Gift guide

Best Gun Safes and Lockboxes to Give as Gifts

A gun safe or lockbox is one of the most responsible gifts you can give a gun owner, and it's one most people put off buying for themselves. For most budgets, a small quick-access pistol box or a vehicle lockbox is the easiest and safest choice. A full-size safe is a great gift, but it's a "measure first" gift, so read the checklist below before you order one.

We've sorted the picks by budget and size. All specs below come from the manufacturers and their retail listings. Where a fire rating or certification is mentioned, it's what the maker publishes, and we'll tell you how to check it yourself.

Quick picks

Price tiers are rough guides, not quotes: $$ is a small box or lockbox (usually under a few hundred dollars), $$$ is a mid-size cabinet or rifle locker, and $$$$ is a full-size safe, which often runs well into four figures. Prices and freight costs change, so check the current listing.

Small quick-access pistol boxes

These are made for a nightstand, closet shelf or desk drawer. They hold one or two handguns and open quickly. Most can be bolted to furniture, and they should be, because a box that can be carried off is easy to steal.

Vehicle and portable lockboxes

These are for people who travel with a firearm or need to secure one in a car. They're lighter than a home safe and are designed to be cabled to a seat frame or other fixed point, not bolted down.

Mid-size cabinets and rifle lockers

These hold a few long guns and are a good step up for someone storing rifles or shotguns in a closet. They mainly keep firearms away from kids, guests and casual theft. Most aren't built or rated to resist fire or a determined burglar, so don't buy one expecting that.

Full-size safes

A full-size safe is the most meaningful gift on this list. It's also the hardest to get right. These weigh hundreds of pounds, need a specific spot in the house, and often ship by freight. Read the checklist in the next section before you order one, and consider asking the recipient to help choose it.

What to check before you buy a safe as a gift

1. Fire rating claims: read the fine print

Fire ratings are written as a duration and an outside temperature, like "30 minutes at 1400°F." These numbers aren't comparable from brand to brand unless you know who did the testing. Some ratings come from independent labs such as UL or Intertek (ETL). Others come from the manufacturer's own tests, or say "built to" a standard without saying the safe was actually tested. Look for the testing lab's name on the listing or the label, and if it's missing, ask. Don't assume any safe will protect guns or papers in a real house fire, and don't treat a cabinet with no stated rating as fire resistant.

2. California DOJ approval listing

California keeps a public Roster of Firearm Safety Devices Certified for Sale, which includes many lockboxes, cabinets and safes. If the recipient lives in California, look the model up on the roster. It's a useful check elsewhere too. Keep in mind that the DOJ standard covers construction and resistance to basic tool attacks. It isn't a fire rating or a burglary rating.

3. Lock type

• Mechanical (push-button or dial): no batteries, very reliable, a bit slower to open.
• Electronic keypad: fast and easy to change the code. Batteries need replacing, so look for a backup key or external power option.
• Biometric (fingerprint): fastest when it works. It can struggle with wet, dirty or cold fingers, so a backup method matters.
• RFID: opens with a tag, fob or wristband held near it. Fast, but keep the tags somewhere safe.

4. Bolting down

Almost every safe and quick-access box is meant to be anchored to the floor, wall, furniture or a vehicle. An unbolted box, even a heavy one, is much easier to steal. Check what mounting hardware comes in the box and whether the recipient will be able to drill where they want it (renters may need permission).

5. Delivery weight and access for big safes

Full-size safes often weigh several hundred pounds. Find out whether the listing includes curbside freight, delivery inside the home, or nothing beyond the truck. Then think about the route: stairs, narrow doorways, tight turns and floor strength all matter. Many buyers hire movers or a safe installer for the last few feet.

6. It's a "measure first" gift

Before ordering a large safe, measure the spot it will go in, the doorways it has to pass through, and the height of their longest rifle (especially with a scope). Also consider how many guns they own now and may own later. Since a surprise is hard to pull off with something this size, it often works better to give a card saying "we're picking out a safe together" and shop for it as a pair.

Looking for smaller gifts to go with it? Our gear guides have ideas at every budget.

Editorial note: These picks are based on manufacturer information, retailer listings and published reviews. We haven't tested these products hands-on, and we haven't independently verified fire or security ratings. Specs, prices and availability change, so confirm details on the current listing. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

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