To keep the lights on, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. Our review process.
| Winner |  View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Runner Up |  View on Amazon | Read Review |
| Third Place |  View on Amazon | Read Review |
Do you worry about home intruders or in-home workers stealing your most precious possessions? Even if you have a home security system, a home safe can provide an added layer of security against burglars, as well as protect your valuables from maintenance people, housekeepers, or other visitors. Another common concern is storing important documents. A safe can preserve precious memories, birth certificates, and valuables from burning during a fire or getting ruined due to flooding.
Why Get A Safe In Your Home?
Getting a home safe is a wise investment. Just consider the statistics. According to the FBI, more than 2.5 million burglaries are reported in the United States every year, with 66% of them involving break-ins to homes. Whether you want to protect your valuables against fire, flood, or burglary, getting a safe is a small price for peace of mind.
Whether you just want a simple safe for money or more space for important documents, jewelry, and other valuables, we have you covered to make a smart choice.
3 Things To Look For In A Home Safe
Before we launch into our reviews, there are several factors you should consider when shopping around for the best safe for home use.
- Where Will You Put Your Safe? Home burglars typically spend 8-10 minutes in a home1. Where’s the first place they head? A majority head to the master bedroom. Consider these stats when deciding where to put your home safe.
- What Will You Be Putting In Your Safe? If you plan to store cash, digital media, important documents (like birth certificates and wills or photo albums), you’ll want a fireproof and water-resistant safe. If you plan on storing valuable jewelry, family heirlooms, or firearms, you’ll need a safe with added security features.
- What Size Safe Should You Get? The size mostly depends on what you plan on storing and where you have room for your home safe. If you’re investing a sizable amount of money, it’s a good idea to go a bit larger to give you room to add other items.
What Are The Best Home Safes This Year?
Our best home safe reviews give you our top picks for all kinds of safes, including security features, pros and cons, pricing, and much more.
We’ve based our recommendations on several factors, including security features, quality, durability, value, ease of use and installation, warranty, and more. We do include one gun safe in our reviews but check out our gun safe comparison for more.
Winner: First Alert Waterproof Fire Safe Review
The First Alert 2092F-BD is our top choice for the best home safe. This model is a triple threat, offering excellent defense against fire, water, and theft. Not only is the First Alert 2092F-BD arguably the best fireproof safe for your home, but it’s also one of few home safes on the market that can float and stay dry even when fully submerged.
This safe’s anti-theft features are equally impressive, including four solid locking bolts, pry-resistant concealed hinges, and excellent anchor technology that lets you bolt the safe to the floor without losing its fire and water protection.
Other Features
- 1.3 cubic feet with removable shelf (spacious enough to fit 3-ring binders)
- Heavy 93-pound weight deters thieves, or you have the option to bolt the safe to the floor
- Backlit programmable keypad with emergency override key
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- Check Amazon for availability
- Batteries and override key included
- Optional carrying handle (added cost)
- 5-year limited warranty
- Lifetime after-fire replacement guarantee
- Also available in .94 or 2.14 cubic feet models
Runner-Up: SentrySafe Combination Fire Safe Review
Our number two pick, the SentrySafe SFW123DSB, is another excellent choice for fire, water, and theft protection. This SentrySafe model and our top pick share a lot of the same great features. What are the main differences? First, you’re not guaranteed fire and water protection if you bolt this safe to the floor. First Alert’s safe does.
And the SentrySafe SFW123DSB has a combination lock rather than a digital lock, so it takes more time to open (not ideal if you want to store a handgun for home protection). But SentrySafe has four thick one-inch bolts for added security. And the humidity factor doesn’t seem to be as bad with SentrySafe as it is with our top pick. If you live in a high humidity climate, SentrySafe could be your better choice.
Other Features
- 1.23 cubic feet with multi-position shelf
- Heavy 90-pound weight, or you can bolt the safe to the floor (comes with anchoring hardware, but you must drill holes in the safe’s base)
- Dual combination/key lock provides added security
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- Check Amazon for availability
- Anchor hardware included
- 1-year limited warranty
- Lifetime after-fire replacement guarantee
- Additional shelf and door drawer available for an added cost
Third Place: Honeywell Steel Security Safe Review
The Honeywell 5207 Digital-Dial Steel Security Safe comes in third place as our best home safe. Unlike our top two picks, this safe isn’t fireproof or water-resistant, but its security features and reputation make it a strong contender. This safe consists of thick steel plates, two solid steel locking bolts, and hidden pry-resistant hinges for added security.
One of the big pluses of this safe is that it has no interior humidity issues. This problem stems from waterproofing technology with other safes. But if you want to store medications or other items that are extremely humidity sensitive in your safe, the Honeywell 5207 is a safe bet.
Other Features
- 2.7 cubic feet with multi-position shelf
- It comes with pre-drilled holes and a bolting kit
- Programmable 5 (2-Digit) number code lock (LED displays dial position), companion entry key for added security, and emergency keys
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- $286.28
- Batteries and mounting kit included
- 7-year warranty
Barska Biometric Safe Review
The Barska Biometric Safe is an affordable and sturdy home safe. This safe is firearm certified and has fingerprint technology, making it quick and easy to open. It’s compact enough to fit under a bed but still has enough room for small electronics, a firearm, jewelry, important documents, medications, and more.
And it comes with bolting hardware so you can mount it to the floor or shelving. The Barska Biometric Safe is one of the best small home safes on the market.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- $199.99
- Inner floor mat, emergency back-up keys, mounting hardware, and batteries included
- 1-year warranty
Protex Electronic Wall Safe Review
Are you looking for a hidden wall safe? Protex Electronic Wall Safe (PWS-1814E) is one of the best wall safes you’ll find. This safe consists of heavy gauge steel and has dual live motorized 3/4″ chrome bolts and a 5/8″ thick formed steel door. The digital lock is easy to open and has a 15-minute security time-out after three attempts to unlock the safe.
As with most wall safes, the Protex requires either a hired contractor or strong handyman skills for installation. It fits between 16″ o/c wall studs and will accommodate any height.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- $233.19
- Batteries, mounting hardware, 2 override keys, 2 removable shelves, and flange included
- 1-year warranty
Stack-On Safe Review
The Stack-On QAS-1304-12 Drawer Safe is a popular choice for people wanting a portable or small home safe. This compact, lightweight safe fits in a nightstand, desk drawer, or under a car seat; yet, it’s also mountable to floors, walls, or shelves in your home.
And it features excellent security measures, including solid steel walls, a plate steel door, hidden pry-resistant hinges, and steel live-action locking bolts. The electronic lock is very reliable and has a time-out feature after three failed attempts.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- $50.00
- Batteries, mounting hardware, and backup key included
Zeny Digital Security Safe Review
You can’t put a price on safety, but sometimes your budget doesn’t agree. Fortunately, there’s the Zeny Digital Security Safe, a budget-friendly, Amazon-bestselling safe that’s sturdy and reliable.
Constructed with 2mm thick solid steel and a 4mm thick front door for added security, this safe also has a heavy-duty chrome steel dual 3/4″ pin bolt and tamper-proof hinges.
It’s a small safe — you can fit a small firearm or money and jewelry but not much else. Still, Zeny is one of the best cheap safes on the market.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|
Pricing
- Check Amazon for availability
- 2 override keys included
- No warranty information available
How Are Fireproof Safes Tested?
Check out the video below to see how Underwriters Laboratories (UL) tests home safes like our top two winners. UL is an independent safety consulting and certification company that’s widely considered the gold-standard.
Home Security Systems, Cameras, And Smart Locks
We hope our coverage of home safes has given you the knowledge to feel comfortable purchasing a safe to meet your particular needs (if not, please comment below).
Crime happens more often than you think. Check out our reviews of home security systems and outdoor cameras to protect yourself. Smart locks add another layer of security along with these tips on how to deter burglars.
Tagged With: Comparison
