Sadly, fires, floods, and other natural disasters are increasingly common across the US and all of North America. And whether we’re talking about wildfires or house fires, floods or burst pipes… All it takes is a few minutes, and your valuables can be lost forever.
That’s why it’s never been more important to have a fireproof safe in your home, to protect your cash, jewelry, important documents, and other valuables from fire or floods.
Almost everyone can benefit from using a fireproof safe to ensure their valuables are protected from unexpected disasters.
But there’s one big problem: not all fireproof safes are built alike.
Some only offer temporary protection from fire and flame, lasting 20 or 30 minutes in intense heat, whereas others are designed to withstand thousands of degrees for an hour or longer.
And that’s precisely why we’ve put together the following guide on the best fireproof safes for home use in 2025. Below, we break down the best fireproof safe options, where to store them, and what to know before you buy.
Are All Safes and Vaults Fireproof?
No, not all safes or vaults are fireproof. In fact, no safe is 100% fireproof. Safes and vaults are generally only fire-resistant up to a temperature or time limit.
You might find a fireproof safe that’s rated fireproof for 1 hour at 1,700°F, or others that are only be rated for 30 minutes at 2,000°F. After that temperature or time limit is exceeded, the internal temperature of the safe may rise to a point where it damages papers, cash, electronics, or valuables stored inside.
When you see a safe rated as fireproof for 1 hour at 1,700°F, it means the safe can withstand direct exposure to fire at that temperature for no longer than 60 minutes. These ratings are based on rigorous tests conducted by organizations like UL to verify the safe's fire resistance.
As we'll explain below, some fireproof safes are better at protecting fire-sensitive items like paper and cash, whereas others won't be as effective.
Understanding UL Fire Protection Ratings
In North America, most safes are testing and adhere to Underwriters Laboratories, or UL, fire safety ratings.
Most American-made safes or vault have a tag on them indicating their rating class. UL class ratings are a key indicator of the performance of a safe in protecting its contents during a fire. Here’s a quick look at what the some UL fireproof rating classes look like:
- UL Class 350 - Ensures the internal temperature of the safe will not exceed 350°F, making it an ideal class for protecting paper documents and cash.
- UL Class 150 - Ensures the internal temperature will not exceed 150°F, which is suitable for protecting magnetic media, such as floppy disks, cassettes, VHS tapes, etc.
- UL Class 125 - Ensures the internal temperature will not exceed 125°F, providing adequate protect for even more sensitive documents and media.
Note that these classes are typically paired with a duration rating, such as 30 minutes, 1-hour, 2-hours, etc. So you’ll typically see safes stamped with a tag rating that says "Class 350 - 1-hour" or “Class 250 - 2-hours.” In this later's case, it means the safe’s internal temperature will remain below 250°F for at least 2 hours.
We should also mention that UL classes are just one fireproofing standard and there are several other fire safety testing and ratings systems, including ETL (Intertek), JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard), KSG, KIS, and GOST.
So depending on where the safe you purchase was manufactured, it may or may not have a UL fire safety stamp on it.
Important: Fire resistance is completely separate from waterproofing. Unless they’re specifically designated as being waterproof, safes may not protect against water intrusion.
Buying Considerations - What Makes a Good Fireproof Safe?
Now that you know about UL fireproof ratings, let’s take a look at the most important factors to consider when shopping around for a good fireproof safe.
- Fire Rating: Most house fires burn at around 1,100°F and 1,300°F. As a bare minimum, look for safes that can withstand temperatures of 1,700°F for at least 1-hour to ensure your valuables stay intact during fires.
- Size & Capacity: It’s also important to consider the type of valuables or contents you want to protect, such as documents, jewelry, or digital media. Want to protect paper documents and small amounts of cash? Then a smaller safe will do fine. Storing larger valuables? You may need a larger model.
- Lock Type: Safes and vaults come with all sorts of different locking mechanisms. So you can choose from safes that use keys, digital keypads, combination locks, or even biometric credentials. Biometrics may be the most secure type of locks but they're more costly and harder to use compared to digital or mechanical combination locks.
- Water Resistance: Not all fireproof safes are designed to be waterproof. Be sure to check waterproof or water-resistance specs if you’re looking for something to protect your valuables from water damage, as well as from fire and smoke. Water protection is optional, but it is ideal if you live in an area prone to flooding.
- Portability Vs Permanence: Most fireproof safes are larger and heavier. So if you’re looking for a safe to take with you during emergency evacuations, you may want to consider purchasing a fireproof bag instead, like one from our lineup of FireShield Pro documents bags. This line of products includes various sizes and types of bags to suit different needs.
When comparing safes, it's also important to consider the costs in relation to their features, quality, and reliability. Some models may have a higher price point but offer better protection and durability, making them a worthwhile investment for safeguarding your contents.
Finally, always choose a reputable seller when purchasing a fireproof safe to ensure you receive a quality product, warranty protection and reliable customer support.
Top Fireproof Safes for Home Use (2025 Edition)
Three of the most popular, top-rated fireproof safes on the market are the Sentry Safe SFW123GDC, the Honeywell 1104, and the First Alert 2087F.
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at each model has to offer and what they’re best used for.
Note that all three of these safes are great options for home use.
They all deliver reliable fire and water protection, ensuring your valuables are safeguarded for extended periods during emergencies. But they’re not all built the same. Here’s a closer look at each safe, where it excels and where it falls short.
SentrySafe SFW123GDC - Best Fireproof Safe For General Home Use
The SentrySafe SFW123GDC is the best option on our list for general home usage. The battery-powered digital lock interface offers convenience for quick access, but it can be quite inconvenient when the battery dies. Safes like this usually have emergency power hookups or hidden key holes, but being battery-powered is still a disadvantage in our opinion.
Honeywell 1104 - Best Fireproof Safe For Portability
The Honeywell 1104 is a great option in terms of its portability. It’s a smaller and more lightweight fireproof safe that you can take with you for travel or in the event of emergency evacuations. The lid of the Honeywell 1104 is designed with secure closure and special hinges, providing enhanced protection against water and fire while ensuring easy access during emergencies. However, it’s a smaller, portable safe, so it's easier for a thief to steal. And it’s not ideal if you’re looking to store larger items.
First Alert 2087F - Most Reliable Fireproof Safe Overall
The First Alert 2087F is the most reliable safe overall because it can be bolted down to deter thieves. It's also got a mechanical combination lock, which is more reliable than a digital keypad since, even if the power goes out, you can still use the combination lock to get inside. But, on the downside, combination locks are harder to use, and codes can be tricky to remember.
Where Should You Put a Fireproof Safe in Your Home?
It’s impossible to tell when or where disaster might strike. But when it comes to fire, floods, or theft, some areas of your home are better at protecting safes and valuables than others. Putting your safe in the right room can minimize risk from fire, flood, and theft.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when thinking about where to store your fireproof safe.
- Avoid high-heat zones - Because these zones often contain oil, gasoline, or other highly flammable materials, areas like your kitchen, attic, garage, and fireplaces often see the highest temperatures during house fires.
- Interior walls and load-bearing walls - Storing your safe next to a load-bearing wall or in a closet provides it with the most protection from cave-ins, falling beams, and damage from other debris during fires or collapses.
- Lower floors - Keeping a safe in your basement can be beneficial when it comes to fire protection. But that comes with one important trade-off since basements are often the first area to fill with water during floods. So be sure to consider this when deciding where to store your safe.
- Bolting your safe to the floor/wall - Securing your safe is another way to enhance protection from theft. Bolting your safe down can deter a thief from stealing it. However, it makes it impossible to take it with you in the event of an evacuation.
When disaster strikes, no area is 100% safe from fire, flood or theft.
However, by taking a bit of time to think it through, you can find a location in your home that provides your valuables with the highest degree of protection.
Choose a room and location that is protected from severe weather events like a hurricane, and follow a regular course of maintenance to keep your safe in optimal condition. Proper placement and installation can provide peace of mind and enhance security for your valuables.
Fireproof Safe Vs Fireproof Bag — Why You Might Need Both
Because safes and vaults are usually bulkier, it makes them practically impossible to take with you when you need to leave.
So you may want to consider storing some of your smaller valuables in a fireproof document envelope or a smaller fireproof bag, then storing it in your safe as an easy grab-and-go solution.
Using both a fireproof bag and a fireproof safe doesn’t just provide you with a more portable way to protect your belongings. It also adds an extra layer of protection against fire, smoke, heat, and water damage.
Which is the better option?
Ultimately, safes are designed for heavy-duty protection from fire and theft, whereas fireproof document bags are ideal in terms of their portability. Here's a quick side-by-side comparison of the two to help you decide which is the better option for you.
How To Buy The Right Fireproof Safe For You
Now that you know what types of safes are out there, as well as some of the most popular models for home use, let's look at some tips to help you decide which model is right for you.
- List what you want to protect - Knowing what type of valuables you want to protect helps you decide on the size, capacity and fireproof rating needed.
- Check UL/ETL fire rating - Whether you're protecting paper documents, cash, family photos, hard drives, or guns helps determine the fireproof rating needed to ensure protection.
- Decide between a safe or a fireproof bag - Ideally, you'll use a fireproof bag to protect smaller items, and then have it placed inside a larger fireproof safe.
- Verify placement and installation - Not all safes come with bolt-down hardware. So if you intend on securing it in place, look for safes, like the SentrySafe SFW123GDC, which can be secured to a floor or wall.
Image courtesy of Immo Wegmann @ Unsplash.com
Frequently Asked Questions - Best Fireproof Safe For Home Use
Disasters like fires, floods, and theft are impossible to predict. And when they do strike, all it takes is a matter of minutes and your valuables can be lost forever. You may not be able to anticipate disaster, but you can make sure your valuables are protected by storing them in a fireproof bag or safe.
Here's what we often hear people ask when looking for a high-quality safe for home use.
Are all safes fireproof?
No, not all safes are fireproof. In fact, no safe or fireproof document bag is 100% resistant to fire. Fireproof safes are rated to withstand certain temperatures up to a certain time limit. But not all safes carry the same fireproof rating or provide the same level of protection.
How long can a fireproof safe withstand fire?
It depends on the rating designation given to the safe you're looking at. Most safes are rated to withstand fire for a minimum of 1 hour at 1,700°F. However, all safes and fireproof document bags have different ratings. So be sure to look for your safe's UL designation when shopping around.
Are fireproof safes also waterproof?
Some are, some aren't. Most safes are water-resistant but that doesn't mean they're fully or permanently waterproof. Similar to fireproof ratings, you'll also find safes with waterproof ratings, such as "8"/24-hours," which indicates the safe will remain waterproof in up to 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours.
Where’s the best place to install a home safe?
Near interior or load-bearing walls is often the best place to install a safe in your home because these walls provide superior protection from falling debris during fires or collapse. Just avoid placing your safe in high-heat areas, such as your kitchen, garage, or attic, where temperatures can often exceed 2,000°F during fires.
Can I make my safe more fireproof?
We don't recommend tampering with your safe to attempt to increase its fire-resistance. But you can increase fire resistance by storing your safe near concrete walls or by building an external fireproof enclosure using non-flammable materials, such as fire-rated drywall, fireproof insulation, concrete, stone or ceramic building materials.
Do fireproof bags provide better protection than safes?
Fireproof bags do not provide better protection. However, because fireproof bags are more portable, they can be used in conjunction with a fireproof safe to add an extra layer of protection for your valuables, while making it possible to take your possessions with you during an evacuation.
What should I store in a fireproof safe?
You can store anything you want protected from fire, flood or theft. This includes important paper documents like birth certificates, passports, deeds, or even cash. But you can also store items like jewelry, precious family heirlooms, photographs, antiques, guns, or virtually any other type of valuables in your fireproof safe.