How to Prepare for Your Gun Safe Delivery

Getting a new gun safe is exciting. It’s a big investment in your home’s security. But before the delivery truck arrives, it’s important to make sure your home is ready. A little planning ahead can help your delivery go smoothly and prevent last-minute surprises.

Whether you’re getting your first safe or upgrading to something bigger and heavier, here’s everything you need to know to prepare for your gun safe delivery. Here’s the quick rundown of all nine steps:

1. Choose the Right Delivery Location

2. Measure Twice — Then Measure Again

3. Clear the Path

4. Protect Your Floors and Walls

5. Plan for Power and Anchoring

6. Prepare for Tight or Tricky Deliveries

7. Make Room for the Delivery Truck

8. Register and Protect Your Investment

9. Enjoy Peace of Mind

Step 1: Choose the Right Delivery Location

Before anything else, decide where you want your safe to go. This might sound obvious, but it’s one of the most important steps — and one of the most common points where people get stuck.

A few things to think about:

• Accessibility: Can the delivery crew easily get the safe to that spot? If it’s going into a basement or second floor, they’ll need to know in advance to plan for stairs, tight corners, or narrow hallways.

• Floor Strength: Most gun safes weigh between from 500 to over 2,000 pounds. On general principle, we don’t recommend placing anything over 1,500 pounds on the second story or wood subfloor, unless the floor is reinforced. This is why concrete floors, like in a garage or basement, are ideal for larger safes.

• Humidity and Environment: Basements can be damp, garages can be hot or cold. Both can affect your safe’s finish and contents. We always recommend a dehumidifier, and for best practice a backup desiccant, to protect valuables from moisture.

• Proximity to Power: If your safe has interior lighting or a dehumidifier, you’ll want it near an outlet. Some safes with an electronic lock may also require access to power, but we don’t sell any such safes. All traditional gun safes, homes safes and vault doors we sell with electronic locks feature UL listed electronic locks that have the battery contained within the lock.

If you’re not sure, most safe companies (including us here at NW Safe) are happy to help you evaluate the best location. We can help you evaluate the best location before delivery day with the help of measurements, images and/or videos. Our highly skilled and experienced delivery crew can also help you weigh the pros and cons of different locations on the day of — just make sure each possible location is prepared for delivery based on the following steps.

Step 2: Measure Twice — Then Measure Again

You’d be surprised how often a safe doesn’t fit through a doorway or up a stairway because the measurements were off by just an inch.

Here’s what to measure before delivery:

1. The safe itself: Check the height, width, and depth listed on your order confirmation. Don’t forget to include handles, hinges, or locks that might stick out. Experienced delivery crews (like ours…not to toot our own horn) can remove handles, hinges, and locks as needed — though this typically requires advance notice.

2. All doorways, hallways, and turns: Measure width, height, and diagonal clearance.

3. Stairs: Measure tread depth, riser height, and stairway width. If there’s a landing or turn, check the corner clearance.

4. Ceiling height: Make sure there’s enough room above the safe to open the door fully once installed. If, for example, you’re installing the safe under a set of stairs, ensure that the sloped ceiling doesn’t interfere with the door opening.

Write everything down and double-check before the delivery crew arrives. A few minutes with a tape measure now can save hours of frustration later.

Step 3: Clear the Path

On delivery day, the crew will bring specialized equipment — like pallet jacks, stair climbers, and dollies—to safely move your safe. (Our crew will also bring Slick Sticks, a specialized tool we’ve developed to evenly disperse the weight of a safe over your floor and protect it from scratches as the safe is moved into place.)

To make the crew’s job easier (and protect your home), clear a wide, obstacle-free path from your driveway or garage to the installation spot.

That means:

• Moving furniture, rugs, or decor that could be in the way.

• Removing doorstops or trim if needed for extra clearance.

• Sweeping or vacuuming floors to prevent scratches.

• Securing pets and children in another room so they don’t get underfoot.

If you’re having the safe delivered upstairs or downstairs, make sure the crew has full access to the stairway — no clutter, boxes, or storage bins blocking the way.

Step 4: Protect Your Floors and Walls

Gun safes are heavy and hard to maneuver, so even professional crews take extra precautions to avoid damage. But it never hurts to prepare your space, too.

• Flooring: If you have hardwood, laminate, or tile, lay down a sheet of cardboard or a moving blanket along the path.

• Carpet: A piece of plywood or Masonite board can protect it from ruts made by the safe’s weight.

• Walls and doorframes: Remove fragile artwork, wall hangings, and mirrors nearby.

If you’re worried about potential damage, talk to your delivery team—they often have protective materials and methods they use for every job.

Step 5: Plan for Power and Anchoring

Once your safe is in place, you’ll want to think about two key finishing touches: power and anchoring.

Power

If your safe includes a light kit, dehumidifier rod, or electronic lock, the crew may route a power cord through a pre-drilled access hole. Make sure you have an outlet nearby, or consider using a surge-protected extension cord rated for heavy-duty use.

Anchoring

Bolting down your safe is one of the best things you can do to prevent theft. Even smaller safes are difficult to move, but not impossible—especially with the right tools. Anchoring the safe to your floor keeps it stable and secure.

If you’re on concrete, this usually means drilling anchors directly into the slab. On wood floors, installers may use lag bolts through the subfloor and into joists. Professional installers have the right tools and expertise to do this safely and without damaging your home.

Step 6: Prepare for Tight or Tricky Deliveries

Every home is different. Some deliveries are simple, while others are… let’s just say, memorable.

If your delivery involves stairs, steep driveways, soft lawns, or narrow hallways, let the delivery team know in advance. They’ll bring the proper gear and manpower to get the job done safely.

In some cases, they may even do a site visit before delivery to plan the best route. This helps prevent delays and ensures the right equipment—like stair-climbing dollies or extra crew members—is available on delivery day.

Step 7: Make Room for the Delivery Truck

Gun safes are delivered on large trucks that need space to park and unload. If your driveway is steep, narrow, or has low-hanging branches, let your installer know. They can plan to unload from the street or bring a smaller vehicle if needed.

On delivery day:

• Move your car(s) out of the driveway.
  
  

• Keep the area clear for equipment and ramps.
  
  

• Make sure there’s no snow, mud, or standing water in the delivery path.

If you live in a gated community or apartment complex, inform your property manager or security gate in advance so the crew can enter without delay.

Step 8: Register and Protect Your Investment

After delivery, take a few extra steps to protect your investment:

• Register your safe with the manufacturer. This helps with warranty claims and combination recovery.

• Keep your combination in a secure place (not inside your safe!).

• Add moisture control—especially if your safe is in a garage or basement.

• Review your insurance coverage. Some homeowners’ policies allow you to list high-value safes or contents separately.

Step 9: Enjoy Peace of Mind

A properly delivered and installed gun safe gives you something priceless—peace of mind. You’ll know your firearms, documents, and valuables are protected from theft, fire, and damage.

Taking the time to prepare your home before delivery makes everything go smoother. It keeps your property safe, helps the delivery crew do their job efficiently, and ensures your safe starts its new life in the perfect spot.

So grab your tape measure, clear the path, and get ready—your new safe is on its way.