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A floor safe can keep valuables such as jewelry, cash, guns, and even sensitive documents safe from would-be thieves or potential fire and water damage. Floor safes are similar in size to wall safes and comparatively smaller than many home safes. This makes them excellent options for apartments and smaller homes. Their small size also allows them to be hidden in closets or under furniture, which adds an extra security layer. These safes feature the classic dial combination lock or more technologically advanced keypad locks, and even cutting-edge biometric locks that scan fingerprints.
This guide will examine the different types of floor safes, discuss what factors to consider when shopping for the best floor safe, and review some of the top models on the market.
- BEST OVERALL: SentrySafe SFW123CU Fireproof Waterproof Safe
- RUNNER-UP: Amazon Basics Home Keypad Safe
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Stalwart Digital Safe-Electronic Steel Safe
- BEST ELECTRONIC: TIGERKING Security Home Safe
- BEST BIOMETRIC: Viking Security Safe VS-25BL Biometric Safe
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Floor Safe
Lock type, fireproofing, and waterproofing are important to consider when selecting a floor safe. Ahead, learn about these and other important factors regarding these security devices.
Ease of Installation
A safe won’t provide much protection for one’s valuables if the thief can walk off with the entire thing, which is possible with smaller floor safes that can weigh 50 pounds or less. To ensure the safe itself is secure, floor safes include predrilled holes that allow for mounting the safe to a floor or wall. For maximum security, bolt the safe to a floor or wall joist.
Setting up a floor safe is relatively easy. Manual-dial floor safes come with a preprogrammed combination, while digital floor safes allow the user to set the combination they want. Biometric floor safe installation involves scanning and storing the fingerprints of authorized users.
Lock Type
There are three different floor safe lock types from which to choose, ranging from modern-day biometric locks to electronic keypad locks to the classic combination lock, which has been around for more than a century.
Dial Combination Lock: Despite being very old technology—dial combinations were invented in the 1800s—dial combination locks are commonly used with floor safes. This is because they last a long time. They also have no electronic components, so they aren’t susceptible to failure from dead batteries or electrical shorts. A dial combination lock consists of a dial with numbers ranging from 0 to 100 or more with combinations ranging from three to five numbers. This lock style takes longer to open than electronic locks and requires a locksmith should the user want to change the combination.
Digital Electronic Lock: Digital electronic locks consist of a keypad that opens a lock when the correct combination is entered. These locks are easy to operate and allow the user to open the safe quickly. The user can change the combination without the expense or inconvenience of a locksmith. Many digital electronic locks have a safety feature that locks the keypad for five minutes after a certain number of failed attempts. Some even sound an alarm after a certain number of failed attempts. Digital electronic locks do have their downsides. If the user fails to keep fresh batteries in the keypad, it may be impossible to open the safe electronically. For this reason, many digital locks include a master key that bypasses the keypad.
Biometric Combination Lock: Once the stuff of science fiction and spy movies, biometric locks are now available on consumer items like floor safes. These locks work by matching an authorized fingerprint to the user. The lock records the user’s fingerprint pattern, then compares that pattern to the fingerprint of whoever is attempting to open the safe. If they match, the safe opens. This makes this type of combination lock faster to open and doesn’t require the user to memorize a combination.
Biometric locking systems are also easier for multiple people to use, and they’re harder to bypass. Like electronic locks, they require power to use, which can pose a problem if the batteries die or are damaged as a result of flooding or fire. False positives or false negatives are possible, allowing unauthorized people to get into the safe or preventing an authorized user from opening the safe.
Door Jamb and Hinges
The design of the door jamb and hinges is crucial on a floor safe, as these areas present potential weak points for gaining entry. A good floor safe will have a solid steel door jamb that thieves cannot easily pry apart. The door should be inset into the front of the safe instead of flush with the frame to prevent prying. Safes with narrow gaps between the jamb and door are also more secure, as they make it more challenging to get a pry bar into the space. The safe’s hinges should also be located inside the unit to prevent a thief from removing or dismantling the hinges to infiltrate it.
Fireproofing
In addition to providing a secure place to store valuables, floor safes also keep items protected in the event of a house fire. Since safes are made from thick steel, they can endure flames and heat, protecting the contents locked within. Many safes can tolerate temperatures up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping documents, jewelry, cash, and even sensitive flash drives intact and safe.
That said, no safe is completely fireproof. Sustained heat will eventually affect the safe’s contents by exposing them to extreme temperatures. Some safe types are more fire resistant than others. Dial combination safes can endure high temperatures better than those with electronic locks.
Waterproofing
A floor safe’s position can make it susceptible to water damage from flooding. Floor safes that are not waterproof will fill with water should the home experience flooding. Some floor safes are watertight, protecting critical documents and electronics from harm. That said, most cannot stay entirely watertight for an extended period. Most waterproof safes will endure sitting in 6 to 8 inches of water for up to a day or so without allowing water to infiltrate the interior compartment.
Dial combination locks also fare better in water than their electronic counterparts, which are susceptible to shorting out and potentially leaving the user locked out. Those looking to use their safe to protect valuables from flooding should make sure that any safe with a digital lock has a backup key that can bypass the keypad in the event it suffers water damage and stops working.
Our Top Picks
The list below takes into account the above considerations to narrow the field to some of the best floor safes on the market by lock type and price point. Any of the safes below will secure jewelry, essential papers, flash drives, cash, and other valuables.
Best Overall
SentrySafe SFW123CU Fireproof Waterproof Safe
With construction that makes it waterproof and fireproof, as well as an old-school dial lock that doesn’t require electricity, this floor safe from SentrySafe is one of the best means of securing one’s valuables. In the event of a fire, this safe will protect its contents from temperatures up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit for up to one hour. It will also remain watertight in up to 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours, making it ideal for important documents, hard drives, and other valuables susceptible to water damage.
A dial-locking system will continue to work through all of this abuse, ensuring the user can open the safe once the flood or fire is over. It can even endure a 15-foot fall without cracking or breaking open. This safe is also well suited to resist tampering or break-in attempts with its four locking bolts and pry-resistant hinge. Its spacious 1.23-cubic-foot capacity features multiple shelves for keeping valuables organized.
Runner-Up
Amazon Basics Home Keypad Safe
At 1.52 cubic feet, this safe offers more capacity than other safes, making it an attractive option for protecting larger valuables. With an 8-gauge-thick steel door and 14-gauge-thick steel body, it can take a lot of abuse without giving in. Two large bolts secure the door, while concealed hinges resist prying. A battery-powered digital keypad keeps the safe locked, and an emergency key serves as a backup in the event the batteries wear out. Convenient predrilled holes on the base and the back—many safes have one or the other—are helpful for mounting the unit to the wall or the floor. Inside, the safe features a shelf for organizing valuables.
With its spacious volume, this model takes up more space than other floor safes at 13.8 inches long, 13 inches wide, and about 16.5 inches high. It’s also available in larger and smaller models of 1.85 and 1.2 cubic feet.
Best Bang For The Buck
Stalwart Digital Safe-Electronic Steel Safe
While this safe may not have the volume of larger models, its low price tag makes it an excellent option for those looking to store just a few valuables. Despite its low price, it has some excellent additional features. A large battery-powered keypad with three LED lights that indicate when the safe is locked or unlocked allows the user to open the safe quickly. The keypad will lock and sound an alarm for 20 seconds after three incorrect entries and for five minutes after an additional three incorrect entries, letting the owner know if someone is trying to crack the safe.
Its half-cubic foot volume makes it ideal for securing cash, jewelry, or an iPad. This small size—it measures just 12 inches long, 8 inches wide and 8 inches high—also makes it an excellent option for closets and other tight spaces. Mounting brackets at the rear of the unit ensure that no one can carry off the entire safe.
Best Electronic
TIGERKING Security Home Safe
With two different security mode options, the TIGERKING Security Home Safe is one of the more versatile safes on the market. A high-security mode requires a keycode and a master key to open the safe, while the second mode allows the user to open the safe with the code only, allowing for quick access to valuables in the event of an emergency. After three incorrect code entries, the keypad locks and the safe will sound an alarm, preventing a potential thief from attempting to break in by guessing codes.
The interior offers 1.4 cubic feet of space and includes shelves for organization. As floor safes are often set up in darker areas, such as in closets, interior LED lights are a convenient extra. A backup power supply prevents lockouts should the batteries die. Mounting holes at the rear allow the user to bolt the safe to the wall.
Best Biometric
Viking Security Safe VS-25BL Biometric Safe
Unlocking a safe through fingerprint recognition is no longer limited to spy movies or the rich and famous. This biometric safe allows the user to access its contents via a fingerprint recognition scanner or a keypad, making it ideal for valuables one needs to get to quickly. With the ability to save up to 32 fingerprints, multiple household members can access the valuables stored inside. It also includes a backup emergency key in the event the keypad loses power.
A carpeted interior won’t scratch delicate valuables, while an LED light allows the user to see the interior once open. Two locking bars and anti-pry insertion slots around the door jamb protect against prybar attacks. Predrilled holes on the back and the bottom allow for mounting to the wall or the floor.
The Advantages of Owning a Floor Safe
Whether protecting a flash drive with sensitive information from destruction by fire or flood or keeping family heirlooms safe from theft, a simple floor safe is an effective means of keeping one’s valuables safe.
- They are difficult to detect. Floor safes are relatively smaller than full-size safes, allowing the user to conceal them in a closet or under a bed. This forces thieves to find the safe before they can even attempt to open it.
- Some are fire- and water-resistant. Storing valuable documents or a flash drive in a safe won’t do much good if fire or water can infiltrate the safe and destroy them. The best floor safe can protect valuables against not only intruders but also natural disasters.
- They save space. A floor safe is an excellent way of securing expensive jewelry, cash, passports, and other valuables without hogging space. Their small size makes them ideal security solutions for smaller homes and apartments.
FAQs About Floor Safes
If you still have questions about how floor safes work or how waterproof they are, then read on for answers to these concerns and other common questions.
Q. How do you open a floor safe?
While floor safes use a dial, keypad, or biometric fingerprint reader to disengage the bolts that hold the door closed, most floor safes require the user to turn a handle or latch to physically open the door after entering the correct combination.
Q. Are floor safes waterproof?
Some floor safes are waterproof with seals that allow them to remain watertight up to a certain water depth and for a set amount of time.
Q. How heavy should a jewelry safe be?
A jewelry safe can range from 40 pounds to more than 100 pounds, depending on its size. That said, a safe’s weight is less important than how it’s secured. Lighter safes have mounting brackets that allow the user to bolt them to the wall or floor to prevent someone from stealing the entire safe.
Q. How do you mount a safe to the floor?
Use lag bolts to attach a safe to the floor via its predrilled mounting holes. For maximum security, make sure the bolts engage with a floor joist. This will create a strong connection, preventing a thief from ripping the safe out of the floor.