Best Biometric Gun Safes For The Budget 2020

Let me tell you why you need the best biometric gun safe. A boy came back from school had lunch and since his parents were at work, he started playing around the house. His favorite room was their bedroom where he had found some real treasures during the years. This time he found a gun hidden in a box deep down their closet.

His father put it there for protection.

The little boy run with it to show what he discovered to his friend who was living next door.

He didn’t know the gun was loaded. This is an imaginary story which now has two most likely outcomes. One of them ends up in the newspapers and the boy becomes one of the thousands children that die in America every year after a gun accident. The other one ends up with the boy being grounded.

But this story could have ended with a boy coming from school and finding a box in his parent’s closet and never managed to open it. That is in case his parents decided to use a biometric gun safe.

Top 5 Best Biometric gun safes 2020 reviews

There are hundreds of gun safe brands and types on the market. It is a matter of personal choice and needs to determine which one is the best. But there are of course some which stand out. Here are our favorite gun safes:

What Is A Biometric Gun Safe?

It is a secure box where you can put your gun knowing that you and only you can unlock it because this type of system uses biometric information to open the locks.

It can be a fingerprints, iris scan, facial or voice recognition even DNA scans.

Many people prefer not to lock their guns in regular safes because they are afraid in a stressful situation, one that usually requires gun, they will forget the combination of numbers.

The biometric box can spare you those worries and guarantee that the gun is well protected and at the same time easily accessible if needed.

Besides these safes can store more than one fingerprint so you can authorize someone else to open the locks as well.

Types of Gun Safes

Since there are so many gun accidents the gun safes have a long history and many variations. There are two popular types of locks: mechanical or dial and electronic.

The mechanical safe has a dial that must be rotated in opposite directions to reach the position of three numbers in order to open the safe.

It consists of three discs and each one of them should reach a specific position in order to activate the next one.

And since the lock is mechanical its life is usually longer than the one of the electronic lock and you don’t have to worry that it will run out of power or battery which will cut your access to what is inside the safe.

On the other hand, the electronic safe is much more easier to use. It has a keypad which allows you to control the mechanism.

The good news is the electronic safe can alert you if someone has entered an incorrect combination a certain amount of times.

This is a safe you can open easier and quicker and also you can change the combination any time you feel the need to.

Why Do You Need A Biometric Gun Safe?

People have guns for all different reasons but the reason for having a biometric gun safe is clear – you can easily access your gun whenever you need it and at the same time limit the access of anybody who is not supposed to get their hands on it.

It might help you keep it away from your children which otherwise always find a way to get what they want. But with this type of safe they stand no chance.

Sometimes the gun in the house can fall into the hands of intruder. This is quite an unpleasant situation as well but the owner does not need to worry if he has a biometric safe because only authorized people can open it.

If life puts you in situation where you need to get your gun as quickly as possible, these safes are absolutely reliable to give you access in less than 2 seconds. It is quite faster than trying to remember the code and enter it.

The safe is a protection not only for you and the minors but also for the gun itself. So many guns have been lost during fires and floods but with this safe such risks are minimal.

How To Choose The Best Biometric Gun Safe

Just like with any purchasing decision, you need to ask yourself a simple question:

Why do I want a gun safe?

If your answer is, “To store my high end collection of antique and top of the line guns” then you will need a totally different type of safe than the person who answers, “To have quick access to a weapon in case of self defense.”

The first factor to consider is the size of your gun safe.

• Large, traditional gun safe
• Medium, handgun-only gun safe
• Small, concealable quick-access gun safe

Large Traditional Gun Safe

Designed for bolting down to a floor or wall, this is the granddaddy of all gun safes.

You want this if you have many different guns to store and you want them all to have their own padded space in which to rest.

It may have a biometric lock (also known as a fingerprint gun safe), a combination lock, or a traditional key lock.

It may even have a combination of these types as a typical biometric lock will also have a key as a backup, just in case.

There are a variety of other features that may be included depending on the price and brand of the safe, but I will cover those down below.

Medium Handgun-Only Gun Safe

These safes are very versatile as they can often be used both for handguns as well as secure document or jewelry storage.

If you are looking for something that’s not too huge and will still fit under the coats hanging in your closet, this may be the way to go.

Again, there may be any combination of locks on a safe of this type, so you can usually pick your pleasure.

Often the interior of the safe is highly reconfigurable and will offer you the ability to add accessories or additional slots for handguns, lights, and even environmental control components for keeping your high end wooden handles in peak condition. This is also true of the larger gun safes.

Small Concealable Quick-Access Gun Safe

Now we come to my personal favorite.

I’m not a collector of guns, nor am I an owner of many guns, nor large guns.

My purpose in a gun safe is to be able to have it next to my bed, purely for peace of mind.

If there is an intruder in my home, I want to know that I have my weapon close at hand and that I can access my gun safe at a moments notice.

These safes are often more bare bones in design and customization options, but they serve their intended purpose well.

These safes often have either biometric lock/key lock combinations or a simple 4-digit pin keypad lock.

My favorite brand even has a hand shaped impression in the top of the safe so you can feel your way to it in the dark!

More on that later.

You should also know, that the smaller safes really can’t store more than two guns for quick access, and possibly up to four if you cram them.

In fact, there is a subset of safes that are designed for only a single gun, so keep that in mind.

All about the lock

Next, we should talk about this lock.

How quick do you want in?

Okay, so picture this: You were sleeping. But now you’re not.

You heard a sound, and in the fogginess of sleep, you think it may have been glass breaking.

Now, as that thought enters your mind, you become fully alert, ready to face any threat.

First thing?

Grab your handgun.

But… hmmm, where did you put that key?

You had to put it up high so the toddler wouldn’t get it… drat!

You realize it’s on top of the refrigerator… in the OTHER ROOM!

Well that’s not going to do you a whole lot of good is it?

Likewise, have you ever tried to open a combination lock in the near darkness while still trying to shake off sleepiness?

Personally, I have issues with combination locks even when it’s daylight and I’m fully awake!

Now imagine a different scenario: As you stir from your sleep, thinking you heard the sound of breaking glass, you come fully awake as you reach beneath your bed to lay your hand on the top of a sleek, black metal box.

Customized with an impression of a handprint on the top so your fingers slide directly to where they need to be.

You press one button and the scanner identifies your unique fingerprint and the safe pops quickly open.

Revealing your favorite handgun, locked and loaded. So for a quick access situation, it’s clear that a biometric gun safe is the way to go here.

There’s no need for thought, no need to remember a code or a combination, and no need to search for a key.

Congratulations, you now have a fully secured, fully safe, quickly accessible weapon!

So You’re Going Biometric, But What Else Do You Look For in a Gun Safe?

Okay, well we got the lock part figured out, but there are many other features to consider in a safe. Do you want to go big like we discussed above? If so, there are even MORE options to look at than with smaller safes. Let’s look at a few.

Must Have Features for Your Safe

Whew! That’s quite a list!

Well for me, the key features important for my needs were clear.

I wanted a safe that was quick and easy to access, that was as lightweight as possible (for easy wall mounting), that would keep my kids out of it, and that had a light that I could see by when the door popped open.

So that looks like this:

• Lock type: biometric fingerprint reader
• Fireproof rating: none
• Safe construction: lightweight yet sturdy (not cheaply built)
• Shelf configuration: minimal, two shelf unit, one for each gun plus a spare magazine
• Interior padding: minimal, just a scuff guard really (not that my Glock needs it)
• Lighting: just enough to see which gun I’m grabbing
• Power source: battery powered option so I can easily wall mount it
• Humidity control: nope. Glocks shoot underwater.
• Temperature control: none of that either

All of this led me to a particular safe which I’ll share with you at the end, but for now, just keep in mind that your ideal safe may be different than mine, just pay attention to what your needs are and choose the features accordingly. There’s no point in paying more for things you don’t need.

Top Gun Safe Brands

There are many safe companies that offer biometric gun safes. Among the most popular are BARSKA, SentrySafe, LockSAF, and GunVault.

While comparing each of these brands and their various models is beyond the scope of this article, I will say that each company offers a variety of models ranging from low cost, to VERY high cost depending on your needs.

None are cheap, but there are quality differences that you will notice, especially depending on the country of manufacture.

Cheap Gun Safes – The Best Bang for Your Buck

With so many gun safe manufacturers making safes in so many shapes and sizes, and at so many price points, the challenge of picking out a safe that is both high quality and affordable is daunting.

Often I have found that a safe will look very nice to the average consumer, but when you start to drill down into its actual quality, it will be very lacking.

Conversely, a safe that is mechanically sound and secure doesn’t have to be beautiful (though they often are).

Is “Cheap” A Dirty Word When It Comes to Gun Safes?

When considering something as potentially important and even life-saving as a gun safe, is it foolish to even consider going the cheap route when it comes to such an investment? Isn’t it always better to get the most expensive product you can afford because you “get what you pay for” as the common wisdom goes? Well, it turns out the answer is both yes AND no.

While it’s true that top end gun safes ($1000 and up) really do offer the very best in security and protection for your investment, often as you move down the price scale to the mid-range and lower end models, you will be paying more because it’s a “gun safe” but not really getting much more security than a simple lockbox or job box could provide.

In fact, if you really need a solid, gun safe on a budget, consider simply purchasing a job box (a tool storage chest) and tucking it away in a closet or quiet corner of the garage or basement. They are large and solidly constructed with fully welded seams. And they are much more difficult to break into than many cheap gun safes.

Alternatively, you can build a hidden gun safe, which relies upon concealment to protect your guns instead of brute strength. Whether that means a safe cut into your sub-floor, or an old converted refrigerator, designing the safe to disappear into the environment is the key.

Here are some other ideas for cheap gun safes:

1. Use an old hide-a-bed sofa
2. Find some old school or military lockers
3. Make a hidden false wall in a closet
4. Convert a desk drawer

But What About This Crazy Deal from YourBigBoxRetailer?

This is a question I get often. People will email me so excited because Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club or whomever is having a sale on this “great looking giant gun safe”.

They want to know, is it really a good deal? Unfortunately, 9 times out of 10 the answer is a resounding “no.”

The reason for that, of course, is that retailers still need to make money, so the products that they are putting on clearance are often mass manufactured, over stocked, pieces of junk.

That’s how they get those prices so attractively low.

And when they add a nice shiny coat of paint to the outside, most consumers won’t be able to tell the difference anyway.

The Key Thing to Remember About Cheap Gun Safes

If the safe doesn’t cost in excess of $1000 then there just isn’t enough money there to make a decent product.

The notable exception to that is in safes designed for a specific purpose like small, quick-access biometric gun safes, whose sole purpose is to provide quick access to one or two guns for self defense.

If you are looking for a large, secure, vault-type safe, then don’t bother looking at anything under $1000. That’s as cheap as it gets for a quality cheap gun safe.

Gun Safe Accessories to Fit Your Every Need

When considering a gun safe, you will often make a purchasing decision based on the types of accessories that safe will accommodate.

Whether that be a concealed in wall safe, or a giant fireproof gun safe, some of those accessories are absolutely necessary, and others are more luxury items, but no matter which accessories you choose, I hope I can help open your eyes to the possibilities!

Extra Shelving and Storage

There are so many different options in this category that it can be overwhelming! Here are just a few:

1. Handgun hangers
2. Magnetic magazine racks
3. Rifle rods
4. Safe drawers
5. Door organizers (my favorite)
6. Additional locking mechanisms for extra security inside the safe

Considering the size, quantity, and types of guns (and gun accessories) you want to store in your safe is helpful when you’re considering all the different accessories. For example, if you’re the type of person who wants all their guns and related paraphernalia in the same place, you may want to look at the door panel organizers. They basically strap on to the inside of your safe door and offer all different sized and shaped pockets in which to store everything imaginable.

Similarly, if you want to maximize your shelving space, you can consider getting some handgun hangers, which let you slide the barrel of your handgun over a coated metal rod which hangs neatly on the shelf above. This lets the handgun hang below the shelf, leaving the shelf itself free for other things. And don’t forget to add the magnetic magazine clip mount, for holding all those extra rounds at the ready!

You can get the same sort of storage for rifles as well, called rifle rods. These ingenious little devices allow you to completely remove the standard rifle racks from your safe and instead slide small rods down the barrel of each of your rifles. The rods are topped with a loop fabric (extra strong velcro) which attach to another sheet of loop fabric that you install on the underside of your safe’s bottom shelf. That lets you simply set the rifles in where they fit best and extend the rod up to attach to the loop fabric at the top. It gives you up to 50% more rifle storage space!

This is just scratching the surface of the available options when it comes to expanding your shelving and storage. There are plenty of ways you can make your safe a happy home for your gun collection!

Lighting Options

Do you want just see the guns well enough to grab them, or do you want them to feel like the star of a show when you open up that safe door? Either way, there are options for you. You don’t even need to have a power source as many of the lighting options use low powered LEDs to give you the ultimate flexibility in lighting your safe.

For the ultimate in showroom illumination, there are AC powered light strips that will bring a warm glow to the darkest reaches of even the largest safes. Or, for something purely functional, you can choose the door mounted, battery operate clip on LED. It will provide all the light you’ll need to grab the right gun in the dark, but has the simplest installation and lowest cost of any lighting solution.

Humidity/Temperature Control

If you have a safe that you intend to fill with expensive rifles and handguns, the last thing you want to do is find rust spots on your weapons because of condensation! That’s why you need to invest in a system to keep the safe warm and dry. It’s called a dehumidifier rod, and it’s surprisingly affordable (under $50). It’s just a metal rod that plugs in and heats up slightly. This causes the air temperature in your safe to be slightly higher than the ambient temperature, thereby drying the air and preventing condensation.

Of course, if you go to the trouble of installing a fix for humidity, then you want to know it’s working! That’s where a hygrometer comes in. Also a very affordable accessory (under $50 typically), this one is worth every penny as it lets you make certain the air is dry enough to protect your investment and give you a little peace of mind.

Start With Your Needs, Expand From There

I know that the sheer volume of gun safe accessories can make it overwhelming to plan your safe’s interior, but in the long run, the time you spend planning your gun safe layout will be worth it as you enjoy your investment for years to come.

Your Turn

Now that you have seen the options and reviewed our top picks for the best biometric gun safe on the market, its up to you to pick what meets your needs, is in your price range, and overall help you gear up for your outdoor adventures.

As you know, new biometric gun safes are being created all the time by new and old manufacturers.  For that reason, the comparison chart above will be updated as new safes need to be added to the list.