PreparedStates

Best emergency water storage containers (2026)

The CDC and Ready.gov both say to store at least a gallon of water per person per day, and the Red Cross suggests two weeks' supply at home: 14 gallons for each person.

By PreparedStates editors · Updated October 22, 2026

Our picks

All 5 compared

WaterBrick 3.5-gal (2-pack)
1. WaterBrick 3.5-Gallon Water Storage Containers (2-pack) Our top pick
7 gal · Stackable rigid bricks

Stackable storage that fits in closets

4.5
$69.97 at Survival Frog
Checked Oct 22
In stockCheck price →
Our verdict
Our verdictResearched

Brick-shaped 3.5-gallon containers that stack like Lego, so a week of water fits in a closet. At 27 lb full, each one is still liftable.

Best for Stackable storage that fits in closets

Good
  • Stacks neatly
  • BPA-free, food-grade
  • Liftable when full
Worth knowing
  • Costs more per gallon than big drums

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you have a garage and want the most gallons per dollar.

2. Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-Gallon Rigid Water Container (2-pack) Runner-up
14 gal · Rigid jug with spigot

Two week-plus jugs with a tap

4.0
Check price →
Our verdict
Our verdictResearched

Two 7-gallon jugs with a built-in spigot: 14 gallons, two weeks for one person at Ready.gov's gallon a day. At about 58 lb full each, they're heavy to move.

Best for Two week-plus jugs with a tap

Good
  • Built-in spigot
  • Lots of water per container
Worth knowing
  • About 58 lb full: hard to lift

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need to carry water any distance.

3. Scepter Military-Style 5-Gallon Water Container Also good
5 gal · Rigid jerry can

The tough can you can carry

4.0
Check price →
Our verdict
Our verdictResearched

A rugged 5-gallon jerry can: five days for one person, and light enough full to move to a car. Buy several rather than one big tank.

Best for The tough can you can carry

Good
  • Very tough
  • Carryable when full
Worth knowing
  • No spigot unless you add one

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want water for a family in one container.

4. waterBOB Bathtub Emergency Water Storage (up to 100 gallons)
100 gal · Bathtub liner (fill before a storm)

Lots of water when a storm is forecast

4.0
Check price →
Our verdict
Our verdictResearched

A food-grade liner you fill in the bathtub when a hurricane or freeze is on the way: up to 100 gallons from the tap while it still runs. Useless if the water's already off, so pair it with stored containers.

Best for Lots of water when a storm is forecast

Good
  • Huge capacity
  • Stores flat until needed
Worth knowing
  • Only works if you fill it in time
  • For short-term use, not long storage

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need water stored year-round.

5. Alexapure Emergency Water Bank with Pump (65 gallons)
65 gal · Bathtub liner with pump (fill before a storm)

A cheaper bathtub liner with a pump

3.5
$34.95 at Emergency Essentials
Checked Oct 22
In stockCheck price →
Our verdict
Our verdictResearched

The same fill-before-the-storm idea as waterBOB at 65 gallons, with a pump for drawing water. The maker says water keeps up to 16 weeks in it.

Best for A cheaper bathtub liner with a pump

Good
  • Low price
  • Pump included
Worth knowing
  • 65 gallons, less than waterBOB
  • Only works if filled in time

Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if the water's already off.

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The honest bit
The CDC puts unopened, store-bought bottled water first for emergency storage. Containers make sense once you want more than a few cases, or a fast way to fill up when a storm is on the way.

Before you buy

Use food-grade containers.

The CDC recommends FDA-approved food-grade water storage containers, made of a durable, unbreakable material (not glass), ideally with a narrow neck for pouring.

If you fill containers yourself from the tap, the CDC says to replace the water every 6 months.

Store-bought water lasts until its expiration date.

Water weighs about 8.3 lb a gallon.

A 7-gallon jug is nearly 60 lb full; smaller 3.5 to 5-gallon containers are easier to move, stack and pour.

Bathtub liners like waterBOB hold 65 to 100 gallons but only work if you fill them before the water stops, so they're for storms you see coming, alongside stored containers.

How we choose

We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labelled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test — and commissions never change a ranking either way. Read our full methodology →

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Common questions

How much water should I store per person?

At least 1 gallon per person per day, say the CDC and Ready.gov. The Red Cross suggests a 3-day supply for evacuation and 2 weeks at home: 14 gallons per person for two weeks.

How often should I replace stored water?

If you filled the containers yourself, every 6 months, according to the CDC. Commercially bottled water keeps until its expiration date.

Can I store water in any plastic container?

Use food-grade containers made for water. The CDC advises FDA-approved food-grade containers, not glass, and never containers that held anything toxic.

Where should I store emergency water?

Somewhere cool and dark, away from chemicals and fuel. Several smaller containers spread around the house are easier to use than one big tank.