Next to cost, Safe Size is one of the most important considerations. It's important to get a size large enough to fit all your existing guns and valuables while allowing room to add more later. Also, for some size maximums are a consideration when space is limited.
Let's determine what is the best size for you.
- What do the Gun Safe Specifications mean?
Example: if you're looking at a 12-gun safe. This indicates that without any shelving for hand guns, ammo or accessories, you can store up to 12 long-guns. Of course, this will vary depending on the size of the long guns and any attachments such as scopes.
In some cases the safe is designed to use shelving to hold hand-guns and ammo with shelving (Viewing the safe images on the product pages will help you get an idea of the safes design). For example, a 12-gun safe with a shelving configuration may be designed to hold 4 long guns and 8 pistols on shelving. In order to get optimal long gun storage, you will need to remove all shelving. - Do you want to store more than firearms?
We've found that many safe owners end up storing a lot more than just guns. This is why we encourage you to buy bigger than you think you need. It will be impossible to expand the size of your safe down the road. In time, most people will obtain more valuables that need to be secured. Most find their safe becomes a trusted place to secure a growing gun collection, important documents, or other collectibles. - What if you aren't storing Firearms?
There are many reasons to need a safe other than for gun storage. We offer a wide variety of Home & Office Safes, Depositories, Dropboxes, Floor & Wall Safes. In such cases, you will still probably want to buy a safe that is larger than you think you need. Over time most people will accumulate more valuables to be secured. So, consider what your needs are today and add size for anticipated needs. - What if space is limited?
For some, space is limited. In these situations, simply determine where the safe is to be kept and measure the area. Please read the safe descriptions carefully. Some safes require a few extra inches of space when the door is open. - In Conclusion:
First, consider what you plan to put in the safe (hand-guns, long-guns, documents, data, cash, jewelry or other valuables).
Then, consider what you have today as well as what expect to buy later. Anticipate what kind of additional valuables you’ll want to store in the future.
Finally, always error on the side of caution and get the biggest safe you can afford. Prevent finding yourself wishing you had bought bigger. We've never seen someone wishing they had bought smaller.