The best handgun safe
Quick answer: the GunVault MicroVault MV500 (around $140) is the best handgun safe for most people. GunVault builds it from 16-gauge steel with its No-Eyes keypad, designed for touch entry in the dark, plus a backup key, and it is small enough for a nightstand, a drawer or under a car seat. Owners on OpticsPlanet rate it 4.3 out of 5 from 51 reviews, the most of any safe here; its lid does not spring open. For touch-free entry, the Hornady RAPiD Safe 2700KP XL opens with a tap of an RFID wristband or fob and none of its 19 reviews says the owner would not recommend it. For the bedside, the Hornady Night Guard looks like a clock. For fingerprint entry, the Barska Compact Biometric. For the car and flights, the key-lock GunVault NanoVault NV200 (around $45). On the tightest budget, the Bulldog pistol vault, with the weakest owner record here.
A handgun safe has two jobs that pull against each other: keep a pistol away from children and opportunistic thieves, and let you get to it fast. The safes below are quick-access boxes, not fire safes and not vaults that stop a determined thief with tools; owners of several of them say so plainly. Every card names the exact model we checked. Where we read the maker's own page (GunVault's) we used it; everything else is labelled as the retailer listing's.
Handgun safes compared
| Safe | Best for | Entry | Size (in) | Weight | Owner rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GunVault MicroVault MV500 | Overall | Keypad, key | 2.5 x 8.5 x 11 | 4 lb | 4.3 (51) | around $140 |
| Hornady RAPiD 2700KP XL | RFID quick access | RFID, keypad | 12.7 x 8.7 x 2.9 | Not listed | 5.0 (19) | around $210 |
| Hornady RAPiD Night Guard | Nightstand | RFID, keypad, key | 3 x 12 x 10.5 | 18 lb | 4.5 (18) | around $260 |
| Barska Compact Biometric | Fingerprint | Fingerprint, key | 12 x 8 x 7.75 | 12 lb | 4.6 (17) | around $310 |
| GunVault NanoVault NV200 | Car and travel | Key | 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.75 | 3 lb | 4.5 (26) | around $45 |
| Bulldog 7x12x10 Pistol Vault | Budget home vault | Keypad, key | 7 x 12 x 10 | 15.5 lb | 3.7 (12) | around $90 |
GunVault MicroVault entry and steel are from GunVault's own product page; all sizes, weights and the other safes' specifications come from the retailer's listing. Owner ratings are OpticsPlanet's, shown with the number of reviews. Prices are bands; confirm the current price and availability on the retailer page before you buy.
Our picks
Best handgun safe overall: GunVault MicroVault MV500
Portable keypad pistol safe · No-Eyes keypad, 3 to 6 digit code, backup key (GunVault) · 1x 9V battery · steel security cable · 2.5 x 8.5 x 11 in, 4 lb (retailer listing) · card: MV500STD, black
around $140exact price on OpticsPlanet
A safe owners use on a nightstand, in a drawer, under a car seat and in a suitcase. GunVault builds the MicroVault from 16-gauge steel (the retailer's feature list says 20-gauge) and opens it with its patented No-Eyes keypad, which GunVault designs for touch-based entry without needing to see it, with a 3 to 6 digit code and a backup key. GunVault adds anti-pry tabs, a reinforced U-lock, concealed hinges, an illuminated interior and an optional silent mode. The retailer lists a single 9V battery, a low-battery warning, a computer that blocks access after repeated wrong codes, four pre-drilled mounting holes and an included steel security cable. It has the deepest owner record here, 51 reviews, and owners keep saying the same things: it is easy to program, fast to open by feel, and small enough for a drawer or under a seat. The trade-offs are just as consistent: the lid does not spring open, several owners call the cable thin, and five of the 51 say they would not recommend it, four of them after the safe stopped working properly.
Pros
- No-Eyes keypad built for touch entry in the dark, with a 3 to 6 digit code and a backup key (GunVault)
- Portable: owners use it on the nightstand, in a drawer, under a car seat and in checked luggage
- Steel security cable and four pre-drilled mounting holes (retailer listing)
- The largest owner record on this page, 51 reviews
Cons
- The lid is not spring-loaded; one owner writes that it "must be pulled up and open with a thumb"
- Owners call the cable thin; one says it "can be cut with a wire cutter or bolt cutter!"
- Five of 51 reviews do not recommend it, four after the safe stopped working properly
- Not fire resistant, per the retailer spec table
Best for: one handgun that moves between the bedroom, the car and travel. If it will live on the nightstand, a spring-open Hornady is faster to get into.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | GunVault |
|---|---|
| Entry | No-Eyes keypad, 3 to 6 digit code, manual backup key |
| Steel | 16-gauge (GunVault); the retailer feature list says 20-gauge |
| Security | Anti-pry tabs, reinforced U-lock, concealed hinges (GunVault); blocks access after repeated invalid entries (retailer) |
| Interior | Foam lined, illuminated interior (GunVault) |
| Power | 1x 9V battery, LED low-battery warning (retailer listing) |
| Mounting | Four pre-drilled holes, steel security cable included |
| Exterior | 2.5 x 8.5 x 11 in (retailer listing) |
| Weight | 4 lb (retailer listing) |
| Fire resistant | No (retailer listing) |
| Warranty | Retailer listing: 1 year limited. GunVault's About page advertises a brand-wide 5-year warranty against fire and burglary damage |
| Spec source | GunVault's MV500 product page and About page; dimensions, weight, battery and warranty from the retailer listing |
| Model on this card | MV500STD (UPC 751077123061) |
“Access is quick: almost as quick as opening a drawer.”
Alyosha, owner (CA) via OpticsPlanet
Best RFID quick-access pistol safe: Hornady RAPiD Safe 2700KP XL
RFID + keypad lock box · spring-assist lid · 14-gauge steel, two hardened locking lugs · AC power · security cable · 12.7 x 8.7 x 2.9 in (retailer listing) · card: 98172
around $210exact price on OpticsPlanet
The touch-free way into a handgun safe: no buttons to press. The retailer lists the 2700KP XL with RFID entry from a wristband, key fob or sticker that opens a spring-assist lid, up to five RFID tags, a 4 to 6 digit keypad code as the second way in, an exterior of thick 14-gauge steel with two internal hardened locking lugs, AC power and an included cable. Owners are the most consistent of any safe here: none of the 19 reviews says they would not recommend it, and they single out the several ways to open it, the heavy build and how fast it pops open. The limits are specific. The most helpful review, from an owner who tried their own guns, found that a compact 1911 fits but 5 inch barrel pistols do not, despite the XL name. One owner found the small RFID stickers unreliable, and one of the 19 reviews appears to describe hearing protection rather than this safe.
Pros
- RFID wristband, fob or sticker plus a keypad code, with a spring-assist lid (retailer listing)
- No review of 19 says the owner would not recommend it
- 14-gauge steel exterior with two hardened locking lugs, per the retailer; owners describe it as heavy and well built
- AC power; owners mention a battery backup and a backup key
Cons
- XL is not big: the most helpful review says two 5 inch barrel handguns "don't fit at all"
- One owner found the small RFID sticker disks "not very effective in opening the safe"
- Costs noticeably more than the MicroVault
- The retailer lists no weight, and no Hornady page could be read to confirm the specifications
Best for: a quick-access box at home or in a vehicle for one compact or mid-size handgun. Measure a long-barrel pistol before you buy.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Hornady |
|---|---|
| Entry | RFID (wristband, key fob or sticker; up to five tags) and a 4 to 6 digit keypad code |
| Lid | Spring-assist |
| Steel | 14-gauge exterior housing, two internal hardened locking lugs |
| Power | AC power |
| Security cable | Included |
| Exterior | 12.7 x 8.7 x 2.9 in (retailer expert answer) |
| Retailer claims | Exceeds ASTM International safety standards for child and pry resistance, lock strength, drop/pick/saw tests and hinge attack resistance; meets TSA requirements for handgun safety in checked luggage (the retailer's words, not confirmed with Hornady) |
| Spec source | Retailer listing (Hornady's store page was blocked to us) |
| Model on this card | 98172 (UPC 090255981728) |
“the fact I can just tap my wrist to the top of the safe and it pops open is awesome!”
CB, owner (CA) via OpticsPlanet
Best nightstand handgun safe: Hornady RAPiD Safe Night Guard
Bedside safe with clock · RFID, keypad code and key · spring-assist drawer · two USB-A ports · AC and battery power · 3 x 12 x 10.5 in, 18 lb (retailer listing) · card: 98215
around $260exact price on OpticsPlanet
A handgun safe that looks like a bedside clock. The retailer lists three ways in (RFID reader, a programmed access code and a mechanical key), four included RFID tags, a tempered glass front panel that holds the RFID reader, clock display and keypad, a spring-assist drawer with a padded interior, two USB-A charging ports, AC and battery power, and a 1,500-pound-rated security cable or pre-drilled holes for mounting. Its spec table gives 3 x 12 x 10.5 in outside, 2.2 x 9.2 x 6.9 in inside and 18 lb, for one handgun. Owners like that it passes for a clock, that they can charge a phone on it and that a full-size handgun fits; one owner fits a Glock with a 6 inch barrel and a red dot. The complaints repeat too: two owners say the clock keeps poor time, two say it is loud when it opens, two found the setup instructions hard to follow and a third found programming tricky.
Pros
- Looks like a bedside clock, with two USB-A charging ports (retailer listing)
- Three ways in: RFID, keypad code and key, with a spring-assist drawer
- Owners fit full-size handguns, one a Glock with a 6 inch barrel and red dot
- 1,500-pound-rated cable or pre-drilled mounting holes (retailer listing)
Cons
- The clock drifts: one owner says it "gains about 2 minutes each week", another that it runs slow
- Loud opening; the most helpful review says "If you're looking for discretion, this is not the safe for you."
- Two owners found the setup instructions hard to follow; a third found programming tricky
- 18 lb and nightstand-sized: a home safe, not a travel box
Best for: the nightstand, where a clock and phone charger earn their space. For a car or travel, pick the MicroVault or NanoVault.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Hornady |
|---|---|
| Entry | RFID (four tags included), user-programmed access code, mechanical key |
| Drawer | Spring-assist, padded interior |
| Extras | Clock display, two USB-A ports |
| Power | AC and battery |
| Mounting | 1,500-pound-rated security cable or pre-drilled holes |
| Exterior | 3 x 12 x 10.5 in |
| Interior | 2.2 x 9.2 x 6.9 in |
| Weight | 18 lb |
| Capacity | 1 handgun (retailer spec table) |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | 98215 (UPC 090255982152) |
“It looks like a clock sitting on my bedside table.”
Rachel, owner (KY) via OpticsPlanet
Best biometric handgun safe: Barska Compact Biometric Gun Safe
Fingerprint safe · 30-fingerprint memory · motorized deadbolt lock · two backup keys · 4 AA batteries · 12 x 8 x 7.75 in, 12 lb (retailer listing) · card: AX11620
around $310exact price on OpticsPlanet
The fingerprint option, and one of the roomier boxes here: owners fit three or four handguns. The retailer lists a fingerprint reader that stores 30 prints, a motorized deadbolt lock with two solid steel locking bolts, two emergency backup keys, 4 AA batteries (included), a silent access feature, a 3/16 in door and 1/16 in body, 12 x 8 x 7.75 in outside, 11.5 x 7.5 x 5.75 in inside and 12 lb, a one-year limited warranty, and a feature line that says CA DOJ Approved. Owners fit more than one gun: three handguns with room for another for one, four for another. Several say the reader works every time, and one owner who struggled fixed it by scanning the finger at an angle. The weakest point is the one that matters in a biometric safe: in the most helpful critical review, the reader took up to ten tries, and that owner went back to a combination safe. Its reviews are also old, from 2011 to 2017, and it is the most expensive safe on this page.
Pros
- Fingerprint entry with 30 stored prints, plus two backup keys (retailer listing)
- Room for several handguns; owners report three to four
- Owners describe quiet, quick opening once the reader is set up
- The retailer lists it as CA DOJ Approved
Cons
- The reader can be touchy: one reviewer writes "I have had to do it 10 times before it recognize mine."
- Not a travel box, and one reviewer notes a thief can "just take the whole thing" unless it is bolted down
- Its owner reviews date from 2011 to 2017
- The most expensive safe on this page, and not fireproof per the retailer spec table
Best for: people who want fingerprint entry and will bolt the safe down at home. Enroll each finger at more than one angle, as owners suggest.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Barska |
|---|---|
| Entry | Fingerprint (30-print memory), two backup keys |
| Lock | Motorized deadbolt, two solid steel locking bolts |
| Steel | Door 3/16 in, body 1/16 in |
| Power | 4 AA batteries (included) |
| Exterior | 12 x 8 x 7.75 in |
| Interior | 11.5 x 7.5 x 5.75 in |
| Weight | 12 lb |
| Fireproof | No |
| Warranty | One-year limited |
| Retailer claim | CA DOJ Approved (the retailer's feature list; not confirmed with Barska) |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | AX11620 (UPC 790272982523) |
“I scanned my index finger at an angle and now the reader recognizes my finger every time.”
Jess, reviewer (TX) via OpticsPlanet
Best budget travel and car pistol safe: GunVault NanoVault NV200
Key-lock pistol case · 1.25 in memory foam · security cable · 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.75 in, 3 lb (retailer listing) · card: NV200
around $45exact price on OpticsPlanet
The cheapest safe on this page and the one owners take in the car and on flights. The retailer lists a key-lock case with 21-gauge steel construction in its features and description (its spec table says 18 gauge), a 1.25 in memory foam interior, 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.75 in, 3 lb, and a security cable tested up to 1,500 pounds; it also says the case meets TSA airline firearm guidelines. Owners use it to leave a handgun in the car where they cannot carry, and as a checked-luggage case. They are also candid about its limits. Five owners report a foam odor, and two say it fades once the foam is aired out, several call the cable thin, and the most helpful review points out that a key is not a fast way in. It is a lockable case, not a quick-access safe.
Pros
- The lowest price on this page
- Slim enough to go under a car seat, per owners, with a 1,500-pound-tested cable (retailer listing)
- No electronics or batteries: a key lock
- Owners use it as a checked-luggage case for a handgun
Cons
- Five owners report a foam odor; one says "The foam stinks and takes a few days to air out"
- Owners call the cable thin, and one owner's review title says "NOT high security"
- A key is slow: the most helpful review says it should not be counted on for instant access
- Snug for a holstered pistol, per two owners
Best for: the car and air travel, where a lockable case matters more than speed. Keep it cabled to the seat frame.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | GunVault |
|---|---|
| Lock | Key lock |
| Steel | 21-gauge (retailer features and description; its spec table says 18 gauge) |
| Interior | 1.25 in memory foam |
| Size | 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.75 in |
| Weight | 3 lb |
| Security cable | Included, tested up to 1,500 pounds (retailer listing) |
| Fire resistant | No (retailer listing) |
| Retailer claim | Meets TSA airline firearm guidelines (the retailer's words; check TSA and your airline) |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table, features and description |
| Model on this card | NV200 (UPC 751077123191) |
“Great for the car, easily fits under my seat and more secure than the glove box for concealed carry when I can't take it with me.”
Owner via OpticsPlanet
Budget home pistol vault: Bulldog 7x12x10 Standard Pistol Vault
Digital keypad vault · hidden key override · two steel locking bolts · carpeted floor · 7 x 12 x 10 in, 15.5 lb (retailer listing) · card: BD1050
around $90exact price on OpticsPlanet
The least expensive electronic safe here, with the weakest owner record. The retailer lists a 12-digit keypad with more than 1000 combinations, a hidden key override, two steel locking bolts on the door, heavy-duty powder-coated steel, a carpeted floor, pre-drilled mounting holes with hardware, a low-voltage LED light and a tamper alarm, at 7 x 12 x 10 in and 15.5 lb. Owners who like it fit two handguns plus magazines and ammunition. Three of the 12 reviews say they would not recommend it: one owner's keypad malfunctioned about five times in three months, another's key did not work out of the box, and another had to enter the code two or three times. Owners also disagree about the keypad sound: three say it beeps on every press, one of them that there is no way to silence it, while another likes its quiet feature.
Pros
- Under $100, the lowest-priced keypad safe on this page
- Room for two handguns plus magazines and ammunition, per owners
- Hidden key override, two steel locking bolts and a tamper alarm (retailer listing)
- Pre-drilled holes and mounting hardware included
Cons
- Three of 12 reviews do not recommend it, citing keypad and lock failures
- Owners say the keypad beeps on every press; one calls it "Too much of an alarm during the night."
- Not fire safe, per an owner
- One owner found the bottom holes too small for a locking cable
Best for: a tight budget and a safe that stays bolted down at home. If reliability matters most, the MicroVault has a longer and better owner record.
Key specifications
| Manufacturer | Bulldog Cases & Vaults |
|---|---|
| Entry | 12-digit keypad (more than 1000 combinations), hidden key override |
| Lock | Two steel locking bolts on the door |
| Body | Heavy-duty steel, powder-coated black matte |
| Interior | Carpeted floor, low-voltage LED light |
| Alarm | Tamper alarm |
| Mounting | Pre-drilled holes, hardware included |
| Size | 7 x 12 x 10 in |
| Weight | 15.5 lb |
| Spec source | Retailer listing spec table and features |
| Model on this card | BD1050 (UPC 672352007497) |
“Large enough for my 2 guns, extra magazines and extra ammo.”
Jimmy Vintage, owner (IL) via OpticsPlanet
How to choose a handgun safe
- Where it lives. A nightstand safe can be heavy and plugged in (the Night Guard is 18 lb with USB ports). A car or travel safe should be slim and cabled to the seat frame (the MicroVault and NanoVault are 4 lb and 3 lb per the retailer).
- How it opens. RFID is a tap, a keypad is a short code you can learn by feel, a fingerprint reader depends on how well it reads your finger, and a key is the slowest. One Hornady owner ranks the RFID bracelet fastest, the keypad fast and the key slow, while another found the keypad the fastest way in; the most helpful critical Barska review needed up to ten tries.
- Does the lid pop open. The Hornady safes use a spring-assist lid or drawer. The MicroVault does not, and owners say you lift the lid by hand.
- Size your gun first. Even the 2700KP XL did not take two 5 inch barrel handguns for one owner, while the Night Guard took a Glock with a 6 inch barrel and red dot for another. Check the inside dimensions against your pistol.
- Anchor it. Every safe here can be cabled or bolted down. Owners of the MicroVault, NanoVault and Night Guard doubt the cable against cutting tools; at home, bolting the safe down through its mounting holes means you do not rely on the cable alone.
- Power. Electronic safes need batteries (the MicroVault takes one 9V, the Barska 4 AA per the retailer) or AC power. The key-lock NanoVault needs none.
- Laws and travel. Storage and transport rules vary by state and airline. We do not give legal advice; check your state's law, TSA's current rules and your airline before you rely on any safe for them.
Best biometric handgun safe
If you want a biometric pistol safe that opens with your fingerprint, the Barska Compact Biometric Gun Safe (AX11620, around $310) is our pick, and it is the only fingerprint safe among the six here: the two Hornady safes open with RFID or a code, the MicroVault and the Bulldog with a keypad or key, and the NanoVault with a key. The retailer lists a reader that stores 30 fingerprints, a motorized deadbolt with two solid steel locking bolts, two emergency backup keys and 4 AA batteries (included), in a 12 x 8 x 7.75 in, 12 lb box.
- The reader depends on the finger and the technique. A verified owner lists "Relieable finger print reading every time" (sic); one reviewer's reader only worked after "I scanned my index finger at an angle"; a third says it works flawlessly for them but not for a second person in the house: "For her it works about 90% of the time." The most helpful critical review needed up to ten tries, and that reviewer is going back to a combination safe.
- Keep the backup keys reachable. The keys are the second way in when the reader or the batteries let you down, so store them where you can reach them and a child cannot.
- Bolt it down. At 12 lb, one reviewer notes a thief can "just take the whole thing"; it is a home safe, not a travel box.
- An old owner record. Its 17 reviews on OpticsPlanet date from 2011 to 2017, and it is the most expensive safe on this page.
What a small handgun safe does and does not stop
Owners are unusually frank about this. The most helpful critical MicroVault review says it is probably fine for transport and young children but that older kids with time might defeat it. One NanoVault owner's review title says NOT high security, and a Barska owner notes that a small safe can simply be carried away. None of the six is sold as a fire safe. Treat these as fast, lockable storage that keeps a handgun out of the wrong hands in everyday life, and bolt or cable them to something that does not move.
How we chose these
This is a research-based roundup, not a hands-on test. We started from the retailer's gun safe category sorted by most reviews and left out full-size safes, whose listings have almost no owner reviews. For each safe we opened the full model list to find the new, orderable model each card links to (used and demo units set aside) and read every owner review on the listing, including every low-star one. For the GunVault MicroVault, our top pick, we checked the steel, keypad, code length and warranty against GunVault's own pages; Hornady's store page was blocked to us, so the Hornady cards use the retailer's listing and say so. Claims we found only in secondary research and could not confirm at the source were left out, including certifications we could not check. Our scores are our opinion; owner ratings are shown attributed to the retailer that collected them. See our methodology for how we work.
FAQ
What is the best handgun safe?
For most people, the GunVault MicroVault MV500. GunVault builds it from 16-gauge steel with its No-Eyes keypad for touch entry in the dark and a backup key, it is small enough for a nightstand, a drawer or under a car seat, and it carries 4.3 out of 5 from 51 owner reviews on OpticsPlanet. For touch-free entry, the Hornady RAPiD Safe 2700KP XL opens with an RFID wristband or fob. For the bedside, the Hornady Night Guard. For fingerprint entry, the Barska Compact Biometric.
What is the best biometric gun safe?
On this page, the Barska Compact Biometric Gun Safe (AX11620), the only fingerprint safe of the six. The retailer lists a reader that stores 30 fingerprints, a motorized deadbolt, two emergency backup keys and 4 AA batteries. Reviewers split on the reader: several say it reads every time, one fixed misreads by scanning the finger at an angle, and the most helpful critical review needed up to ten tries. If you do not need a fingerprint reader, the Hornady RAPiD Safe 2700KP XL opens with a tap of an RFID wristband or fob.
Keypad, RFID or fingerprint: which pistol safe opens fastest?
On this page, a tap of an RFID wristband or fob opens the Hornady safes, and one Hornady owner ranks RFID fastest, the keypad next and the key slowest; another found the keypad the fastest way into theirs. The MicroVault keypad is designed to be used by feel. Fingerprint readers split owners: some Barska owners say theirs opens every time, while the most helpful critical review needed up to ten tries. A key is the slowest way in.
Can I fly with a handgun safe?
The retailer says the GunVault NanoVault NV200 meets TSA airline firearm guidelines and the Hornady 2700KP XL meets TSA requirements for handgun safety in checked luggage, and owners report using the NanoVault and MicroVault in checked bags. We do not give legal advice: check TSA's current firearm rules and your airline's policy before you fly.
Are these handgun safes fireproof?
No. The retailer lists the MicroVault and NanoVault as not fire resistant and the Barska as not fireproof, and owners of the Hornady 2700KP and the Bulldog say theirs are not fire safes. These are quick-access boxes that keep a handgun away from children and opportunistic theft, not fire safes.
Is the GunVault MicroVault biometric?
No. It opens with GunVault's No-Eyes keypad and a backup key. The retailer's expert answer on the listing says it does not use fingerprints. For fingerprint entry on this page, see the Barska Compact Biometric.
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