Did you know that every 15 seconds, a burglary happens in the US? Break-ins are very common all over the country, no matter how secure your neighborhood is. The best-hidden safes can provide you with an effective way of fooling burglars and hiding your valuables.
While home safes also provide security for your stuff, they are still prone to be seen by intruders. Small hidden safes, on the other hand, may not be so easy to find for these burglars who have limited time at hand.
Nowadays, hidden safes come in all shapes and forms. Some hidden money safes can look like books, while some can be wall-mounted shelves for decorations.
Best Hidden Safes Buyer’s Guide
Before you decide on which concealed safe to buy for your home, there are a few things you should consider:
1. Size
Most hidden safes are quite small as they are meant for stashing cash, passports, jewelry, etc. If you plan on hiding files, documents, laptops, and guns, you should consider getting a bigger home safe.
While these safes are small, you should still look in to make sure that there’s enough space to hide at least a few things. A capacity of 50 cubic inches or above is decent enough.
2. Portability
Hidden safes come in pretty handy when you are traveling. Everyone knows what a safe looks like. So if you traveled with a small safe box, chances are a thief can get away with it. A hidden safe, on the other hand, may just fool them into thinking it’s not safe.
Most hidden safes are travel-friendly, so you can easily take them with you in your luggage. Make sure it’s lightweight and space-efficient if you’re going to travel with it.
3. Installation
Some hidden gun safes may require installation. This is usually the case with wall safes that looks like shelves, vents, or frames. It’s pretty easy to install them as most of these come with hardware. However, keep in mind that these are for home use only and are not portable.
Best Hidden Safes for Hiding Your Valuables
These reviews of the best-hidden safes will help you find your next safe for your home and your travels. These safes that you can place openly anywhere in your home can easily save the day.
Comparison Of Best Hidden Safes – In 2022
1. Jssmst Book Safe SM-BS0406L – Book Safe with Combination Lock
The Jssmst Book Safe looks like an English dictionary but is one of those disguised safes for home. This comes in two sizes: small and large, with multiple color choices. The inside storage area is ample to stash some cash, small jewelry, and id documents. The large one measures 9.2 inches in length, 6.2 inches in width, and 2.2 inches in depth.
The Book Safe features a combination lock, so there are no keys involved with this safe. Hidden by the cover of a dictionary, the body of the safe is all steel. So it’s quite sturdy even for a small safe like this.
Jssmst has been making home safes for a long time, and they have come to master small hidden safes, in particular. They also provide round-the-clock customer support in the US, so if you ever run into problems, you can contact them.
Good Sides:
- Small and lightweight
- Easy to hide in plain sight
- Sturdy built
- Great value for money
- 18-month warranty
Bad Sides:
- Setting up combination lock is a bit difficult
- No backup key
2. Milliamp Picture Frame Diversion Safe
The Milliamp Picture Frame Diversion Safe is the perfect solution for hiding your stash. You can use it at home or at the office. This even comes with a free pouch, so if you want to hide some jewelry, you can protect it with the pouch inside.
This is incredibly easy to use as it’s essentially a picture frame that doubles as a secret safe. You do not have any keys or combination locks. The frame is apparently thick, but that’s just to create the volume inside it.
This picture frame safe comes in two sizes: 4×6 inches and 8×10 inches. The safe inside is 1.3 inches deep, which should be enough to keep a wad of cash, some jewelry, and keys. The back of this frame safe is like any other safe, so even if someone picks it up, they wouldn’t know this is actually a disguised safe.
Good Sides:
- Easy to use
- Extremely lightweight
- Great place to hide emergency cash
- 30-day guarantee
Bad Sides:
- Very small
- No lock
3. Wishacc Real Pages Hidden Safe – Hidden Compartment Safe
The wishes Real Pages is one of the best-hidden safes because it looks quite like a real book. This is essentially a book with real pages that has been hollowed out to incorporate a small safe box inside.
This hidden safe box has an area of 3.94 x 6.57 inches. This area is not roomy at all, but you can keep small objects like keys, passports, and small jewelry. Since it’s a book safe, you can keep it in plain sight without anyone knowing. Also, this can be great to travel with as it doesn’t weigh much (1.65 pounds).
The inside safe is protected by a combination lock. Also, it does not self-locking, so you will have to lock it by changing the numbers on the combination lock.
Good Sides:
- Looks like a real book
- Travel-friendly
- Easy to use
- Great value for money
Bad Sides:
- Safe box does not have much space
- Setting up combination is a tad bit difficult
4. LightBlue Mantle Clock Safe – Hidden Gun Safe
If you’ve seen movies, you would know a clock is not always a clock. Some are wall clock safes, in reality, used to hiding money. This LightBlue Mantle Clock Safe is a great thing to have in your home. First, it looks great as a clock, and secondly, you can use it to hide your secret stash and other important stuff.
The clock measures 13 inches in height and can be placed on a table or shelf. The walnut finish looks quite elegant. Anyone who looks at it will be so drawn by its design; they wouldn’t think for a second that it’s actually a hidden safe.
The hidden safe has a magnetic latch and felt lining inside. The storage space inside is enough to even hide a gun. The non-skid feet of the clock make sure the furniture gets no scratches. It’s quite reliable as a clock too.
Good Sides:
- Beautiful design
- Reliable clock
- Spacious and lined interior
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
Bad Sides:
- No lock
- Battery not included
5. Travah Diversion Bottle Safe – Best Diversion Safe
If you’re looking for the best-hidden safes to travel with, there’s nothing that can beat the Travah Bottle Safe. This is a genius way to hide your valuables like cash, watch, and credit cards in plain sight. You can carry it to the beach and other touristy places without worrying about getting robbed. For all they know, it’s just a water bottle.
This is essentially a bottle, so you can fill it up with water. The top portion can house 500 ml of water. The stainless steel vacuum insulated body of the bottle helps maintain the temperature of the bottle. The bottom half of the bottle is a 3 x 3 inches secret space for hiding stuff.
The bottom screws on and attaches seamlessly with the other half. No one would be able to tell at first glance that this bottle unscrews at the bottom as well. The storage space stays completely dry even when submerged in water.
Good Sides:
- Intelligent design
- BPA-free insulated stainless steel
- Extremely portable
- Dual-purpose
- Watertight hidden storage
Bad Sides:
- Limited space
- Expensive
6. AmazonBasics Book Safe – Best Portable Safe for Travel
The AmazonBasics Book Safe features a hidden safe box with a key lock. It looks like a book from the outside, but the inside is a safe box. It offers quite a lot of space as almost the entire book is safe.
The front cover hides the door of the safe. This comes with a pair of keys. However, there is another version with a combination lock. It’s available in multiple colors, so you can choose the one that blends in with your room.
The interior can easily house multiple wads of cash, keys, passports, some jewelry, and watches. You can even travel with it as it’s not that heavy.
Good Sides:
- Spacious safe box
- Looks like a book
- Easy to use
- Great value for money
- One-year warranty
Bad Sides:
- Not fireproof
7. KASLVOX Real Pages Safe – Best Diversion Book Safe
KASLVOX Real Pages Book Safes is one of the most foolproof concealed safes. The cover of the book is the Holy Bible. It’s the perfect cover for a hidden book safe with a real cover. Since it’s so common, no one would want to look into it.
The book safe contains real pages that are hollowed for the safe box. Anyone who looks at the book will think it’s just a book. The safe box features a combination lock that makes things further secure.
This one also comes in small and large sizes. The safe size depends on the book size, so if you want more space, go for the large size. You can easily set up the combination lock. However, there’s no backup key.
Good Sides:
- Real pages
- Multiple colors available
- Easily blends in
- Easy to set up
- Travel-friendly
Bad Sides:
- Visible hinges
- Not for large objects
8. Tokatuker RFID Hidden Lock
The Tokatuker RFID Hidden Lock can make any cabinet, drawer, and locked into a concealed safe. If you’re looking for DIY safes, this lock can help you build one. This lock is designed to provide reliable security.
You can use it on doors that are up top 1.5 inches thick. You have to set up the RFID tags before you install the lock onto a hidden door. The manual provides all the instructions for installation. You get an RFID key and card with this to operate the lock.
The lock is powered by two AA batteries that can give up to 15,000 RFID accesses. The lock just screws on and there’s no drilling required. It even lets you know when the battery is low by making a beep sound.
Good Sides:
- Keyless entry
- Can be used with a lot of storage options
- Great value
- Long-lasting battery
- Multiple RFID tags
Bad Sides:
- Installation takes some time
- No backup key
9. Stalwart 82-5894 Wall Clock Safe
One of the most discreet wall clock safes, the Stalwart 82-5894, is a hidden safe that also looks good. The clean design of this clock and precise function makes it ideal for hiding stuff in your home in plain sight.
The diameter of the clock is 10-inches, and the depth is 3 inches, which means the inside of the clock offers ample storage. There are two shelves built into the internal storage area that offer increased space usage. You place jewelry, watches, cash, passports, etc. easily inside this wall clock.
It’s easy to install and hang on the wall. The front, which is the clock, just snaps into the back compartment. There are no locks or keys involved in this hidden safe. This clock just uses a single AA battery that lasts quite long.
Good Sides:
- Easy to hang
- Spacious interior with shelves
- Lightweight
- Simple clock
- High-quality
Bad Sides:
- No lock
10. Travah Diversion Hanger Fireproof Safe
This is a hidden fireproof safe from Travah, that once again proves they are really good at helping you hide your stuff. This safe is basically a coat hanger made from fireproof multilayer carbon fiberglass materials.
There is quite a lot of space in this hidden hanger safe. As for size, it measures 16.5 inches by 17.5 inches. You can use it at home to hide important things and cash in your closet. Since it’s a hanger, you can also travel with it and use it in hotels
You also get a small, water-resistant zipper pouch with this hidden safe. You can use it for a passport or cash. There are two pockets inside for further hiding important things and using the space efficiently.
Good Sides:
- Fireproof and water-resistant
- Hidden pockets and pouch
- Smell proof
- Great disguise
- Lifetime satisfaction guarantee
Bad Sides:
- No lock
11. Stash-it Diversion Picture Frame Safe
The Stash-it Picture Frame Safe provides a genius way to store away cash, jewelry, and other such valuables. For a small safe disguised as a frame, it offers a decent capacity. You have internal storage that is 48 cubic inches.
What makes it different from other such frame safes is that it has a soft foam interior. You also get a small 4×3 inches smell-proof bag. This ziplock bag can be used for hiding cash inside the frame.
The size of the frame itself is 8 x 6 inches. It’s two inches thick, so you can imagine that it will give you enough interior space. The back of the frame is like a regular frame. All in all, it’s a great way of hiding things in plain sight.
Good Sides:
- Small smell proof bag
- Roomy interior
- Good value
- Quality frame
- Easy access
Bad Sides:
- No lock
12. G&G PS Products Concealment Shelf 9005008 – Best Wall Mount Safe
The G&G PS Products Concealment Shelf is a diversion safe that looks like a shelf but opens up. This is a hidden safe that will also look great in your home. The espresso finish of the wood will look great in any living room or bedroom.
The shelf is wall-mountable and opens at the bottom. Inside, there is enough room to hide cash, jewelry, passports, and even handguns. This does not have a key or combination lock; instead, it uses a magnet.
The shelf safe comes with all the hardware you will need to mount it on the wall. With predrilled holes, it should not be too difficult for you to install it. The lock is also tough and only opens with the magnet key that comes with the shelf.
Good Sides:
- Beautiful finish
- Spacious interior
- Easy to install
- No visible locks or hinges
- Magnet lock
Bad Sides:
- Expensive
- Plastic latches
13. Professional Grade Products WS1 Wall Vent Safe – Best Hidden Wall Safe
This is a genius idea for a secret safe by Professional Grade Products. Their WS1 Wall Safe installs into the wall and has a paintable grille that screws on. No one would ever think that you have valuables hidden behind the grille. They will think it’s a vent in the wall.
This safe comes with all the hardware you need to install the safe box and the grill on the wall. It will easily fit between the standard studs. You will be able to install it in a matter of minutes. To ramp up security even further, it comes with a false wall so no one can see through the gaps in the grille.
There is quite a lot of space in this wall safe as you get 0.12 cubic feet capacity. This should be enough to hide a lot of jewelry, cash, and even a firearm. You just have to cut the wall in the shape of the safe.
Good Sides:
- Hidden in plain sight
- Easy installation
- High capacity
- Easy to use
- Made in the US
Bad Sides:
- A bit heavy
- No security lock
14. Jssmst Diversion Book Safe – Best Small Lock Box
This is one of the best secret safes from Jssmst. This one has a combination lock that is easy to operate. The large-size book comes in a variety of covers, so you can choose one that goes with your reading interests.
The interior measures 9.2 inches in length, 5.7 inches in width, and 1.6 inches in depth, which is enough storage for small items. The safe inside the book diversion is made of steel; therefore, it’s quite sturdy.
Since it’s lightweight, you can easily travel with it too. It’s a good thing to use while traveling to hide your cash, credit cards, and passport, whenever you leave your hotel room or hit public places.
Good Sides:
- Easy to open
- Lightweight
- Travel-friendly
- Generous storage space
- 18-month guarantee
Bad Sides:
- No backup key
- Setting up lock is a bit difficult
FAQ
Where Do Burglars Go First?
Most people hide their most valuable stuff in the bedrooms. So any burglar who breaks in would straight away head to the bedroom. This is the reason why experts suggest never placing a safe in the bedroom.
The best-hidden safes can provide a great way to hide stuff in plain sight in your bedroom. Even if the burglar makes their way into the bedroom, they might not be able to find your stash because it’s in a hidden safe that does not look like a safe.
Are Hidden Safes Fireproof Or Water-resistant?
This depends on the hidden safe model in question. If you’re specifically looking for a water-tight or fireproof safe, you should go for one that explicitly states so. All hidden safes are not fireproof or water-resistant.
A lot of the best-hidden safes do not even have locks as they are supposed to look like another object. However, you can place it in a place that’s above ground or near a wall. This way, you may get some protection in case of a fire or flood.
Another way to protect your belongings is to put them in a waterproof or fireproof bag and then place them in a safe. This way, even if the fire or water damages the safe, your cash or documents in the bag will stay intact.
How Can I Hide My Safe in My Closet?
Where Do Burglars not Look?
Conclusion
The best-hidden safes can be lifesavers. You can hide emergency cash, important documents, and valuable jewelry. The burglars would have a hard time figuring out where you hide your cash.
Some hidden safes are fireproof too. These will protect your most important belongings not just from thieves, but also from fires. If you live in an area with seasonal wildfires, you may want to invest in that.
References
- Home Safety: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_safety
- Home Safety Techniques: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560539/
- Choosing and Using a Home Safe: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2011/01/choosing-and-using-a-home-safe/index.htm