Choosing where to put a safe seems like a simple decision, but once you dig into it, you realize there’s a lot more to consider. Every home is different, every family’s needs are unique, and every safe serves a slightly different purpose. Some people want fast access, others want maximum security, and many want a mix of both.
In this episode of Safe Space, we break down the most common questions, mistakes, and myths about safe placement—from garages and bedrooms to stair closets and wall safes—so you can pick the spot that works best for your daily life and what you’re protecting.
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Episode 33 Topics
0:51 — Put a Safe Where You’re Going to Use It
2:44 — The Variables to Where to Install a Safe
4:06 — What Law Enforcement Says
4:49 — Consider Splitting Up Your Safes
5:53 — Floor Safes
6:35 — Wall Safes
9:20 — Strange Places People Have “Hidden” Safes vs Safes that are Deterrents
10:08 — Under the Stairs
10:55 — Outgrowing Safes is VERY Common
11:45 — Worst Place to Install a Safe as a Delivery Guy
14:55 — Put the Safe Where You Want It & Buy the Right Safe
Episode 33 Discussion Synopsis
0:51 — Put a Safe Where You’re Going to Use It
Choosing the “worst” place to put a safe isn’t as simple as it sounds, because every home and every person’s needs are different. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. What really matters is how you plan to use your safe. Some people worry about how hard a location might be for delivery, but that part is our job—not yours. Your focus should be on convenience and daily access.
People often say things like, “Never put a safe upstairs” or “Never put a safe in the garage,” but the truth is that it depends on the safe and the situation. A huge, 5,000-pound high-security safe usually belongs in the garage. But someone building a new home might design the upstairs to support a heavy safe and have it craned in during construction.
The biggest mistake people make is hiding the safe so well that it becomes hard to reach. If it’s inconvenient, you simply won’t use it as often as you should.
2:44 — The Variables to Where to Install a Safe
There are a lot of factors to think about when choosing where to put a safe, but one thing you taught me years ago still stands: pick a spot that’s convenient for your daily life. For some people, that’s the home office.
For others, like me, it’s the garage because I’m in there every day, especially when I’m hunting or shooting. Many people think the garage is a bad spot, but it really depends on how you use your safe and what you’re protecting. The key is to buy the right safe first, then put it somewhere you’ll actually use it—not just the one spot you assumed it had to go.
4:06 — What Law Enforcement Says
When you talk to law enforcement, they’ll tell you that the master bedroom is one of the most common places people keep their safes. It’s also one of the first places a thief checks. Most burglars head straight to the master bedroom closet to grab easy-to-find items like jewelry, cash, and electronics.
So based on crime statistics, the master closet can seem like a risky spot. But at the same time, we install hundreds of safes there every year. For some people, it’s the perfect location because it’s convenient and easy to access. For others, it might not be the best choice. It really depends on your needs.
4:49 — Consider Splitting Up Your Safes
Another thing people should consider is splitting up what they store. Many people want one big safe for long guns, handguns, and precious metals. That makes sense, but sometimes it means giving up the level of security or fire protection their valuables really need.
Instead, you can use two safes: a more affordable safe for long guns, and a smaller high-security TL-15 or TL-30 safe for precious metals or cash. This setup can actually protect your items better.
If you’re storing wealth you don’t use every day, keeping the high-security safe in the garage can work well. You can bolt it to the concrete, and being slightly separated from the house may even help with fire protection.
5:53 — Floor Safes
Another thing that comes to mind is floor safes. A lot of people like the idea of hiding their valuables in a safe built into the floor. But we usually try to guide people away from that option because it’s very inconvenient.
Getting into a floor safe means getting down on your hands and knees every time, which gets old fast. While floor safes can be good for hiding something long-term, most people choose them because they think “no one will ever find it.” That part might be true, but you lose a lot of everyday convenience.
For daily use, a floor safe is honestly one of the worst places to keep your items.
6:35 — Wall Safes
Another type of safe people ask about all the time is a wall safe. There are situations where wall safes make sense, but most of the time they’re not a great choice. Many people want to hide a wall safe behind a picture or inside a closet, but wall safes usually have no fire protection. They’re made from thin sheet metal, so if someone does find it, it’s easy to break into—and in a fire, the contents will likely be destroyed.
The same concerns come up with floor safes. Some people think a “floor safe” is just a short safe that sits low to the ground, but a true floor safe is actually built into the concrete. These safes sit below the surface with a cover on top. While they aren’t insulated for fire, they get strong fire protection simply from being surrounded by concrete. That makes a real floor safe great for long-term storage of precious metals or emergency cash.
From gun safe cloaks to gun safe cover disguises, discover the best ways to conceal your safe — even to the naked eye!
9:20 — Strange Places People Have “Hidden” Safes vs Safes that are Deterrents
We’ve heard all kinds of stories about people trying to hide safes in attics or strange corners of their homes. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for where a safe should go. Some people don’t want a safe out in the open, while others happily keep a beautiful safe in their living room.
We think of a high-quality safe, like a Fort Knox, as a piece of furniture. There’s nothing wrong with placing it where guests can see it, as long as it’s the right safe for what you’re protecting. If you buy a cheap, entry-level safe but store expensive items in it, then yes—you should probably hide it.
But a strong, high-security safe can actually be a deterrent. If a criminal sees your home has a serious safe and your neighbor has nothing, they’re more likely to choose the easier target. A good safe makes you the “hard target,” which often keeps thieves away.
10:08 — Under the Stairs
Another spot we see more and more people using is the space under the stairs—the little “Harry Potter closet,” as some call it. It’s a strange, cramped area, and it can be a hassle to get in and out of. Still, many people like to tuck a safe back in that nook.
Personally, I wouldn’t use that space unless the safe was high-security and meant for long-term storage. For everyday use, it’s not very convenient. You don’t want to be squeezing into a tiny corner every time you need something from your safe. So while it can work for certain items, it’s not ideal for regular access.
10:55 — Outgrowing Safes is VERY Common
One thing customers should keep in mind is that it’s very easy to outgrow a safe. Most people end up putting way more inside their safe than they first planned. You might think the spot you choose won’t be inconvenient, but once you start using the safe, it often becomes part of your daily or weekly routine. Because of that, the location matters more than you might expect. Choosing a spot that’s easy to reach will make using your safe a lot more comfortable over time.
11:45 — Worst Place to Install a Safe as a Delivery Guy
The main thing to remember is that your safe should be easy to reach and simple to use. Another topic worth talking about is delivery. You’ve delivered tens of thousands of safes, so you know how much this matters. Most companies only offer curbside delivery, which means they drop the safe at the end of your driveway—no matter how long it is. They won’t bring it inside, up stairs, or into a basement.
Our team handles full in-home delivery, which includes basements, upstairs rooms, and tight spaces. And in the Pacific Northwest, homes often have daylight basements, hills, small pathways, and lots of steps, which can make delivery challenging.
Surprisingly, the hardest deliveries aren’t the big, heavy safes going into garages—those are usually straightforward. The toughest jobs are the small spaces: crawl spaces, narrow hallways, or multiple flights of stairs.
If you ever move, keep in mind that garage-to-garage moves cost far less than moving a safe from an upstairs closet to another upstairs location. But in the end, we want you to place your safe where you will use it most.
14:55 — Put the Safe Where You Want It & Buy the Right Safe
At the end of the day, there really isn’t a single “worst” place to put a safe. You can’t make one rule that fits every home. What matters most is choosing the right safe for what you’re protecting and then placing it somewhere that fits your daily routine. Pick a spot that’s convenient—not just a place you think you should use.
For example, if you want quick access in the middle of the night, a large safe in the master bedroom isn’t the best choice. A smaller, dedicated quick-access safe is usually a better option, while the bigger safe can live wherever it makes the most sense.
No matter where you want your safe, we can install it—even in tricky locations. And if you’re unsure, we offer site inspections to help you decide the best spot in your home or business. If you have questions about placement or choosing the right safe, just reach out.