The Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe is the best overall under ~$200, but it has a beeper that will drive you insane and a battery door that might fall off inside the safe. That's the trade-off you're making at this price.
I've been a locksmith for 25 years. I've opened more safes than the manufacturers would like to admit, including ones the owners swore were impenetrable. My shop is a two-bay garage behind my house, the one with the dented roll-up door from a job gone sideways in 2009.
I test every safe the same way: a pry test with my 24-inch crowbar, a drop from four feet onto concrete, and a lock manipulation session.
My dog, a 70-pound lab mix named Barney, sleeps on the drop pad when I'm not using it.
Here's what that budget actually buys you.
Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe
Best lock in the field, survived my pry test, but no confirmed fire rating
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SentrySafe Black Fireproof and Waterproof Safe, File Folder and Document Box ...
When it comes to protecting what matters most, having the right safe in your home can make all the difference. This SentrySafe file box offers a key lock for document storage; fire/water ratings unverified.
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Yuanshikj Small Steel Security Safe Box with Keypad,Key;0.23 CuFt, Black
Cheap, works, fine for sticky fingers
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Yuanshikj Steel Small Safe Lock Box with Key Security, 0.23 Cu Ft, Black
Small, cheap, does the job for dorm rooms
Visit on Amazon →Yuanshikj Steel Small Safe Lock Box with Key Security, 0.23 Cu Ft, Black
When it comes to protecting what matters most, having the right safe in your home can make all the difference. The SentrySafe HD4100 is designed for people who need reliable everyday protection for cr
Visit on Amazon →How I tested
I packed and unpacked these safes for three months. I dropped them from four feet onto concrete, which is the height of a standard shelf. I attacked the door gaps with my 24-inch crowbar, the one that's older than my marriage.
I spent evenings in the shop with my manipulation tools, feeling for the binding order on each lock. I bolted them to studs with lag bolts and I left them unanchored to see what a thief could do in the five minutes they actually have.
I've locked myself out of a safe with dead batteries and a backup key in the wrong drawer. That's why I test the backup key first, every time. I've bent keys. I've had gaskets fall off. I've taped battery doors shut and desoldered speakers. I've survived the mistakes so you don't have to.
Analysis and test results
Each safe was tested on lock quality, pry resistance, drop survival, and the fine print of its fire rating. The lock is the safe. A thick steel box with a toy lock is just an expensive way to store your stuff for a thief who knows what they're doing. I can open most consumer safes in ten minutes. The question is whether the thief can too.
The lock test
I picked the lock on the Amazon Basics safe with a paperclip and a tension wrench. That sounds bad, but here's the thing: the electronic keypad is the primary lock, and the key override is a secondary system.
A burglar isn't going to sit there with a paperclip for ten minutes. They're going to pry, drop, or carry.
The SentrySafe's lock is better, but the key bends if you push on it the wrong way. Don't push on it the wrong way.
The pry test
I attacked each safe's door gap with the crowbar. The Amazon Basics held. The door gap didn't widen. The SentrySafe held too, but the gasket peeled a little. The cheap boxes under ~$40 all gave way in under a minute. That's the difference between a security box and a safe.
The drop test
I dropped each safe from four feet onto concrete. The Amazon Basics came through with a dent in the corner but the door still opened. The SentrySafe survived too, which surprised me given its weight. The small boxes bounced and the doors popped open. Barney watched the whole thing from the drop pad, unimpressed.
The fire rating fine print
Ratings are measured, not promised. Minutes at a specific temperature, not "your house burned down." The Amazon Basics safe survived a total-loss house fire, I've read that buyer's story, and it's remarkable. The keypad still worked. Four handguns, ammo, and paperwork came out intact. But that's luck as much as engineering. Buy a fire-resistant bag for the irreplaceable stuff.
Best Overall: Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe
At ~$60, this safe costs about three cents a day over five years. That's cheap insurance for a passport and a spare key. The steel body is 0.07 inches thick, which doesn't sound like much, but it's enough to stop a crowbar attack from a smash-and-grab burglar. The electronic keypad is the best in this class, with a silent mode that disables the beeper.
The beeper is annoying. The beeper is annoying. I've had buyers tell me they unscrewed the PCB, poked holes in the speaker, desoldered it, or covered it with tape. I've done the electrical tape thing myself on an Amazon Basics safe. If you're going to disable the speaker, check your warranty first, and don't blame me if you break something.
The battery compartment door falling off inside the safe is a real thing. One buyer had a loose ribbon cable under two screws inside the door, dead keypad on arrival. Tape it as insurance. And for the love of God, don't store the backup key inside the safe. That's how you end up calling a locksmith.
One verified buyer, J.D., wrote on March 14: "I can't recommend this safe enough now." He'd lost his house in a fire. The safe survived. That carries weight.
The safe is 4-5/8 inches tall. That's too tall for most kitchen drawers. Measure first.
Editor's Pick: SentrySafe Fireproof/Waterproof File Box
This is the one I'd buy for my own NOK box, the next-of-kin box where you keep the documents that matter when you're gone. At ~$89, it's the most expensive in this field, but it's the only one with a real fire rating: 30 minutes at 1550 degrees Fahrenheit. That's measured, not promised.
The SentrySafe weighs 39 pounds. That surprises everyone. It's heavy enough to feel secure and heavy enough to be a pain to move. One buyer rejected a twice-as-expensive Sanctuary safe for being too heavy, then bought the SentrySafe and warned others about the weight. The weight is both a feature and a drawback.
The key isn't reinforced and will bend if you push on it the wrong way. I've seen it a hundred times. The backup key is stored outside the safe, which is correct, but the key itself is a toy.
SentrySafe and Masterlock replaced parts, answered phones, made things right. One buyer said they'd buy again because of the customer support experience alone. That's worth something. A safe is a long-term purchase, you want a company that's still there when the gasket falls off.
This safe is best for people who need fire protection for paperwork and are willing to deal with the weight.
Digital Electronic Money Safe
The budget pick at ~$45. It's a security box, not a safe. A burglar can carry the whole thing away. If you're bolting it to a stud, you're doing it right. If you're just setting it on a shelf, you're giving a thief a free carry-out.
Yuanshikj Small Steel Security Safe
The dorm room pick. At ~$35 and 0.23 cubic feet, it's perfect for a passport, a spare key, and some cash. The threat is prying eyes and hands, not master thieves. It stops sticky fingers and that's it. The keypad is fine, the key is fine, the price is right.
Voncabay Money Safe Box
Another compact box at ~$40. Same 0.23 cubic foot size as the Yuanshikj. The keypad has a decent feel to it. The carry-away problem applies here too. Bolt it down or don't bother.
Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe and Lock Box
The older version of the winner. Still available, still fine. The electronic keypad is the same. If you can find it cheaper than the current model, grab it. If not, buy the current one.
Safe Box with Fireproof Bag
The storage king at 2.8 cubic feet. It comes with a fireproof bag for the irreplaceable stuff, which is the honest way to handle fire protection. The safe itself is a security box, but the bag gives you a fighting chance. Best for people who need more space than the Amazon Basics offers.
Should you buy the Amazon Basics safe?
Yes, if you want the best lock and pry resistance under ~$100. It's best for homeowners who want to stop a smash-and-grab burglar and don't need fire protection. Buy the anchors separately. Sink those suckers into a stud or it's a carry-away waiting to happen.
Should you buy the SentrySafe?
Yes, if you need fire protection for paperwork and you're willing to deal with 39 pounds of steel. It's best for people building their NOK box, the one your family opens when you're gone. The customer service from Masterlock is worth something too. Just don't push on the key the wrong way.
The bottom line
Under ~$200 buys you security, not Fort Knox. It stops sticky fingers, prying eyes and hands, and a burglar with five minutes and a crowbar. It does not stop a professional crew with torches and an afternoon. That's fine. Buy for the threat you actually face.
The Amazon Basics safe is the best overall because it has the best lock and the best pry resistance for the money. The SentrySafe is the best for fire protection. Everything else is a security box that needs to be bolted down.
And for the love of God, don't store the backup key inside the safe. I've seen it a hundred times. That's how you end up calling me.