Safes are always a good idea if you have anything of value that you need to protect. Biometric gun safes, diversion safes, floor safes, stack-on wall safes, college dorm safes, fingerprint gun safes, and many others great ways to hide and protect your firearms and other personal belongings. In this article, we will concentrate on the best hidden wall safes currently on the market. Wall safes are frequently chosen for their versatility and ease of installation, but one of the best things about them is that they are easy to hide. While it is certainly a good idea to at least minimally conceal your safe in a closet or drawer in order to keep it from being obvious to burglars, you might want to take this concept a step further so that even the casual guest would not know you have a safe. While the concept of a hidden wall safe is undeniably cool in a way, it is also very practical and easy for any DIY-er to achieve. If you are thinking about getting one yourself read on to discover the best ones that you can buy in 2018.
Paragon 7750 Electronic Wall Lock and Safe
This simple safe is perfect for basic jewelry and document storage. It fits between standard studs and is only 4 inches deep total, so it should go into any wall as-is. Since it is on the shallow side, which is common for wall safes, be sure you know exactly what you intend to store in it before purchase and installation. There are three shelves that can be used to hold items so it makes good use of the vertical space. The entry is a standard electronic keypad with a backup key lock. The electronic keypad can accept codes between 3 and 8 digits long so you can make it as complex as you want. One owner of this safe has posted a review with pictures detailing how burglars had attempted to pry this safe out of his wall and, failing that, beat the keypad with a claw hammer to defeat the locking mechanism. They were not successful in either attempt. Given this experience, you can rest easy knowing that this inexpensive option can truly protect your valuables.
HomCom Flat Recessed Fingerprint Digital Wall Safe
HomCom's digital wall safe is compact and provides multiple methods of entry, including a biometric fingerprint scan as well as a digital number pad. Unlike most biometric wall safes, this scanner and opening knob are recessed below the level of the edges of the safe, so you can easily place a painting, wall hanging, or other flat surface object over it and conceal without any noticeable gaps to the wall. The scanner can store up to 32 fingerprints so you and a partner can each access it with multiple fingers. It is a bit narrower than the standard 16-inch gap that is found between the studs of most homes but that can be easily remedied with a shim or other buffering wood.
Stack-On IWC-55 Full-Length In-Wall Cabinet
For those who need a lot of space but still want to have an in-wall safe or lock-box, this cabinet by Stack-On is perfect. It is less than 4 inches deep so it can fit in any existing standard wall, but it is just over 53 inches wide inside so it can hold multiple tall items, such as shotguns and rifles. The 3-point locking system secures the steel door at the top and bottom, as well as on the opening side of the door so it is practically impossible to pry open at the corners away from the lock. As for the lock itself, this cabinet uses a simple keyed lock, which is recessed to allow the face to be flush with the door and frame. Therefore, one can easily place a full-length mirror or tapestry over it without having to worry about any gaps or odd bulging. There is a removable steel shelf that can be used to better take advantage of the extra vertical space. Both the shelf and the bottom of the cabinet have foam padding so anything resting on them is protected. For ideas of where to place it and how to conceal it, there are some great pictures by reviewers of this cabinet on Amazon.
Willa-Hide Picture Frame Hidden Gun Cabinet
If you are looking to hide a safe but are hesitant about cutting a hole in your wall to do so, take a look at this picture frame safe by Willa-Hide. You can insert any 16” x 20” picture in the frame and then either stand it up on a flat surface or hang it on the wall. Depending on how obvious it is you might need to do some camouflage around it, this is a quick and easy way to have some concealed storage. The safe is unlocked with a magnetic key and stays secure when closed due to the steel locking pin system. It is slid open and shut with the aid of metal glides, which is different from most safes. The interior is roomy and does not sacrifice space to the locking mechanism. Multiple handguns and a variety of other objects can be stored here with a shelf and hook and loop holders to help with organization. There are multiple finishes to choose from so you can be sure it fits in with the rest of your décor. Though a bit different from a traditional in-wall safe, there is no doubt that the extra camouflage of this cabinet’s design will accomplish the goal of hiding it in plain sight.
The ideal hidden wall safe is one that makes it easy to cover up but also easy to access what is inside at a moment’s notice. All four of these safes do those two things admirably. Though there are plenty of wall safes out there it can be difficult to find one that can be easily hidden due to the fact that most locking and keypad mechanisms are not flush with the door. Any of these options can be installed and hidden with little to no effort, so pick whichever one best fits your storage and aesthetic needs.