--- title: "The Best Gun Safes, According to Testing and a Safe Cracker" description: "Whether you need a big safe for protection or a small safe for your bedside, there’s an option for you in our picks for the best gun safes." date: "2021-12-16" modified: "2026-03-30" authors: - name: "Scott Einsmann" job_title: "Executive Gear Editor" link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/scott-einsmann/" url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-gun-safes/" categories: - "Gear" - "Shooting Gear" tags: - "Evergreen" - "Gear Reviews" --- # The Best Gun Safes, According to Testing and a Safe Cracker ![The Vaultek is the perfect size to house a pistol and pocket knife.]() *The Vaultek is the perfect size to house a pistol and pocket knife. Scott Einsmann* You’ll probably buy a lot of guns in your life, but you’ll only buy a few gun safes. That’s why it pays to do some research to find the right gun safe for you. There are a lot of common-sense reasons to keep your guns secure. But, the best gun safe for one person might not be the best for another. For some, a small safe that fits in a drawer is all that’s needed, although others will want a large safe that will protect guns from fire and thieves. Here are my top picks for gun safes from large to small based on hands on testing and an interview with a professional safe cracker. - **Best Overall:** [Cabela's Classic Series Gun Safe]() - **Best for Home:** [SentrySafe Waterproof and Fireproof Safe]() - **Best Pistol Safe for a Bedroom:** [VAULTEK DS5i Smart Station]() - **Best for Travel:** [Hornady TrekLite Lock Box XXL]() - **Best Made in USA Handgun Safe**: [StopBox Pro]() - **Best for Subcompacts:** [Vaultek Essential Series VE10]() - **Best UL Rated**: [FireKing Fire Proof Safe]() - **Best Quick Access Pistol Safe:** [LANGGER V Biometric Slider Safe]() - **Best Portable:** [Vaultek LifePod 2.0]() ## How We Chose the Best Gun Safes https://youtu.be/kC2koUEBdQA *We conducted an experiment to see what you can expect from a budget fireproof safe.* To make my best gun safe picks, I tested several of the best safes on the market and evaluated them on ease of opening, organization, features, and their fire rating. I interviewed [Charles Santore](), a professional safe cracker, who is hired by individuals and law enforcement to open safes after fires and attempted robberies. Santore provided insight into how modern criminals open safes and what happens to safe contents after a wild fire. I also set a portable "fireproof" safe on fire to get an idea of what type of protection it provided. ## The Best Gun Safes: Reviews and Recommendations ### Best Overall: [Cabela's Classic Series Gun Safe]() A safe should keep your firearms and valuables safe from theft and fire, but also be easy to access. This[ ]()Cabela's Classic Series Gun Safe accomplishes those tasks. But, it also does the little things well, like keep things organized and easy to access. The included, customizable shelves help keep valuables organized and the door panel allows you to store handguns and handgun accessories. The weight, while substantial, is still light enough that it can rest on a floor with[ joists spanning 12 feet]() without reinforcement. It’s a good idea to put the safe against a wall where it will have the most support. Liberty also offers floor anchoring kits to prevent thieves from tipping over your safe and then attempting to pry it open. Keep in mind that the shipping service will deliver the safe curbside, and won’t carry the safe into your home. So, be ready with a group of friends and the necessary tools to move the safe. If you're looking for a safe that's not too expensive and offers good fire protection, then you can't go wrong with this Liberty Safe from Cabela's. ### Best for Home: [SentrySafe Waterproof and Fireproof Safe]() https://youtu.be/bwJrME5UlVM If you’re looking for a quality home safe to keep your guns, jewelry, documents, and other small items in, this model from Sentry Safe is one of the best gun safe options under $300. It’s gone through rigorous testing for fire, water, and impacts: It’s UL certified for fire and ETL certified for impact and water resistance. Should you keep $100,000 in cash in this $290 safe? No. But, without going to a full on professional jewelers safe it provides a good level of protection without breaking the bank. At 90 pounds, one or two people can carry it up stairs. To open the safe, you’ll need to turn the key, and then enter the combination. That makes getting into the safe slow, but it is secure. You’re not going to fit a ton of items into the 12.6 x 11.9 x 13.8 inch space, but for things like pistols, jewelry, documents, and other small valuables, it is sufficient. The locking drawer slides out and the top lifts open. The door has pockets for additional items too. I think this safe will meet most home safe needs and it provides a good compromise between affordability, portability, and security. If you want a faster entry option with similar specs, SentrySafe makes a home safe with a biometric lock. This safe is also available with a two hour fire rating, which bumps the price to $400. **Read Next:** [Best Home Safes]() ### Best Pistol Safe for a Bedroom: [VAULTEK DS5i Smart Station]() https://youtu.be/lRXrGWA2TuI I've been searching for a bedside safe that is fast to open, secure, and has added features that makes the safe more than security device. The Vaultek DS5i Smart Station checks all those boxes for me. Getting it set up took minutes and the [Vaultek 2.0 app]() is a handy feature for modifying settings like the screen brightness. The safe opens quickly with the biometric reader. One tip is to program your thumb print at a variety of angles so no matter how lazily you slap your thumb onto the reader, it will open. ![]() *A look at the interior space of the Vaultek DS5i Smart Station. Photo by Scott Einsmann* The screen displays the time, temperature, and humidity. The time is handy, but a date display would have been nice instead of temperature and humidity. The best feature aside from security is the charging options. There's a wireless charging pad, two USBs, and two USB-Cs. So you can charge pretty much everything you need to and have a pistol at your reach. ### Best for Travel: [Hornady TrekLite Lock Box XXL]() ![]() *The combination lock with TSA keyed entry. Photo by Scott Einsmann* If you're flying with a handgun you can use a [gun case]() and pad locks, but I've recently ran into inconsistent interpretations of airline policies. I was unable to fly with a gun recently because when the case was unlatched, but pad locked, you could fit a finger inside the case. The person at the counter deemed that to make the gun "accessible." That's one way to ruin a trip. You can avoid all that headache by using the TrekLite as your gun case. Drop your gun inside, lock it, and then put it in your checked bag. You won't have a gap and it should pass even the most granular airline screening. Another great thing is that you don't have to wait around for TSA to give you a call if they need to access the TrekLite because it uses TSA-approved locks. ![]() *A Sig P220 and two magazines easily fit inside the TrekLite XXL. Photo by Scott Einsmann* When driving to a destination, I use the TrekLite's security cable to attach it to a seat post in my truck. That keeps it secure when I go into a truck stop in the middle of the night or into a greasy spoon for a bite to eat. A prepared criminal can cut the cable with the right tool or even open the lock box, but your typical smash and grab opportunist won't be able to get a new gun from me. The TrekLite isn't fire proof nor is it going to stop a sophisticated criminal. But, it is ideal for keeping guns secure from thieves and out of untrained hands. ### Best Made in USA Handgun Safe: [StopBox Pro]() https://youtu.be/DbtukudfkdU There's no shortage of small handgun safes that can fit into a drawer, on a bed side table, or in a center console. Most are made of thin steel and use an electronic lock with an analog backup. Most are also made overseas. StopBox is a company doing something different. They are making polymer, non-electronic safes in the USA. They use a unique lock mechanism that requires the user to push combination of tabs simultaneously. ![]() *The tabs that must be depressed in a specific pattern to open the safe. Photo by Scott Einsmann* That entry method takes practice, but once you get used to it, it's faster than inputting a four digit code. One potential con is that the lock can be difficult to open for people with small hands. I had my wife attempt to open the safe and she was able to do it, but a standard combination lock would be considerably easier for her, especially under pressure. ### Best for Subcompacts: [Vaultek Essential Series VE10]() https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m7gj7ARAxW8 I was introduced to Valtek through their [Lifepods](), which I use while traveling. The Lifepod is awesome for keeping things secure while you’re on the road, but it's not the fastest safe to access. The Essential Series VE10 on the other hand is fast to access and is still easy to take with you. There’s no delay after you type in your four digit code and the light automatically comes on. You can get the Essential Series safes in various sizes from compact to large. The VE10 is the smallest. It’s ideal for a subcompact pistol or small personal items like a wallet, cellphone, passport, jewelry, or cash. While it’s diminutive size makes it great for travel, it’s also at home in a desk or bedside drawer and it comes equipped with a cable for securing it to furniture. I can also see this being a great option for a small vehicle safe. ### Best Quick Access Pistol Safe: [Langger V Biometric Slider Safe]() https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fo6jMl1Jeqc If your goal is to keep a gun out of the hands of untrained family members, while still having quick access, this biometric sliding safe is a good option. It mounts to furniture or a wall with supplied screws. Keep in mind the safe is about as discreet as a bowling-ball-sized goiter, so you’ll need to carefully place it if stealth is important to you. ![Langger safe is open with pistol inside.]() *Langger's Slider Safe can hold one pistol and a spare magazine. Scott Einsmann* Once it’s mounted I found the setup of the combination and biometric scanner to be very easy. It opens fast and the smoothness of the operation gives the safe a quality feel. I like that the gun is positioned for quickly establishing a grip; it’s a lot like drawing from one of the [best holsters](). ### Best Bedside Safe: [Hornady Rapid Safe Night Guard]() The [Hornady Rapid]() is the best bedside gun safe but it does more than keep your firearm secure. It’s not out of place on a nightstand, thanks to its digital clock and two USB ports. The spring assisted drawer pops open when you use the RFID tag, access code, or key to open. RFID access is my preferred method and I think it’s faster than a biometric scanner. Just wave the tag in front of the drawer and it pops open. It’s a hefty safe at 18 pounds, but that’s a good thing. The weight helps it stay in place and is a product of its solid construction. Bolting the safe to the table it rests on or using the supplied cable lock will add an additional level of security. Just keep in mind that this safe won’t be as secure and isn’t fire resistant like other safes. But, for a rapid access handgun safe meant for your bedside, this is a smart bet. ### Best Portable: [Vaultek LifePod 2.0]() ![]() The Vaultek LifePod 2.0 is a portable safe that can slide into a desk drawer or nightstand. It’s available as a biometric or combination safe. I bought it for road trips and to use in a desk drawer. It comes with a steel cable to anchor the safe, and Vaultek offers several accessories for organizing items inside the safe. ![]() *A Sig P365 XMACRO and Smith and Wesson M&P Shield on top of the tray with spare magazines, a pocket knife, and a flashlight underneath the tray.* I have the combination safe and find it fast to open if the tabs on the sides are not secured. If the tabs are secured, it’s not a speedy or quiet process. It can hold a full-size pistol, two spare magazines, and a flashlight—all my EDC gear. The safe comes with a tray that acts like a shelf and allows you to store items above or below it. The tray is one of the best features of the safe. You can fit a slim, compact single stack ([micro 9s]()) like an M&P shield under the tray and keep additional gear on top. Or you can put spare magazines under the tray, double stack mags will fit under it, and two compact pistols on top. My [Sig P365 XMACRO]() is right at the max width for a gun on top of the the tray. It gives you options to secure and organize all your gear inside the safe. I do find the tray function ideal for concealed carry pistols and if you're using the safe for a full size handgun you'll want to go without it. I've used my LifePod for flying with a handgun and it worked perfectly for meeting TSA standards and keeping my gun secure when I landed. Ultimately this is a really nice desk or bedside safe, that you can take on the road and expose to the elements. It’s well-made and has modular features that many users will appreciate. ### Best UL Rated: [FireKing Fire Proof Safe]() In my interview with Santoro, I learned to look for a UL rating if I really wanted to protect belongings from fire or break ins. So if you want to do more than keep honest people honest, this is the safe to get. You're going to spend $1,000 to $3,000 for a safe that will hold handguns and rifles under 60 inches overall length. That's definitely not cheap, but it's worth it for the peace of mind. Read [this story]() for more info on UL ratings. ## How to Choose a Safe A safe is something you’ll likely buy once, and you won’t need to buy another until your gun collection outgrows its capacity. The safe you buy depends on what you plan to put in it, where you plan to put the safe, and how secure you want your safe to be. As I mentioned earlier the best gun safes are heavy and expensive. That’s the trade off for increased security and fire protection. But, if you just need a safe to keep a firearm out of untrained hands, then a simple gun cabinet or drawer safe is all that’s needed. Here are some important things to keep in mind when making your choice. ![A row of handguns in a gun safe]() *Organizational features maximize space and keep your firearms easily accessible. Scott Einsmann* ### Gun Cabinets vs. Safes A gun cabinet is made from a thin steel, usually 14- or 16-gauge, and doesn’t offer fire protection. They keep honest people honest. If a thief wants to get into a gun cabinet they’ll be able to pry it open with some effort. The pros are they are less expensive and much lighter. If you live in an apartment or plan to move in the near future, the reduced weight is a benefit. A safe is far more secure and the good ones will have a fire rating. They feature thick lock bars, thick walls, and more advanced locks than gun cabinets. The cons are that they’re heavy and expensive. If you are putting a safe in a location and don’t plan on moving it anytime soon, then a 1,300 pound safe is a great investment. ### Features and Layout The main selling point for safes are their features and customizable layout. Here are some features to look for in a safe. ![A hand pressing a keypad on a black safe]() *The SECURAM keypad is a quality keypad found on many top end safes. Scott Einsmann* - One of the key features you’ll want to look for is the type of entry—keypad, biometric, dial, etc. I prefer a keypad or dial safe because I’ve found them to be the most reliable. - Fire rating is a spec that you hope you never have to test out. Fire ratings are given in the amount of time it will protect items at a specific temperature. Typically, the bigger and heavier the safe, the longer it will protect the contents from a fire. - The interior layout is another important part of the equation. The best gun safes are customizable to suit your storage needs. Whether you need to stack a bunch of rifles in the safe or want to store important documents, there should be shelving options to support your needs. - Other nice features are interior lighting and a dehumidifier. Read [my full interview with Santore]() for real talk on safe security and fire protection. ## FAQs ## Final Thoughts on the Best Gun Safes Safes protect your valuables like guns, jewelry, and important documents. They’re an investment, but one you’ll be glad you made. The key is to pick a safe that best meets your use, storage needs, and budget. - **Best for the Money:** [Cabela's Signature 25-Gun Safe]() - **Best for Your Bedside:** [Hornady Rapid Safe Night Guard]() - **Best Portable:** [Vaultek LifePod 2.0]() - **Best for Being Discreet:** [Tactical Walls Full Length Concealment Mirror]() - **Best Gun Safe Accessory:** [Lockdown Goldenrod]() - **Best Under the Desk:** [MAXSafes Pro-Underdesk Safe]() ## Author Scott Einsmann is *Outdoor Life’s* gear editor. He oversees the gear team’s editors and writers who are subject matter experts in bows, knives, hunting, fishing, backpacking, and more. He lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and two bird dogs. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]()