If you live in a historically unsafe neighborhood or if you want quick access to your firearm in case of an emergency, you’ll want a handgun safe near your bed. A bedside safe will keep you and your family out of harm’s way while also stowing your valuables in high-gauge steel.
Gun safes are vital for anyone who has a firearm, period. But if you only have handguns, a simple yet secure pistol safe is perfect.
In this article, we’ll go over the top bedside gun safes you can buy in 2021, what they consist of, the benefits of owning a bedside safe, and frequently asked questions.
Let’s get to it!
Table Of Contents
Best Bedside Gun Safes
- Fort Knox FTK-PB Original Pistol Safe
- Vaultek VT20i Biometric Bluetooth Handgun Safe
- Stack-On PC-1665 Portable Locking Case with Electronic Lock
- SentrySafe QAP1BE Bedside Gun Safe with Biometric Lock
- V-Line 2912-S Top Draw Security Case
What Are Bedside Safes?
These are gun safes that you can store in your nightstand or under your bed for quick and easy access. They’re ideal for home defense, plus all gun owners need safe and secure gun storage.
Bedside gun safes differ from regular safes in a few ways, including locking mechanism, mounting options, and unparalleled pry-resistance.
Benefits Of A Bedside Handgun Safe
The best nightstand gun safes will give you the following advantages:
Heavy-Duty Solid Steel Construction
You want your gun safe to be tamper-proof. Steel gives you the best security. As well, having a steel security cable or mounting capabilities included with your handgun safe will further improve safety.
Impressive Storage Space
You can store more than you think in a small gun safe. Put your go-to handgun or pistol in the safe, then fill the rest of it with extra ammo, important documents, and personal valuables.
Next-Level Locking Systems
Most handgun safes will have a keypad of some sort, but there are numerous kinds of locking mechanisms. You can get a biometric gun safe, which uses a fingerprint scanner catered to your identity. You can also get one with a digital keypad and a backup key, giving you multiple means of access. These technologically advanced locking systems are terrific for both anti-pry security and quick access.
Mountable Structure
Some security cases come with mounting holes pre-drilled into the frame. That means you can mount your gun safe into your nightstand, wall, floor, or closet. That way, your safe can never be moved unless YOU want it to (pry bars be damned).
Quick-Access Safe Doors
These safe doors offer wonderful gun access experiences. They keep things shut down until you want it open; then, unlocking these doors is hassle-free, and some have gas struts that make the doors open fully. This offers you complete access to your weapons and valuable items within the safe.
Accessories for the Best Gun Safe Experience
Do you want your gun safe’s interior backlit by LED lights? Want a safe that beeps when you enter in the digital key code? What about a built-in holster for your Glock or handgun? Many bedside gun safe models provide these extra features and more, giving you the highest quality gun safe experience.
What To Look For In Your Bedside Gun Safe
You want a high-quality gun safe to put in your nightstand. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re shopping:
DOJ Approval
The Department of Justice is a third party that takes a look at most gun safes and is the judge and jury on security. If the safe is DOJ approved, that means it’s high-quality and will keep your guns safe.
A Pry-Resistant Door
This depends on the door’s material and the locking mechanism. If it’s a Simplex-style lock or it has multiple heavy-duty steel bolts, the gun safe’s door is impenetrable.
Material and Size
You’ll want a steel exterior paired with a padded interior. The steel can be either carbon steel or high-gauge steel, such as 11-gauge or 12-gauge. As for size, figure out what your nightstand’s dimensions are. If you’re looking for a full-size gun safe, you need to make sure you have enough room to stow it next to your bed.
Battery Type
With the interior lights and opening-door beeps, a lot of these gun safes run on AA batteries or rechargeable batteries. Figure out which one you prefer, see how long the battery life is for these safes, and find out if the safe you’re looking at has an audible or visual battery warning when it’s low.
Reasonable Price Point
We all ball on a budget of some sort. Make sure your bedside gun safe blends cost with benefits.
Warranty Coverage
A lifetime warranty is ideal, but any type of coverage is helpful for the longevity of your bedside safe. That way, if any damage occurs to the safe, you can get it fixed or replaced by the manufacturer.
Extra Gun Safe Features
Interior LED lights, gas strut doors, and backup override keys are important to some gun owners. Create a list of things you want your bedside gun safe to have, then see which safe on our list checks the majority of your boxes.
Now it’s time to see the definitive best bedside gun safes!
The Best Bedside Gun Safes for 2021
1. Fort Knox FTK-PB Original Pistol Safe
First up is Fort Knox, a mainstay in the gun safe business. Their original FTK-PB pistol safe is great for a ton of different situations, including storing a weapon safely by your bed.
It measures 4.25 inches in height, 12.5 inches in width, and 10.38 inches in depth. The safe provides 0.16 cubic feet of storage space, and what’s more, you can add a 6 LED Red Light Kit for interior lighting (at an additional cost).
The door has a heavy-duty hinge to make it pry-resistant, while the gas strut lifts the heavy door with ease when you need it to. And with a Simplex lock, you can come up with over 1081 different keypad combinations; personalize your code, and keep it safe.
The Simplex mechanical lock also uses a push-button lock, so you don’t have to replace batteries or worry about loud beeps from an electronic lock, giving yourself away to burglars.
There are pre-drilled holes in the bottom of the FTK-PB, making it easy to bolt down. As well, the inside is lined with “egg-crate” foam to cradle and protect your pistols.
Coming with a lifetime warranty and meeting and exceeding DOJ firearm safety requirements, the Fort Knox Original PB1 gun safe is sure to keep your handguns secure until you need them.
Buy The Fort Knox Original Pistol Safe On Amazon
2. Vaultek VT20i Biometric Bluetooth Handgun Safe
Smart safes are cutting edge for gun safes, and this is the best bedside smart safe you can find anywhere. Vaultek has an incredible biometric gun safe with Bluetooth capabilities and an auto-open lid.
It has upgraded anti-theft protection in the form of anti-pry bars, two-point anti-impact latches, interior mounted hinges, and new interior security brackets. (Did we mention it was secure?)
The heavy-duty 16-gauge carbon steel construction makes this gun safe impenetrable. It also has a durable powder-coat finish to prevent corrosion for the lifetime of the safe.
The VT20i has both a rapid-fire backlit keypad and a biometric fingerprint scanner; use either one for quick and easy access. And with smart safe tech, it has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts up to four months and can be recharged within 2.5 hours. (Micro-USB charging kit included.)
It comes in three colors — Alpine White, Black, and Urban Camo — and the responsive LED lighting and backlit keypad allow you to see what you’re doing in low-light situations.
By far the best technology found in a bedside gun safe, the Vaultek VT20i is worth the extra cost.
Buy The Vaultek Biometric Bluetooth Handgun Safe On Amazon
3. Stack-On PC-1665 Portable Locking Case With Electronic Lock
Stack-On has been a trusted gun safe brand for decades now, and their portable gun safe works just as well for bedside purposes.
While the safe does require AAA batteries (it works best with AAA Polaroid batteries), it has a low battery warning system, two backup keys, and all hardware. However, if you want to silence the audible tones to preserve stealth, you can do so.
The Stack-On safe has an electronic lock that allows for a three- to eight-number combination sequence. And it has a foam padded interior to protect the contents while in transit or when sitting bedside.
It doesn’t specifically say whether it’s DOJ approved or not, but it does meet TSA airline guidelines for firearm safety. So if you ever want to travel with your gun safe, you have that ability with this portable gun safe.
At 2.38 inches in height, 8.25 inches in width, and 11 inches in depth, this gun safe is tiny. But if all you’re storing is a handgun and some small valuables, it’s perfect. Plus, it comes with a security cable to keep it in place wherever you want.
It might not be the flashiest gun safe ever, but the Stack-On PC-1665 is durable and reliable. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Buy The Stack-On Portable Locking Case With Electronic Lock On Amazon
4. SentrySafe QAP1BE Bedside Gun Safe with Biometric Lock
SentrySafe is another popular gun safe brand, and they’ve come out with a biometric gun safe that fits neatly next to your bed for superior access.
This safe model has two sizes, one-gun capacity and two-gun capacity with an interior light. Both have a biometric locking mechanism, with a fingerprint scanner for advanced protection.
The gas strut allows you to quietly and instantly open the safe’s door. Constructed with solid steel and a pry-resistant door, it is California DOJ approved. And with a manual keypad as well as a backup override key, you’ll never be locked out of your own gun safe.
Both models require four AA batteries (not included), and SentrySafe recommends high-quality alkaline AAs with an 8- to 10-year expiration date. They suggest this is better than a generic rechargeable battery, seeing as they typically don’t have the lifespan to support lifetime usage.
The exterior of the single-gun capacity model is 3.2 inches in height, 12.1 inches in width, and 9.9 inches in depth. The double-gun model is the same height but is 16.4 inches wide and 9.8 inches deep. Depending on your preference and need, one model or the other will suffice.
SentrySafe is on nearly all of our gun safe reviews, and with good reason. The QAP1BE bedside gun safe gives you impressive security along with some advanced features, which might be right up your alley.
Buy The SentrySafe Bedside Gun Safe with Biometric Lock On Amazon
5. V-Line 2912-S Top Draw Security Case
Last up on our list is the V-Line 2912-S gun safe. This clamshell design case can give you security without any of the fluff, which some gun owners could be looking for.
The keyless high-grade lock doesn’t need any batteries. As well, the steel construction provides pry-resistance, keeping your valuables and handguns safe and secure.
Measuring 2.5 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 9 inches deep, this is a compact, solid gun safe to put at your bedside. Plus, it has DOJ approval, making it just as durable as the rest of the gun safes on this list.
It has a foam interior and features an easily programmable five push-button mechanical lock. The safe can accommodate up to two pistols while weighing just over four pounds.
The Top Draw also has pre-drilled holes in the bottom and can be secured on top of most surfaces with bolts. You could also grab V-Line’s Quick-Release mounting bracket for enhanced portability.
While it has fewer bells and whistles, this V-Line bedside gun safe will do its job well and gives you better access to your weapons so you can protect your home.
Buy The V-Line Top Draw Security Case On Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions:
Where Should I Keep My Gun In The Bedroom?
If you’re going to keep your gun safe in your bedroom, it only makes sense to put it right next to you as you’re sleeping. Under your bed, in your nightstand drawer, or tucked into a nearby closet are all great options.
The whole point of a bedside gun safe is fast access. Therefore, you want your safe to be close. So look for areas in your bedroom that can get you from asleep in your bed to armed and ready in under 30 seconds maximum.
Is It Okay To Put Ammo In A Gun Safe?
Of course! Not only can you put ammunition in your bedside safe, but you can also include important documents, additional weapons, and valuable items.
Whatever you can put in your safe that you want to protect, you can do so. Ammo either in its original box, in a free clip, or in fact locked and loaded in your handgun, is more than okay. (Just be sure all safeties are on!)
What Is The Best Bedside Gun Safe?
If it were in stock, the GunVault SV500 SpeedVault is one of the best handgun safes on Amazon. Unfortunately, they are sold out everywhere. So, it’ll be one of the bedside gun safes on our list.
The overall best bedside gun safe on our list has to be the Vaultek VT20i Biometric Bluetooth Handgun Safe. It has the most tech included for a similar price to the other high-end gun safes on the list. Plus, you have multiple entry options and a decent amount of storage space.
On top of that, it has Bluetooth connectivity, pairing your gun safe to your smartphone for ultimate security. If we had a budget to accommodate it, we’d definitely go with the Vaultek!
Conclusion
Take a look at our five top bedside gun safes and select the one that fits your situation, keeps your guns the safest, and gives you unprecedented access to your weapons if burglars or other threats are present.
With a high-quality bedside safe, you can rest easy and be ready for any and all home invasions.