Can You Put a Gun Safe in the Garage?

Originally Published April 3, 2020 | Updated January 8, 2025

Popular wisdom says that you shouldn’t install a gun safe in a garage — especially an unheated garage. And popular wisdom is sometimes right. But with the right precautions and maintenance, you can definitely put a safe in the garage.

For nearly 40 years, we have been delivering, installing, and offering regular maintenance. Have we seen garage safes be utter disasters? Definitely. But that hasn’t kept us from recommending garage installs. Most of our staff has a gun safe in their garage and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a garage install to our closest friends and family.

In this post, we’re going to break down what can go wrong and how to make sure it goes right. This post will include:

• Why Install a Gun Safe in the Garage?

• The Biggest Potential Pitfall of Installing a Safe in Your Garage?

• How Do You Safely Install a Gun Safe in Your Garage?

Why Install a Gun Safe in the Garage?

There are a variety of reasons to install your gun safe in the garage. The two most popular reasons for installing a safe in the garage are:

• Space — Depending on the layout of your home and size of gun safe you purchase, it might be you don’t have a place big enough to handle your safe. Your garage may be your only reasonable option.

• Convenience — Do you get ready for a big hunt by laying out all your gear in the garage? Close proximity to your safe can make it easier to organize your firearms and firearm accessories.

The Biggest Potential Pitfall of Installing a Safe in Your Garage?

Moisture is the biggest pitfall of keeping your safe in the garage. Here in the Pacific Northwest we get plenty of it. Our rainfall ranges from 19.9 inches to as much as 50.6 inches. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), “Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours.”

Mold inside your safe can:

• Cause firearms to misfire or become inoperable

• Rust ammunition, making it unsafe to use and/or impossible to use

• Destroy important documents

• Ruin money

• Make your safe smell funky

• Cause the locking mechanism to stick or become inoperable

How Do You Safely Install a Gun Safe in Your Garage?

1. Clear the Pathway to Your Safe’s Final Resting Place

Generally, garage installs have flat entry points and don’t require any stairs. But, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to have a lot of ‘stuff’ in their garage. To safely and correctly install your safe, our professional gun safe delivery crew needs a clear path from your garage door to your safe’s final resting place.

2. Level the Safe, Creating an Airflow Pocket Beneath It

Leveling your safe and creating an airflow pocket beneath it offers two advantages:

1. It reduces the chance of rust. Without proper airflow, moisture can accumulate under your safe.

2. It ensures proper door swing and mechanism operation when you open the door. If your safe isn’t level, the door can unexpectedly swing further open or closed while you’re accessing the contents. This can range from annoying to dangerous, if a 500-pound door suddenly closes on you.

To level your safe, it needs to come off its delivery pallet and then be placed on some type of barrier. Our gun safe delivery service utilizes a proven technique to create this essential barrier. With a combination of wood and composite shims, we make sure your safe is perfectly level. We don’t recommend using a rubber mat or piece of plywood as this can trap moisture and doesn’t allow for proper airflow.

3. Bolting Down Your Safe to the Garage Floor

To ensure someone doesn’t decide to take your safe with them, we always recommend bolting it to the floor. There are a couple different methods you can use to attach your safe to the floor. One is an expansion anchor. While this method is strong, it does make it incredibly difficult to move your safe at a future date.

To give you the security you want and the flexibility you need, our delivery team uses a Roto-Hammer to pre-drill the concrete and then utilizes an impact driver to securely install the concrete lag anchor. Typically we use a ⅜” bit and a 3” x ⅜” Bolt. This technique threads bolts into the concrete. The major advantage with this technique besides being stronger is that when you want to move your safe, we can unbolt it and fill the holes with concrete patch, like the safe was never there.

Although there are cheaper techniques to bolt your safe down, our 3 decades of experience have led us to this preferred method.

And it’s one that allows this life-long investment to be passed down from generation to generation.

4. Use Two Dehumidifiers  

Whenever a customer asks, “can you put a gun safe in the garage,” one of the main concerns is humidity and temperature. This isn’t something you should ignore. But, there are steps you can take to keep your safe protecting your contents from rust and mildew.

This is why we always recommend using a combination of two dehumidifiers. Not only does this substantially cut down on any moisture that may build up in your safe, it offers an extra layer of protection in the event one of your dehumidifiers stops working.

Heating Element

One of the dehumidifiers we recommend is a heating element, also known as a golden rod. This rod circulates warm air throughout your safe to keep rust, mold, and mildew from building up on your firearms and paperwork.

We recommend placing your rod at the bottom of the safe, to take advantage of how hot air naturally rises. But keep in mind, most golden rods require access to electricity.

Desiccant Dehumidifier

A desiccant dehumidifier is filled with desiccant crystals that actually absorb moisture. We often recommend the rechargeable desiccant dehumidifiers, which allow you to use them again and again. But you can also buy one-time use desiccant dehumidifiers.

Another advantage of desiccant dehumidifiers is they don’t require electricity. This ensures they keep functioning if the power goes out and are particularly important if your safe doesn’t have access to an electrical outlet.

Although heating elements and desiccants perform different functions, they work together to achieve a common goal. Making sure your firearms and valuables are living in a healthy environment.

Can You Move Your Safe Later?

Most definitely! As we mentioned above, we can most definitely move your safe after it’s installed. This means if you want a garage install now, we can bolt it to your concrete floor and then unbolt it and relocate it where you ultimately want it — including on the second floor of your home.