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    Buying a Gun Safe: The Ultimate Guide

    Updated: Dec 22, 2023

    Authored by Sara Hall


    ​​Owning a gun or guns requires ​keeping ​safety top of mind. ​Whether you’re a gun enthusiast or just looking to keep your firearms secure, y​​​ou need ​a ​safe​​ ​to ​protect firearms​ from theft, fire and water damage​​​​. ​​​

    But with so many models on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Each gun safe caters to a specific need, and what works for one gun owner may not work for the other. ​​ ​​​​​ ​

    In this guide, we’ve simplified all the essentials you need to know when choosing a gun safe. You'll learn about the different types of safes available, the importance of certain safe materials and security features, top brands, and much more.​​

    What is a gun safe?

    In its simplest form it’s a ​dedicated​​​ place ​designed for the safe and secure storage of​​​ firearms​.​​​​​

    ​​​How​​​​​​ is a gun safe different from a regular safe?​​

    ​​These types of safes offer features designed specifically for firearm storage that standard safes don’t​. ​Some features include adjustable shelves, interior lighting, protective liners, barrel rests. ​Additionally, gun safes have a​Click here to enter text.​​ fire-rated​ design, which provides superior ​​strength​​​​ and durability compared to ​​​regular safe​s​. 

     

    ​​​Types of Gun Safes​​

    ​​​It’s important to consider the size and type of safe​​.  Each gun safe caters to a specific need, and what works for one gun owner may not work for ​​ano​​​​ther. Explore the different safe options below to determine which is right for you:​​

    Gun safe

    The difference between a gun safe and gun cabinet is the locking mechanism and thickness of the steel. Safes use a true lock and stronger steel. Think of a gun safe as the​ firearms storage equivalent of a​ large safe in a bank, with the hefty door and lock.

    • ​​​​Wall Safes: ​These safes are designed to be installed in the wall for a highly secure storage option.​​

    • ​​​​Floor Safes:​ Offering hidden protection, floor safes are ideal for those who want to hide their guns in a discreet location.​​

    • ​​​​Portable Safes:​ Perfect for those on the move, these safes provide flexibility and convenience for those needing to transport their firearms frequently.​​ 

    • ​​​​Biometric Safes:​ These are considered highly secure, as they can only be opened with a fingerprint or code.​​

    Shop gun safes >

     

    Gun cabinet

    ​​Gun cabinets are the most basic type of gun safe. G​​​un cabinet​s​ use​​ a key to lock and unlock​, and the ​​​ steel is generally less thic​k​​.​​​​ ​​T​​​​hey also do not have fire ratings. ​​​​Gun cabinets are designed to protect against theft by keeping the guns out of sight, but they do not provide much protection against fire or moisture. ​​While less secure than gun safes, gun cabinets offer more space than other types of safes and are great for displaying your firearms.​Think of a gun cabinet as your safe deposit box.Think of a gun cabinet as your safe deposit box.

    Shop gun cabinets >

    Pistol safes

    A pistol safe is for small gun storage. Pistol safes can also be used to store personal documents and have a variety of locking systems. ​Pistol safes are an ideal choice for those who want quick access to their firearms but need something that is small and discreet​​; this makes them ​​​​a great option for those who travel often.​

    Shop pistol safes >



    The difference between a gun safe and gun cabinet is the locking mechanism and thickness of the steel.


     

    ​​​Choosing the Right Gun Safe: Key Considerations​​

    ​​​When it comes to choosing the right size gun safe, ​you will want to consider multiple factors​​​​ to ensure you find a style that works best for you. Consider the following when purchasing your gun safe:​​​​​​

    • ​​​​Number of Guns:​ If you only have a few guns, then a smaller safe should be sufficient. However, if you have an extensive collection or plan on buying more guns in the future, consider choosing a larger safe.​​

    • ​​​​Size of Guns​​:​​ ​​​​S​​​​​​ome ​​​​styles of guns ​​​​may require more space than othe​​rs​​​​, and you may need to plan for ​​their​​ storage accordingly.​​​​​​​

    • ​​​​Storage of Other​​ Items​​:​ If you plan on storing other high-value items such as jewelry or important documents in your safe, you may want to opt for a larger size that can accommodate ​extra items.​​​

    • ​​​​Safe L​​ocation: ​As you’re evaluating safe options, make sure to measure the area where you plan to install the safe to ensure it is the right size for the space and ​​that it ​​will fit properly.​​

     

    ​​​​The type of safe you choose also depends on what you plan to store in it. For example, if you plan to store documents as well as firearms, you may want to choose a fireproof safe. If you live in an area that is prone to burglaries, you may want to invest in a high-security safe with combination locks or biometric locks. You may also want to consider where the safe will be located in your home and how easy it will be for you to access. ​​​

     

    Gun Safe Materials​​

    ​​​As you are evaluating safes, make sure to consider their material–it can be a key factor for safe security. ​     ​​​​​

    ​​​Steel is the most common material for gun safes, and it is generally considered the most secure. Steel is durable and can withstand a variety of impacts and temperatures. However, steel can rust over time, so it’s important to choose a model that has been treated with a rust-resistant coating.

    ​​​Other materials such as wood and composite can also be used in safes​​, but they tend to be less secure than steel. If you’re looking for maximum security, steel is the​ best option​​.​​​     ​​​

     

    Gun Safe Lock Types​​

    ​​​One of the most important aspects of buying a gun safe is the type of lock it has. Most gun safes come with either a combination lock, an electronic keypad lock or a biometric lock.

    • ​​​​Combination L​​ocks:​ Combination locks are the most common and require you to enter a combination code in order to open the safe. ​​

    • ​​​​Electronic K​​​​eypad L​​ocks: ​Electronic locks are similar to combination locks in that they have a code, but they instead require you to enter a PIN number or use a card reader to open the safe. ​​

    • ​​​​Biometric L​​ocks:​ The most secure option, biometric locks require you to use your fingerprint to unlock the safe. ​

    ​​When choosing a gun safe, it is important to consider how secure the lock is and how quickly you can access your firearms in an emergency situation. Some locks may be more secure but also take longer to open, so it is important to find the right balance between security and accessibility.​

     

    ​​​Our​​ ​​Recommendations for Gun Safe​​ Features​​​     ​​​     ​​

    There are many features available for safes. Things to keep an eye out for are:

    • Size and weight

    • Safe construction and wall thickness

    • Shell strength

    • Recommendations for gun safes:

    • Size and weight - At least 58" interior vertical clearance and at least 750lbs loaded weight.

    • Safe construction and wall thickness - Minimum 10 gauge steel walls, 5/16" solid plate door or 1+" composite door and armor shielding over lock box. 

    • Shell strength - Continuous welds rather than stitch.

    Size and weight

    A bolt-action rifle with a 30" barrel is about 52" inches long. Therefore, if you want to get a long-barreled gun in your safe, with a bit of room for a top shelf, you'll need an interior 58" or so high. As far as width, 36" and 40" are common sizes that will give you ample space for a couple dozen rifles. A 36"-40" wide interior will allow you to have a 16-gun rotary rack on one side, plus a normal shelving unit on the other. A nice, wide interior also lets you place shorter rifles (or AR-15 uppers) horizontally on an upper shelf. That is a very handy and efficient storage option.

    ​​In terms of weight,​ the heavier a safe, the more secure it will be; for example,​ ​a 2000-lb safe is more secure than a 500-lb safe. We asked a number of safe dealers, and most felt that a safe in the 750-lb range offered a good combination of size and security. At this weight, the safe can't be moved with a typical appliance dolly. It will be big enough​ and​​​ with ​a ​large enough footprint​ that it will resist being tipped over. It will be too heavy for ​anyone to easily remove from your home​​. Conversely, a 500-lb safe is much ​easier for someone​​ to move​​ ​and two strong men can get one into the bed of a pick-up truck using a ramp.​​

    Shell strength

    ​​When you are evaluating which gun safe will be best for you, consider the shell strength of the safe.​​​ This is a function of components, design, and construction quality. You want a safe with great exterior strength, because during a fire, the house roof or other structural elements may fall on the safe. If the safe splits a weld or if the door springs lose, your valuables are toast.

    Well-constructed safes are built with continuous welds, not "stitch welds" linked with body filler.

    Wall thickness

    Steel is very expensive. That's why low-end safes have very thin steel wall panels, 12-gauge or even 14 gauge. Thin steel does not offer much of an obstacle to penetration. A concrete saw will zip right through 10-gauge panels, and 12-gauge, single-panel steel can be penetrated by a Fire Ax. Commercial-grade safes, used in banks and jewelry stores, use much thicker-grade steel.

    But the average attack on a residential gun safe is more of the "snatch and grab" variety, by criminals who don't have heavy-duty cutting tools or torches, and who want to get in and out fast. So, it's reasonable to compromise a bit on the exterior shielding of the safe to have a manageable weight and reasonable price. Still, we recommend 10 gauge steel as a minimum, and 8 gauge, or 3/16", is much preferable. You should compare that to the wall thickness on other brands. Thicker steel is definitely harder to cut, and more resistant to break-ins.



    Look for continuous welding when shopping for gun safes.



    Recommended safe features for long-gun storage

    • Budget $1200-1500 for a safe from a major maker, with external hinges, and an interior at least 58" high.
    • That gives you room for 30"-barreled rifles with a top shelf for handguns and other valuables.
    • Digital locks offer quick-access and convenience.
    • Interior at least 58" High and 30" wide 
    • Overall Weight 750+ Pounds
    • External Hinges
    • UL Type 1 Commercial-Grade Electronic Lock
    • Custom Interior Suitable for Scoped Guns with Long Barrels
    • On-Door Storage System for Non-scoped Long Guns OR 
    • Fire-lined Inner Safe for Paper and Media
    • Low Gloss, Rust-resistant External Finish 
    • Pre-Drilled holes for Lag Bolts and in Rear for Electric Cord
    • Overhead Fluorescent Lamp and/or LED Mini-lights on Strings


    Safes in the 750-lb range offered a good combination of size and security, according to a number of safe dealers.



     

    ​​Who ​M​​​akes the ​B​​est ​G​​un ​S​​​afe​s? Our Recommended Gun Safe Brands​​​​

    Wondering which gun safe brands are the best? As you’re searching for a safe, you’ll want to stick with reputable, well-established brands ​​​known for their reliability​ and durability ​so you can feel confident that your ​​gun safe​ will keep your firearms secure and stand the test of time.​ ​     ​

    Compare some of our most popular brands.

    Cannon Gun Safes

    Cannon is one of the undisputed leaders in home safe security. They have been keeping guns safe since 1965 and have continued to improve every year for more than 50 years running.

    Why We Recommend Cannon​​

    • ​​Longer bolts with ​anti-pry​​ tabs:​ ​Cannon gun safes boast features like longer, stronger bolts (twice as long as the competition) housed in doors and frames with anti-pry tabs. The construction of Cannon safes keeps intruders from getting to guns and valuables after multiple pry attempts.​

    • ​​​Triple hard plate:​ 3 layers of 60+ RC hardened steel protect the locking mechanism on your Cannon gun safe. These features will keep your valuables secure even after several hours of work with an oxyacetylene torch.​

    • ​​Cannon True fire ratings: While other safe companies test their safes​ like they're cooking a thanksgiving turkey (keeping the heat at 300 degrees for the majority of the test), Cannon's True Test reaches 1200 degrees within the first 8 minutes of testing and stays at that temperature until failure. Cannon conducts several True Tests to ​e​​nsure that their product is set at the highest standard and continues to improve year after year.​

    • ​​A back-up plan: Cannon's revolutionary dual access EMP lock provides a manual combination back-up plan for anything that could compromise the electronics in your locking mechanism. The EMP lock will protect you against threats such as electromagnetic pulses, dead batteries, floods, fires, and natural disasters.​

    Shop all Cannon gun safes >

    Liberty Gun Safes

    Liberty’s commitment to American workers, focus on innovation, technology, and American-made durability is what differentiates Liberty safes from other safe companies.

    ​​​​Why We Recommend Liberty Safes:​​

    • ​​​Locking bars, not bolts:​ Liberty’s USA made safes feature Military-Style Locking Bars consisting of one solid piece of forged steel. Liberty’s locking bars extend deeper inside the safe and provide a much larger steel surface area connecting the safe door to the safe frame. Liberty’s locking bars are proven to be 120% stronger than the competition and virtually impossible to pry past. ​

    • ​​​Roll-formed 2-piece safe body:​ Liberty safes are built using highly specialized roll-form technology. This is an automated process that allows a single piece of steel to be bent into shape, forming the top, bottom, and sides of a safe. That makes them stronger because they’re made from one solid piece of American steel, with fewer welds. This, and the precise, robotic tech Liberty uses creates their trademark ultra-strong 2-piece body construction.  ​

    • ​​​Fire rating:​ Liberty’s certified fire testing leads the industry. It’s based on studies originally conducted by Omega-Point Laboratories, and it’s designed to mimic what would happen in an actual house fire. ​

    • ​​​#1 rated lifetime warranty:​ If your gun safe ever experiences an attempted break-in or fire, Liberty will repair or replace your safe for FREE as long as you own your gun safe. Liberty's lifetime warranty is even transferable and includes: free safe replacement, free opening of damaged safe and free delivery of replacement safe.​

    Shop all Liberty safes >

    Winchester Gun Safes

    Winchester is a company that knows how to protect guns. They have been a leading manufacturer of fire​     ​arms for many years and know exactly what it takes to keep weapons in the home secure from children, burglars, or fire hazards.

    ​​​​​Why We Recommend Winchester Safes:​​

    ​​​​Exceptional safety features:​ ​​Winchester safes feature a drill-resistant exterior and have special features that protect the interio​r​​. They are ​also ​fire-proof and have automatic re-locking capabilities that turn on when someone tries to break the safe's lock.

    • ​​​​UL electronic keyboard lock: ​​Winchester gun safes are equipped with a UL-listed electronic keyboard that can be used set any combination. You can choose your combination and keep​ change it whenever needed. ​​The safes​’​ locking bolts are ​also incredibly solid —​​ the Supreme range of safes has 2" thick bolts​,​ while the Silverado series has 1.5" thick bolts.​

    • ​​​​Heavy-duty weight: ​​These safes are heavy and cannot be moved around.​ With e​​​ach ​safe weighing between ​​​500 and 1,000 pounds​, it is​​ ​impossible to lift or fool around with the safe without raising a racket​. These safes also come equipped with bolt holes, which allow you to securely fasten the safe on the floor and make ​them​​ immovable.​

    • ​​​Adjustable shelves​​​:​ ​​ This allows you to change the layout of the safe and​ organize it per your need​s.​ The interior door storage system makes for additional storage and each safe features very elegant beveled edges.​​

    Shop all Winchester gun safes >



    Most important job of a gun safe? Keeping people out and firearms secure.



    Tips & Advice​​​ ​​​for Buying a Gun Safe​​​​

    A good safe is more than just a gun locker​ ​—​ ​it becomes a secure storage device for your family's other valuables as well. ​Make sure to follow these tips when you are shopping.

    ​​​Purchase a safe that is bigger than you think you need​​:​​ Your gun collection is bound to grow over time​—​​ ​​y​​ou​ may find that​​ you ​can ​quickly fill up even a large safe.​ To make sure you have ample room for all your valuables, invest in a safe with the​​​ size, protection, and ​security ​features you want. ​Your gun collection may be worth many tens of thousands of dollars​​​,​​​ so it makes sense to invest in the protection of your valuables.​​

    ​​​Spend more for a safe that offers fire-resistance​​:​​ But you have to do your homework — you can spend a lot of money for "fire-proofing" that actually is not very effective. Make sure if sheet-rock is used that it is properly installed. If you have valuable documents and media files, it's not a bad idea to purchase a smaller, commercial-grade fire safe to put inside the gun safe. This gives you double protection. Choosing a reliable brand like ​​Cannon​ or ​​Winchester​ is a good way to make sure that the safe you buy lives up to the guarantee of the manufacturer.

    ​​​Ask about the safe's safeguards against tampering​​​:​​​​ ​​​​​​A quality safe will feature extra armor or devices to defeat drilling. Low-grade safes can be opened in a few minutes with simple, battery-powered hand tools. ​​​To ensure your guns and other belongings are kept safe in case of a burglary, look for safes with ​​​​​​​relockers​​​. Relockers are hardened pins that are triggered during an attack, and cannot be retracted without hours of drilling. The number of relockers on a safe ranges from 2-10+ depending on the safe's size and burglary grade.​​

     

    Gun Safe Maintenance & Care​​

    ​​​​Once you’ve decided on and purchased a safe, you’ll need to perform regular maintenance to make sure it stays in top condition.​​​

    ​​​​As part of this maintenance and care, regularly inspect your safe for any signs of rust or corrosion​, ​and if you find any, treat them with a rust-preventative product. Make sure to keep the door properly lubricated with a product specifically designed for gun safes, as other types of lubricants may damage the finish. ​​​

    ​​​​Don’t forget to check the bolts and hinges periodically to make sure they are functioning properly. Finally, make sure to keep the interior of the safe clean and dry in order to prevent rusting or other damage.​​​

     

    Frequently asked questions



    ​​​Are gun safes a good investment?​​

    ​​​Yes, gun safes are a wise investment in safeguarding your firearms and valuables. They offer secure storage, protection against theft, and can enhance overall safety within your home.​​


    ​​​What is the best material for a gun safe? ​​

    ​​​Steel is often considered the best material for gun safes, as it provides maximum strength and durability. Steel is also fire-resistant and can withstand extreme temperatures.​​


    ​​​​What type of lock should be used on a gun safe? ​​

    ​​​The best type of lock for a gun safe is an electronic combination or biometric lock. These locks provide the highest level of security and are very difficult to bypass. ​​​​


    ​​​How big of a gun safe should I buy?​​

    ​​​The size of the gun safe you should buy depends on the size and number of firearms you need to store. Consider your current collection and future acquisitions to make sure the safe provides enough space for storage.​​


    What should not be stored in a gun safe?

    Do not store powder or large quantities of primers in your safe. Powder stored in a tightly-sealed metal box is a bomb. Always store your powder in a separate, lightly-constructed cabinet or wood box. The most important thing for powder is to keep it dry and away from light. Primers can detonate others if one goes off, causing a chain reaction. If you have several primers, don't store them in one corner of your reloading area.


    Can I leave my safe on the wooden pallet it arrived with?

    Never leave your new safe on the wooden pallet. A person with a rented pallet jack can move an 1000lb safe with ease if this is still present. Make sure to remove the pallet and secure your gun safe by bolting it down.


    ​​​Where ​​​is the best place to put a gun safe in my house​​​​​​​?​​

    Gun safes are best kept somewhere discreet from view. Don't put your safe in the front or your garage or corner of your living room​​. Be cautious and discreet when you load and unload firearms as well. This reduces the advertisement that you have a large gun collection and/or valuables that need extra security.



    Get safes for all your firearm needs. Find a variety of brands from Winchester to Cannon, Liberty, Barska, GunVault, and others.


    Keep everything organized with our safe accessories. From lighting, racks, shelves and locks, to dehumidifiers - get it here.