How to Install Home Safes in Walls

Find the stud in the wall closest to where you want to install the safe. Studs are lengths of wood that run vertically behind the drywall. Most studs are 16 inches or 24 inches apart, measuring from the center of each stud.

To find studs, knock on the wall and listen for a dense thud (as opposed to a hollow thud). When you think you have found a place where a stud is located, hammer a nail into the wall. If the nail meets some resistance, you have found a stud.

Another way to find studs is by using a tool called a stud finder. This hand-held tool is usually battery operated and uses radar to find studs. You can buy a stud finder at any home improvement store, such as Sears or Lowes.

Once you have found a stud, use your pencil to mark its location on the wall. Find the stud that is next to it, either to the right or to the left, and mark its location. You will install your safe in the middle between these two studs.

Measure the perimeter of your home safe. Most safes have a face place or frame that lays flat against the outer wall and helps keep the safe secure--this is not the part you want to measure. You want to find the size of the four sides of the body or box of the safe that actually goes into the wall.

Use the level to draw the dimensions of the safe on the wall. Pay attention to the level to make sure your lines are straight and level. Be sure to draw the measurements in the middle of the two studs.

Cut out the opening for the safe with the drywall saw. Carefully follow the lines you have drawn, and remove the square of drywall when you are finished.

Fill in the space between the studs and the opening you have cut out. Using your hammer or drill, nail your wood shims or blocks to the studs. Two or three nails are usually enough to secure the wood to the studs. You want to make sure that the inside walls are flush with the edges of the opening. Make sure the wood does not protrude beyond the edges or else the safe will not fit.

Install the safe into the wall. The best way to do this is to tilt the safe into the opening, starting with the bottom. Once all the sides are in, push it all the way back. Check to make sure the outer frame or face plate is flat against the wall.

Secure the safe with screws. Most safes come with pre-cut holes in the sides of the safe so you can screw it to the wood. If your safe does not have holes already in the metal, you will have to drill them yourself. Make two or three holes in each vertical side of the safe. Space the holes so that they are equidistant apart.

If you are unable to drill through the metal, check the instructions that came with the safe to see how the manufacturer recommends securing the safe in the wall.