The best first aid kits in the UK
First aid kits for home, car and workplace.
Updated October 6, 2026
The UK government's Prepare website lists a first aid kit for a home emergency kit. Buyers first decide where the kit lives. BS 8599-2 covers the contents of car kits and BS 8599-1 covers workplace kits. The home kits on this list state no standard.
The second question is how many people the kit covers. Workplace kits on this list carry a rating by headcount and risk level. Vehicle kits name a vehicle type or passenger count. Piece counts are the maker's own count so compare the contents rather than the number.
The shortlist, ranked
How the score works- 1
Personal outdoor kit with 23 items for cuts, grazes and blisters at a listed 240 g.
- Pieces: 23
- Kit type: outdoor / personal
- Standard: CE-marked contents
- Case: soft pouch
Why it is here: The Duke of Edinburgh's Award recommends it.
- 2
Waterproof outdoor kit for canoeing and kayaking with a thermometer and burn gel.
- Kit type: outdoor / water sports
- Standard: CE-marked contents
- Case: waterproof soft case
- Weight: 500 g (17.6 oz)
Why it is here: The case material is waterproof.
- 3
Group outdoor kit for 1 to 14 people in a ripstop case with a QuickFind layout.
- Pieces: 64
- Kit type: outdoor / group (1-14 persons)
- Standard: CE-marked contents (no BS 8599)
- Case: ripstop soft case, water-resistant zip
Why it is here: Rated for groups of 1 to 14 people.
- 4
Camping first aid kit for family trips under canvas at a listed 452 g.
- Kit type: camping / family outdoor
- Standard: CE-marked contents
- Case: soft case
- Weight: 452 g (15.9 oz)
Why it is here: The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Product Team recommends it.
- 5
Compact BS 8599-1 travel kit in a soft pouch for business travel and solo travellers.
- Kit type: travel / motoring (work)
- Standard: BS 8599-1:2019 (travel kit)
- Case: soft pouch
Why it is here: The maker lists it as a BS 8599-1 travel kit.
- 6
BS 8599-2 car kit with 41 pieces for vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers.
- Pieces: 41
- Kit type: car (vehicles up to 8 passengers)
- Standard: BS 8599-2:2019 (What Car? test unit listed BS 8599-2:2014)
- Case: soft case
Why it is here: The maker lists BS 8599-2 compliance for vehicles with up to eight passengers.
- 7
BS 8599-1 hard box kit with integrated wall brackets and 40 washproof plasters.
- Kit type: workplace small (under 25 low risk / under 5 high risk)
- Standard: BS 8599-1:2019
- Case: hard box with integrated wall brackets (Aura3 box variant also sold)
- Weight: 900 g (31.7 oz)
Why it is here: Wall brackets are built into the box.
- 8
Travel kit for gap years and backpacking with basic travel drugs in UK kits.
- Kit type: travel
- Standard: CE-marked contents
- Case: soft case
- Weight: 365 g (12.9 oz)
Why it is here: UK kits include basic travel drugs.
- 9
BS 8599-2 kit for small vehicles with up to two passengers in a recycled case.
- Kit type: car (small vehicles, up to 2 passengers)
- Standard: BS 8599-2:2019
- Case: black recycled case
Why it is here: The maker lists BS 8599-2 compliance.
- 10
BS 8599-1 workplace kit in a hard box with wall bracket for up to 25 low-risk staff.
- Kit type: workplace small (up to 25 people low risk / 5 high risk)
- Standard: BS 8599-1:2019
- Case: hard box with wall bracket
Why it is here: The maker lists BS 8599-1 compliance.
- 11
BS 8599-1 hard box kit rated for 25 to 100 people in low-risk workplaces.
- Kit type: workplace medium (25-100 people low risk)
- Standard: BS 8599-1:2019
- Case: hard box
Why it is here: Rated for 25 to 100 people in low-risk environments.
- 12
BS 8599-1 small workplace kit in a recycled plastic box with profits funding the Red Cross.
- Kit type: workplace small (up to 25 low risk / 5 high risk)
- Standard: BS 8599-1
- Case: box, 100% recycled and recyclable plastic
Why it is here: The maker lists BS 8599-1 compliance.
- 13
BS 8599-1 medium kit for low-risk workplaces with 25 to 100 employees.
- Kit type: workplace medium (25-100 low risk / 5-25 high risk)
- Standard: BS 8599-1
- Case: box
Why it is here: Rated for 25 to 100 employees in low-risk workplaces.
- 14
BS 8599-2 medium vehicle kit for up to 8 passengers in a box or soft bag.
- Kit type: car (up to 8 passengers)
- Standard: BS 8599-2
- Case: Aura box or Stockholm bag variants
Why it is here: The maker lists BS 8599-2 compliance.
- 15
BS 8599-2 large vehicle kit for minibuses and coaches in a water-resistant nylon pouch.
- Kit type: large vehicles (minibus, coach)
- Standard: BS 8599-2:2019
- Case: soft water-resistant nylon pouch
Why it is here: Sized for minibuses and coaches.
- 16
Grab-bag first aid kit for home and leisure that sizes up the Universal grab bag.
- Kit type: general / home and leisure
- Standard: none stated
- Case: grab bag
Why it is here: The grab-bag format is easy to pick up and carry.
- 17
90 piece soft bag kit with eyewash, two cold packs and an emergency blanket.
- Pieces: 90
- Kit type: home / car / travel
- Standard: none stated
- Case: soft bag
Why it is here: Eyewash and two cold ice packs are included.
- 18
Medium vehicle first aid kit with a smaller sibling for one to three people.
- Kit type: car
- Standard: not confirmed
Why it is here: Sized as a medium vehicle kit.
All first aid kits side by side
Specs from the makers. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Model | Score | Pieces | Kit type | Standard | Case | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifesystems Trek First Aid Kit | 9.0 | 23 | outdoor / personal | CE-marked contents | soft pouch | 240 g (8.5 oz) |
| Lifesystems Waterproof First Aid Kit | 8.7 | - | outdoor / water sports | CE-marked contents | waterproof soft case | 500 g (17.6 oz) |
| Lifesystems Mountain Leader First Aid Kit | 8.4 | 64 | outdoor / group (1-14 persons) | CE-marked contents (no BS 8599) | ripstop soft case, water-resistant zip | 930 g (32.8 oz) |
| Lifesystems Camping First Aid Kit | 8.3 | - | camping / family outdoor | CE-marked contents | soft case | 452 g (15.9 oz) |
| St John Ambulance Travel and Motoring First Aid Kit | 7.7 | - | travel / motoring (work) | BS 8599-1:2019 (travel kit) | soft pouch | - |
| St John Ambulance Medium Motor Vehicle First Aid Kit | 7.7 | 41 | car (vehicles up to 8 passengers) | BS 8599-2:2019 (What Car? test unit listed BS 8599-2:2014) | soft case | 452 g (15.9 oz) |
| Reliance Medical Small Workplace First Aid Kit BS8599-1 | 7.7 | - | workplace small (under 25 low risk / under 5 high risk) | BS 8599-1:2019 | hard box with integrated wall brackets (Aura3 box variant also sold) | 900 g (31.7 oz) |
| Lifesystems Traveller First Aid Kit | 7.3 | - | travel | CE-marked contents | soft case | 365 g (12.9 oz) |
| St John Ambulance Small Motor Vehicle First Aid Kit | 7.0 | - | car (small vehicles, up to 2 passengers) | BS 8599-2:2019 | black recycled case | - |
| St John Ambulance Small Workplace First Aid Kit | 7.0 | - | workplace small (up to 25 people low risk / 5 high risk) | BS 8599-1:2019 | hard box with wall bracket | - |
| St John Ambulance Medium Workplace First Aid Kit | 7.0 | - | workplace medium (25-100 people low risk) | BS 8599-1:2019 | hard box | - |
| British Red Cross Small Workplace First Aid Kit | 7.0 | - | workplace small (up to 25 low risk / 5 high risk) | BS 8599-1 | box, 100% recycled and recyclable plastic | - |
| British Red Cross Medium First Aid Kit | 7.0 | - | workplace medium (25-100 low risk / 5-25 high risk) | BS 8599-1 | box | - |
| Reliance Medical Motokit BS8599-2 Medium | 7.0 | - | car (up to 8 passengers) | BS 8599-2 | Aura box or Stockholm bag variants | - |
| Steroplast BS8599-2 Vehicle First Aid Kit Large | 7.0 | - | large vehicles (minibus, coach) | BS 8599-2:2019 | soft water-resistant nylon pouch | - |
| St John Ambulance Universal Plus First Aid Kit Grab Bag | 6.7 | - | general / home and leisure | none stated | grab bag | - |
| Astroplast 90 Piece Premium First Aid Kit | 6.7 | 90 | home / car / travel | none stated | soft bag | - |
| Qualicare Vehicle First Aid Kit Medium | 6.3 | - | car | not confirmed | - | - |
Frequently asked questions
What is a BS 8599 first aid kit?
BS 8599-1 covers the contents of workplace first aid kits. BS 8599-2 covers the contents of motor vehicle kits. On this shortlist the St John Ambulance and British Red Cross workplace kits list BS 8599-1. So does the Reliance Medical Small Workplace First Aid Kit BS8599-1. The St John Ambulance vehicle kits and the Reliance and Steroplast vehicle kits list BS 8599-2. The Lifesystems kits use CE-marked contents instead.
Do I need a first aid kit in my car?
The data behind this page does not cover the law on carrying a kit in a car. What it shows is a British Standard for the contents. BS 8599-2 covers motor vehicle first aid kits. On this shortlist the St John Ambulance vehicle kits and the Reliance Medical Motokit BS8599-2 Medium list it. So do both Steroplast vehicle kits. Sizes run from two passengers to coaches.
How many first aid kits per employee?
Makers rate workplace kits by headcount and risk rather than per employee. The small workplace kits here are rated for about 25 low-risk or 5 high-risk people. That applies to St John Ambulance and British Red Cross and Reliance Medical. The medium kits from St John Ambulance and British Red Cross cover 25 to 100 low-risk staff. A site above those numbers needs more than one kit by the makers' ratings.
Which first aid kit suits a caravan?
Two kits on this shortlist name the caravan. The St John Ambulance Home First Aid Kit is a 15 piece grab bag for home or caravan. The Astroplast 90 Piece Premium First Aid Kit lists caravan use alongside home and car and travel. Neither states a British Standard. For the towing car itself BS 8599-2 is the standard for motor vehicle kit contents.
Shopping in the US? See the US shortlist of first aid kits
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something after clicking one, the store may pay us a commission. The price stays the same for you, and commissions do not decide which emergency supplies we recommend. Specs come from the makers; range and battery life are their claims. Our method.