We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Medical Products & Services The 8 Best First Aid Kits, Tested and Reviewed Keep yourself and your loved ones protected and safe with these expert-approved first aid kits. By Kayla Hui, MPH Updated on April 02, 2024 Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Fact checked by Marley Hall Print Verywell Health / Amelia Manley From scraped knees to car crashes, having a quality first aid kit allows you to treat minor injuries, prevent infections, and even increase the chances of keeping an accident victim alive until proper medical help arrives. Eddie Boyle, director of operations at Cetronia Ambulance Corps, says that a first aid kit is a small stockpile of basic necessities that can treat burns to traumatic injuries. He adds that the supplies can provide life-saving interventions. We tested 15 top-rated first aid kits and narrowed down the best eight. We evaluated each kit for included products, ease of use, organization, quality, and overall value. An emergency physician from our Medical Expert Board reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy. What to Look for in a First Aid Kit Bandages: Specifically, elastic and adhesive bandages. Christoper E. San Miguel, MD, FAAEM, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, says that elastic bandages can be wrapped around small and large wounds and injured body parts (like sprains) to reduce swelling. Adhesives stick to the skin and should be applied after wounds are clean. Cleaning supplies: Antiseptic wipes or alcohol pads decrease the risk of germs and bacteria getting into cuts, scrapes, and burns. After using antiseptic or alcohol to clean the wound, an antibacterial ointment should be applied to prevent infection, Dr. San Miguel explains. Medications: Choosing a kit that includes OTC meds like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat pain and relieve fevers is a good idea. You may also want loperamide for acute diarrhea or diphenhydramine for minor allergic reactions. However, Dr. San Miguel says it's best to call 911 and potentially administer an EpiPen if there's difficulty breathing or throat swelling. Gloves: Dr. San Miguel recommends wearing gloves whenever handling blood or bodily fluids to lower the risk of transmission of certain diseases. Extra accessories: A first aid kit should include not only the physical materials and medications used to treat ailments but also the tools that can assist with the process. Tweezers, small scissors, a thermometer, a scale, and instant ice packs are all items that could be beneficial. Consider your health conditions and look for tools to help with your specific needs. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Protect Life First Aid Kit at Amazon ($23) Jump to Review Best Budget: Be Smart Get Prepared First Aid Kit at Amazon ($9) Jump to Review Best for Families: Adventure First Aid Family Kit at Fsastore.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best for the Office: First Aid Only First Aid Kit at Amazon ($98) Jump to Review Best for Injuries: Homestock+ Professional First Aid Kit at Amazon ($37) Jump to Review Best Compact: Protect Life Small First Aid Kit at Amazon ($20) Jump to Review Best for Camping: Everlit Survival First Aid Kit at Amazon ($40) Jump to Review Best for First Responders: MFASCO First Aid Kit at Amazon ($89) Jump to Review In This Article Expand What to Look for in a First Aid Kit Our Picks How We Tested Our Experts FAQs Why Trust Verywell Health Best Overall Protect Life First Aid Kit Amazon View On Amazon $23 View On Walmart $25 Our Ratings Ease of Use 4/5 Organization 4/5 Quality 4/5 Value 4/5 Pros Durable case Includes tools like a carabiner, scissors, and safety pins Comes with a cold compress Cons Does not include ointment Items can shift around in the open plastic pockets Key Specs: Ideal For: Travel and personal use | Case Size: 7.8 x 5.9 x 2.6 inches Why We Recommend It We named the Protect Life First Aid Kit our best overall because it has everything you need to treat minor wounds. The durable first aid case contains gauze pads, bandages, first aid tape, a cold pack, gloves, scissors, tweezers, and even an emergency whistle. The contents—all manufactured at an FDA-registered facility—are stored inside a durable hard case, making it ideal for road trips, camping, and hiking. It also proved easy to use, grab, and go during testing. Keep in Mind We didn't like the small carrying case, and the containments weren't secure. They were easy to fall out or shift, and it was hard to get things back inside. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Best Budget Be Smart Get Prepared First Aid Kit Amazon View On Amazon $9 View On Walmart $9 Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Organization 5/5 Quality 4/5 Value 5/5 Pros Durable, lightweight, and portable Affordable Supplies meet FDA standards Cons Does not include scissors, tweezers, or OTC medications Key Specs: Ideal For: At home, travel, offices | Case Size: 7.75 x 10.75 x 7.25 inches Why We Recommend It The Be Smart Get Prepared Kit is affordable and has everything you need to treat minor injuries. We loved its ease of use, organization, and overall value. We also liked the sturdy and durable quality of the supplies and storage case. In addition to the basic bandages and alcohol wipes, the kit includes antibiotic ointment, finger splints, a cold compress, and exam gloves. It also carries most of the basic items to treat lacerations and contusions. Keep in Mind The kit lost marks for lacking scissors and tweezers. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Best for Families Adventure First Aid Family Kit Amazon View On Fsastore.com View On Ems.com View On CVS $33 Our Ratings Ease of Use 3.5/5 Organization 4.5/5 Quality 4/5 Value 3.5/5 Pros Enough supplies to a family of four Includes OTC medications Is well organized Cons Flimsy, soft case Key Specs: Ideal For: Outdoor activities, travel, families | Case Size: 6 x 8.5 x 3 inches Why We Recommend It Adventure First Aid Family Kit has enough supplies for small groups or families of up to four people, including topicals like antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointments, bandages and sterile gauze dressings, and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medications. Out of all the kits we tested, this one felt the most organized. We loved that the products were clearly and securely sorted into categories: medications, gauze/bandages, and various trauma care accessories. Keep in Mind The goods come in a zippered soft case which was flimsy and a little difficult to open. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Best for the Office First Aid Only First Aid Kit Staples View On Amazon $98 View On Walmart $87 View On Staples $120 Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Organization 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Pros Wall-mountable and well organized Includes a face shield, gloves, and trauma pads Contains topical and OTC medications Cons It’s not portable Key Specs: Ideal For: Offices | Case Size: 4.5 x 13.25 x 14.25 inches Why We Recommend It The First Aid Only Kit is the priciest pick on our list, but it's worth the price if you're looking for a kit that contains everything from bandages to OTC pain relief medications, scissors and tweezers, gloves, and a CPR face shield. There are enough supplies to treat up to 50 people, and the plastic case is wall-mountable, making it a smart choice for offices and other places where groups gather. During testing, we liked that each product had its own designated space. This keeps everything secure and visible, making it easy to use quickly during an emergency. While it's pricier, we feel the value is there. Keep in Mind It's not designed to be portable, so if you're traveling often or plan to move it around frequently, we suggest another option. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Best for Injuries Homestock+ Professional First Aid Kit Amazon View On Amazon $37 Our Ratings Ease of Use 4/5 Organization 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 4.6/5 Pros Well organized Portable High-quality materials Cons Zipper is difficult to open with one hand Key Specs: Ideal For: Traumatic injuries | Case Size: 7.9 x 5.9 x 3.6 inches Why We Recommend It The Professional First Aid Trauma Kit contains items designed to treat traumatic injuries like bleeding, burns, and shock. A pocket-size guide explains each item and how to use it. We like that it contains a trauma pad, elastic bandages, burn care gel, eye pads, and more, all neatly organized and clearly labeled. The design made us feel prepared for anything. Keep in Mind It folds open, so everything is technically accessible. Still, during the timed trial, opening the zippered kit with one hand proved challenging, which could waste precious seconds in an emergency. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Best Compact Protect Life Small First Aid Kit Amazon View On Amazon $20 View On Firstaidkitsurvival.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 4/5 Organization 3/5 Quality 4/5 Value 4.3/5 Pros Compact and portable Includes an emergency blanket and tourniquet Cons Items are not well organized Key Specs: Ideal For: Travel, car | Case Size: 7.5 x 5.2 x 1.5 inches Why We Recommend It Looking for a basic first aid kit that you can tuck into your backpack or glove compartment? We recommend the Small First Aid Kit, which is compact but durable. In addition to bandages, tape, and topical ointments, the affordable pouch contains many foldable items, like an emergency blanket, a tourniquet, and a CPR mask. It also has a saline solution for rinsing the eyes and irrigating wounds. Keep in Mind The kit felt very disorganized, which isn't great in an emergency. Everything was just jammed in there. We'd suggest finding a way to organize the kit at home or picking another option if that organization is crucial to you. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Best for Camping Everlit Survival First Aid Kit Amazon View On Amazon $40 View On Everlitsurvival.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 4.5/5 Organization 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 4.7/5 Pros Durable, quick-release case Has items for traumatic emergency Well organized Cons Doesn’t include OTC medications Key Specs: Ideal For: Traumatic injuries, outdoor survival | Case Size: 8 x 6.5 x 5 inches Why We Recommend It From a tactical flashlight to a paracord, compass, and even an 11-in-1 tactical pocket tool—all stored in a military-grade EMT backpack—the Everlit is the perfect first aid kit for campers, hikers, and survivalists. During testing, we felt that it carries a lot of value at a very accessible price point. It has all the basics for managing a traumatic emergency (especially when you're in the middle of nowhere). There are also various bandages and topical sting relief wipes, safety pins, an emergency blanket, glow sticks, a pocket knife, a fire starter, a poncho, and a thermal blanket. We felt it was intuitive and neatly organized, too. It took us mere minutes to find and identify everything important during a crisis. Keep in Mind It has all the basics, except for OTC medication. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Best for First Responders MFASCO First Aid Kit Amazon View On Amazon $89 View On Mfasco.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Organization 5/5 Quality 5/5 Value 5/5 Pros Easy-to-open case Contains items to treat traumatic injuries Cons Might be tricky to keep main compartment organized Key specs: Ideal For: Traumatic injuries, natural disasters | Case Size: 13 x 6 x 9 inches Why We Recommend It After testing the First Aid Emergency Response Trauma Kit, we found it easy to use, organized, and filled with quality items, which is great for emergency medical professionals. It includes an assortment of bandages, a stethoscope, a blood pressure cuff, and just about everything a first responder would need, making it a full-service kit. It's a great one-stop shop for emergency care needs. Keep in Mind It has convenient front and side pockets, but keeping the main compartment organized might take some effort. Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson Verywell Health / Jhett Thompson How We Tested the First Aid Kits We tested 15 first aid kits in the Verywell Testing Lab. Following our detailed methodology, each test was designed to evaluate and compare the kits for ease of use, organization, quality of the products and carrying case, and overall value. Ease of use: We opened our assigned first aid kit to determine whether we could do it quickly and without struggle and noted any issues that arose.Organization: We checked to see how clearly everything was displayed and how securely it was held in place. During the timed trial, we counted how long it took us to find specific items and put them back away to see how quickly we could do so in an emergency.Product quality: We inspected each item for quality and placed it back inside the kit to see how easy it would be to keep it neatly arranged and easily accessible.Carrying case: We assessed the carrying case to see how sturdy, durable, and portable it was.Value: After concluding the test, we compared the performance to the price point to determine whether it was worth the financial cost. Our Experts Eddie Boyle, PHRN, director of operations at Cetronia Ambulance Corps in Pennsylvania Christoper E. San Miguel, MD, FAAEM, clinical assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Mattan Schuchman, MD, medical director of Johns Hopkins Home-based Medicine David Cutler, MD, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California Frequently Asked Questions Where should first aid kits be stored? Store your first aid kit where it is easily accessible in your home, car, RV, or backpack. If your kit contains medication, Dr. San Miguel recommends keeping it out of reach of children and avoiding places that get extreme heat or cold, as that can spoil a drug. Who should apply first aid? And do they need to be trained? According to Boyle, anyone can apply first aid. Uncontrolled bleeding is one of the most serious emergencies that a splint from a first aid kit could make the difference between life or death, says Boyle. To perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), one must be trained. Why Trust Verywell Health Receiving her master’s degree in public health in 2020, Kayla Hui is a seasoned public health practitioner and health journalist. She has interviewed dozens of experts, reviewed numerous research studies, and tested many products to deliver well-researched product reviews and roundups. She aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their health and well-being. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit