Best Gun Safe Under $300 [ Hand Tested and Reviewed]

Want to pick the best affordable gun safe but are not sure where to begin? You are not alone. Research shows that more than 60% of Americans believe possessing a firearm makes their homes safer.

In short, gun safes are a much sought-after item, since everybody wants to store their guns in a safe place, far from the reach of unwanted intruders and children alike.

However, the thing is that not all gun safes are made equal. While there’s no dearth of gun safes, not every one of them might suit your needs and pocket.

Gun safes are essential for storing your firearms in a secure place where they are easy to access and out of your way. They keep your firearms safe and protect them from unauthorized use.

Even the accidental use of firearms can cause life-threatening accidents. To prevent these events, you need to store them in a secure place where they are easy to access.

The choice of a gun safe depends on individual needs, the type and size of the gun you have, and where you want to place this gun safe.

10 Top-Rated Gun Safes Under $300 Hand-Picked for You

I have selected some best budget rifle safes, smaller safes, sleek and stylish ones, and functional safes. All safes have undergone rigorous testing to know whether they withstand forced openings, fire, and water.

Today I’m going to show you the best gun safe under $300. 

Indeed before writing this review, I tested, cracked, and researched over 24 gun safes as a physical security specialist.

The best part: I sort out each safe by use, user opinion, and after deep research. As a result, whether you’re trying for a budget gun safe or the quality one, you’ll find it here.

The selected options are good affordable gun safes, though I have included some good cheap gun safes for your convenience. Let’s review each of the selected options.

1. Best Overall Gun Safe Under 300: Stack-On GCB-18C Steel

Stack-On GCB-18C Steel 18-Gun Convertible Steel Security Cabinet, Black
 
 

This one is a spacious cabin designed for guns, rifles, revolvers, and other firearms. The gun safe comes with a spacious interior. It is capable of holding nine long guns and multiple small pistols and revolvers.

It features convertible shelves. Its convertible shelves are not fixed, and you can adjust the space between the shelves to accommodate smaller or larger guns as per your convenience.

Safe features four half-widths and one full-width removable shelf for you to adjust to suit your needs.

All shelves are padded and provide a safe environment for your guns. A lining of foam on shelves prevents the guns from damage. The guns are expensive, and hard shelves can damage their shiny exterior with their scratches.

A cabin inside the safe is partitioned from the center which divides the space into two sections. One part can be used for storing rifles, and the other with shelves can accommodate your revolvers or other valuables.

The gun safe is made with high-quality welded steel. The welded steel construction gave it strength and made it pry-resistant.

The stacked piano hinges made steel made safe, more secure. The safe features a durable baked epoxy finish that gives it a nice look. It protects the steel inside from rusting as well.

The cabin has a flush mount bottom that offers easier fastening. It comes with pre-drilled holes. These pre-drilled holes can be used for anchoring the safe securely to the walls.

Overall, it’s a sturdy option, and you can consider it one of the best gun safes under $300. The California Department approves it of Justice.

Product Specs:

  • Weight: 75 Pounds
  • Dimensions: 18 x 21 x 55 inches
  • Lock: Double-Bitted Key Lock
  • Material: Alloy Steel
  • Mounting Type: Floor Mount
  • Style: Adjustable,Cylinder,Box
  • Number of Drawers: 1

Good Sides:

  • High-quality build
  • Welded steel construction
  • Convertible shelves
  • Partition in the middle
  • Secure locking mechanism
  • Comply with all TSE recommendations

Bad Sides:

  • Too bulky

 

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2. Best Biometric Fingerprint Safe Under 300: Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe

Best Biometric Fingerprint Safe Under 300/ Barska Quick Access Biometric Rifle Safe
 
 

Barska Rifle Safe is a secure option to keep your firearms secure. It comes with a biometric system that is difficult to bypass. It’s easy to open the safe, and in case of an emergency, it takes only 2.5 seconds to open the safe.

The rifle safe has a solid steel construction. It is made with 14 gauge of steel. High-quality steel construction is reinforced with deadbolts. It creates a three-point locking mechanism that resists prying or force-opening.

Barska safe features a high-quality fingerprint module that can save up to 120 fingerprints. It allows as many users to open the safe easily as you like. You can use it in organizations as well.

4 AA batteries power the biometric system. The long-lasting battery system keeps working for almost a year, and you don’t need to replace the batteries.

You can open the safe through its electronic key system in times of power shortage. You can also use a backup battery system to open the safe.

Braska safe features a proven value. It determines the high-quality biometric system. The fingerprint and biometric system has gone through rigorous testing and is protected from burglary.

The gun-safe features pre-drilled holes and concrete mounting hardware for anchoring it to the walls. You can mount the rifle safely to the walls securely.

Overall, it’s a secure rifle safe system that comes with security and convenience. It opens easily, and with multiple fingerprint authorization, you can allow multiple users to open it.

Product Specs:

  • Weight: 62 lbs
  • Dimensions: ‎9.7 x 52.17 x 8.66 inches
  • Lock: Biometric and Electronic Lock
  • Material: Aluminum
  • Style: 4-Position
  • Alarm: Lock

Good Sides:

  • Secure and sturdy build
  • 12 gauge steel construction
  • Easy to open
  • Features biometric lock
  • Fingerprint module allows you to save more users Made for rifles

Bad Sides:

  • Lousy customer service

 

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3. Best Safe for Long Guns Under $300: Best Steel Electronic Storage Safe

Best Choice Products Steel Electronic Storage Rifle Gun Safe for Firearms, Valuables, Anti-Theft w/Digital Keypad, 2 Compartment Keys, 2 Override Keys, Sleeve Anchors, Padded Interior - Black
 
 

Next, I have Best Choice Products that provide maximum security to your guns. Its sleek and stylish design keeps your firearms secure and protected from theft and unauthorized use.

Best Choice safe comes with two types of locking systems to keep your guns safe. It features a digital keypad so you can store your passcode.

Those who want to rely on a mechanical lock are also covered. You can use a mechanical lock and open it with keys. So locking and unlocking depends on your personal preference and ease.

The safe is made secure with high-quality steel. Its tough solid steel construction is anchored with bolts. The steel anchors allow you to anchor the safe with the walls.

It’s a rifle safe that is spacious enough to accommodate five rifles. The Interior has space to fit several valuables. It is lined with foam.

Its padded shelves prevent any scratches and damage to your expensive arms. It has separate sections for storing valuables, cash, and other essential things.

The storage safe comes as a very compact option; you can store it inside a gun cabinet due to its sleek design. That makes your guns and revolvers safer and out of sight.

Overall, it’s an excellent option for looking for a compact gun safe for under $300.

Product Specs:

  • Weight: 99.2 Pounds
  • Dimensions:13.75 x 11.25 x 57.25 inches
  • Lock: Digital Keypad
  • Alarm: Anti-theft
  • Chamber Width: 13.5 Inches
  • Material: Alloy Steel

Good Sides:

  • Safe and secure build
  • Digital keypad
  • Spacious interior can accommodate five rifles
  • Padded interior
  • Extra space for revolver or valuables

Bad Sides:

  • Does not feature a biometric lock

 

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5. Best Burglary Safe Under 300: Stack-On GCB-910 Steel Security Cabinet

Gun Compact Steel Security Cabinet/Best Burglary Safe Under 300

Stack-On is a spacious rifle gun safe that can accommodate up to ten rifles conveniently. It can accommodate rifles or shotguns that are 52″ tall.

It can be considered the best cheap gun cabinet on the market. Its spacious interior allows you to store multiple things besides guns and revolvers.

It has a separate shelf on the top of the gun cabinet where you can store your documents and cash.

The shelf is positioned in the rear part of the security cabinet so that the longer guns can be stored in the front of the safe.

The gun safe is made of high-quality steel material. Steel is powder-coated, which gives it durability and prevents it from rusting.

The interior has molded barrel rests. With scooped rifle standoff, you to set the guns in a safe easily.

Stack-on safe has a padded bottom. The bottom rest, where the rifles touch the base, is lined with foam. It protects the rifles from scratches.

Overall, it’s a great option for those who have up to ten rifles and want to store them all safely, along with the other valuables. Considering its space, I can call it one of the best cheap gun safes on the market.

Product Specs:

  • Weight: 61lb
  • Dimensions: ‎17 x 13.5 x 53 inches
  • Lock: 3-Point locking system
  • Material: Alloy Steel
  • Special Feature: Impact Resistant
  • Mounting Type‎: Floor Mount
  • Style: ‎Double,Box,Compact
  • Number of Drawers: 10

Good Sides:

  • 3 point locking system
  • Reinforced steel construction
  • Easy to open
  • Spacious interior
  • Molded rifle rests
  • Separate shelf for valuables

Bad Sides:

  • Good for those who possess up to ten rifles

 

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5. GunVault MiniVault Quick Access Compact Gun Safe

Quick Access Compact Gun Safe

 
 

This is a perfect safe for someone who wants to keep their guns for instant use when the need arises. This safe comes with a digital keypad that is even visible in no-light offices, homes, stores, and restaurants. Red LED light illuminates the contents in the safe, to guide in no light situation.

GunVault Quick Access Safe comes with a rack for 4 rifles together. Along with that, a 20% quicker auto slide-out cabinet permits brisk access to guns once the MultiVault is opened. Passing the security key, the slider of the safe spring opens, and the padded drawers slide out.

The safe is a California DOJ Approved Firearm Device. Accompanied by modern design and utility features. It comes with a 5-year warranty to give you a long-lasting experience of the appliance.

Product Specs:

  • Weight: 1 Kilograms
  • Dimensions: 5.48 x 8.3 x 12 inches
  • Lock: Electronic
  • Material: ‎Plastic, Metal
  • Alarm: Audible
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Warranty: 5 year limited warranty

Good Sides:

  • Easy to set up and open
  • Great value for money
  • Quality small gun safe
  • Lock works perfectly
  • Great for 2 small pistols

Bad Sides:

  • Nothing but have a small battery issue
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6. Best Car Gun Safe Under $300: Vaultek Gun Safe

VAULTEK Essential Series Quick Access Portable Safe Auto Open Lid Quick-release Security Cable Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery (VE10 (Sub-Compact Safe))

 

Those looking for a high-quality portable safe for their pistol and other valuables may want to give serious consideration to this Vaultek Gun Safe. It has all the makings of the best car gun safe. For starters, the safe features a slim design, making it ideal for small spaces.
 
In addition to that, its backlit keypad allows you quick access to your valuables, even in the dark. You can choose from over 4,000 combinations, meaning any unauthorized person can’t ever guess the password. Nor can he run away with the gun safe, as it comes with a strong cable.
 

As far as opening the safe forcefully is concerned, well, that’s as hard a job as any, since the safe is made of carbon steel, which, while light, is very sturdy and durable.

The gun safe is very light, meaning you can easily carry it around. And the best part is that its lithium-ion battery can run up to a month on a single recharge. That’s simply awesome any way you cut it.

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7. Best Rated Gun Safe: Stack-On Pistol/Ammo Cabinet

 

Best Pistol/Ammo Cabinet

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Research shows this is one of the best models in the Stack-On cabinet series, as pointed out by more than one online best affordable fireproof gun safe review.

Sturdy and Spacious, this Stack-On cabinet has pretty much everything you want in a pistol and ammo cabinet. You can store ammo, pistols, and your valuables. It has an advanced locking system that keeps your stuff out of harm’s way.

Also, this model boasts a key-coded, double-bitted lock, which makes an illegal entry very difficult. You can rest assured knowing no unwanted hands will get a chance to steal away your prized possessions.

As far as the interior is concerned, this model features two shelves, both of which are removable. This means you can easily stash away items of various sizes.

The safe has a padded bottom to keep your valuables scratch-free. Last but not the least, this cabinet comes with pre-drilled mounting holes. This means you can easily install it on the floor, wall, or ceiling.

8. Best Affordable Hand Gun Safe: Stealth Best Handgun Safe

Best Electronic Pistol Security Box

Check Price On Amazon
 

Looking for an affordable gun safe that doesn’t compromise even a wee bit on quality? You may want to keep this gun safe at the top of your shortlist. It has much going for it.

For instance, its solid, sturdy built and advanced electronic locking mechanism ensures that your firearms remain safe from prying eyes.

Plus, its size is just about perfect for an amateur handgun collector. At the same time, its price tag promises good value for money.

This gun safe has ample space to store 5 handguns. Moreover, its high-density foam interior makes sure that your handguns remain scratch-free.

Another promising point is its advanced electronic system, which gives easy access to you but prevents others from breaking in.

Practical Buying Guide of a Gun Safe under $300

Best Gun Safe under $300

Here I have enlisted some considerations that will help you choose the best gun safe under 300 dollars.

Size

The most important factor to consider is the size of the gun safe. Gun safes come in a variety of sizes, so you will need to choose one that is spacious enough to accommodate all of your guns.

If you have a large collection of guns, you may want to consider a gun safe that is larger in size. However, if you only have a few guns, you can probably get by with a smaller gun safe.

When it comes to budget, gun safes under $300 can vary greatly in terms of quality but you do not need to consider the size. Nowadays you can find small to full-sized gun safes at an affordable prices. So choose the large or small gun safe according to your needs. 

Size of Guns

If you have rifles, you can’t accommodate them in a smaller gun safe. Rifle gun safes are longer than normal safes and allow you to keep your rifles in verticle shapes.

Then you may have a rifle and several other revolvers as well. So make sure the rifle gun or any other gun comes with separate sections and is partitioned into different sections so you can store all valuables, including cash, document, jewelry, and other important stuff inside.

The size of the gun safe can affect the price of the safe as well. The larger and bulkier a gun safe is, the more expensive it is going to be.

And accommodating it is also not very easy. So make sure you determine your needs first and then choose the size of your gun safe.

Design

The design of a gun safe also matters. If you choose a vertical design, it should have shelves on the side to accommodate other belongings.

You can look for adjustable shelves so you can adjust the width and height in between depending on the stuff you want to store inside. Convertible shelves allow you to keep your essentials well-managed in one safe.

Material Quality And Thickness

Steel is used to make these secure and protective safes. But even in steel, I have different grades and types.

The welded steel is used as the material of these gun safes. They have divided the quality into several gauges.

The gauges reflect the thickness and quality of the steel. Anything near 10-14 is considered a good number in terms of quality and durability. Ten being the highest quality gauge. Even 12-16 gauges are good to use.

They are light and may not be as thick and heavy as the thick steel. High-quality gauge solid steel is durable enough and resists prying.

Build Quality

Even a high-quality steel build is not foolproof protective and needs reinforced hinges and bolts. The bolts and hinges render it more protection and security, especially from the front door.

Make sure the door is protected with a thick bolt that even an oxyacetylene torch can’t melt.

Besides the hinges and bolt, you can look for multiple layers of solid steel that are equally secure and offer a pry-resistant safe structure.

Locking Mechanism

Safes should have a secure locking system to keep the guns and other valuables safe. You need to pay extra attention to the locks in a safe. Different types of locks are used in safes and lockers. Each one has some advantages.

The best part of this lock is that it is a traditional lock and very secure. However, it is not fool-proof protection. The mechanical lock is opened with keys.

Ensure you have a master key, so if you lost keys, you might have a backup key plan for opening the safe. An advantage of this lock type is that it does not require any batteries.

An electronic keypad is a digital lock system that requires battery power. It allows you to set a digital code or passcode that you have to enter in its digital pad each time you open the lock.

A biometric lock is the most efficient and secure lock. The safe cannot open unless you touch its biometric keypad. It recognizes your fingerprint and opens it immediately.

The lock needs a battery-powered keypad, so you have to be careful of its battery. Also, it can be a problem if you want to allow several people to access your firearms.

The high-quality gun safes come with a biometric-safe modular that can save several fingerprints at a time. In this type of lock, a group of authorized people can access the guns conveniently.

Padded Interior

Guns and rifles are expensive weapons and cost you much. To prevent damage, make sure the gun safe’s interior is lined with a foam layer. The padded lining keeps your things safe and prevents any damage to your valuables.

Warranty

When you choose something as important and expensive as a gun safe, you should look for the option of offering a warranty. Make sure you check the warranty if it is limited to certain features or covers everything.

TSA Guidelines

Even licensed weapons need to be kept secure so that there is no chance of accident or misuse.

Almost all states have their clear recommendations regarding gun safes, but you should look particularly at your own state rules and make sure the gun you choose not only meets but exceeds all security options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are budget gun safes fireproof?

While budget gun safes may not offer the same level of protection from fire as more expensive safes, they can still offer some protection. If you are concerned about fire protection, be sure to check the features and construction of the safe before you purchase it.

Look for safes that are made with fireresistant materials and have fireprotection features such as fireresistant lining and fireresistant seals.

Are cheap gun safes (under $300) worth it?

The price is not always indicative of their quality when it comes to gun safes. In fact, there are some surprisingly affordable models that are just as reliable as more expensive options.

If you’re looking for a safe that can hold a large number of firearms, then you may want to invest in a model that is priced higher than $300. However, if all you need is something cheap and small enough to fit in your closet or under your bed, then any safe under $300 should be good enough.

By reading customer reviews before making your purchase, you can get an idea of what features are included and whether or not they’ve experienced problems with the safe’s functionality.

Additionally, make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully so that you understand how best to secure your guns inside (or outside) of the safe. Ultimately, if cost is no issue and security is important factor for you, then anything under $300 will likely suffice!

How much should I spend on a gun safe?

It is important to remember that the amount you spend on your gun safe is a personal decision. It depends on many factors, such as the type and size of gun safe you need, the level of security you require, and your budget.

A good rule of thumb is to spend at least 10% of the value of your firearms on the safe. For example, if your firearms are worth $5,000, you should spend at least $500 on a gun safe.

If you have a large number of firearms, or if you need a high level of security, you may need to spend more. Some gun safes can cost several thousand dollars, so it is important to do your research and find the safe that best meets your needs.

What is Security Safe, and how are they different from fire-resistant safes?

Safety safes are designed to prevent theft, burglary, and unauthorized use of weapons and other valuables.  A fire-resistant safe protects the essentials in case of a fire breakout.

The fire-resistant safes prevent any damage to the things inside the safe in case of a fire explosion. The security safe avoids any pry opening.

Why is dehumidification inside the gun safe important?

The gun safes are made of metal. Metal can be prone to rust with time. Especially if you have been living in a humid environment, the amount of moisture in the air can lead to humidity inside the safe.

This humidity can cause your rifle, guns, revolvers, and other metal-made weapons to rust. Rusting can ruin your guns, so you need to protect them from moisture even inside the gun safe.

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our roundup of the best gun safes for under $300! If you’re looking for a high-quality gun safe that won’t break the bank, any of the safes on our list would be a great choice.

No matter which guns safe you choose, you can rest assured knowing that your firearms will be stored safely and securely.

Be sure to compare the features and benefits of each option before making your final decision, as this will help you find the best gun safe for your needs.

Lastly, I do not recommend going for cheap gun safes. If you have a very tight budget, I suggest you to increase your budget for a better investment to protect and secure your firearm.

Hi, my name is Robert Blair. I’m the chief editor of Best Safes Ever. Again I'm a home and gun safe expert in New Jersey. I worked under champion safecracker Jeff Sitar for many years and learned practically a lot about safes and how to crack them. I am still examining and researching daily different kinds of safes to help our clients as a physical security specialist.