Safe Space Episode 45: Why You Should Buy BIGGER

The biggest mistake safe buyers make is choosing a safe that’s too small. Manufacturer gun counts are often unrealistic, and interior space is smaller than it appears. Firearms—especially rifles with optics and shotguns—take up more room than expected.

Buying a larger safe (or even two safes) saves money and frustration in the long run. Safes can work well in garages when properly installed and protected from moisture. Before buying, measure your space and think about everything you plan to store—not just guns.

When in doubt, go bigger.

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Episode 45 Topics

00:00:46:17 – 00:01:14:41: The #1 Mistake: Buying Too Small

00:01:14:46 – 00:01:58:30: Exterior Size vs. Interior Space

00:01:58:35 – 00:03:44:57: Don’t Trust the Gun Count

00:03:45:05 – 00:04:29:48: Shotguns Take More Space Than You Think

00:04:29:48 – 00:05:45:29: Why Bigger Saves Money Long-Term

00:06:27:48 – 00:08:06:17: Is the Garage a Bad Place for a Safe?

00:09:17:44 – 00:11:29:22: Large Safe Options

00:12:08:39 – 00:13:49:29: Two Smaller Safes vs. One Huge Safe

00:13:49:31 – 00:14:06:15: Reminder: Buy the Biggest Safe that Fits Your Budget (and space)

Episode 45 Discussion Synopsis

00:00:46:17 – 00:01:14:41: The #1 Mistake: Buying Too Small

Today’s topic is simple: buy the biggest safe you can. The number one mistake customers make is buying a safe that’s too small. Many people underestimate how much space they really need.

00:01:14:46 – 00:01:58:30: Exterior Size vs. Interior Space

Safes often look bigger in the store than they really are. They sit on pallets, which adds 4–5 inches to the height. Also, the outside size is not the same as the inside space.

Thick steel and heavy fire insulation take up room inside. The door mechanism also reduces interior depth. In some cases, you can lose 6 to 10 inches of usable space from front to back.

00:01:58:35 – 00:03:44:57: Don’t Trust the Gun Count

Manufacturers list a “gun count” for each safe. For example, a 60x30 safe may be called a “30-gun safe.” Our advice? Cut that number in half.

Most safes come with adjustable interiors that are 50/50—half shelves, half gun racks. So a “30-gun safe” may realistically hold 15 guns or fewer.

Different firearms take up different amounts of space:

• Bolt-action rifles with optics need more room.

• AR-15s with magazines and pistol grips take even more space.

• Shotguns are long and awkward to fit.

• Only slim rifles, like lever actions, may fit close to the listed number.

In real life, a “10-gun rack” may only fit five guns comfortably.

00:03:45:05 – 00:04:29:48: Shotguns Take More Space Than You Think

Shotguns often surprise people. Even though they look slim, they are long and don’t always sit straight in the rack. If you own several shotguns, you may have to:

• Remove the top shelf

• Break them down for storage

• Or buy a taller safe

Many customers come back saying their safe doesn’t hold what they expected—even after being warned.

00:04:29:48 – 00:05:45:29: Why Bigger Saves Money Long-Term

Over the last 40 years, many repeat customers return because they bought too small the first time. Sometimes it’s not just firearms that fill the safe. Paperwork, jewelry, and valuables take up space too. In many homes, one spouse fills part of the safe with documents and keepsakes.

That’s why smaller home safes (around 24 inches wide) have become more popular. They’re great for paperwork and jewelry.

It’s okay to have more than one safe. In fact, it’s often a smart move.

00:06:27:48 – 00:08:06:17: Is the Garage a Bad Place for a Safe?

Some people believe putting a safe in the garage is a bad idea. They worry about:

• Moisture

• Security systems

• Tools stored nearby

But we install safes garages every week without any long-term issues. (Our team’s specific installation area is Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Safes installed in regions with extreme humidity or constant flooding may need to have different precautions taken, but we still believe with the right planning and care, anything is possible.) When installed properly:

• Safes are raised off concrete

• They are leveled and bolted down

• Dehumidifier rods or desiccants control moisture

If you buy the right safe for what you’re protecting, it will do its job—whether it’s in the garage or inside the house.

Some owners prefer the garage because:

• It’s easier for early morning hunting trips

• You don’t wake the household

• Cleaning firearms is more convenient

00:09:17:44 – 00:11:29:22: Large Safe Options

For customers who truly want big, there are large standard models available.

Some safes are:

• 72 inches tall

• 40 inches deep

• 50+ inches wide

One customer even custom-built a safe to hold 40 shotguns in a U-shaped rack for easy access. The key benefit of larger safes is convenience—no stacking and moving guns to reach others.

However, very large custom safes can get expensive.

00:12:08:39 – 00:13:49:29: Two Smaller Safes vs. One Huge Safe

Sometimes, buying two smaller safes makes more sense than one massive safe. You can:

• Get the same level of security

• Get the same fire protection

• Save money

Many manufacturers offer left-hinge and right-hinge options. Two matching safes placed side by side—one opening each direction—can look clean and organized.

Before shopping, come prepared with:

• Your space measurements

• An estimate of long guns and pistols

• Other items you plan to store

This helps the team guide you to the right solution.