These Expert-Recommended Fireproof Safes Will Keep Your Most Important Documents Safe

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Have you been procrastinating on buying a fireproof safe for your home? Unfortunately, it’s one of those emergency essentials that you won’t wish you had until it’s too late.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), due to the combustibility of modern furnishings, you have two minutes to safely evacuate your home once the smoke detector or fire alarm sounds. Trying to grab valuables or any personal items would be risky at best, and while the thought of leaving things behind can be costly, there is nothing more important than your safety and your family’s.

If there is a scenario where you must leave your home immediately, having a fireproof safe can provide some peace of mind. A fireproof safe is ideal for storing documents like passports, wills, birth certificates, and even family keepsakes like baby books or heirlooms. Knowing cash and jewelry won’t be damaged by smoke or destroyed by flames can be a comfort also.

According to Brinks Home, one of the country’s largest security companies, irreplaceable items or jewels may be better placed in a safety deposit box. Keep documents you might need, such as those mentioned above, at home, since banks are not open around-the-clock, and you might need access to important papers at any given moment, especially in the wake of an emergency.

You may also want to consider a safe that is not only fireproof, but waterproof, so you’re protected from the impact of sprays, sprinklers, and hoses used to extinguish flames, as well as covered in case of a flood. Safes also come with pry-resistant hinges to deter theft. Many safes are impact-resistant, which is helpful in natural disasters like earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes. With heavy-duty construction, many fireproof safes are best installed on the ground level of your home (not the garage due to flooding concerns) and bolted into the floor, an added deterrent for theft.

As you move up in price, some of the more expensive safes offer elevated security through biometric locks and vibrating alarms. Go that route if you are equally concerned with a potential home invasion as you are with a fire.

Shopping for a fireproof safe can mean sorting through a bewildering landscape of locking mechanisms and confusing fire ratings. Our recommended fireproof safes—from floor-mounted options to portable ones—strike the right balance of storage and protection. Whether you’re invested in securing what matters most at home or taking your valuables with you when you go, you’ll find a range of fireproof home safes and chests that will fit your mission and your budget.

Best Fireproof Home Safes

• Best Overall: SentrySafe Waterproof and Fireproof Safe Box

• Best Budget: SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Steel Home Safe

• Best Portable: Honeywell Fire-Safe Waterproof Safe Box Chest with Carry Handle

• Best for Documents: Sentry Safe Fireproof Waterproof File Folder and Document Safe

• Best Splurge: Sanctuary Diamond Safe Fireproof Waterproof Safe

What to Look for in a Fireproof Home Safe

Fire Protection Rating

To withstand high temperatures, choose a safe that is completely fireproof rather than a security safe with a fire-resistant envelope. For advanced protection, fireproof safes should withstand temperatures of at least 1150 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or more. Any safe you purchase should have fireproof ratings certified by either the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) or the inspection firm Intertek, designated by an “ETL” mark.

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Lock Type

There are several different types of locking mechanisms available depending on the level os security you desire. You’ll find a variety in the recommendations below, from traditional keys and combination locks to electronic keypads. Any of these choices are adequate for basic security, but if you’re concerned about theft or limiting access to others in the household, consider a safe with a biometric locking mechanism.

Size and Dimensions

The size of the valuables you need to store and the available space in your home will dictate the dimensions needed for your fireproof safe. Look for a deeper safe if you need to protect a large cache of valuables or a variety of different-sized items. Avoid installing a safe in the master bedroom, where security experts indicate thieves are most likely to check for valuables first.

Weight and Portability

For a fireproof safe you can transport, look for lightweight fireproof chest or document box that weighs 30 pounds or less. it can be carried without strain no matter your physical capabilities. Heavier fireproof home security safes (upwards of 75 pounds and designed to deter thieves) usually specify and provide hardware for floor mounting.

Waterproof or Water-Resistant

Many fireproof safes claim to be water-resistant or waterproof, but only in certain conditions such as standing water of 5- to 8- inches, and possibly for only a certain duration of time. This ensures added protection of the safe's contents when sprinklers go off in an apartment complex or the safe finds itself in the direct line of heavy-duty hoses.

How We Evaluated Fireproof Safes

I determined the best fireproof safes by evaluating home safes currently on the market, purchasing and testing safes in my home, and reviewing fireproof standards from the UL and Intertek labs. I also considered customer reviews as well as recommendations from professional firefighters.

During this process, I purchased several fireproof safes to test and ultimately kept the Honeywell Fire Safe recommended below. My decision was driven by the small number of documents and valuables I need to store as well as how often our family needs to evacuate due to wildfire risk. However, I was surprised at how attractive and easy-to-use the SentrySafe fireproof models were, and considered finding more things to store simply to justify keeping one.

I further found Amazon awash in off-brand home security safes that were listed as fireproof, but only included a fire- resistant envelope. It requires a sharp eye to parse out genuinely fireproof safes, so buyer beware when doing your own research.

Waterproof and Fireproof Safe Box

SentrySafe is the industry leader in fireproof safes with its lifetime warranty, UL-certified fire protection of up to one hour at 1700 degrees F, and a Fire Protection Guarantee up to $50,000. This 1.23 cubic-foot safe strikes a balance between security and element protection, with a waterproof ETL-rating of 24 hours in up to 8 inches of water.

The tradeoff for this robust protection is a hefty weight of 90 pounds (the third heaviest safe of my picks), which is a theft deterrent but also a challenge when trying to install this mammoth.

Multiple locking mechanisms include a digital keypad, secondary key, and locked interior compartment. A minus: The roomy, well-lit shelves and electronic keypad do require a steady supply of batteries.

Fireproof and Waterproof Steel Home Safe

This SentrySafe budget option is a scaled-down version of the Best Overall pick, with smaller capacity yet many of the same features, like live locking bolts and impact resistance up to 15 feet.

For about $100 less that the Best Overall pick, this safe offers similar UL-certified fire protection, SentrySafe’s warranty and fire protection guarantee, and an ETL waterproof rating of a slightly shallower 5 inches.

The lower cost translates into an old-school combination locking mechanism versus a keypad, and the absence of any lighting in its more compact interior. And while this smaller fireproof SentrySafe says it can be freestanding, it still tips the scale at almost 80 pounds.

Fire-Safe Waterproof Safe Box Chest with Carry Handle

This Honeywell fire safe is more like a molded fireproof chest with its convenient handle that makes it easier to grab in case evacuation is necessary.

Featuring 30-minute UL fire protection (up to 1550 degrees F), this chest has a waterproof rating, according to independent testing, with 24 hours of protection when completely submerged. Two side latches offer added protection from emergency sprinklers, floods and other water damage.

Small but mighty, it’s the least expensive of the options included here and will work well for anyone who just has a few documents and small valuables to store. The drawback is that it’s only accessible via keys and doesn’t sport any additional security features.

Fireproof Waterproof File Folder and Document Safe

SentrySafe’s document safe is essentially a waterproof, fireproof file cabinet. It can accommodate up to 40 hanging files, making documents easy to access and store. This document safe also sports an in-lid organizer with elastic strap for smaller valuables.

In addition to the half-hour UL-certified fireproof protection (at 1550 degrees Fahrenheit), the ETL waterproof rating means the safe can be submerged for up to 72 hours without compromising the contents.

While you might anticipate this compact file folder is easy to transport at 39 pounds, customers report the weight and absence of easy-carry handles makes it difficult to lift easily.

Diamond Safe Fireproof Waterproof Safe

This Sanctuary safe offers robust fire protection—it's able to withstand a blistering 1800 degrees F for 90 minutes. Additionally, with ETL-rated waterproofing, it can hold out for 7 days in up to 9.8 inches of standing water. Sanctuary provides a lifetime warranty against fire, natural flood, and theft.

The LED-lit interior has two upholstered shelves and is California DOJ-certified for firearm storage. For security, the electronic lock has a Timed Lockout Mode and Tamper Indicator. An optional Silent Entry Mode can be enabled for discreet entry.

Once you get this relatively attractive safe situated, at 100 pounds, it’s not likely you'll want to move it again, but its intimidating sturdiness and heavy-duty construction is worth the extra money.

3.47 Cubic Feet Fireproof Safe

If fire protection for an array of valuables and documents is a secondary concern to security, this roomy, three-shelf safe with lighted interior gets the job done.

The Tigerking safe is opened by a combination of key, password, or fingerprint, and the dual alarm system triggers noise and vibration after three incorrect password attempts.

The downside: Tigerking doesn’t specify whether the half-hour window of fire resistance at elevated temperatures is independently verified, and the safe doesn’t lay claim to any water resistance.

Still, Amazon customers offer fairly positive reviews of this relatively lightweight safe, saying the solid customer service and size make it a good value.

SFW205CWB Fireproof Waterproof Safe

If you’re storing a variety of valuables, some won’t be easy to toss onto a safe shelf. Whether you’re securing first-edition books, jewelry, or even cash, this large fireproof safe has convenient built-in and adjustable bins to stash your stuff.

Additionally, this safe offers the fire and water protection SentrySafe is known for—UL-classified to endure 1 hour at 1700 degrees F and ETL-verified to withstand a 15-foot fall during a fire and remain closed.

As the heaviest safe recommended here, it tips the scales at 125 pounds. Customers also complain that for better or for worse, the old-school dial lock can be hard to crack even when you do know the combination.

Fire Resistant Security Safe with Programmable Electronic Keypad

Fireproof for just 20 minutes in elevated temperatures, this Amazon safe has the lowest fire protection in this roundup and doesn’t offer any water-resistance. However, it is a large and relatively inexpensive option for those who want a basic, fire-resistant home security safe. This 1.24 cubic foot safe is light for its size (slightly over 66 pounds) and comes with adjustable shelving.

The safe receives five stars from a majority of Amazon customers who say it's a decent value for the price, but for me, the lack of padded shelving, drawers, or other storage options seem less than optimal for those trying to store a variety of valuables.

The Key Features in a Fireproof Safe, and More Hot Tips from Expert Kaz Weida

What is the most important feature to consider in a fireproof safe?

For a fireproof safe to be a worthwhile purchase, you have to be confident about its fireproof rating, both in terms of being verified by independent testing agencies, and that it will stand up to the temperatures and duration of an actual fire. I prioritized the quality and robustness of the fireproof rating for safes recommended here for that reason.

What about just a regular safe—one that isn’t fireproof?

Beware of home security safes that are listed as fireproof, and ones that may only include a small fire-resistant envelope. Once the temperature on the safe interior gets above 350 degrees F, any paper inside (including all your hard-earned cash) is at risk of scorching. The San Francisco Fire Department says even rooms in a burning house that aren’t on fire can get above 300 degrees F, which is hot enough to soften steel.

What about a safe that is waterproof? Is that equally important?

Because of sprinkler systems in many apartment complexes and the fact that firefighters are going to be hosing down your home during a fire, you'll want some water resistance when storing sensitive valuables or paper documents. That's why most fireproof safes offer water resistance up to a certain height of standing water.

What shouldn’t I put in a fireproof safe?

There are many things you can and should keep in a fireproof safe, but if it needs to be kept chilled or temperature controlled, it shouldn’t go in the safe long term. Avoid storing volatile chemicals or batteries in a safe as they can deteriorate or spill and damage other valuables.

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