12 Best Fireproof Document Safes 2024 – Protecting Valuables

When it comes to document safes, it turns out it’s quite recommendable for them to be fireproof. On the one hand, you probably want to keep them away from thieves and intruders, so there is the lock, but on the other, you want to make sure that your paper-base belongings remain safe even after a fire.

Best Choice
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe Box with Key Lock, Fire and Water Chest Safe for Valuables,...
Good Choice
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Steel Home Safe with Dial Combination Lock, Secure Documents,...
Don't Miss
First Alert 2011F Fire Chest, Feet, 0.17 Cubic Foot, Grey
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe Box with Key Lock, Fire and Water Chest Safe for Valuables,...
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Steel Home Safe with Dial Combination Lock, Secure Documents,...
First Alert 2011F Fire Chest, Feet, 0.17 Cubic Foot, Grey
Best Choice
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe Box with Key Lock, Fire and Water Chest Safe for Valuables,...
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe Box with Key Lock, Fire and Water Chest Safe for Valuables,...
Good Choice
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Steel Home Safe with Dial Combination Lock, Secure Documents,...
SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Steel Home Safe with Dial Combination Lock, Secure Documents,...
Don't Miss
First Alert 2011F Fire Chest, Feet, 0.17 Cubic Foot, Grey
First Alert 2011F Fire Chest, Feet, 0.17 Cubic Foot, Grey

That’s why this feature is so crucial. So let’s see what you can find in this category of home or personal safes at the current market.

Comparison Table:

Top Picks Best Fireproof Safes for Your Documents

1. Sentrysafe CHW20221 Fireproof Box

Sentrysafe CHW20221 Fireproof Box

Highlights:

  • Fireproof
  • Waterproof
  • Built-in straps
  • Medium capacity
  • Suitable for A4 format

If you just started looking for documents safe, you probably realized many people recommended this one. SentrySafe is offering a quite attractive fireproof security box that can keep some of your valuable belongings in one place, safe and sound.

This safe is designed in a way that resembles some kind of suitcase, given that there is a firm and sturdy handle in the first place. The safe can be locked with a manual key, and it can welcome your documents, memory cards, small electronic devices, and some cash.

When it comes to its fireproof feature, it can resist the temperature up to 1550°F, for half an hour, and bear in mind that the product is UL Classified. Besides that, the box is also waterproof, which means your belongings will remain undamaged even in case of a flood, but only for 72 hours.

Another great benefit is that a high-quality tubular key lock will prevent the lid from opening during the fire. This document safe comes with straps that are built-in and thanks to which you will be able to organize the safe’s content way better. The dimensions of the safe are universal, and it can welcome the A4 format of a paper. It weighs 20 pounds and has 0.28 cubic feet of capacity, which is in the medium category.

2. Sentrysafe SFW123DSB Fireproof Safe

Sentrysafe SFW123DSB Fireproof Safe

Highlights:

  • Fireproof
  • Waterproof
  • Impact proof
  • High-security level
  • Removable shelf

Here is another SentrySafe box that can be built into a wall, but also placed anywhere in the house as a movable piece of furniture. It is slightly bigger than usual hand safe for documents, so you can use the extra space for other items like jewelry, electronic devices, weapon, etc.

This safe, too, is fireproof, and it can be exposed to a maximum 1700°F temperature for one whole hour before the inside content starts deteriorating. Also, it is ETL Verified, so it can withstand a fall from a 15-foot height and still remain closed, and it is built to resist the water pressure for 24 hours in case of a flood.

It has a fixed combination lock with a secondary locking key, as well as four live-locking bolts in the door, therefore the security of your belongings will not be questioned. The safe is made from steel, so it has a sturdy construction, as well as a pry-resistant hinge bar.

There is an option of bolting down this item to the floor, as an extra security measure, and the manufacturer will send you the necessary hardware. And in order to help you organize your belongings better, they are also offering a removable shelf you can use for that purpose.

3. First Alert 3031F Deluxe Locking

First Alert 3031F Deluxe Locking

Highlights:

  • Portable
  • Lightweight
  • Fire retardant insulation
  • Separator included
  • Traditional key lock

We present you with a multifunctional steel construction safety box where you can keep all your important documents and money under the key. It has quite a durable powder coat finish, so it will look like new for years, without traces of scratching or any other kind of damage.

This safety box is designed so it can welcome all essential things a person has, and it is protected by the traditional key lock system. On one side there is a handle so it can be easily moved from one place to another. In case you lose one key, there will be another one in the set as the backup option.

The construction of this safe is very strong and durable, and it has fire retardant insulation, which means your safe, as well as all the content inside of it, will be protected both from fire and theft. The box comes with a specific separator with seven compartments, so you can easily organize cash and your other things.

At the bottom of the safe, there is a protective floor mat that will keep the valuables safe from damage. Given that it is very light and easy to move, this safe is suitable for all kinds of travel. The product comes with a 90 days warranty.

4. Honeywell 1104 Safe Chest

Honeywell 1104 Safe Chest

Highlights:

  • Portable
  • Fireproof
  • Waterproof
  • High-quality made
  • Traditional key lock

If you would like to have a portable safe that looks like a classic briefcase, here is a proposition for you. Honeywell offers you a model that can keep your small devices, legal and personal documents, and money protected, under the key, while providing you with the possibility of bringing them with yourself no matter where you go.

The greatest benefit of this safe is the fact that it is fireproof, up to the point temperature comes to 1700 Fahrenheit, for one hour, and waterproof for 100 hours, if the safe doesn’t go further than 39 inches under the water level. Also, it is high-quality made, so the thieves won’t be able to get your belongings as easily.

The capacity of the safe is 0.38 cubic feet, and its interior dimensions are 3.8×14.8×12 inches, so there is plenty of room for the things you want to keep safe. The product comes with a seven-year warranty, as well as a lifetime after-fire replacement guarantee.

The manufacturer claims that this safety box is suitable also for small electrical devices and data saving objects, especially because it can hold them protected even in the case of wire and flood. It can hold regular A4 papers, and it can be bought with a handle or without it.

5. Amazonbasics Fire Resistant Box Safe

Amazonbasics Fire Resistant Box Safe

Highlights:

  • Sturdy and durable
  • Keypad system
  • 1-year warranty
  • Fireproof
  • Adjustable shelf

In case you are more of a home safe lover, and you would choose a steady one always before a portable one, this AmazonBasics model is probably what you had on your mind. It is a very durable, 14-gauge heavy-duty steel security box that has four large built-in bolts that will guarantee the safety of your belongings.

Besides documents, you can keep many different things inside of it, like money, jewelry, laptop, hard drive, and other electrical devices. Thanks to the electrical keypad you will be able to open your vault in just a couple of seconds, by entering your personal secret code.

As an alternative, in case of emergency, there is also a possibility of using a manual key to open the safe’s door. Inside of this object, you can find an adjustable shelf which can help you a lot to optimize your storage. The manufacturer is offering you a one-year warranty in case you decide to purchase it, so you will have enough time to see if it suits you.

This safe is fire-resistant, and it can keep everything inside protected for 20 minutes, at 1200 degrees of Fahrenheit. It requires one 9V battery you will have to buy separately so that your keypad can work. The capacity of the vault is a 0.8-cubic foot.

6. First Alert 2011f Fire Chest

First Alert 2011f Fire Chest

Highlights:

  • Fire resistant
  • Portable
  • Built-in handle
  • Compact design
  • 5-year warranty

First Alert security boxes have a pretty simple design, they are small, portable, and in the capacity of keeping your valuable belongings safe. One of the most important features of these safes is the fact that they are fire-resistant, and that they can protect your documents and money in case of a fire accident until the temperature comes to 1550 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thanks to the implemented handle, you can take this safe and bring it with you when you travel, it will look like some kind of a briefcase. The storage box is protected with a clamping-style latch that features a key lock. You will get two keys in the set, in case your spouse needs one, or you manage to lose yours.

The interior is not that large, the capacity of this safe is a 0.17-cubic foot, so you can choose to put in it some cash, one or two small electronic devices, and some basic documents, like passports, identifications, or financial reports.

This safe is even independently verified to take care of the digital media properly, and it comes with a five-year warranty, as well as with lifetime after-fire replacement guarantee. People often use it as gun safes, or as a safety box, they can keep inside of the car.

7. Sentrysafe HD4100 Fireproof Safe

Sentrysafe HD4100 Fireproof Safe

Highlights:

  • Portable
  • Lightweight
  • Fireproof and waterproof
  • Built-in straps
  • In-lid organizer

Here is another fireproof and portable safe for all your essential documents. It is designed and made by SentrySafe, and it is UL Classified to hold on to and protect everything that’s inside for half an hour, in case of a fire where the temperature rises to 1550°F.

Even though it can come with built-in straps that will allow you to store and organize your documents correctly and with ease, it can also be a perfect place for some other small valuables you want to keep safe. Also, this security box is waterproof, and it has the capacity to withstand the water pressure in case of a flood for 72 hours.

It is made of captured fire insulation, and it has a traditional but flat key lock that will prevent the lid from opening in the event of a fire. The manufacturer claims that this is a good choice if you want to protect your digital media, like USBs, hard drives, memory cards, etc., and as a bonus, it has an in-lid organizer, in case you want some items to make really available. The safe has a one-year limited warranty.

Finding the Best Fireproof Document Safe – Buying Guide

You need to pay attention to a couple of things when buying document safes. Most people want them to be portable, fireproof, and possibly waterproof, to have enough space to keep their most important belongings, and to have a good security feature.

Depending on your needs, these safes can be small and briefcase look-alike, or similar to regular home safes.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Product

1. Quick & Easy Access

Given that you are probably planning to keep cash and some essential documents like a passport in your safe, you definitely want to have quick and easy access to your belongings.

Most document safes have a traditional key lock, so you have to make sure you always have the right key with you.

2. Storage

Storage

Usually, these kinds of safes are not too big, so not many things can be placed in their interior at the same time.

Since they are mostly portable and pretty small, you will be able to place some amount of cash, the most valuable documents, small electronic devices, and data storage.

3. Mounting Options

It is quite rare to have a mounting option on portable document safes. They are designed in a way to be practical and movable, that’s one of their main characteristics, so you won’t be able to find any pre-drilled holes on them.

But those slightly bigger home safes that have the same purpose can be attached to the wall or ground for sure.

4. Security Features

Security Features

Almost all of these document safes are fireproof up to a certain temperature, and some of them are waterproof and impact-proof. Those are very important features since the content inside of them is mostly made of paper, so it can be damaged by the heat or humidity.

That means that you will be avoiding disaster in case of an accident of this kind if you have a safe with these characteristics. On the other hand, their locks will save you from burglary, which is another crucial aspect.

5. Build Quality

Just like any other type of security box, these safes need to be high-quality made, so they can protect your belongings and last for a long time.

They are not as sturdy and durable as the regular home safes, but they will allow you to be calm knowing your belongings are safe while you are traveling, for example.

FAQ

FAQ Best Fireproof Document Safes

Q1: How Fireproof Is a Fireproof Home Safe?

Not all fireproof safes are the same. Some of them can withstand higher, and some lower temperatures and they can make sure your belongings will be protected for a certain amount of time. All of that is usually visible on the packaging box, but if you can’t find that information, feel free to contact the manufacturer.

Usually, they can keep control for half an hour until the temperature is 1550 or 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. Each safe is Underwriters Laboratory classified, and each one of them is tested in an oven where the temperature can get pretty high.

Q2: Is a Fireproof Safe Worth It?

Well, it really depends on what your expectations are. If you just want to make sure none of your documents is going to get lost or damaged in a fire, then yes, you should invest in one of these safes.

But you have to know that they cannot hold it forever and that most of these security boxes can withstand the fire for a short period of time, and up to a certain temperature. On the other hand, these safes are not the best solution if you are worried about a burglary. They have a pretty simple security system that can be breached.

Q3: Will Paper Money Burn in a Fireproof Safe?

No. Even though money is made of paper that can easily be destroyed by the fire, it will not burn away if it’s inside the fireproof security box.

But, the safety of your money will be limited to a certain amount of time, and these safes can resist the fire up to a certain temperature level, which is mostly between 1500 and 1700 degrees Fahrenheit.

Q4: What Type of Fire Rating Is Best?

Even though people usually overlook the information about fire rating, they should make it their top priority, especially if they are looking to buy a document safe. Experts in this field claim that it would be best to go with a safe that has a minimum one-hour fire rating.

That means they will be able to survive a typical house or business fire and manage to save all the stuff inside undamaged. They believe that everything that’s under that rating will not provide you with adequate protection.

Q5: Where Is the Best Place to Put a Fireproof Safe?

If we are talking about a larger home safe, the best solution would be to put it on the ground floor, not anywhere upstairs, and to place it on the corner of two outside walls.

But if you own a small and portable safe that’s also fire resistant, the best way to protect it is to keep it near the room window, or somewhere close by the main door. That way, you can get it out in the time when you start evacuating.

Q6: What Makes a Safe Fireproof?

These types of safes are designed in a way that allows them to keep the inside temperature below 350 degrees Fahrenheit so that all things made of paper can survive the fire. That temperature is critical for documents and money. The material and technology they are made of are allowing them to manage that.

On the other hand, you should know that media and data need a safe that can keep the inside temperature below 125 degrees, which means that these paper ones probably won’t save them in case of a fire disaster.

Conclusion

It is a good thing you are thinking about purchasing a safe that can keep all your documents protected from both fire and thieves. In today’s world paper trails, personal documents and money have tremendous worth, so it is crucial to keep them safe in any way we can.

These security boxes will provide you with what you need, and make sure you can bring all those important things with yourself when you travel, given most of them are portable and lightweight. So now is the time to just think about all the crucial details and decide which one will suit you the best.

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