What size safe do you need?
First, consider what size safe you need. If you’re looking to store important or sensitive documents, you’ll need only a smaller safe. But if you want somewhere safe to keep your large firearms, get something bigger.
What will you use your safe for?
Birth certificates, passports, and wills should be stored in a fire- and water-resistant safe. Heirlooms, jewelry, and small firearms should have added security features, like pry-resistant hinges or a heavyweight steel door to help keep burglars from breaking into the safe.
Where will you put your safe?
Smaller safes can be bolted down inside of drawers or stored on top of a shelf in the closet. Medium-sized safes can be mounted on the walls or bolted to the floor—just be sure to put them in a hidden area of your home, like a spare bedroom or basement. Larger safes, like hidden wall safes, can be mounted between studs in your home and hidden with a painting or other covering.