Best Home Safes of 2019

A safe can make it tough for thieves to run off with your most important items. According to the Bureau of Justice, burglary remains a pervasive problem—in 2011 alone, there were 3.4 million reported burglaries.1 But, this doesn’t mean you have to transform your house into Fort Knox: simply outfit your home with the proper security measures and a safe.

Top 5 Home Safes

1. First Alert 2092F Waterproof and Fire-Resistant Combination Home Safe | Read Review
2. Amsec UL1511 Fire Safe | Read Review
3. SentrySafe Fire Safe | Read Review
4. Verifi Smart.Safe. Fast Access Biometric Home Safe | Read Review
5. Barska Mini Biometric Home Safe | Read Review

Compare the Best Home Safes

*Amazon.com prices as of 10/31/19 02:26 pm MST.

#2. Amsec UL1511 Fire Safe

When it comes to fire-resistant safes, the Amsec UL1511 is a burly yet moderately sized safe that provides reliable, tamper-proof protection. At 185 pounds, the sheer weight of this safe means that it’s mega-tough for thieves to steal. And this safe has been tested to withstand up to 1,850° Fahrenheit for two hours. Plus, its heavy-duty, recessed door is pry-resistant and tamper-proof. If you’re concerned about crafty burglars, this safe can be anchored to the floor for an added element of security. But despite the safe’s heavy constitution, its measurements are a little on the small side: 18 x 17 x 21.5 inches.

Things to Consider in a Home Safe

If you do an internet search for “home safe,” you’re going to find a whole mess of options. Some are built specifically for guns, while others offer protection from fire, tampering, or water—and then there’s the lock type to consider while you’re at it. It can be overwhelming, but we’ve got you covered. To start, you’ll need to determine what type of safe is best for you: floor, wall, or bedside. Then assess for the lock type, protection features, size, and budget.

Types of Home Safes

Take into account where a safe would be best stored in your house. The type of safe—for a wall, floor, or bedside—will contribute to cost and overall effectiveness.

Wall
If you have a small floor plan and can make modifications to your home, a wall safe might be a solid option for you. Wall safes can be hidden behind doors or decorations without taking up floor space. If you do opt for a wall safe, make sure that it’s mounted correctly, between studs in the wall.

Floor
If you can’t or don’t want to make alterations to your home, a floor safe is a great alternative to putting a hole in your wall. These safes can often be bolted to the floor for enhanced defense against thieves, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit in your closet, spare room, or basement.

Bedside
Bedside safes, such as biometric gun safes, are more secure than simply keeping a weapon in your night stand. These safes ensure that your gun won’t end up in the wrong hands and they open quickly should you need your weapon.

Types of Locks

The type of locking mechanism and how it’s powered can impact price, access time, and functionality during a power outage. For example, a combination lock won’t open nearly as quickly as a biometric lock, so keep in mind what you’ll be using the safe for.

Power Source
A lock can run on batteries, Wi-Fi, or an AC adapter. Be sure to check for a low battery alert or backup key if you opt for a safe that requires a power source.

Backup Key
Regardless of what type of lock you have, a backup key is particularly helpful in the event of a dead battery, no power, or if you lose a set of keys.

Biometric Scanner
This is a highly secure lock. It scans and then reads your fingerprint, and it only opens if the print matches one within the fingerprint memory.

Electronic Key Pad
Thanks to its PIN-based authentication, an electronic key pad keeps your valuables secure yet easy for you to access.

Combination
A combination lock is as basic as it gets: simply turn the dial to your combination passcode and voilà. And its’ battery-free, so you can always count on it to function. But it does require periodic maintenance. To prevent the lock from seizing, it must be taken apart, cleaned, and lubricated. Your local safe technician or locksmith can tell you more about service costs and specifics.

Types of Protection

Before you make your purchase, consider what kind of protection you want. Do you want defense against fire, water, or tampering?

Fire-Resistant
This kind of safe protects the contents from high temperatures or actual fire. Some manufacturers will specify what the safe’s maximum internal temperature is; others will not.

Water-Resistant
If you live in an area that floods frequently, you may want to buy a safe that floats and is water-resistant.

Tamper-Proof
Unless specified otherwise, safes are built to withstand a certain amount of tampering, meaning they can endure impact or other kinds of force.

Size

The size of your safe will affect where it’s stored, the type of contents it can hold, and the price tag. Tip: be on the lookout for varied forms of measurement—some size measurements will be broken down by inches or cubic footage.

Portability
While a lightweight safe is likely to be affordable and ideal for renters, it’ll also be easy for a burglar to carry out the door.

Type of Contents
Consider what kind of items you want to store in the safe. The size of the contents will determine how big or small your safe is.

Budget
The lock style, size, and type of protection that’s best for your lifestyle will dictate how much money you spend.

Proper Safe-Keeping Etiquette

How to make the most of your new safe and keep it out of the wrong hands.

Always Keep Your Safe Locked

Regardless of what you’re storing in your safe, be it a gun or precious heirlooms, you should keep your safe locked at all times. You never know when you’ll forget to rearm your safe or who will be snooping around the house (e.g., a burglar or nosy kids), so be proactive and keep the safe locked.

Don’t Make Your Passcode Easy to Find

As tempting as it might be to keep the passcode or backup key in an easy-to-remember spot, you should refrain from doing just that. You never know who could find that extra set of keys or passcode.

Don’t Showboat the Location

Take precautions as you would with any expensive product: don’t advertise or compromise the safe’s location.

Bolt and Conceal Your Safe

When it comes to your peace of mind, it’s always worth it to go the extra mile and keep your safe bolted

to the floor or secured properly on the wall.

Home Safe Extras

Here are some more tools to help round out your home safe setup.

More Resources to Bolster Home Security

• Best Gun Safes
• Identity Theft Protection Services Buyers Guide
• Home Security Camera Buyers Guide
• Portable Home Generators Buyers Guide
• How to Tell If Your Locks Have Been Tampered With

Sources:

1. Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Financial Loss Due to Household Burglary Increased from 1994 to 2011”

*Amazon.com list price as of mm/dd/77 hh:mm MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of this date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any prices and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

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