Best Home Safes of 2023 - The Definitive Guide to Finding the Best Safe For Your Home Or Apartment

Best Home Safes – Video Review

SentrySafe SFW123GDC

Not as heavy duty as the  SentrySafe SFW123GDC the Amazon Basics safe is still well built and offers good bang for the buck. 

The listed model boasts 1.8 cubic feet of capacity and the Amazon Basics home security safe lineup offers a wide variety of sizes and styles to meet the needs of of value conscious consumers. 

Most of the safes come pre-drilled for mounting to provide extra theft protection. 

The backlit keypad is easy to see in dim conditions and a a backup key is provided as well. 

At just 20 pounds, the SentrySafe CHW20205 is the ideal solution for someone who wants to be able to secure important documents and small items and be able to take them with them when the situation calls for them. 

Because it is small in size, it can be tucked away in the closet or concealed easily, and yet still affords both fire and water protection. 

The interior lighting option and carrying handles make it simple to transport and access and identify the contents with ease. 

If your looking for a large home safe with a bit more capacity, the dual-chambered large safe for home use might be just the ticket.  It weighs 137 lbs. and offers loads of storage capacity. Yet, despite its affordable price tag, it offers a ton of great features.

This large home safe boasts 2 separate compartments which open independently – as well as a hidden compartment on the bottom. The safe can be opened using a biometric fingerprint scanner, electronic code, and key-locking capabilities. It is even equipped with a plug-in backup battery to power the unit if the batteries run out. 

This large fireproof home safe (rated to withstand temperatures up to 1700°F for an hour)is even equipped with an alarm that is activated after 3 failed attempts to open it.

Recently introduced, it doesn’t have a long track record but ratings are positive so far.  Add in the included storage shelves, mounting hardware, and the fact that it is fireproof and offers biometric locking capability…this large home safe is a tremendous value.

Unlocks fast with a biometric finger sensor that can register up to 32 users. It can also be accessed via the digital keypad or a backup key so there are multiple ways to open the safe.

It is well built with dual motorized 20mm locking deadbolts and features seamless welding and a 5mm laser-cut door.

Premium features include a built-in LED light, a carpeted interior, and 3 adjustable shelves to optimize storage space.

If you are a handgun enthusiast looking to keep multiple firearms handy but protected, the SentrySafe QAP2BLX is the top selling Sentry gun safe.  It employs biometric access (for up to 10 registered users) and a gas compression strut for quick, quiet, and efficient one-handed retrieval.

It is the ideal Sentry gun safe for apartment dwellers and those looking for small home safes. Strong and secure, it is constructed of 12 gauge steel and can be bolted down for added security.

It is equipped with interior lighting, a digital keypad, and backup keys to ensure optimal visibility and access.

If you are looking for a compact safe or gun safe for an apartment or office, this safe is an excellent option. It is compact and is light enough to be wall-mounted in a closet or tucked away and mounted to the floor with pre-drilled holes and provided hardware.

While it is neither fire nor water-resistant, that can be remedied with a fireproof security pouch. Additionally, it includes a USB port for re-charging the batteries and boasts a dual alarm warning system which is activated by violent vibration or 3 incorrect entries.

And finally, it is equipped with interior lighting, a digital keypad, and backup keys to ensure optimal visibility and access. It is also available in a larger size if additional capacity is required.

If you are searching for a high-tech smart home safe, this one checks off pretty much all the boxes.   Forfend offers a number of sizes and has models with either electronic keypad or biometrics.  But lots of the best home safes have that. The real kicker is that this one can be controlled and managed remotely through an App on your smartphone.

It provides real-time notifications, tamper alerts, low battery alerts, can respond to Google Assistant and Alexa voice commands, and can even notify friends or family if you are forced to unlock the safe.

For greater security, it comes pre-drilled for either floor or wall mounting. While it is neither fire nor water-resistant, that can be remedied with a fireproof security pouch.

The Forfend safe has a backup key and can even be charged externally if the batteries fail.   It is a technological tour de force…at a very reasonable price!

Looking for the best home safe you can get on a limited budget?  If you aren’t looking to stow too much, this Stalwart safe comes in at under $50! It is a compact safe that can be either bolted to the floor or a wall.  Or you can hide it away and it is light enough to easily take with you when you travel.

You may want to consider a set of fire and water-resistant pouches for important papers and documents. While it is neither fire nor water-resistant, that can be remedied with a fireproof security pouch.

The Stalwart safe has a digital keypad and backup keys. It is even carpeted and has a tamper alarm if the wrong combination is entered three times. It comes with batteries and mounting hardware as well.  How’s that for bang for the buck?

If you want the best small home safe that is compact, easy to access, and secure enough for handgun storage, this Barska might be the ticket.  At 26 lbs., it’s heavier than many small home safes but is still small enough to carry with you, if you choose not to mount it.

With fast 2.5 second biometric access, a silent access mode, and CA DOJ approval, it is a popular choice for handgun storage. However, its generous (for our small home safes category) interior dimensions allow sufficient space to store a fair amount of documents, jewelry, and valuables as well.

Because it is neither fire nor water-resistant, you may want to consider a fireproof security pouch.

This Barska safe is even carpeted to protect items from getting scratched and comes with backup keys as well.

If you are looking for a concealed safe that can be wall-mounted, the Paragon 7725 offers a solid value that is tough to beat.  Its flat panel design makes it easy to conceal behind a tapestry or artwork and is designed to fit nicely between the wall studs. 

Weighing in at 37 pounds, it is solidly constructed of 1/8″ steel with internal hinges and heavy-duty motorized deadbolts. 

The Paragon 7725 is not fireproof, so you might also want to purchase a fireproof security pouch.

The bottom shelf is padded and there are 2 additional shelves to help organize your valuables. While it is not a premium safe, it gets the job done and is a great value…at well under $100. 

The Honeywell 2605 series offers a lot of bang for the buck.  We selected it as the top pick in the Best Fireproof Safe because it offers the highest degree of protection for a medium-sized home safe for under $300. Most safes in this class offer an hour of protection at 1700°F. 

The 2605 provides more than double that – rated at 2 Hours at 1850°F!

In addition, it offers 8 hours of water protection…even when fully submerged under a maximum of 2 inches of water.

Combine that with concealed hinges, a backlit keypad, tamper alarm, and backup emergency access keys….and you have one of the best fireproof safes on the market. (and a strong candidate as the best overall safe)

Not as heavy-duty as a traditional safe, the Honeywell 1106 is designed for a specific purpose, to protect important files and documents.

It has .64 cubic feet of capacity and will comfortably accommodate a modest amount of standard hanging file folders.

While there has been some feedback about shipping issues and the key locking mechanism, Honeywell backs it with an industry-leading 7-Year Warranty.

This fire-safe box has a 30 minute UL fire protection rating for up to 1550°F.  It also boasts a 24 hour waterproof seal that is verified to keep contents dry, even when submerged up to 1 meter underwater.

If you are looking for a diversion safe, this is our pick for the best book safe. It is large enough to store some extra cash, some jewelry and a passport…but small enough to easily be concealed on a shelf of books.

It uses real pages and is more realistic than most. It even comes in a variety of titles. Choose from a dictionary…to the Bible…to a classic like Les Miserables. You can opt for the one you feel least likely to be picked up for browsing in your household!

While the lock isn’t going to keep out a determined thief…it might discourage a curious house guest if the “book” is inadvertently picked up for browsing. You can choose between models that use a key or a combination code. 

A nifty item that can be “hidden” in plain sight…

A Closet Safe for Guns

A unique wall-mounted closet gun safe for the gun enthusiast that wants firearms easily accessible, but doesn’t have a lot of space. This closet gun safe is semi-recessed and designed to be mounted between 16 inch on center 2 x 4 wall studs. It protrudes just 2″ from the wall, yet is surprisingly spacious-as provides almost 50% more capacity than a flush-mounted model. 

While it doesn’t have the capacity and some of the features of larger, traditional gun safes, it is a wall-mounted closet safe with enough capacity to secure valuables and also serve as a closet gun safe.  

It can be customized to suit your needs and is CA DoJ compliant and made in the USA.

A Home Safe for Jewelry…the Jewelry Armoire

Sometimes all you need is a lockable jewelry cabinet where you can store and organize your jewelry…and keep it locked away.  Not designed to protect expensive valuables like Rolexes and Cartier diamond necklaces from thieves…this door or wall-mounted jewelry armoire eliminates temptations and protects against jewelry ending up in the hands of roommates or household help.

Serving double duty as a full-length mirror, it can be hung from a door or mounted on the wall.  The included mounting hardware could be improved…so, investing a few pence on better hardware might be a sound investment. 

With LED lighting and plenty of room, this is a great system to keep things organized and handy, while maintaining them secure from the most common threats. While it is not a jewelry safe, per se, this lockable jewelry armoire may provide all the security you need for everyday jewelry. 

With 4.7 cubic feet of capacity, the SentrySafe EF4738E is one of the best safes for the home if you are looking for a large fireproof safe that is also waterproof. It has lots of room, is solidly constructed, and is reasonably affordable.

One of the best home safes that is fireproof and waterproof, it affords water protection for 72 hours and will protect your valuables against temperatures of up to 1400°F for half an hour.  While it doesn’t compare with our best home safe in fire ratings…it has triple the storage capacity. As always, when choosing the best safes for the home, there are trade-offs…and it is a matter of determining priorities.

If you have a handgun collection, it is CA DOJ certified as well.  For quick access and home protection, one of the small home safes with biometric access is probably a better choice, but this might be one of the best home safes to store multiple additional handguns alongside documents and valuables you wish to protect against fire and water damage.  

With a lined interior and adjustable shelving, it is certainly more than just a personal safe and you’ll have plenty of space to store and protect your valuables. 

So, if you are looking at home security safes that have plenty of room, the SentrySafe EF4738E Waterproof Fireproof Safe might be one of the best larger water and fireproof safes for the home that you’ll find that won’t put too big a dent in the wallet. 

Best Home Safes Runner Up for Best Fireproof Safe

Steelwater AMSWEL-500 – 2-Hour Fireproof Home and Document Safe

If you are looking for a fireproof safe with maximum fire-resistance multiple storage and organizational capabilities…then the Steelwater AMSEL-500 is a great option.  

It is built to withstand a 1850°F fire for up to 2 hours and includes thoughtful touches like a removable drawer and an adjustable and removable shelf so that you can keep your belongings organized. 

While it doesn’t have any key entry, it does have an external battery compartment so that you can easily replace them and access the safe after batteries have run low. 

A Fireproof Waterproof Safe for the Home… with a 5 Year Warranty!

First Alert 2092DF-BD  – One of the Best Home Safes that Bolts Down and is Still Waterproof 

If you are looking for a fireproof safe for the home that is also waterproof…then this is one of the best safes you’ll find.

It is one of the few small safes for the home that can withstand a 1700°F fire for up to an hour. With a 1.3 cu. ft. capacity it is larger than many small home safes, so there is plenty of room for important documents and valuables.

And with its special Ready Seal bolt-down system, it will even retain its waterproof seal when bolted to the floor. Now, lots of safes can be bolted down…but, the Ready Safe system is so effective that it won’t void the warranty.  This adds a layer of protection and makes it a strong contender for the best home safe if you aren’t too limited by budget concerns.

It has a digital keypad with backup keys that control four live locking bolts and pry-resistant concealed hinges. And unlike most small safes for the home, it includes some nice organizational touches like an adjustable storage shelf, key rack, and door pocket.

It is even backed with First Alert’s 5 Year Warranty! Add it all together and you have a great all-around fire and waterproof home safe.