How to Choose a Personal Safe

Compare by model and price. A personal safe can range in price from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Consider size, shape and configuration (i.e., keypad versus combination dial) when comparing models.

Check trade publications. Reference the official publication of the Safe and Vault Technicians Association to learn industry specific information about vaults and safes. Contact the publication directly if the magazine is not available at your local news stand.

Safe and Vault Technology
3003 Live Oak St.
Dallas, TX 75204-6189

Choose a safe that is both fire-proof and theft-proof. Look for certification on the product description and verify that the safe has been tested and inspected for such claims. The personal safe should have enough heat resistance to withstand 1,850 F (1,010 C) of heat caused by fire for at least two hours.

Save money by purchasing a fire-proof safe, as well as a theft-proof safe. Place the theft-proof safe in the fire-proof safe. Estimates as of 2009 suggest that purchasing a safe with protection against both fire and theft is more costly than buying two separate safes.

Consider the construction of the safe. A good personal safe will be made of solid steel. It also will have a door that is half an inch thick and walls that are one-fourth of an inch thick.

Protect against tampering with a relocking failsafe. Equipped with a relocking device, the relocking failsafe allows the personal safe to automatically relock if a thief or unauthorized person attempts to open the lock or enter an incorrect password or code.

Evaluate the manufacturer's warranty. Consider policies regarding returns and repairs.

Decide how the safe will be secured within the home. Some personal safes offer an internal anchoring system. Bolt-down kits are available for models that are not designed with this feature.