72-hour emergency food kits compared by real calories
A 72-hour kit is meant to cover one person for three days, which is about 6,000 calories at 2,000 a day. Here's how the 5 kits we track compare.
| Kit | $ per 2,000 kcal | kcal/day over 3 days | Calories | Price | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Patriot Supply 72-Hour Food Kit Sample Pack | $11.21 | 2,080 | 6,240 | $34.99 | Label total |
| ReadyWise 72 Hour Food Kit | $16.48 | 1,820 | 5,460 | $44.99 | Label total |
| Legacy 32 Serving Family 72 Hour Emergency Food Kit | $18.79 | 4,080 | 12,240 | $115.00 | Label total |
| Valley Food Storage 72-Hour Emergency Kit | $31.79 | 1,677 | 5,030 | $79.95 | Label total |
| Mountain House Just in Case 3 Day Emergency Food Supply | $39.07 | 1,706 | 5,118 | $99.99 | Brand per-day claim |
What stands out
- The price per calorie varies 3.5×, from $11.21 (My Patriot Supply) to $39.07 (Mountain House) per 2,000 calories.
- Not every "72-hour" kit has 6,000 calories. Valley Food Storage 72-Hour Emergency Kit (5,030) and Mountain House Just in Case 3 Day Emergency Food Supply (5,118) come in noticeably below 6,000 calories.
- Legacy 32 Serving Family 72 Hour Emergency Food Kit is a family kit with 12,240 calories, about 6.1 person-days. Compare it per calorie, not per kit.
Before you buy
- Most of these meals need hot water. A 72-hour kit is only useful if you can boil water.
- Prices were checked on November 8, 2026, and small kits are often discounted. Check the current price.