How Many Emergency Kits Does a Workplace Need? Sizing by Headcount

Short answer: size your workplace emergency kits for the largest number of people who could be on site at one time. That means employees on your biggest shift plus contractors and visitors. Then split that number by floor, building or zone, so every group has a kit close by. Each kit's capacity covers that many people for up to 72 hours. This guide shows how to count, with examples for 25, 50, 100 and 250 people.

Step 1: Count your peak headcount

Start with the most people who could be in the building at once, not your total payroll. Include:

• Employees on your largest shift (including part-time staff)
• Contractors, temps and on-site vendors
• Typical visitors, customers or clients at a busy time

Round up. A kit that is a little too big is better than one that leaves people without supplies.

Step 2: Split by floor, building or zone

If your people are spread across several floors or buildings, plan one kit per floor or zone instead of one large kit in a single room. People may not be able to move between floors during an earthquake, fire or lockdown, so the supplies should already be where they are.

The capacity of a kit applies to the complete kit. Larger kits come in several rolling bins that are meant to stay together, so if you need supplies on three floors, buy three kits sized for each floor rather than splitting one large kit.

Step 3: Pick the kit size for each zone

Our workplace emergency kits come in sizes from 5 to 1,000 people. Here is how the common office sizes work out:

People in the zone	Kit to choose	Container	Food and water included
Up to 25	30-person kit (room for visitors), or a 20-person kit plus a 5-person kit if you want supplies in two places	1 rolling bin (134 lbs), or 3 buckets plus 1 bucket	One 2,400-calorie food bar and six water pouches per person
50	50-person kit	1 rolling bin (175 lbs)	50 food bars and 300 water pouches
100	100-person kit	2 rolling bins (440 lbs)	100 food bars and 600 water pouches
250	250-person kit	5 rolling bins (1,100 lbs)	250 food bars and 1,500 water pouches

For other headcounts, browse by size: small workplaces (5 to 20 people), medium (21 to 99), large (100 to 499) and enterprise (500 and up).

Every kit also includes first aid, sanitation, lighting, communication, protective gear, blankets and basic tools. Exact quantities are listed on each product page.

Step 4: Decide whether employees also need their own kits

Site kits are stored in one place for a whole group. Some employers also give each employee a small personal kit to keep at their desk or workstation, so everyone has supplies within reach even if they can't get to the main kit. Our employee emergency kits each cover one person for 72 hours and can be combined with a site kit.

Worked example: a 3-floor office

An office has 180 employees and usually about 20 visitors and contractors on site, for a peak of 200 people. They are spread across three floors:

• Floor 1 (reception, warehouse): 80 people, so one 80-person kit (2 rolling bins)
• Floor 2: 70 people, so one 70-person kit (2 rolling bins)
• Floor 3: 50 people, so one 50-person kit (1 rolling bin)

That covers all 200 people with supplies on every floor, in 5 rolling bins. A single 250-person kit would also be 5 bins, but all of them would sit on one floor.

How much food and water is in each kit?

Each kit gives every person one 2,400-calorie food bar (about 800 calories a day) and six 4.2-oz water pouches, for up to 72 hours. This is a minimum survival ration for sheltering in place or waiting to evacuate, not a full diet. Ready.gov recommends one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation, so if your site could be cut off for longer, consider adding long-term water storage.

Where does OSHA fit in?

OSHA's emergency action plan rule (29 CFR 1910.38) covers how employees report emergencies, evacuate and are accounted for. The plan must be written, except that employers with 10 or fewer employees may communicate it orally. The rule does not set a number of emergency kits. Kits support your plan, but no kit by itself makes a workplace OSHA compliant. For treating injuries, also keep workplace first aid kits; they do a different job from an emergency kit.

Keeping kits ready

The food bars and water pouches have a shelf life of up to 5 years. Note the expiration date when the kits arrive, check them once a year, and replace the food and water before they expire with a workplace replenishment kit. A replenishment kit lets you keep the rolling bins and durable supplies you already have.

Quick checklist

• Count your peak headcount: largest shift, contractors and visitors.
• Split it by floor, building or zone.
• Choose a kit at or above each zone's headcount.
• Store each kit where that group can reach it quickly, such as a supply room or near an exit route.
• Decide whether employees also get personal kits.
• Add workplace first aid kits.
• Put the expiration date on your calendar and plan replenishment.

Frequently asked questions

Should I size kits for total employees or for people on site?

Size them for the most people who could be on site at one time, including contractors and visitors. If you run shifts, use your largest shift.

Can I split a large kit across floors?

No. A kit's capacity applies to the complete kit, and multi-bin kits are meant to stay together. If you need supplies on several floors, choose a separate kit sized for each floor.

Do you deliver to several locations?

Yes. We ship to multiple sites, and rolling-bin kits ship by freight. See shipping and multi-site delivery, or purchase orders and tax-exempt orders if your organization buys that way.

Can kits be customized?

Yes. For volume and multi-site orders, contents, quantities and labeling can be customized.

Need help sizing kits for your sites? Request a quote with your headcount and number of floors or buildings, and we'll recommend a setup. You can also learn more on our workplace and business preparedness page.

Written by Mina Arnao, More Prepared. Last reviewed: October 2026.