The most common regret we hear: “I should have gone bigger”

Almost every safe owner we talk to says the same thing a year in: they wish they had bought one size up. A safe is a 20–30 year purchase. Getting the size right the first time costs nothing extra. Getting it wrong means buying twice — and moving a several-hundred-pound safe twice.

Here is the five-step method we walk customers through on the phone every day.

Step 1: Lay out everything going inside today

Take everything you plan to store — documents, firearms, jewelry, hard drives, cash, heirlooms — and lay it out on a table. Measure the footprint and the height of the tallest item. This is your starting volume, and most people are surprised how fast it adds up.

Step 2: Add about a third for what comes later

Collections grow. Paperwork accumulates. The firearm you buy next year needs a slot too. A good rule: whatever space today's items need, add 30% or more on top. An extra shelf now is far cheaper than a second safe later.

Step 3: Compare interior dimensions, not exterior

Fire-rated walls are thick. A safe that measures 24 inches wide outside can have far less usable width inside — insulation and steel eat 2 to 4 inches per side on many models. Always check the interior dimensions and interior cubic feet in the spec table, not the outside measurements.

Two things to watch for long guns:

• Interior height is what matters for rifles and shotguns, not overall height.
• Advertised gun capacity assumes slim, unscoped rifles racked tightly. If your rifles wear optics, plan on roughly half the advertised number.

Step 4: Weight, floors, and placement

Quality safes commonly run from a few hundred pounds to well over a thousand. Before you choose:

• Pick the spot first: ground floor or a concrete slab is ideal for heavier models. For upper floors, check your floor's load capacity.
• Leave room for the door to swing fully open, plus space to stand beside it.
• Put it against a wall where it can be anchored — anchoring is what stops a safe from being tipped or walked out.

Step 5: Check the delivery path before you order

Measure your door widths, hallway turns, and any stairs on the route from the curb to the safe's final spot. Freight shipping is free on orders over $499, and when your safe ships we hand it to our nationwide delivery partner, In the Nick of Time, who manages curbside delivery, liftgate service, and lead-time scheduling with you directly. Inside delivery isn't included, so line up help (or a local mover) for the final move from the curb.

Quick reference: what fits what

Still not sure? Ask a human

Call us at (888) 717-4819 — 8:00 AM–8:00 PM ET, 7 days a week — or use the live chat on the site. Tell us what you're protecting and your budget, and we'll shortlist two or three models that fit. Every safe qualifies for Bread financing, with 0% APR available, and our 110% Best Price Guarantee means we match and beat any competitor price.