The Best Safe
This Old House Reviews Team
Safes are used to keep valuables like personal documents and firearms out of unwanted hands. While all safes can lock away important belongings, some are specifically designed to withstand certain conditions or store particular possessions. To help you select the safe that’ll best suit your storage needs, the This Old House Reviews team searched for the best safe on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078K44SG4
AmazonBasics Home Keypad Safe
Pros
- Includes pre-drilled mounting holes
- Accessed through an electronic keypad or back-up key
Cons
- Isn’t fireproof or waterproof
- Some customers were unable to use the combination lock to open their safe
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TM45FRS
Awesafe Gun Safe
Pros
- Contains an interior LED light for added visibility
- Has a compact design for simple storage
- Provides enough storage space for a standard handgun and ammunition
Cons
- Only has enough room for one firearm
- Many customers had problems with the safe’s fingerprint reader
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KOO594O
SentrySafe Lock Box
Pros
- Withstands 72 hours of being submerged in water
- Has a tubular key lock that keeps the lid secure
- Protects against 1,550-degree heat for 30 minutes
Cons
- Only provides 0.28 cubic feet of space
- Many customers had their safe’s handle break off
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q9J4F83
TIGERKING Security Home Safe
Pros
- Equipped with an alarm that’s triggered after three incorrect keypad entries or a violent vibration
- Has a secondary lock for additional protection
- Contains an interior locking box for smaller, more personal items
Cons
- Weighs almost 60 pounds
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XTLXNJY
Vaultek LifePod Electronic Lock Box
Pros
- Its dual-compression latches seal the case shut, making it dustproof and water-resistant
- Weighs just two pounds
- Includes a fabric lanyard for easy transportation
Cons
- Its built-in locking system requires a nine-volt battery
- Many customers were able to break into the case
Buyer’s Guide
When purchasing a safe, it’s important to understand the factors that impact each product’s use. Here are three factors to consider before buying a safe.
1. Size
Safes come in all shapes and sizes, from small handgun boxes to large, in-home safes. Before purchasing a safe, consider the items that you want to secure. If you only have a few personal items, consider buying a small, weatherproof safe like the SentrySafe Lock Box. If you want to store larger items like handguns and jewelry, consider investing in a large model like the TIGERKING Security Home Safe.
2. Weatherproof
While items can be replaced, it’s nice to have a safe that can keep important documents protected under any circumstance. If you’re storing personal identification and other documents that are difficult to replace, select a safe that’s both fireproof and waterproof.
3. Entry
Some safes only open with a manual entry that requires a physical key to open the structure. Other safes, like the AmazonBasics Home Keypad Safe, have multiple options for entry, including an electric keypad or manual key.
FAQs
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Where should I hide a safe?
Safes should be stored out of sight. While it’s not always feasible to make a designated space for your safe, you can make space in a wall or under the floor to get it out of plain sight. If that’s not an option, keep your safe hidden in a closet or behind a large piece of furniture.
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Should I bolt down my safe?
If you’re able to, you should bolt down your safe to prevent thieves from carrying it off with them in the event of a burglary.
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Will paper money burn in a fireproof safe?
If your safe is fireproof, it can protect cash and other personal belongings from distortion and damage caused by a fire.
The This Old House Reviews team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the This Old House Reviews team.