🥫 Quarantine Food Calculator – Coronavirus
Estimate how much food and water to stock up on before a coronavirus quarantine or self-isolation period, based on your household size and how many days you expect to stay home.
How this calculator works
This tool estimates the food and water supplies a household should have on hand to comfortably self-isolate or quarantine at home, for example during a coronavirus exposure or illness, without needing to make extra store trips. It scales general emergency-preparedness planning figures by your household size and the number of days you expect to stay home.
The formula used
The calculator uses widely-cited household preparedness guidelines: roughly 1 gallon (about 3.8 liters) of drinking water per person per day, and roughly 3 lbs (about 1.36 kg) of non-perishable food per person per day. It also estimates total calories using an average daily intake of about 2,000 kcal per person, adjusted slightly up or down for activity level, and multiplies your meals-per-day setting by household size and days to suggest how many total meals to plan or shop for.
- Food: household size x days x ~1.36 kg per person per day
- Water: household size x days x ~3.8 liters per person per day
- Calories: household size x days x ~2,000 kcal per person per day (adjusted for activity level)
These are general planning estimates, not medical or nutritional advice. Actual needs vary with age, health conditions, climate, and personal dietary requirements, so treat the results as a starting point and adjust to your household’s real habits. If someone in your home has specific medical or dietary needs, follow guidance from a qualified healthcare provider.