Most Popular Home Safes Reviews and Buying Guide

Did you know that there are around 2.5 million burglaries in the US per year? The fire figures are even more alarming. According to NFPA, the fire departments in the country responded to over 1.3 million fires in 2018. Tragedy never informs in advance, so you have to take precautionary steps.

Home safes will provide maximum security for your most valuable possessions and are essential in today’s world. These safes protect your precious objects from theft, damage, or loss.

Can you imagine if disaster struck, and you lost all your important documents and treasures that you worked so hard to acquire or inherit? The devastation and feeling of doom would be immense.

Although things are just things and are replaceable, the headache that comes with doing that is not worth it. After all, prevention is always better than cure.

Most people want to protect their valuables. What is valuable to me may not be valuable to you, but the one thing we have in common is that we want to lock them away.

We live in a less than ideal world and so many things can go wrong. We like to have that peace of mind whether we’re at home or not, that our stuff is secure in the home safe that we chose.

Regardless of your needs, the market has a home safe for you. Home safes come in all different shapes and sizes, so to make certain you are getting the best, pay attention.

Things like passports, birth certificates, jewelry, firearms, and cash should always be kept in a secure box.

The good thing is that home safes have gotten pretty advanced. Any burglar or criminal would have a pretty hard time getting to your valuables.

Some brands go out of their way to ensure the safes offer ease of operation, in addition to unrivaled security. These home safe reviews will help you pick the right model for your home.

10 Best Home Safes Hand-Picked for You

Right now, there’s a massive range of home safes on the market. You’re most likely to get confused while looking for the right home safe yourself.

Today I’m going to show you the best home safes. 

Indeed before writing this review I cracked, tested, and researched over 30 gun safes for my security consulting firm 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 home safe or the highest-quality one, you’ll find it here.

No matter what type of belongings you plan on storing in the safe, you can find an appropriate size that will easily fit in your home.

Let’s get started!

1. TigerKing Security Home Safe BGX-D1-58JJH

Features:

The TigerKing Security Home Safe is one of the best home safes, offering ample safe, reliable protection, and ease of use.

Made from high-quality steel, the walls and the door of the safe are quite thick. It would be impossible for a thief to penetrate this sturdy steel box.

TigerKing is a Chinese company that specializes in safes. They have been in this business for over two decades, making some of the most innovative and high-quality safes for home use.

They ship the products in thick packaging, so there is no damage in transit.

With six locking bolts present on three sides (one each on top and bottom, and four on the side), this digital safe locks quite well and prevents forced entry into the safe.

The size is enough to house cash, pistol, laptop, and jewelry inside. The 2.05 Cubic feet volume consists of a small inner lockable box as well as removable shelves for organization.

You can put small and delicate things like jewelry or watches in the small box inside the safe.

The whole interior is soft so that precious jewelry and other such items do not get damaged or scratched.

The digital lock is pretty reliable and can be overridden with an emergency key, should you forget the combination?

The master key provides extra protection and makes sure the digital lock is not left vulnerable.

The TigerKing anti-theft safe has a security alarm in place that activates if the wrong code is entered three times in a row or when a burglar shakes it violently.

The alarm only stops once you enter the correct code. So even when you’re not home, your neighbors or security can hear the sound and notify the police.

2. TigerKing Digital Security Safe Box BGX-D1-43JJD

Features:

If you think home safes cannot be aesthetically pleasing, you should check out this model from TigerKing.

This digital safe box can easily complement the decor of your room or closet with its clean design and elegant beige color. You can opt for 1.4 or 2.05 Cubic feet volume, whatever covers your needs.

The highlight of this safe box is its digital touch screen lock. You can effortlessly enter the code and change it as many times as you like.

You can also program two separate codes for this digital lock. The digital lock can be overridden manually.

Also, you can use the emergency master key to get in when you forget the code.

The door is quite thick (2.8 inches) and features four one-inch live-locking bolts. Equipped with an alarm, the safe makes a beeping sound for 60 seconds if you enter the wrong code three times consecutively or try to break in.

The interior of the safe is quite soft, so you can place intricate stuff like jewelry, watches, and precious stones inside without worrying about scratches.

The two removable shelves inside make it possible to put more stuff. You can even place a laptop that’s up to 13.3 inches big.

The exterior of the safe is pretty high-quality, just like its locking system. The surface is rust-proof and scratch-resistant.

Coated with electrostatic powder, it will not lose its beautiful color anytime soon.

3. TigerKing Digital Security Safe Box BGX-5/D1-30XH-1

Features:

The TigerKing Digital Security Safe Box BGX-5/D1-30XH-1 comes in 0.8 cubic feet and 1.5 cubic feet sizes.

This is the best personal safe given its compact size, smart use of space, and beautifully built.

The digital lock on the safe takes in code that’s up to eight digits in length. When you enter the code, it does not show on the screen.

As is typical with most TigerKing homes safes, you can get in the safe using digital code and a master key.

Alternatively, you can use an emergency key to bypass the numeric code. The door of this particular model is extraordinarily thick and features two one-inch locking bolts.

The digital lock can keep up to 35 safe opening records, so you know when it was accessed.

The digital screen features a low battery indicator. As soon as the batteries need replacement, the screen will display LO-BATT text. Also, the reset button is located in the battery housing.

As for the space inside the safe, you can put quite a lot of stuff even though it’s not very big.

You can remove the shelf to place larger objects like a laptop or camera. With a built-in LED light inside, you can access the safe even when it’s dark.

With a soft inner layer and alarm system, this safe provides all the functions you could ask for at a reasonable price.

The company has made its design simple yet aesthetically pleasing, using rose gold paint on the exterior. It should go well with most of your furniture and decor in the home.

4. AmazonBasics Home Keypad Safe

Features:

AmazonBasics Home Keypad Safe is an affordable but reliable house safe you can use to keep your valuables.

The volume of the safe is 1.80 cubic feet, but it also comes in smaller sizes of 1.52 and 1.2 cubic feet.

A rather simple looking safe, it features a programmable keypad. You also have an emergency backup key in addition to this digital lock.

The safe has two bolting locks located at the centre on the side. The other side of the heavy door features concealed hinges that are pry-resistant. As a result, it offers heightened security.

The good thing is that it has pre-drilled holes on the back as well as the bottom. You can mount it anywhere you like in your home.

Made from heavy-duty carbon steel, this safe is quite sturdy. The door is made of 8-gauge steel, whereas the body is made of 14-gauge steel.

Weighing 40.8 pounds, it’s not as heavy as some of the other safes from other brands in the same size. The shelf is removable, so you can use it if and when you need to.

Without the shelf, you could house larger objects as well. However, the height of the shelf is not adjustable, so it only places where it’s supposed to, which is in the middle.

5. SentrySafe SFW205GQC Safe – Best Fireproof and Waterproof Safe for Home

Features:

This model from Sentry Safe is highly reliable, as it’s both fireproof and waterproof. It can withstand 1700 degrees of heat for up to an hour, making sure the contents of the safe remain unharmed.

Not just that, it can also endure a 15 feet fall, so it’s pretty sturdy.

This ETL verified safe can stay submerged underwater for 24 hours, in water as deep as eight inches.

In case of a flood, your important documents will remain dry and protected in this safe. The digital keypad can be set using the secondary locking key.

The safe’s interior is very well-designed, giving you the best possible use of the space.

As for the size of the safe, the highest volume it offers is 2.05 cubic feet. You can also go for smaller sizes if this is too big for you.

Made from stainless steel, the safe has pry-resistant hinges and six live-locking bolts. The inside also has a locking drawer and a light.

The bolting hardware also comes with a safe for easy and quick installation. The digital keypad requires six AA batteries.

The best feature of the keypad, however, is that it’s backlit. So when you’re using it in the dark, you can easily open the safe.

The file organizer is another great touch that makes an organization pretty easy.

6. SentrySafe HD4100 Safe

Features: 

The SentrySafe HD4100 is a small and portable safe that uses a key lock. It’s primarily designed for keeping documents like important files, birth certificates, passports, etc.

You can put in letter-size documents and organize them inside the safe.

SentrySafe is a trusted name in the world of safes. The company is associated with Master Lock LLC and supplies fire-resistant safes for homes and businesses across the globe. Quality is a given in almost all of their product lines.

The capacity of the safe is 0.65 cubic feet, which should be enough to house all your essential documents. The safe is both fireproof and waterproof, which makes it highly durable.

This is UL classified to withstand 30 minutes at 1550 degrees of heat. As for its waterproofness, it can stay submerged in water for up to 72 hours.

The flat key lock will not open in case there’s a fire. You get two keys that you can manually use to open the safe.

As it’s a small safe for keeping documents in-home or office, there’s not much else going on. Since there are no features like bolt locks or alarms, this safe is quite affordable.

If you’re looking for a safe just for keeping important documents, this should be your choice.

7. Homegear Small Electronic Safe

Features:

• Lock: Electronic, Key
• Material: Alloy Steel
• Weight: 7.7 lbs
• Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.69 x 6.69

This 0.23 cubic feet capacity electronic safe is perfect for keeping a gun or cash safe inside the house. The small safe has very tough construction.

Made of heavy-duty steel, the door of the safe is three millimeters thick while the body is 1.5 millimeters thick.

You can use the digital key or manual keys to open the safe. The digital key can be programmed easily.

Weighing just 7.7 pounds, the safe is incredibly lightweight and easy to move. You can bolt it to a wall or floor if you do not want to keep it unbolted.

If you enter the wrong code thrice, it times out for five minutes. This makes it extra secure as no burglar would be able to get to your gun or other important stuff you may have in the safe.

The same safe comes in a larger 1.8 cubic feet capacity as well.

Type Of Home Safes

Before going into the features of the home safes, let’s go through the different types of home safes available:

Floor-Mounted Safes

These safes have mounting bolts at the bottom and are mounted on the floor. Usually, floor-mounted safes offer better protection against fire, provided they are bolted on a concrete floor.

However, some may have fire retardant materials and offer better protection against fires.

Wall-Mounted Safes

The safes that are mounted on the walls provide better safety, especially for kids who may mess with the buttons in the keypad.

These safes are also the most inconspicuous, as you can hide them behind frames and wall hangings.

Portable Safes

These are smaller safes that do not weigh a lot, hence, highly portable. If you move a lot, this type of safe can come in very handy.

Also, some of these features tethering cable or a handle to further secure the safe.

Key Features

No matter what type of safe you choose, the most important features will remain the same. Here are some of the key features to keep in mind when looking for the best safe:

Size

The size will help you distinguish between safes as they come in a wide range of sizes. Now, there are several ways to measure the size of a home safe.

The literal dimensions of the safe can indicate its size. However, you also need to consider the size of the interior of the safe.

Because safes have thick walls, the size of the interior is usually smaller than the overall size of the exterior.

A better way to measure the size of a home safe is to look at its capacity, which is measured in cubic feet. The higher the capacity, the more stuff you can put in.

What you plan on keeping in the safe should help you decide on a size or capacity.

If you’re looking for a safe to put in large items like laptops, files, or cameras, you will need a larger safe.

If you just want to keep some cash, a firearm, or passports in the safe, something smaller than 1.0 cubic feet might do it too.

Aside from the contents, you’ll be storing, where you plan on mounting the safe should also be considered before deciding on the safe’s size.

Make sure you measure the space before buying the safe to ensure you get the right size.

Locking Mechanism

This is probably the most important feature for a safe. Home safes now lock very differently.

Back in the day, it used to be a simple lock that you opened with a key. Today, we have digital locks, manual key locks, magnetic locks, fingerprint locks, etc.

Some high-end safes offer a biometric locking system, where only you can unlock the safe using your finger.

Some safes offer dual locking systems. This type of locking system requires a code as well as a key to unlock.

Some digital keypads can be set up to have different codes, so each family member has a specific code. It’s up to you which type of locking system you prefer the most.

The only thing you want to make sure that there should be a backup key or another unlocking system.

Without a backup unlocking option, you can get locked out of the safe. We humans can easily forget codes or lose keys, so with a backup option, you will always have access to your stuff inside the safe.

Also, the batteries of digital keypads can die, so a backup key is a must.

Construction

The safe has to be well built and sturdy, that’s a given. Most safes are made of steel, as it’s one of the most durable materials.

However, you still want to ensure that the safe offers the kind of protection you want.

Some home safes have fireproof bodies as well. Most people buy safes to keep important documents and valuables safe in case of a fire.

If you live in a region with seasonal wildfires, having a fireproof safe is a must.

Similarly, you also want the safe to be waterproof. If there’s a flood in your area and water enters your home, the safe will keep the water out and keep all the contents inside dry.

Safes that are fireproof and waterproof are way sturdier than those that do not have these properties.

If you just want a safe that provides protection from burglars, you can go for a regular safe that’s not necessarily fireproof or waterproof.

However, make sure they have some kind of protective layer to protect the safe from rusting.

Other Things to Consider

Aside from the main things like the locking system and construction, there are few other things to consider to get the best home safes.

Installation

Unless you’re buying a portable safe, you will most likely be mounting the safe to a wall or the floor. Make sure that the safe you choose has pre-drilled holes for where you want to mount it.

If the safe does not have holes drilled already, you will have to get them drilled by a professional, which is another expense.

The hardware to mount the safe to the wall or floor should ideally come with the safe. That would make your life much easier as you will have exactly the right hardware to fix the safe in.

 Alarm

Some high-end home safes also feature security alarms. If someone tries to break into the safe or consecutively enter a wrong code, the alarm rings.

This is a nice addition that increases security. However, you can do without it if you don’t have a big budget.

Interior

Although not necessary, it would be useful if the interior of the safe has some kind of padding or soft layering.

If you plan on keeping jewelry or watches, it would make sure that your valuable stuff does not get any scratches.

If the safe is big, it should ideally have a shelf so you can put more stuff. Some safes even have organized drawers or baskets that add a nice touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Should I Keep The Safe?

This is a commonly asked question when it comes to safes, because every home is different. Where you install the safe can significantly improve its function.

Just because it’s locked and protected does not mean you can just keep it out in the open.

The truth is, there’s no foolproof location inside your home to install a safe. However, you can try putting it in a place that offers maximum security and conceals it.

If your primary purpose is to save your stuff from burglars, you can choose a wall-mounted safe that gets hidden behind mirrors or paintings.

You can also house it in a closet or a cabinet that effortlessly blends in with the safe. If you have a multiple-story house, place the safe on the ground floor.

If you want to provide maximum protection from fire, choose a location that’s near sprinklers, provided you have those in your home.

Installing it in the corner where it touches the walls can also provide protection against fire.

Similarly, install the safe above ground so that the water does not reach the safe if the house ever gets flooded.

You can create a concrete or steel base to mount the safe on so that it stays above ground.

The two places in your home you want to avoid keeping the safe in are the master bedroom and the garage.

Most people put the safe in their master bedrooms, so it’s usually the first place burglars go into.

On the other hand, your garage is not as secure as other parts of your home. It’s also very humid so it can damage the steel safe.

What Is The Fire Rating For Fireproof Home Safes?

When buying a home safe, if the safe is fireproof, you want to look for a fireproof rating to ensure it really is fireproof.

Usually, you will see the UL (Underwriters Laboratory) rating for fireproof home safes. This rating tells you how long the safe can withstand fire and what temperatures.

Ideally, you would want a safe that can withstand fire for at least an hour. This is because, in the unfortunate scenario of a fire, it can take a lot of time for firefighters to extinguish the fire.

If it has a UL rating of one hour, you know your safe has some chance of survival.

Home safes that do not have the UL rating may not be fireproof even if the company claims they are. So this is something you should keep an eye out for when buying a safe.

If you live in a dry region where wildfires are common, then a fireproof safe is a must for your home.

Even if you do not live in such a region, having a fireproof safe can safeguard your valuable things in case of a fire.

Should I Anchor My Safe To A Wall Or Floor?

Yes, a house safe should be bolted to a wall or floor. This is why the best safes for home, except those small portable ones, come with mounting holes in the back or bottom of the safe.

The idea behind mounting the safe on to a wall or floor is to increase protection.

If a burglar enters your home and the safe is not anchored, they can just remove it from home.

That way, they will have more time and can use tools to break into the safe. It’s a burglar’s dream come true if the safe is not properly anchored.

When the safe is mounted on a wall, you can also hide it. It will become difficult for the burglar to find the safe, let alone break into it.

So whenever you’re buying a safe for your home, make sure that it can be mounted to a wall or the floor.

With pre-drilled holes and hardware included with the safe, it should not be a hassle for you to install it yourself.

If you want an even better job done or the safe is too heavy, you can hire professional help to install the safe for you.

What Can I Put In A Safe?

You can essentially put anything in the safe as long as it fits inside. Your most important possessions can be safely housed in the safe.

This may include jewelry, luxury watches, passports, birth certificate, home deeds, etc.

You also keep cash in the safe if you’re one of those people who likes to have some disposable cash in their home at all times.

If you have expensive electronics or a laptop with sensitive information, you can keep those in a safe too.

Safes are also used to house dangerous valuables to protect them from kids. You can keep a firearm or chemicals away from the reach of kids in a home safe.

Is There Any Backup Key For Home Safes?

Most safes do come with a backup key for opening the safe. Even the ones with a digital lock keypad also have the option of overriding the digital code with a physical key.

Having a backup key or master key is important because there are many instances when you may need to use it.

Batteries that have a limited life power, most electronic locks. If the battery dies, the electronic lock will not function, so you can’t use it to enter the safe.

In such a case, you will need to use a manual key to open the safe and access the contents inside it.

If you forget the digital code of the safe, the backup key can be used to set up a new code and use the safe. So always make sure the safe you’re getting for your home has a backup key.

If you end up losing the backup key, you can contact the manufacturer to have another set sent to you.

Some manufacturers provide this service so that you do not have to call in a locksmith to break into the safe and render it useless.

How Much Should A Good Home Safe Weigh?

The heavier, the better. Heavy safes won’t allow anyone to move the safe without struggling. Hopefully, they’ll just figure it isn’t worth the trouble and just leave without it.

You see, if your safe can move around easily, a burglar can take it out of your home and to someplace where he has the time and tools to get in. If you do opt for a light safe, ensure that you bolt it or hide it well.

How Do I Know Which Locking Type Works Best?

Locking styles come a dime a dozen, but don’t get overwhelmed. Are you using your safe to keep firearms for protecting your family and yourself?

If yes, then you will want to get a biometric lock as this allows fast access to your weapon. On the other hand, electronic keypads and combination locks seem to be the go-to for many home safes.

They provide a high level of security since you’re the only one who knows the code.

Conclusion

The best home safes can give you the peace of mind you deserve. Knowing that your precious items and documents are safe and sound, you can easily go on vacations and leave your home empty. No burglar would be able to get into the safe, especially those that are hidden away.

Consider the safe as an investment in protecting the most valuable stuff you have. Spending this money today can save you from so much unprecedented trouble in the future.

If you want to ramp up the security of your home, you can also have a home security system in place with Wi-Fi-enabled cameras to monitor your home while you’re away.

I hope you are now able to better choose a home safe and if you are not, then, as usual, I will gladly help you out. Our number one pick would be the SentrySafe SFW123DEB.

It is an affordable option that is both water and fireproof for extra protection. This safe features a combination lock with a code that’s going to be hard to crack for burglars and a bypass key for emergencies.

Store almost anything you want inside with convenient pockets and racks coupled with a drawer that locks with its own key.

This solid steel safe is your best bet for protecting your assets and comes with 1-year manufacturers warranty.