The Best Fireproof Safes for Important Documents and Items

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Valuable documents, family heirlooms, and firearms are susceptible to damage or loss in the face of fire, water, or intruders, but this collection of the top fireproof safes can keep valuables secure.

Fireproof safes can stop a fire or break-in from escalating from terrible to truly disastrous by keeping essential documents like birth certificates, Social Security cards, and passports safe from destruction or theft. These have at least 30 minutes of fire protection and the durability to keep thieves out. They’re also a good way to organize and keep track of sensitive information in the home as part of your home security system.

Useful features range from biometric locks and backup locks to alarms and water resistance. Wondering, ‘what is the best fireproof and waterproof safe for home use?’ Your budget, capacity needs, and available space will help determine which fireproof home safe is suitable to keep your valuables secure. Each of the top picks below was selected after an in-depth review of the market and thorough product vetting.

1. BEST OVERALL: SentrySafe Digital Fire/Water Safe
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Honeywell 1102 Molded Fire/Water Chest
3. BEST WITH ALARM: SentrySafe Combination Fire/Water Safe
4. BEST MINI SAFE: First Alert Water and Fire Protector File Chest
5. BEST SAFE BOX: Honeywell 6104 Fire-Resistant Steel Security Box
6. BEST SAFE CHEST: SentrySafe Fire/Water File
7. BEST BIOMETRIC SAFE: Amazon Basics Safe With Biometric Fingerprint Lock
8. ALSO CONSIDER: Amazon Basics Programmable Fire-Resistant Safe

How We Chose the Best Fireproof Safes

We spent hours researching fireproof safes because they come in a wide range of styles and designs, with varying levels of security to protect from theft, fire, and/or water. We started by looking for safes with maximum temperature ranges above 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit with at least 30 minutes of fire protection.

From there, we considered construction. Does the safe have a live locking bolt? How many? How are the hinges designed? (Exposed hinges are easy to break into.) How many layers make up the fire protection? (It often takes several layers of materials, including thick steel, to stop high temperatures from damaging valuables.)

The locking mechanism also played an important role in our choices. The locking mechanism should be secure enough to deter thieves, though fireproof safes are better at fire protection than protection from burglary. Safes with more than one kind of entry mechanism, like a combination lock with a key, also got higher marks from us. It’s always good to have a secondary locking key in case of an emergency.

Our Top Picks

The safes on this list offer a wide range of features and perform well under Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) testing. Some models have extra features like alarms, while others offer biometric entry. We used fireproof safe reviews and user experience to critically examine the features and benefits of the top fireproof safes to select options to meet a variety of needs.

Best Overall

SentrySafe Digital Fire/Water Safe

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Protects contents for 1 hour in temps up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lock type: Electronic combination lock
• Dimensions: 17.8 inches high by 16.3 inches wide by 19.3 inches deep
• Weight: 86.69 pounds

Pros

• Fireproof; protects valuables in a fire for 1 hour at up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit
• Waterproof, with contents staying dry in 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours
• Locked drawer and organization features keep small items in place
• Interior lighting makes content more visible at night or in dark spaces
• Includes dual backup key that allows disabling of primary lock, even if others know the combination
• Includes all necessary hardware to bolt in place if required

Cons

• Heavyweight compared to similar fireproof safes available on the market
• Some users say the safes they received came with dents

This extra-large fireproof and waterproof digital safe from SentrySafe (model number SFW123GDC) ticks all of the boxes for the safekeeping of sensitive items. Its UL fireproof rating indicates that it can keep its 1.23 cubic feet of interior space at a safe temperature for important documents, DVDs, and USB drives for up to 1 hour in temperatures up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit.

This SentrySafe model is fireproof and waterproof for 24 hours in depths up to 8 inches.

Burglars will have a hard time cracking this egg since it can also withstand a 15-foot drop without breaking. The safe also comes with bolt-down hardware to secure it from thieves. Set a combination on the digital keypad but also have the assurance of access with backup keys.

On the interior, a locking drawer and shelves organize important documents and valuables, with interior lights that illuminate contents in the dark. At 86.69 pounds, this model is not lightweight. It requires four AA batteries to run the lock mechanism and interior light.

Get the SentrySafe fireproof and waterproof digital safe at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Best Bang for the Buck

Honeywell 1102 Molded Fire/Water Chest

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Protects contents for 30 minutes in temps up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lock type: Key lock
• Dimensions: 7.3 inches high by 12.4 inches wide by 9.8 inches deep
• Weight: 19.8 pounds

Pros

• Compact footprint; suitable for hiding in small spaces like bookshelves, in trunks, or under furniture
• Interior stays dry for up to 24 hours; suitable for wet climates or flooding
• The portable design allows for quick removal or transporting; the carrying handle is built-in
• The key lock operates without the need for batteries

Cons

• Interior size requires 8.5-inch by 11-inch sheets of paper to be folded

This small 0.15-cubic-foot safe offers excellent fire and water protection at a reasonable price. The UL fire protection rating indicates that it can withstand temperatures up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. When locked, it creates a waterproof seal that keeps the interior dry for up to 24 hours.

The key lock is simple to use and fast to open, and a carrying handle makes it easy to pick up this 19.8-pound safe and store it. The design also allows it to hold important documents, CDs, DVDs, and flash drives full of irreplaceable memories and information.

Get the Honeywell 1102 fireproof safe at Amazon or Honeywell.

Best With Alarm

SentrySafe Combination Fire/Water Safe

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Protects contents for 1 hour in temps up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lock type: Combination lock
• Dimensions: 17.8 inches high by 16.3 inches wide by 19.3 inches deep
• Weight: 86.3 pounds

Pros

• Contents remain dry in 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours; provides excellent peace of mind
• Built-in pry-resistant hinge bar prevents unwanted theft and burglary
• Includes bolt-down hardware that ensures thieves cannot remove safe from home or office

Cons

• Cannot be wall-mounted; may need to be placed on a shelf or hidden in a cabinet
• No backup key is provided; an additional key only overrides the primary lock
• No interior light; may be hard to see the contents in dim lighting

This safe (model number SFW123DSB) features a combination lock and dual-key access to keep digital media, jewelry, important documents, and other valuables secure. This SentrySafe model comes with four 1-inch bolts and a pry-resistant hinge bar to prevent unwanted theft and tampering.

With 1.19 cubic feet of storage space, this safe can withstand temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour and be immersed in 8-inch deep water for up to 24 hours. This model also comes with a solid steel construction for durability and long-term protection as well as multiple racks for keeping valuables organized. Finally, bolt-down hardware is included so users can mount the safe to a shelf or floor preventing removal from the home.

Get the SentrySafe combination fireproof safe at Amazon.

Best Mini Safe

First Alert Water and Fire Protector File Chest

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Protects contents for 30 minutes in temps up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lock type: Key lock
• Dimensions: 13 inches high by 16.25 inches wide by 13.25 inches deep
• Weight: 38.9 pounds

Pros

• Simple to use right out of the box; no assembly required
• Lock box holds standard-size file folders without folding or creasing
• Watertight when clamped and locked; suitable if home or office is in an extremely flood-prone area

Cons

• The watertight seal can trap moisture inside quite easily; ensure items are dry before storing

The First Alert water and fire protector file chest acts as a fire safe for important files, guarding documents for 30 minutes in temperatures up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit. There’s enough protection for multimedia devices like CDs and DVDs and space to store hanging file folders. The water-resistant resin materials also seal in the contents to protect them even when the safe is fully submerged.

A clamp-style closure secures the seal, while a key lock keeps out unwanted hands. At 38.9 pounds, this model is relatively portable and still offers 0.62 cubic feet of storage space. That also means thieves could easily walk out with it. However, if it’s kept somewhere unexpected and away from prying eyes, it can protect valuables and keep them secure while traveling.

Get the First Alert fireproof safe at Amazon or Acme Tools.

Best Safe Box

Honeywell 6104 Fire-Resistant Steel Security Box

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Unspecified
• Lock type: Key lock
• Dimensions: 4.1 inches high by 12.7 inches wide by 8.8 inches deep
• Weight: 5.8 pounds

Pros

• Lightweight and portable; suitable for travel or keeping in the car
• Hinged-lid design is tamperproof, guarding against any unwanted theft
• Padded bottom and interior protect contents during drops and falls

Cons

• Limited fire protection compared to other waterproof and fireproof safes and chests

The Honeywell 6104’s double steel walls with fire-resistant insulation create a protective chamber for cash, documents, or a few small valuables. It comes with two keys so users can keep them in separate locations and always maintain easy access.

A hidden hinge resists tampering, while a carrying handle lets users take the light 5.8-pound box with them to trade shows, on trips, or between work and home.

This security safe’s padded bottom cushions the contents to protect them from falls and scrapes. The durability and fire resistance enable this box to provide extra security while on the go.

Get the Honeywell 6104 fireproof safe at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Honeywell.

Best Safe Chest

SentrySafe Fire/Water File

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Protects contents for 30 minutes in temps up to 1,220 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lock type: Key lock
• Dimensions: 14.3 inches high by 15.5 inches wide by 13.5 inches deep
• Weight: 38.85 pounds

Pros

• Impressive 72-hour water protection when fully submerged; suitable for homes and offices in flood-prone areas
• Design holds standard file folders without folding; suitable for keeping important and legal documents safe
• Elastic straps on the lid interior provide added organization options

Cons

• Some buyers say the file safes they received arrived with defective handles

This SentrySafe fireproof document file safe (model number HD4100) features excellent fire and water protection along with interior organization features to keep its 0.65 feet of cubic space easily accessible. This model is UL rated to resist temperatures of up to 1,220 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes. It’s also ETL verified to keep the contents dry when submerged underwater for up to 72 hours.

All that protection comes with helpful organization features. Elastic straps on the inside of the lid securely hold documents or electronics. The bottom portion of this fireproof document file safe has rails for file folders. The chest can essentially become a secure mobile office for business trips or used for important documents at home.

Get the SentrySafe fireproof file safe at Amazon or SentrySafe.

Best Biometric Safe

Amazon Basics Safe With Biometric Fingerprint Lock

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Unspecified
• Lock type: Biometric and keyed
• Dimensions: 9.8 inches high by 13.8 inches wide by 9.8 inches deep
• Weight: 21.7 pounds

Pros

• Dual locking bolts and pry-resistant concealed hinges protect from forced entry
• Organized, shelved design keeps valuables where users can see them
• 500 DPI semiconductor can read a fingerprint in under a second
• 14-gauge carbon-steel body and 8-gauge carbon-steel door prevent burglary
• Predrilled holes and mounting hardware included for holding in place

Cons

• No fire resistance level included with product description; may not withstand fires for long
• Limited size for storing items; not suitable for an ample amount of items

This Amazon Basics steel security safe protects contents with dual locking bolts activated by its finger scanner—it’s the reason this safe made our list. Biometric scans use unique physiology (a fingerprint) to keep potential thieves out and valuables safe.

With 0.5 cubic feet of storage space, this safe comes with a 500 DPI semiconductor to read a fingerprint in under 1 second. Plus, it holds up to 50 individual fingerprints and can be locked and unlocked with a fingerprint scan more than 1 million times. For additional protection, this safe is made with an 8-gauge carbon-steel door, 14-gauge carbon-steel body, and pry-resistant concealed hinges.

This pick is also capable of being wall-mounted with predrilled holes and hardware included. Finally, for quick opening, this safe comes with a backup key for emergencies.

Get the Amazon Basics biometric fireproof safe at Amazon.

Also Consider

Amazon Basics Programmable Fire-Resistant Safe

Product Specs

• Fire rating: Protects contents for 20 minutes in temps up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit
• Lock type: Electronic combination lock
• Dimensions: 19.67 inches high by 14.17 inches wide by 13.8 inches deep
• Weight: 67 pounds

Pros

• Withstands temperatures of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes
• Adjustable shelf can hold small to large items easily; suitable for organizing important items
• The padded interior prevents items inside from being damaged if dropped or it falls
• 5 large 0.75-inch bolts prevent tampering, burglary, and prying
• A durable 14-gauge-steel body protects against the threat of theft

Cons

• Not waterproof; can only withstand the threat of fire but not flooding
• 20-minute fire safety protection is limited compared to similar models

For fire safety, the Amazon Basics safe can withstand fire up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. An adjustable shelf located at the top of the safe’s interior can keep small items like cash and jewelry organized or create a larger space suitable for firearms, documents, or other valuables.

Made with a durable 14-gauge steel body and five large 0.75-inch bolts, this safe provides excellent security and
theft protection. It also complies with Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL) 72 Standards and provides 1.2 cubic feet of space for valuables. Plus, the padded interior prevents items from getting damaged.

Get the Amazon Basics programmable fireproof safe at Amazon.

Jump to Our Top Picks

What to Consider When Choosing a Fireproof Safe 

Fire and theft are at the top of most people’s home security concerns. Some safes offer better protection from one than the other. Water damage is another issue at the top of many people’s minds, and some safes offer some water resistance in addition to their other protective capabilities.

Ultimately, the items buyers want to protect and wh