5 Best Portable Fireproof Safes

Chris HuntAbout the Author: Hi! I'm Chris Hunt, and I wrote this article. With years of experience as a former firefighter and knowledge of combustible materials, I have personally researched and compiled the information presented here. Please note that the content provided is solely my opinion and should not be construed as professional advice. Additionally, I do not guarantee the quality or performance of any of the products featured. Please be sure to review the website's Disclaimer, Terms and Conditions before using the site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (without additional cost or expense to you).

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Honeywell Safes & Door Locks LHLP1104G 1 Hour Fire Safe Waterproof Safe Box Chest with Carry Handle, Large, 1104, Black

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We picked the Honeywell 1104 as the best portable fireproof safe. It has a top fire rating, is big enough for legal documents, and fits under the bed. We feel it’s the perfect size for us, and we love the carry handle, too.

The Best Portable Fireproof Safes

In our opinion, the best portable fireproof safes are:

Let’s go and review each one’s characteristics and pros and cons.

Reviews of the Best Portable Fireproof Safe

1. Honeywell 1104

Quick Review: This is by far our favorite portable safe. It has a top fire rating, is big enough for legal documents, and fits under the bed. It’s the perfect size for us, and we love the carry handle, too.

Honeywell Safes & Door Locks LHLP1104G 1 Hour Fire Safe Waterproof Safe Box Chest with Carry Handle, Large, 1104, BlackCheck Price on Amazon

What we like:

  • Top Independent Fire Rating: The independent company UL has certified this as having a 1-hour fireproof rating at 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the maximum rating UL gives in this class of fireproof safes.
  • Fits Legal Documents: We love the size of this case. It provides space for cash, passports, A4 documents, and legal documents like birth certificates.
  • Fits under the Bed: We love that it holds so much stuff, but you can still scoot it under most beds.
  • Carry Handle: The carry handle makes it as easy as a briefcase – except for that small matter of its 56 lbs (25 kg) weight!

Things to keep in mind:

  • It’s Heavy: All safes with a decent fireproof rating will be heavy – it’s a direct trade-off. This one comes in at 56 pounds, far more than some competitors.

2. SentrySafe CFW20201

Quick Review: This would be a good option if we didn’t need to store legal-size documents. It’s a well-constructed safe smaller than the Honeywell and a lot lighter, which we like.

SentrySafe Fireproof and Waterproof Safe Box with Key Lock, Fire and Water Chest Safe for Home, 0.28 Cubic Feet, 6.6 x 15.4 x 14.3 Inches, CFW20201Check Price on Amazon

What we like:

  • Lighter than similar models: This safe one maintains a high fireproof rating (UL: 1 hour at 1700 Fahrenheit) but comes much more lightweight than other models.
  • Fits A4 paper -: To give you an idea of the size, you can include an A4 piece of paper flat in the box, but the rounded corners clip the A4 paper a little.
  • Carry Handle: The carry handle makes it as easy as a small briefcase (but heavy).

Things to keep in mind:

  • Beware the Weight: It is heavy!
  • Product Description Inaccuracies: Note that some online product descriptions have a UL fireproof rating of 30 minutes. According to the Sentry Safe website, the proper UL fireproof rating is 1 hour (according to the Sentry Safe website).
  • Doesn’t fit Legal Size Documents: We wouldn’t get this one if we were trying to store legal size documents (8.5″ by 14″) because it’s not quite large enough.

3. First Alert Fire and Water Safe

Quick Review: The First Alert 2602DF has a sturdy key code entry system, in our opinion. Its fireproof rating is lower than others, but we feel it’s still decent.

First Alert 2030F 0.39 Cubic Feet Fire and Water Safe, Grey, SmallCheck Price on Amazon

What we like:

  • Fits A4 paper – Just: It’s a very similar size to the SentrySafe CFW20201. Internal dimensions are 8.5″ x 12.5″. So you can include an A4 piece of paper flat in the box.
  • Key Code Entry: You can access this safe with the necessary code or the two spare keys that come with the box.
  • According to product descriptions, the realistic weight comes in at 26 lbs.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Medium Fireproof Rating: Its fireproof rating is lower than the above – its UL-independent rating comes in at 1550 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
  • Requires Batteries: It operates from 2 x AA batteries necessary to use the key code. We ensure we get quality brand-name batteries that will last a long time.
  • No Carry Handle: We wish it had a nice comfortable carry handle.

4. Honeywell Fire Waterproof Filing Safe Box Chest with Wheel Cart

Quick Review: It’s large, but we like that it comes on rollers to make transporting it more manageable. It sports a high fireproof rating.

Honeywell Safes & Door Locks Fire Waterproof Filing Safe Box Chest with Wheel Cart 1106W, Black, 15.7”H x 16.9”W x 12.8”DCheck Price on Amazon

What we like:

  • The Wheels: This safe wouldn’t be portable without the wheel tray you can buy with the case. But, with the wheels, you can scoot it around an office.
  • The Size: It’s big! I will fit legal-size documents or a whole stack of A4 files. It is the Honeywell 1104 (our favorite pick) but higher for including more documents within it.
  • The Fireproof Rating: It’s got the highest independent UL rating of 1700 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour. That’s excellent.

Things to keep in mind:

  • The Weight: You won’t be able to carry this around. You’ll need the wheels to make this a genuinely portable safe.
  • Doesn’t fit Under your Bed: Every safe on this list except this one could fit under beds. Unfortunately, for this safe, you’d need to find a discrete hiding spot in a closet or elsewhere in the home.

5. Docsafe Fireproof Lock Box Bag

Quick Review: Fireproof bags are a cheap alternative to fireproof safes. They’re lighter and very portable, but they only really resist flame rather than intense fire.

DocSafe Document Bag with Lock,Fireproof 3-Layer File Storage Case with Water-Resistant Zipper,Document Safe Portable Travel Home Organizer Bag for Laptop,Files,Certificates,Gifts for Him,BlackCheck Price on Amazon

What we like:

  • Light Weight: It weighs less than a safe, making it much easier to carry around.
  • Extra Large: It fits a lot of stuff, including legal-size documents, cash, and passports.
  • Affordable: Fire-resistant bags are more affordable than safes.
  • Carry Handle: The carry handle on the top of the bag makes it easy to grab and go when a fire approaches.
  • Manual Lock Code: It comes with a traditional combination code padlock. This feature is our favorite locking mechanism and is much safer than either key or an electronic code.

Things to keep in mind:

  • Not Independently Fire Proof Verified: ‘Fireproof’ bags are flame resistant. However, they won’t protect valuables from an actual inferno.

What we Look for in a Fireproof Safe

Here are the key factors we look for when deciding what model to buy.

Portability

Portability is a primary concern. Unfortunately, fireproof safes are very heavy. Therefore, they need to be genuinely fireproof.

But, some things we look for to help with portability include:

  • Carry Handle: We’d get a safe with an easy carry handle to move it around. It will still be heavy, of course.
  • Wheels: The Honeywell solves the portability issue with wheels. That’s a great solution.

A smaller safe or one with a lower fireproof rating will be lighter but less fire-resistant. Everyone needs to decide the balance between weight and fireproofing.

Independent Fireproof Rating

The most trustworthy fireproof rating comes from the independent certification company UL.com. UL usually provides three fireproof ratings:

  • High: 1 hour at 1700 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Medium: 30 minutes at 1550 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Low: 20 minutes at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit

We place a high premium on fireproof ratings, as you can see in our picks.

Size

The only safes on this list with internal dimensions that can store legal-size documents are the Honeywell 1104 and Honeywell 1108W. Otherwise, a smaller safe like the SentrySafe CHW20201 (#2 on the list) fits an A4 paper flat.

Locking Mechanism

Most common locking mechanisms include a key lock-only or an electronic code with a key-lock backup. Electronic keys require batteries that may die or falter when needed, which is why we prefer a key lock mechanism.

What about all the Bad Reviews Online?

Fireproof safes have notoriously bad reviews online. Here’s our opinion on those bad reviews.

Moisture, Moisture Everywhere

People constantly complain that their safe contains condensation and moisture, which causes water damage to their valuables.

Most people don’t realize that it happens with every fireproof and waterproof safe in the world.

Of course, a locked box is going to cause internal moisture issues. You’re locking out moisture, but you’re locking it in. As a result, the air inside the box has moisture in it. That moisture will inevitably cause condensation and other water issues.

The solution: We like silica gel dehumidifiers, which absorb moisture. It would be best to replace them regularly – but they can help minimize moisture issues.

Breaking Keys

Personal safes come with notoriously weak keys that can break without much effort. The solution is to get the keys cut when they arrive and ask the locksmith to provide a high-quality metal key.

Some safes come with keys that you cannot cut – fair enough. We feel the best you can do in that case is to be gentle and careful.

While I’m talking about it, we’d make sure we store the spare keys offsite to access the contents of the safe if the worst happens and our home burns down.

The Solution: We’d get a copy of the keys cut using high-quality materials.

Theft Protection

Many reviews state that they found it easy to break into their safe using a screwdriver or other jibbing mechanism.

Yes, it’s true. Personal safes deter thieves, but a determined thief will still break in. If you want a genuinely thief-proof safe, you’re looking at forking out thousands of dollars for a more giant safe, such as a whole gun and rifle safe.

The Solution: We would hide our safe in a discrete location. A safe is an obvious honeypot for thieves – so we’d keep it somewhere that a thief wouldn’t expect to find.

Final Thoughts

We hope this review of the best portable fireproof safes has given you a good idea of what’s on the market. But, of course, there are trade-offs between weight, size, and fireproof rating that you’ll need to determine for your own needs.