Home safes are a good idea if you keep valuables in the house. It can, however, be difficult to know which one best suits your specific needs.
In this article, we review five of the best options for every budget. We’ve also provided some tips on what to look out for before buying.
Here are the best home safes in Australia:
1. CMI MG4D Home Safe (Best Large Safe)
The MG4D is our pick for the best home safe on the market. It offers up to 30 minutes of fire protection which is plenty for domestic situations. It also has an electronic keypad for easy operation and secondary relocking devices to keep your goods secure.
The plate in the door is 8mm thick and the plate for the main body is 4mm thick, so it’s pretty sturdy. It has bolt holes in the bottom in case you want to secure it to the floor, but at 65kg, it’s not likely that anyone will carry it off.
It stands at over 60cm tall, so some may find it too big for a home safe, otherwise, this is probably the best fireproof safe you can get.
CMI is one of the most trusted names in home safes, so if you value peace of mind, it’s hard to go wrong with this one.
What We Like:
- 30 minutes of fire protection
- Electronic keypad
- Secondary relocking devices
- High-end locking system
What We Don’t Like:
- May be too big for some people
2. CMI HS1C Home Safe with Combination Locking (Best Small Safe)
Another excellent product from CMI, the HS1C is one of the more compact home safes. making it good for storing jewellery and cash. It weighs only 13kg, but it has holes in the base and back for mounting or securing it to the floor.
It has 12mm plate on the door and 6mm plate on the body. The steel door also has a rear dog bar which will keep the safe secure in the event that the hinges are cut. The body is reinforced with steel bar around the front edges to make the safe extra burglar-proof.
Overall, this is an excellent, compact, fireproof home safe that will ensure your small items are secure.
What We Like:
- Trusted brand
- Reinforced body
- Mounting holes
What We Don’t Like:
- Lightweight
3. Sentry Safe X055 16.4L Security Safe (Best Budget Safe)
The Sentry Safe X055 is a good budget safe if you need somewhere to keep cash or documents but don’t want to spend big bucks on a full safe.
It has a pry-resistant door and two locking bolts that will prevent most burglars from getting in.
The body is made from solid steel, but it is not as sturdy as you get with a more expensive safe. This one definitely needs to be bolted down to get the most out of it.
Overall, this is good for holding cash and documents that you access regularly, but for jewellery and heirlooms, you may want something more expensive.
What We Like:
- Inexpensive
- Pry-resistant door
- Easy to use
What We Don’t Like:
- Won’t stop a determined burglar
4. Burg Wachter CL10S Home Key Lock Safe
The CL10S from Burg-Wachter is among the best home safes that can protect your goods from fire for up to 30 minutes.
This fire proof safe weighs in at 44kg, which is heavy enough to prevent most burglars from trying to carry it off, but it also has mounting holes in the bottom so you can secure it to the floor.
The body is double-walled construction and the door hinge is concealed internally, making it that much harder to break into and keeping your valuables safe for longer.
Opening the safe requires a key rather than a combination, which can be more convenient in an office environment. Overall, this is an excellent safe that is especially good for storing documents or home security.
What We Like:
- 30 minutes fire-resistant
- Internal hinge
- Key lock
What We Don’t Like:
- No combination lock
5. SereneLife Home Fire Safe Lock Box
This safe from SereneLife is more of a strongbox than a safe. It’s lightweight, and won’t stand up to a determined burglar with tools, but if you just need something to protect documents then it’s a good low-budget alternative to a traditional safe.
It has an digital keypad and a manual override with a key lock. It also has a fingerprint sensor for added security.
If you want to secure it to the floor, it has anchor holes in the bottom, but the supplied screws are a little cheap so you should pick up some stronger ones from the hardware store.
This is a good safe for the price, just don’t expect Fort Knox levels of security.
What We Like:
- Finger-print sensor
- Manual override with a backup key
What We Don’t Like:
- Supplied screws could be more sturdy
- Lightweight
6. Bunnings Safes
If you’re looking for a wide range of affordable home safes, consider checking out your local Bunnings.
From Lockwood to First Alert, they stock a range of sizes and styles, which will suit many home safe requirements.
What We Like:
- Wide range of home safes
- Fire and water-resistant options
What We Don’t Like:
- No high-end ultra secure options
Home Safe Buyer’s Guide
Here are a few things to keep an eye out for in your search for a home safe to keep your valuables secure:
Fire resistance
Most people who buy a home safe are concerned about it being fire resistant. Safes are rated on what kind of material they will protect.
For instance, safes that are good for protecting paper documents shouldn’t get any hotter than 180 degrees celsius inside.
Safes that are rated for tape recordings and film negatives shouldn’t get hotter than 65 degrees celsius, and safes that are for computer disks and DVDs shouldn’t get any hotter than 50 degrees celsius.
Most safes will protect the goods inside for about 30 minutes. This is standard since most house fires pass through a room in about 20 minutes, although you can get a fireproof safe that will protect items for up to an hour or more if you are willing to pay a higher price.
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Theft protection
Another consideration is how long it will take a thief to crack a safe. Using optimal tools and a blowtorch, most safes can last for 15 minutes.
Generally, burglars aren’t going to want to spend that much time. They will grab whatever they can carry and get out fast.
A small safe will usually weigh at least 40 kilos, which is already a deterrent, and many of them can be bolted down which is good for home security.
Water resistance
Some safes are verified as waterproof, which can be useful for storing important documents. Check to see if the safe can be fully submerged without any water getting inside.
In the event of an earthquake, flood or another disaster, it is possible that part of your home can become submerged so it is important that your valuables are protected.
Size
Don’t judge a safe by looking at the outside, the storage area inside may be quite a bit smaller due to a thick door and walls.
It’s best to gather up everything you plan to keep inside the safe and measure it to see how much room you will need.
Home Safe FAQs
There is no one best place to keep a safe. If you plan to access it frequently, you will want to keep it within easy reach and near the place where you will use it. For instance, if you plan to store jewellery, then you should keep it in the bedroom if it’s small enough. If you only plan to store documents and other items that you won’t need often, then you can keep it in a closet or as a wall safe.