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Finding the right gun safe can be a big chore because there’s so much variation in size, construction, locking mechanisms, and price. It can be hard to know what’s worth paying for, what’s unnecessary, and what’s just crap.
No matter what segment you’re shopping in, having an extra layer of protection for your firearms is a good idea. Parents need to be extremely careful about how they store guns in the house. Even if you don’t have kids, it’s a good idea to keep your guns out of the hands of house guests — invited or uninvited. Maybe that means stashing them in a hidden gun safe that you can access quickly. It could mean investing in a heavy-duty safe that can withstand crowbars and fire.
We’ve been rounding up the best gun safes for every size, style, and budget and have landed on a few favorites. This gear guide cuts to the chase with our favorites. If you want to dive deeper into a specific category, check out some of our other gun safe gear guides.
- Best Overall: Liberty Safe Centurion 18
- Best Value: Hornday Lockbox
- Honorable Mention: Vaultek VT Full-Size Bluetooth Smart Pistol Safe
- Best Biometric: SentrySafe QAP2BLX
- Best Hidden: Tactical Traps End Table
- Best for Vehicles: Console Vault Vehicle Safe
- Best Bedside: V-Line Brute
Our methodology
A quick search for gun safes will bring up results including handgun safes, bedside gun safes, car gun safes, hidden gun safes, and the massive vaults people use to house entire collections. I considered all of these to make this gear guide something of a greatest hits list. I leaned on the collective expertise of other Task & Purpose writers by consulting our previous roundups and picking the best from each category, along with a few newcomers I found through my own research. My priority was security first and foremost — either in the form of a locking mechanism or a safe hiding place. Second to that was value. I’m protective of my readers’ hard-earned money and strive to recommend products that are worthy of your investment.
Best Overall
Liberty Safe Centurion 18
Best Value
Hornady Lockbox
Honorable Mention
Vaultek VT Full-Size Bluetooth Smart Pistol Safe
Best Biometric
SentrySafe QAP2BLX
Best Hidden
Tactical Traps End Table
Best for Vehicles
Console Vault Vehicle Safe
Best Bedside
V-Line Brute
Our verdict on gun safes
A good safe is one of the cheapest forms of insurance gun owners can get. If all you want is a little extra security for your carry pistol when it’s not on your body, the Hornady Lockbox is a great option that works in your home or car and can be a discrete layer of security on the road. To protect all your guns without breaking the bank, the Liberty Safe Centurion 18 is a great entry into the gun vault market. Did we miss your favorite gun safe? Let us know what you prefer in the comments section.
What to consider when buying a gun safe
Your first consideration when buying a gun safe should be the threat you need protection against. Is it theft? Unwanted access by family members or roommates? Fire protection? Once you know what your primary concern is, you can take proactive countermeasures. There are a few key features that will determine which gun safe is right for you.
Gun safe key features
Locking or security mechanism
The whole point of a gun safe is protecting your firearms from unwanted access. Typically, that’s achieved with a locking mechanism. Large vaults often use massive dial-style combination locks that are secure, but slow to operate. Simplex-style locks use a few mechanical buttons that must be pressed in the correct combination and sequence. More modern digital alternatives include electronic keypads, biometric fingerprint scanners, and RFID sensors. With speed comes complexity, and digital locks require power from a wall outlet or battery.
Even the most secure lock doesn’t do much good if your safe can be stolen and cracked later. This isn’t an issue for vaults that weigh hundreds of pounds, but it is a concern for small handgun safes. Many small safes come with a cable tether that can be locked around a piece of furniture or a structural element in your home or vehicle. If someone is able to steal your safe, they’re only an angle grinder away from accessing your firearm at their leisure.
Construction
Not all gun safes are built to the same standard. With the exception of hidden safes that work by hiding your firearms, traditional gun safes are built from steel. Sheet metal is categorized by its thickness. Steel is measured in fractions of an inch or gauges; the larger the gauge, the thinner the steel. Common thicknesses for gun safes are 10- to 14-gauge. Protective layers like powder coating protect steel against rust and corrosion.
Hinges are also an important consideration. Externally mounted hinges present a potential vulnerability, so most gun safes feature internal hinges or an internal locking mechanism that secures the door even if the hinges fail. Lids should fit tightly so it’s difficult to jam a pry bar in the gap.
Some gun safes also offer protection against fire. This requires insulation that keeps internal temperatures low. This isn’t an all-or-nothing qualification; fireproof gun safes will be rated for a certain amount of time at a certain temperature.
Capacity
Finally, make sure that whichever safe you’re considering fits the firearms, accessories, and valuables you want to store. Think about whether or not you really want to break down your AR every time you put it away. Consider whether a safe was built for long guns, AR-style pistols, pistol-caliber carbines, full-size handguns, or compact handguns. Keeping a spare magazine handy is a good idea, so consider looking for a safe that has room for that, too.
Decide where you plan on keeping your gun safe and measure the space to make sure whatever you buy will fit. Check things like the vertical space underneath your bed, load capacity of your shelves, and dimensions of your center console, if relevant.
Gun safe pricing
Small, simple safes like the Hornady Lockbox can be purchased for as little as $50 (less if you can find one on sale). Features like biometric locks and fire protection will increase costs, and many of the best gun safes are priced between $300 and $400. The sky’s the limit for vault-style safes that can store collections of long guns, so be prepared for prices well into the thousands of dollars.
FAQs about gun safes
You’ve got questions, Task & Purpose has answers.
Q: Do I need a gun safe?
A: You may want to use a gun safe for your own reasons, but there may be laws and regulations in place where you live. Check your local laws and base regulations to make sure you’re within your lateral limits.
Q: Are gun safes fireproof or EMP-proof?
A: Some gun safes protect against one of these threats, some protect against both, and some protect against neither. Look for safes that have been fire-tested if that’s a concern. Mechanical safes are your best bet in the case of an EMP attack.
Q: Do gun safes keep moisture out?
A: No, but you have a few options. The easiest is to keep your guns well-oiled, which you should be doing anyway if you live in a humid environment. Moisture-absorbing silica can also be a cheap solution. If you’re really concerned, get a gun safe dehumidifier.