These Expert-Recommended Fireproof Safes Will Keep Your Most Important Documents Safe (2024)

If you think home safes are only for firearms, expensive jewelry, or cash, think again. Many homeowners invest in safes to keep important documents and personal treasures protected not just from theft but also from fire, flood, and other unpredictable events.

With the increasing combustibility of modern furnishings, data from the National Fire Protection Association indicates you’ll only have about two minutes to safely evacuate from your home during a fire. In this scenario, the purchase of a fireproof safe seems like a small price to pay so you can focus on exiting swiftly rather than worrying about what you’re leaving behind.

Shopping for a fireproof home safe, however, can be a tricky exercise in reading the fine print. Specifications for safes, including fireproof ratings and security features, are sometimes misleading and may leave certain kinds of personal property largely unprotected from more common threats like house fires.

I sifted through a number of fireproof safes available now to determine which offer homeowners the best protection for a variety of items with a focus on protection from fire and with features that provide extra security and convenience for domestic settings.

Best Fireproof Home Safes

• Best Overall: SentrySafe Waterproof and Fireproof Safe Box
• Most Portable: Honeywell Fire-Safe Waterproof Safe Box Chest with Carry Handle
• Best Budget: Honeywell Fire-Resistant and Waterproof Safe
• Best Splurge: Sanctuary Diamond Safe Fireproof Waterproof Safe
• Best for Documents: SentrySafe Fireproof Waterproof File Folder and Document Safe

The Expert: I’ve worked in the home security industry for the past decade researching, writing, and testing home security equipment, as well as environmental monitoring and emergency preparedness products. Our home in Utah, which can be vulnerable to wildfires, sports a fireproof chest, a well-stocked emergency go-bag for our family of four, and a senior rescue dog named Foxx.

What to Consider in a Fireproof 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 F 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 of 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. 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 investigating home safes currently on the market, purchasing and testing safes in my home, and then reviewing fireproof standards from 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 needed 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.

SentrySafe is the industry leader in fireproof safes with its lifetime warranty, UL-certified fire protection of up to one hour at 1700 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 almost 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.

Key Specs

This Honeywell fire safe is more like a portable molded fireproof chest. With a convenient handle, it's easy to grab this and go if evacuation is necessary.

Featuring 30-minute UL fire protection (up to 1550 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 yet mighty, it’s one of the more affordable options included here and is suitable for anyone who has only documents and small valuables to store. The drawbacks: it is only accessible via key and has no additional security features.

Key Specs

This budget pick from Honeywell is a decent entry-level option. It offers all the features of a standing safe, including a removable, adjustable shelf for smaller valuables.

Not only fire-resistant, this safe is also waterproof when submerged for up to eight hours and comes with Honeywell’s lifetime guarantee, which replaces your safe if it’s ever damaged in a fire.

In exchange for the lower cost, you’ll sacrifice robust fire protection with a 30-minute ETL-tested fire rating; however, it is for a temperature that should exceed that of most house fires. The digital keypad lock isn’t fancy but will suffice for most home security purposes.

Key Specs

This Sanctuary Diamond is a gem. This safe offers robust fire protection—it's able to withstand a blistering 1800 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 smart-looking safe situated, at over 111 pounds, it’s not likely you'll want to move it again, but its intimidating sturdiness and heavy-duty construction are worth the extra money.

Key Specs

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

In addition to a half-hour UL-certified fireproof protection (at 1550 F), the ETL waterproof rating ensures 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.

Key Specs

If you’re storing a variety of valuables of different sizes and shapes, some of them may not be suitable to place on a shelf. Whether you’re securing first-edition books, jewelry, tablets, DVDs, 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 one hour at 1700 F and ETL-verified to withstand a 15-foot fall during a fire and remain closed.

This is the heaviest safe recommended in the roundup, tipping the scales at a hefty 125 pounds. Along with being cumbersome, another minus is, according to some customer reviews, the old-school dial lock can be hard to crack even when you do know the combination.

Key Specs

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, (it is "laboratory certified") and the safe doesn’t lay claim to any water resistance.

Still, Amazon customers give this safe positive reviews saying the solid customer service and size make it a good value.

Key Specs

This attractive safe from Barska provides fire protection for valuables behind a biometric lock that accommodates up to 100 users. The benefit of going biometric is you won't need to waste time looking around for keys or fumbling with entering a combination. All you need is your fingerprint to open the safe.

Traditional keys are available for emergency access and you can toggle the lock sounds on or off. With a removable shelf and pre-drilled mounting holes, this biometric box is ready to bolt straight into your floor in either the basem*nt or garage.

All these modern conveniences come with some downsides like the hefty price tag and a less robust fire rating than other home safes in this roundup. But if you’re looking for a fireproof safe that will blend into your home’s decor, Barska is a standout for style.

Key Specs

Fireproof for just 20 minutes in elevated temperatures, this Amazon safe has the lowest fire protection in this roundup and offers no 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 seems less than optimal if you're hoping to store a variety of valuables.

Key Specs

If you need to protect legal documents and small valuables on-the-go, this fireproof, water-resistant document bag can handle the task. It’s small and lightweight enough to slip into your suitcase, carry-on, or backpack without a second thought, and it's perfect for passports and other critically important travel or legal papers.

Since there are no locking or security features, you may want to stash this bag in a hotel safe when you arrive at your destination. And be warned that while the manufacturer specifies this document bag has a fire rating up to 2000 F, there is no indication of how the document bag has been tested or for how long.

Good Stuff also makes a UL-certified fireproof pouch ($15) to hold cash, small valuables, or even emergency medications while a fireproof box ($25) is perfect for passports, bank cards, and contracts.

Key Specs

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

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 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.

What maintenance do I need to do with my fireproof safe, and how often?

You might assume most safes are lock it and forget it, but they do require some maintenance. You should “air out” your safe to avoid moisture build-up every few weeks to a few months depending on the climate where you live and the contents of your safe. You should also replace the batteries in battery-powered safe locks once a year.

Do I need a dehumidifier for my safe to combat against moisture?

Most fireproof safes have a wall of moisture that activates during a fire to keep your contents safe, but this same feature can encourage moisture to build up within the safe itself. This is especially true if you live in a humid climate and need to store objects such as documents or guns. For most home safes, periodic airing out and an inexpensive desiccant bag or block will do the trick, but a larger safe may require a small dehumidifier.

Where is the best place to store your fireproof safe? Not on the floor, right?

Fireproof safes are heavy, so it’s preferable to store them on the floor even though it might make it harder for you to access. In fact, large standing safes often have mounting hardware included so you can bolt them into the floor of your basem*nt or garage for additional security and stability. If, however, your fireproof safe has an electronic lock, think twice about storing it in any room with humidity such as a bathroom, basem*nt, or a laundry room.

What about data and media that I need to protect? Do I need a lock box for these to place inside a fireproof safe for adequate protection?

Not all fireproof safes offer the best protection for data and media valuables. If the items you need to store and protect are primarily data like hard drives or media like photographs, you may want to consider a data or media fireproof cabinet or chest. You can purchase these types of safes as standalone units or as smaller boxes that fit inside a standing fireproof safe or fire chest.