that needs cooking, have a way to boil water without mains power or town gas, such as a grill or a camping stove.
Think about your own situation
The brochure asks every household to look at four things.
Where you live
Near the coast or in a low-lying area, flooding is a risk. Find out where you can get sandbags.
Transport
Know which transport you depend on and the alternatives. If you live remotely, agree with neighbours, family or friends who can help.
Neighbours and family
Notice who around you may need help. Write important phone numbers on a note, for example on the fridge.
Questions people ask
How many days does Denmark recommend?
Three days (tre døgn) for you and everyone in your household.
How much water per person in Denmark?
3 litres a day for drinking and cooking, so 9 litres each for three days. A household of four needs 36 litres.
Why three days?
If people can manage on their own for three days, the authorities can focus on those who need help most and on getting things back to normal. The brochure adds that a larger stock is fine if you have the time, space and money.
Do I need cash?
The brochure asks for one or more physical payment cards whose PIN you remember, and suggests a small amount in coins and small notes.
Is the brochure in English?
Yes. samsik.dk has an English PDF and versions in other languages.
Read next
Sources
- Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed: Forberedt på kriser The campaign page, the household calculator and 112. Checked 11 Nov 2026.
- Forberedt på kriser (brochure, PDF) The three days, the 3 litres, storage, the checklist.
- Prepared for crises (English PDF)