Table of Contents
Keeping safes at home is a trend that has become popular over the years. These safes can hold our most valuable items which may include guns, jewelry, cash, and other assets. That being said, getting a good safe for an affordable price is a challenge as many safes have features that only come when you splurge. However, this article will help you find the best safe for the money. In addition to helping you find the best home safe, we will also list down factors you need to consider while buying one.
My Top 5 Recommendations
Sentry Safe CB-12 Cash Box
Our first recommendation to you is the Sentry Safe which comes with the additional money tray and key lock. It is available in the color black. The Sentry Safe CB-2 Cash Box guarantees reliable and durable security along with providing a solid steel exterior and a secure privacy key lock. A user-friendly handle makes it easily portable and a removable drawer will keep all your valuables organized. This diverse safe is an ideal home safe as well as a business safe.
Safe Features
This safe has dimensions which are 11.8-inch W x 3.7-inch H with interior 11.7-inch W x 9-inch D x 3.4-inch H. It has medium 0.21 cubic foot capacity. It weighs around 5 pounds. Due to the weight being less, it can be considered the perfect option for cash storage for farmer’s markets, garage sales, fundraisers, and more. The safe also features a key lock to keep the lid closed and the possessions inside the safe.
Yuanshikj Electronic Deluxe Digital Security Safe Box
This is another one of our top recommendations. The reason being that it has a strong and secure digital locking system. This electronic lockbox is fortified with an easy to program digital keypad which makes it very easy for the user to enter their security combination. However, if you forget your passcode, don’t fret as two emergency keys are included to make your access-gaining process easier. The Yuanshikj Safe Box is perfect for your home or office. You can store your jewelry, gun, or even cash in it.
Safe Features
The safe has a holding capacity of 0.2 cubic-feet with exterior being 9.1″ x 6.7″x 6.7″ and interior size of 6.5″ x 8.9″ x 4.3”. Despite being a tiny safe box, it is highly secured. These tiny safe walls are made of reinforced solid steel. In addition to these features, it also has security steel door locking bolts. These further ensure the security of your items. The safe also has a durable powder-coated finish to improve the appearance.
It also has a magnetic lock system for auto-locking. This security safe is also easy to install, as it comes with pre-drilled holes for either wall or floor mounting. It even contains mounting bolts and four AA batteries for the digital panel.
Wishacc Real Pages Portable Secret Book Hidden Safe with Key Lock
This product comes with a real paper sheet. Appearance wise, it looks exactly like a real book and will blend into any normal bookshelf. Therefore, this is a good option if you’re trying to get a safe which can be hidden in plain sight. This hollowed-out book contains a secret compartment. Although it is not the best for storing large items, it is the perfect choice for items such as jewelry, money, and cash. Not to mention, this safe comes at a very affordable price.
Safe Features
This safe is built using metal and has a key lock. As such, don’t be deceived by its exterior – it is a small safe that will guard your items. The book opens to reveal a secret compartment. This cavity will be used for storage. Due to its size (5.9″x8.66″), it is lightweight and portable. The inside storage area measures 3.94″x6.57″, therefore it is the perfect size to store money, cash, cards, coins, and other valuables. In addition to storing financial items, you can also store weapons such as handguns for easy access.
Sentry Safe H0100 Fireproof Waterproof Box with Key Lock
Next on my list is the infamous Sentry Safe H0100 Fireproof and Waterproof Safe which comes with a key lock. This safe is certified to endure ½ hour of 1550°F to protect your valuable items such as documents, jewelry, DVDs, and USBs from fire hazards. The box is also waterproof, as it can withstand 72 hours of water submersion. Therefore, it’s got you covered in the case of a flood or fire.
Safe Features
As mentioned before the prominent feature of this safe is that it is water and fire proof. In addition to these features, it also comes with a lockbox feature which ensures that the box remains closed in case of fire. It also comes with 2 additional keys. The safe allows easy access so you can store your passports, security files, and important documents. This box also is capable of holding A4-size paper due to its size. The dimensions of the Sentry Safe are as follows: Exterior: 14.3-inch W x 13-inch D x 6.1-inch H, interior: 12-inch W x 7.4-inch D x 3.4-inch H. It weighs 17 pounds.
Safe and Lock Box – Serene Life SLSFE14
The last on our list of recommendations is the Safe and Lock Box by Serene Life. This home safe has both the basic qualities that you need in a safe, that is, it is strong and secure. That is because it is made of reinforced solid steel. It also has dual-security steel door locking bolts. In addition to all these features, it’s easy to access as you will be able to get to your items easily without fidgeting over the security system.
Safe Features
In addition to the above-mentioned features, other features of the safe include a mechanical override function. This particular home safe also includes two keys for manual access. In terms of installing the safe, it comes with pre-drilled holes for either wall or floor mounting. When you order the safe, you will also get mounting bolts and four AA batteries to control the battery-operated digital panel. The introduction of the finger-sensor technology is what makes this product stand apart.
However, the user must make sure their finger is dry. Due to its size of 12.2L x 7.8W x 7.8H inches, it makes for the ideal home safe. It is perfect for protecting items such as guns, important documents, passports, and jewelry. As the size is not too large, it is portable and can be used in a home, office, or even a business setting.
Qualities to Consider While Buying a Home Safe
A quick search on Google will give you more results than you expect and leave you overwhelmed and puzzled. However, do not fret, these different types of safes are built for different storage purposes. Some personal safes are made particularly for guns while others small safes offer safety features such as fire and water resistance. Furthermore, safes come with different lock types. As such, there is a lot to consider. Keeping your particular requirements in mind, you can find the best safe for the money.
Safe Types
Let’s start with the basic types of safes; these include floor safe, wall safe, and bedside safe. After considering which one is best for you, you need to consider the lock type which will fit your needs and budget.
For now, let’s talk about the different types of safes. First, you must establish your ultimate goal depending on which asset you want to protect – whether it’s a gun, important documents, or even heirlooms. Perhaps you need a small safe from which you can quickly access your gun. This answer will determine your initial cost and storage placement.
Wall
This is the best option if you have a small store in your home, have less floor area, and can make modifications to your home. These kinds of safes can easily be hidden behind doors or portraits without taking too much of your walking space. If you do choose this type of safe, you will need to ensure that it’s mounted between the studs in the wall.
Floor
However, if you wish to not make alterations to your home, a floor safe will be the best way to go as no hole will be made in your wall. These particular safes are secured to the floor. They come in a diverse range of shapes and sizes to fit into close-fitting areas. It is advised to bolt your safe down as it enhances the security the safe provides. If it is not bolted to the ground, criminals can easily knock the safe to its sides and use their body weight to open it.
Gun
Getting a biometric gun safe is a safer option than keeping your weapon hidden away in some drawer. These safes will ensure that only you will be able to access your gun and it will not end up in the wrong hands. The addition of the biometric feature will ensure that it will open up quickly when you need your weapon. If you have arms at home, this is the safe you will need to consider buying. Since only your data can grant access to the safe, this will be the best option for keeping your gun safe.
Hidden
Hidden safes are just another name for home safes. They are installed into homes and camouflaged as a bookcase which is why they are perfect for keeping your valuables protected even when displayed in plain sight. In addition to keeping your valuables disguised, they are light and portable which makes them easy to move around. However, they do have a downside, that is, they are not equipped to store a ton of items. Hidden safes are best for hiding small items such as important documents including birth certificates or passports.
Lock Types
Different locks run on different power sources such as batteries, Wi-Fi, and even AC adapters. You will need to check for a low-battery alert or even a backup key if you are opting for a safe which will need a power source.
Now, let’s look at the different types of locks. The type you get will depend on the type and level of safety you require. At the present moment, the most commonly used types of locks are key locks, electronic locks, and biometric/fingerprint locks. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages.
Biometric Scanner
These fall in the category of highly-secure locks. They work by scanning and then reading your fingerprint. It type of lock only opens when the fingerprint matches the one which is already recorded in the scanner’s memory. Some biometric scanners have the option of holding multiple prints for numerous users. If you need a home safe box to cater to multiple users, this must also be included in your list of requirements when buying it.
Electronic Keypad
This is also a very secure way of keeping the contents of your safe protected. It works using the process of granting access through PIN authentication. This type of lock comes with an electronic keypad which will keep your valuables secure and easy to get access to. This will be a good option if you have a few authorized users that needed to be granted access.
Combination
This is the type of lock which is the simplest of them all. For this, you just need to turn the dial to your set combination passcode and there you have it – your safe will be unlocked. This safe comes battery-free, so you can always count on it as it will function no matter what. However, it doesn’t require a passcode but it does require some periodic maintenance. To prevent the lock from seizing, you will need to take it apart and clean it as well as lubricate it. You might want to consult your local safe technician or locksmith as they can tell you more about the costs and specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers to questions that are usually asked by people who are about to purchase a safe are as follows:
- What should the size of the safe be?
The size of the safe is highly dependent on your needs. If it is to be used to conceal a small object, then a smaller safe will be work well. However, in case of bigger weapons, you might want to invest in a larger safe with more storage space. You might also have to consider qualities such as fire resistance as well. Consider all the aspects before making a decision.
- When should you consider a larger safe i.e. wall safe?
A wall safe would be useful as it allows the most concealment. This is also the case with small safes as they are easy to conceal. However unlike small safes, wall safes are not the best place to keep the most expensive items, as they offer a medium level of access to the burglars. In addition, wall safes will not be able to protect your belongings from fire.
- What is the least fire-rating needed to be able to protect paper, money, documents etc.?
Fireproof safes tend to have a minimum of 1-hour fire rating. Therefore, your small safe will be able to last much longer against a home fire. Small fireproof safes are excellent in protecting your belongings from fire. However, they are not the best option for protection against theft of your valuable items. If you want the safe to have both qualities, look for a safe that’s burglar and fire safe or a high-security burglar fire safe.
- Should I anchor my safes?
Anchoring safes, regardless of them being small or large, is quite important, as it will prevent robbers from taking it anywhere, even if they manage to find it. Especially a small safe can be carried out of your home or business place by a bunch of strong burglars. These extra precautions might just help you if you’re in a sticky situation.
- Is door construction of the small safe important?
The construction of the door is of utmost importance. You will want to look for a small safe with about at least ¼’’ of solid plate steel in the doors. Expensive and better quality gun safes have ½” or even thicker steel.
Verdict
After covering all the aspects of safes in this article, we can easily agree that picking a safe is tricky business. We hope you benefit from this article, as all the product specifications as well as additional information related to the kind of factors you must consider before choosing a safe are mentioned. Now, you won’t need to do extensive research but still be able to make an informed decision. Rest assured, a good safe will be worth every dollar.
