What's the Difference Between a Home Safe and a Gun Safe

When you start shopping for a safe, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. There are so many sizes, styles, and security levels that choosing the right one can feel confusing. One of the most common questions people ask is: “What’s the difference between a home safe and a gun safe?” And, why you might consider a TL-rated safe over a gun safe or a home safe.

The simple answer is — there is no difference between a gun safe and a home safe. The second you put any firearm inside a safe it becomes a gun safe.

That being said, the interior layout of a safe may be configured differently for different purposes. The labeling of a safe as a “home safe” and “gun safe” indicates what purpose the safe is intended to fulfill. Home safes in general are 30”-42” tall with all shelf interiors. Gun Safes are typically 55” or taller with interior racks designed to store long guns.

If you’re reading this post, it’s because you want to fully understand the free-standing insurance policy you are buying. That’s why we’re pulling on our nearly 40 years of experience and sharing a deep dive into what makes these safes different.

Why Safes Matter

Most people buy a safe for one main reason: protect their valuables. Whether you're protecting family heirlooms, cash, important documents, or firearms, you want to know that your valuables are secure. A safe is your tangible insurance policy.

Think of safes like tools or trucks. A Ford F-150 doesn’t have the same town capabilities as an F-350 super Duty. Furthermore, compare both these models to the F-450, which has the same build quality, but features heavier construction and components giving it superior towing capabilities over the first two. Some safes simply aren’t built strong enough or big enough to protect what you need them to protect.

What Is a Home Safe?

A home safe is designed to protect personal items you use in everyday life. These can include:

• Passports

• Birth certificates

• Social Security cards

• Cash

• Jewelry

• Family photos

• Hard drives

• Legal paperwork

• Small valuables

Key Features of a Home Safe

1. Fire Protection
A reliable home safe should offer at least 60 minutes of fire protection, though we typically recommend a home safe with a 90 minute to two hour fire rating. The level of fire protection you need should always be in line with the value you are storing.

2. Compact Size
Home safes are usually smaller. They can typically be installed in a closet, under a bed, or inside a cabinet.

3. Reliable Locking Systems
Any home safe we recommend is outfitted with a UL listed lock, built to keep out both curious little hands and criminals.

IN SHORT: Home safes are a great choice when you want a convenient place to store small valuables and important documents. But they aren’t usually built to store firearms, especially long guns.

What Is a Gun Safe?

A gun safe is built to store firearms safely and securely. But modern gun safes do more than just hold rifles. Many families now use them as full-size storage solutions for everything from jewelry to cameras to legal paperwork.

Gun safes come in a variety of sizes — from small handgun safes to large, full-door safes big enough to walk into.

Key Features of a Gun Safe

1. Space to Store Firearms

Safes that are marketed as “gun safes,” are generally equipped with shelving and door panels designed to easily store said firearms. This could include pistol sleeves on the door panels and notched racks within the body of the safe to allow long guns to easily rest in place.

2. UL Listed Locks

As with any home safe we recommend, we recommend any gun safe you purchase has a UL listed lock.

3. Fire Protection (Better Than Most People Expect)

As with home safes, fire protection should be a priority when shopping for a reliable gun safe. Generally, we recommend at least a 60-minute rated safe as a base level. Though as the value you’re protecting increases, so too should the level of fire protection.

5. Larger Capacity

Gun safes are built to store long guns, handguns, and accessories like ammo. Because of this, they typically offer more storage space than home safes and often feature a flexible interior.

The Main Differences at a Glance

This spreadsheet lets you quickly compare the most common features of a gun safe vs a home safe.

Why a TL-Rated Safe Would Be the Best Choice

While crime ‘statistics’ paint a picture of break-ins decreasing, there has been a drastic rise in organized robbery crews targeting high-net-worth individuals. These crews are skilled and outfitted with elite tools. They aren’t messing around. That’s where TL-rated, TRTL-rated and TXTL rated safes come into play.

These are hands down the most secure safes on the market. Why? Let;s define what those little acronyms stand for:

• TL - Tool Resistant

• TRTL - Torch & Tool Resistant

• TXTL - Torch, Explosives, and Tool Resistant

These safes are BEASTS. And within each of these ratings, there are varying degrees of protection:

• TL-15 — Can withstand a 15-minute tool attack on the front of the safe without technicians creating a 6-inch hole.

• TL-30 — Can withstand a 30-minute tool attack on the front of the safe without technicians creating a 6-inch hole.

• TL-30x6 — Can withstand a 30 minute tool attack on all six sides of the safe without technicians creating a 6-inch hole.

• TRTL-30x6 — Can withstand a 30-minute torch and tool attack on all six sides of the safe without technicians creating a 6-inch hole.

• TRTL-60x6 — Can withstand a 60-minute torch and tool attack on all six sides of the safe without technicians creating a 6-inch hole.

• TXTL-60x6 — Can withstand a 60-minute explosive, torch, and tool attack on all six sides of the safe without technicians creating a 6-inch hole.

Which One Is Right for You?

Choosing between a home safe and a gun safe depends on what you want to protect.

Choose a Home Safe If:

• You only need to store documents or a few small valuables

• You live in a smaller space and need something compact

• You don’t own long guns

A home safe is a great everyday storage solution. It keeps your essentials organized, helps protect them from fire, and makes it harder for someone to steal items you value.

Choose a Gun Safe If:

• You own firearms and need secure, legal storage

• You want stronger break-in protection

• You want a safe that can store both guns and valuables

• You want a safe that doubles as long-term family storage

• You want thicker steel

Choose a TL-Rated (or higher rated) Safe If:

• You are storing more than $100K in value

• You want to seriously deter criminals

GUN SAFES ARE TAX FREE

Even if you don’t own guns, many people choose a gun safe to protect their valuables and loved ones. One significant advantage of buying a gun safe is that they are tax free in Washington state. Even safes deemed “home safes” are considered gun safes if you plan to store a firearm inside — saving you roughly 10% on the purchase price.

Can You Use a Gun Safe as a Home Safe?

Absolutely. In fact, many families do. A gun safe can hold:

• Firearms

• Cash and documents

• Laptops and cameras

• Jewelry

• Family keepsakes

• Emergency supplies

Can You Use a Home Safe as a Gun Safe?

Yes. Once you put any firearm inside a home safe it’s now considered a gun safe. However, most “home safes” aren’t designed to hold long guns such as rifles and shotguns.

What Safe is Right For You?

It can be tough to know which safe will best suit your needs. We've been selling safes since 1988 and we know first hand that your needs are unique and our recommendation should be too. By answering just a few quick questions, we can offer our expert Good+Better+Best recommendations.