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Drought is trending on Google in the UK this morning, with news reports that England needs well above normal rainfall this winter to come out of drought. On Amazon UK, a HYDROFYX 25 litre water container 4 pack is at #2 in the Sports and Outdoors bestsellers. If you want some water stored at home, which container should you buy?
The short answer: a food grade HDPE jerry can with a screw cap is the simple choice for storing drinking water. A 20 or 25 litre can stacks well but weighs about the same in kilograms when full, so mix in some 5 or 10 litre carriers you can actually lift. A can with a tap makes daily use easier, and collapsible carriers save cupboard space.
Last updated: 30 October 2026
On the Amazon UK Sports and Outdoors chart today: HYDROFYX 25L water storage containers at #2. This is a practical UK shopping shortlist on amazon.co.uk. It does not invent prices, ratings or claims beyond what the listings state.
25 litre and 20 litre jerry cans
- HYDROFYX 25L water storage containers, 4 pack, listed as food safe HDPE with DIN61 screw caps and gaskets, stackable, supplied empty
- UK GROW 25L water storage container, listed as food contact approved HDPE with a 61 mm tamper evident cap and a large labelling area
- Waterline 25L water storage containers, pack of 2, listed with a fill level guide in 5 litre steps
- Blue 20 litre jerry cans, pack of 4, listed as food grade HDPE with a 60 mm tamper evident cap and interlocking stacking
With a tap
- 1418C 25 litre water container with cap and tap, listed as a rectangular can in food quality polyethylene that stows without wasted space
Collapsible carriers you can lift
- HydraMate 5L collapsible water carriers, pack of 2, listed as BPA free, standing up when full and folding flat when empty
- SAMMART 12.5L collapsible water carrier, listed as BPA free, folding to 9 cm high, with a large opening and a lockable lid
- Water storage container search on amazon.co.uk for other sizes
Open the live listing on the day you buy, as pack sizes and colours change.
Which size?
- A small flat or a single person: two 5 litre carriers and one 20 or 25 litre can
- A family home with space in a garage or under the stairs: a 4 pack of 20 or 25 litre cans
- Older relatives or anyone who struggles with weight: stick to 5 to 12 litre carriers, as water weighs 1 kg per litre
- Kitchen use: a can with a tap, kept on a shelf or worktop edge
How to store water
- Buy containers listed as food grade or food contact approved, and keep them only for drinking water
- Wash and rinse new containers before the first fill
- Fill from the cold kitchen tap, cap tightly and label with the date
- Keep them somewhere cool and dark, off the floor and away from chemicals and fuel
- Empty and refill on a regular schedule, and follow your water company’s advice if supplies are disrupted
Building a full kit? See our home emergency kit checklist.
Use the Amazon product and search links above to compare options on amazon.co.uk. This is a UK shopping shortlist for water storage containers, not public health or water supply advice.
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