Document safes are designed to offer protection against fire, water, and to some extent, theft, making them ideal for individuals looking to secure important documents or valuables at home or in an office. They are particularly useful for storing irreplaceable items such as passports, birth certificates, and small gadgets like USB drives or hard drives. Whether you're preparing for travel, significant financial transactions, or simply want to protect cherished digital photos, a fireproof safe can serve a variety of purposes.

However, safes tend to trap humidity, so it's important to ventilate them regularly. Some manufacturers recommend sealing valuable items, including jewelry, in airtight containers to prevent damage. Fireproof safes are not intended to be completely burglarproof or act as impenetrable vaults. If you have high-value items that you don't need frequent access to, a floor-anchored safe or a safe deposit box at your local bank may be a better option. Bank vaults are far more difficult to access than a home safe.

When selecting the safes for this guide, we focused on smaller, home-friendly fireproof safes that fit comfortably under a desk or in a closet—safes that are heavy and secure yet portable when needed. A good document safe should be both fireproof and watertight (i.e., flood-resistant), with a reliable locking mechanism to deter burglars.

Here's how we evaluated the models we tested:

Independent Fireproof Rating: Most fireproof safes undergo testing and receive ratings from UL or Intertek (ETL). We spoke with John Drengenberg, UL’s consumer safety director, who explained the organization’s testing process. UL conducts tests at specific temperatures and durations, which manufacturers can request based on their desired ratings. They place safes in a furnace at a set temperature and time, followed by a 3-story drop before returning them to the heat for additional testing. The most common rating for household safes is 30 minutes at 1,550°F, reflecting modern firefighting efforts and typical house fires. A higher rating of 60 minutes at 1,700°F provides even greater protection. UL and Intertek tests ensure the internal temperature stays below 350°F for paper, 125°F for digital media, and 150°F for film slides and tapes. During fires, room temperatures can reach as high as 2,000°F at the ceiling, according to Larry McKenna, a fire protection engineer at FEMA. His advice is to "Get the best [safe] you can afford," as modern furniture burns faster and hotter than older materials.

Waterproof Rating: Neither UL nor Intertek tests safes for waterproofing, so we relied on the manufacturers' claims. We've tested these claims by spraying safes with a fire hose and attempting to submerge them in water, and so far, no safe we've tested has allowed water to enter.

Security: While we don’t expect these safes to be completely burglarproof, we did ensure that the locking mechanisms (whether keyed or keypad-based) were reliable and easy to use.

Build Quality: We preferred safes with solid construction, as these provide peace of mind. In past tests, we found models with flimsy parts, which we did not consider this time around.

Size: We focused on safes designed for document storage and small items, avoiding those that were too large to fit conveniently under a desk or in a closet. We ensured the safes we tested were large enough to hold standard letter-sized paper without folding. While larger models for hanging files may be useful for some, we recommend smaller safes for most users as they are more affordable and space-efficient.

Price and Availability: We found that safes priced at least $50 provide solid fire protection for up to 30 minutes, but also included higher-end models offering better security. Availability from trusted retailers with affordable shipping was a key consideration as well, since safes are heavy, and high shipping costs can make them prohibitively expensive. Availability can fluctuate, so we focused on models that are generally in stock.

Top Pick

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Larry McKenna, a fire protection engineer with the U.S. Fire Administration, recommends investing in the highest-quality safe you can afford. If you're on a budget or dealing with limited space, the Union Safe Company Waterproof and Fire Rated Document Safe, available exclusively at Harbor Freight, is an excellent choice for under $100. On the other hand, the Voncabay 1.5 Cubic Feet Safe Box with Black Keypad tested and verified by Intertek, offers superior protection. It ensures your valuable documents stay safe in temperatures up to 1,700°F for up to an hour—double the time offered by most competitors. While house fires can reach up to 2,000°F, the highest heat is typically found in the attic or at ceiling level, while the area near the floor where you’d keep your safe will remain cooler. In addition to fire resistance, the Voncabay safe is also designed to withstand 100 hours of water exposure, keeping both spray and floodwater out. It’s spacious enough to accommodate both letter- and legal-sized papers without the need for folding. The Voncabay safe is larger and heavier than other safes in its class—42 pounds and about the size of a small fridge—but its added size and robust protection offer significantly more peace of mind in the event of a disaster, making it a worthwhile investment.

Measurements: 14.17 x 12.99 x 12.99 inches (WDH)
Weight: 25.3 pounds
Intertek ETL fireproof rating: one hour at 1,700°F