How Many MREs Do I Need? Per-Person MRE Calculator
Updated: 3 hours ago
Quick answer: Plan on 3 MREs per person per day for a full ration (about 3,600+ calories, the military's own planning number), or 2 per day if you're mostly sitting tight at home and have other food to fill in. For a family of 4 at 3 a day, that's 36 MREs (3 cases of 12) for 3 days, 168 MREs (14 cases) for 2 weeks and 360 MREs (30 cases) for 30 days.
That's the short version. Below is the math behind it, a quick chart you can screenshot or print, and the things the numbers don't tell you: calories, kids, water, sodium, and why MREs work best as one part of your food plan, not the whole thing.
How many MREs per person per day?
Start with what one MRE actually gives you. The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which buys rations for the U.S. military, says one MRE meal bag provides an average of 1,250 kilocalories, with about 13% of calories from protein, 36% from fat and 51% from carbohydrates. That's the same as 1,250 food calories, the kind on a nutrition label.
The military plans around three MREs a day. An Army Natick article on ration supplements notes that three MREs a day provide warfighters with a minimum of 3,600 calories, enough for most missions. The Warfighter Nutrition Guide puts it as a range: based on activity level, 2 to 4 MREs would be needed each day.
Here's the catch. Soldiers burn a lot more energy than most of us do sitting out a power outage. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 (PDF) estimate that adults need roughly 1,600 to 3,000 calories a day, depending on age, sex and activity. So for a typical household:
3 MREs per person per day: the "full ration" plan. Use it if MREs are your only food, if you'll be doing hard physical work (clearing debris, hauling water, evacuating on foot), or if it's cold out and you're burning extra just to stay warm.
2 MREs per person per day: a realistic "shelter at home" plan for a less active adult who also has some pantry food, like oatmeal, peanut butter, canned fruit or crackers.
1 MRE per person per day: a supplement plan. It covers one hot, filling meal a day while the rest comes from your regular food storage.
If you're not sure, plan for 3 and eat 2. Extra MREs keep. Running short doesn't.
MRE calculator: the simple formula
You don't need an app. Use this:
People x MREs per day x days = MREs you need. Then divide by 12 and round up to get cases, since a standard MRE case holds 12 meals. DLA lists 12 MREs per case, and the MRE case we carry is also 12 meals.
A few quick examples:
1 adult, 3 days, 3 a day: 1 x 3 x 3 = 9 MREs. One case of 12 covers it with 3 spare.
2 adults, 2 weeks, 2 a day: 2 x 2 x 14 = 56 MREs. 56 / 12 = 4.7, so 5 cases.
Family of 4, 30 days, 3 a day: 4 x 3 x 30 = 360 MREs. 360 / 12 = exactly 30 cases.
A handy rule: one 12-meal case feeds a family of 4 for one day at 3 MREs each. At 2 a day, one case lasts that family a day and a half.
Quick chart: how many MREs for 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and a month
Cases are rounded up to whole 12-meal cases.
Who and how many a day | 3 days | 1 week | 2 weeks | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 person, 2 a day | 6 MREs (1 case) | 14 (2 cases) | 28 (3 cases) | 60 (5 cases) |
1 person, 3 a day | 9 MREs (1 case) | 21 (2 cases) | 42 (4 cases) | 90 (8 cases) |
2 people, 3 a day | 18 MREs (2 cases) | 42 (4 cases) | 84 (7 cases) | 180 (15 cases) |
Family of 4, 2 a day | 24 MREs (2 cases) | 56 (5 cases) | 112 (10 cases) | 240 (20 cases) |
Family of 4, 3 a day | 36 MREs (3 cases) | 84 (7 cases) | 168 (14 cases) | 360 (30 cases) |
For other household sizes, take the "1 person" row and multiply by the number of people, then round up to whole cases.
How many days should you plan for?
The number of MREs you need depends just as much on how long you plan to cover. Common targets:
3 days (72 hours): the classic go-bag and evacuation target. The American Red Cross recommends a 3-day supply of non-perishable food for evacuation and a 2-week supply for home.
2 weeks: the Red Cross home target, and a good goal for storms, wildfire smoke, long power outages or a stretch where stores are empty.
30 days and beyond: for people who want a real buffer against job loss, supply problems or a long regional disaster.
FEMA's Ready.gov keeps it general and says to store at least a several-day supply of non-perishable food and choose foods your family will eat. Other countries pick different numbers, from 72 hours to a week or more. We compared them in how countries tell their citizens to prepare, which is a good read if you're stuck choosing a target.
Our suggestion: build to 3 days first, then 2 weeks, then decide whether a month makes sense for your space and budget.
Family of 4: what it looks like in real life
Numbers get easier when you picture them. Say you're two adults and two school-age kids, planning for 2 weeks.
Full MRE plan (3 a day each): 168 MREs, or 14 cases.
Mixed plan (2 a day each, plus pantry food): 112 MREs, or 10 cases.
Kid-adjusted plan: many families find that younger kids won't finish a whole MRE. The Dietary Guidelines estimate that children ages 2 through 4 need about 1,000 to 1,600 calories a day, and ages 5 through 8 about 1,200 to 2,000. Two kids can often split meals, so 2 adults at 3 a day plus 2 kids at about 1.5 a day comes to 126 MREs over 2 weeks, about 11 cases.
How much space does that take? DLA lists a case at about 22 pounds and 1.02 cubic feet. So 14 cases is roughly 300 pounds and 14 cubic feet. That fits on a sturdy garage or closet shelf, but it's not nothing. Plan where it goes before you buy.
Things the MRE math doesn't tell you
Calories vary, so adjust for your people
The 1,250-calorie figure is an average across menus. The listing for our case puts individual meals at about 1,100 to 1,300 calories. A big, active teenager in winter may need 3 or more MREs a day. A small, older adult who's mostly resting may be fine with 2. The chart is a starting point, not a prescription.
Drink plenty of water
MREs are high in sodium. A study in Military Medicine found that MRE sodium content may range from 1.6 to 2.3 grams per meal, and noted that the American Heart Association recommends limiting sodium to 2.3 grams a day for the general population. Three MREs can easily put you well over that, which is one more reason to drink enough water.
Ready.gov recommends at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. Your MRE stock should come with a matching water plan. MRE drink mixes need water, and most flameless heaters also need a small splash to activate. A family of 4 planning for 2 weeks needs about 56 gallons by that rule.
MREs are low in fiber, so mix in other foods for longer stretches
MREs are fortified with vitamins and minerals, but they aren't a perfect long-term diet. A federal wildland fire incident feeding guide notes that while MREs are fortified, better sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and other nutrients are available. It quotes the Army Combat Feeding Directorate saying MREs can be the sole source of food for up to 21 days, with bread, fruit and milk recommended when available. The Warfighter Nutrition Guide says the same thing: the MRE may be consumed as the sole ration for up to 21 days, after which other rations should be added.
For a 30-day plan, we'd mix MREs with long-lasting staples like rice, beans, oats, canned fruit and vegetables, and peanut butter. Our guide to long-term emergency food storage that works walks through how to build that layer.
Special diets, babies and health conditions
MREs aren't right for everyone. Infants need formula or breast milk, not MREs. If anyone in your home has heart or kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, food allergies or another condition that limits sodium, fat or certain foods, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian what to store. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Shelf life and rotation
How many MREs you need also depends on whether you'll eat through them before they age out. DLA puts MRE shelf life at three years at 80°F, longer in cooler storage. We cover dates, heat and storage in how long MREs last. If you buy a month's worth, plan to rotate: eat some on camping trips or busy weeknights and replace them.
Where to get MREs: options from our shop
Here's what we carry right now, using details from each listing. All of these ship to the lower 48 states and DC.
MRE Meals Ready to Eat, A or B Case: 12 meals per case, with menu A or B assigned from current inventory. $89.95 for one case (about $7.50 a meal) or $175 for two, plus $19.99 shipping per case. Each meal includes an entree, sides, a snack, dessert and a drink mix, and most include a flameless heater. Final sale.
Single MRE, Random Menu: $9.99. A good way to taste one before you commit to a case, or to tuck into a go-bag or car kit.
Monthly MRE Plan, 1 or 2 Cases: $84.95 for 1 case or $164.95 for 2 cases a month, plus $19.99 shipping per case. It renews monthly until you cancel, which makes it an easy way to build toward a 2-week or 30-day goal a little at a time.
Datrex 2400 Calorie Emergency Food Ration: $12.99 for 12 bars totaling 2,400 calories. It's compact, so it's handy as a backup in a go-bag or car alongside a few MREs.
Building a big stockpile? A full pallet is the fastest route. DLA says a military pallet holds 48 cases, which is 576 meals. That's enough for a family of 4 at 3 a day for 48 days. See buying a pallet of MREs for how that works.
A simple way to get started
Pick your number of days: 3, 14 or 30.
Pick your MREs per day: 3 if MREs are your main food, 2 if you'll mix in pantry food.
Do the math: people x MREs per day x days, divided by 12, rounded up.
Add water: 1 gallon per person per day.
Taste-test first: buy a single MRE or one case and see what your family will actually eat.
Write the date on every case and set a reminder to rotate.
FAQ
How many MREs do I need for 3 days?
For one person, 6 to 9 MREs (2 or 3 a day). That fits in one 12-meal case. For a family of 4 at 3 a day, 36 MREs, or 3 cases.
How many MREs do I need for 2 weeks?
For one person, 28 to 42 MREs, or 3 to 4 cases. For a family of 4, 112 to 168 MREs, or 10 to 14 cases.
How many MREs do I need for a month?
For one person at 3 a day, 90 MREs, or 8 cases. For a family of 4, 240 to 360 MREs, or 20 to 30 cases. For a month, we'd mix MREs with other stored foods rather than eating only MREs.
Is one MRE a day enough?
Not as your only food. At about 1,250 calories, one MRE is well below what most adults need in a day. One a day works as a supplement to other food.
How many MREs are in a case?
A standard case holds 12 MREs. DLA lists 12 per case, and our A or B case is 12 meals.
Can kids eat MREs?
Older kids can, though many won't finish a whole meal, so plan on splitting. Babies need formula or breast milk instead. For kids with allergies or health conditions, check with your pediatrician.
Sources
Defense Logistics Agency, Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE)
U.S. Army, MORE is better when it comes to food rations
Consortium for Health and Military Performance (USUHS), Warfighter Nutrition Guide, Chapter 13: Combat Rations (PDF)
National Interagency Fire Center, 2020 Incident Feeding Options (PDF)
Feagans et al., Military Medicine 2010, Meals ready to eat: a brief history and clinical vignette
USDA and HHS, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 (PDF)
American Red Cross, Survival Kit Supplies
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