Eurograde 2 vs Eurograde 3 Safes : Which Security Safe Do You Really Need?
Eurograde 2 vs Eurograde 3 Safes: Which Security Safe Do You Really Need?
A higher grade is not automatically the right choice. Eurograde 3 does provide a higher level of protection, but it is also significantly heavier, more difficult to install and often unnecessary unless your insurer or risk assessment specifically requires it.
The right safe is the one that meets your insurance requirement, protects the value you actually need to secure, and can be installed safely in the intended location.
Excellent security with greater installation flexibility
Eurograde 2 provides a substantial increase in resistance to attack and is often a very strong choice for domestic installations where security and practicality both matter.
Higher protection, but much more weight and complexity
Eurograde 3 offers a further increase in protection, but the additional construction can dramatically increase weight and make installation more difficult.
The same internal capacity can mean a very different weight
If we compare the smallest Grade 2 safe with the smallest Grade 3 safe, both have a capacity of 36 litres. The Grade 2 version weighs 109kg, while the Grade 3 safe weighs 177kg.
Move to the next size up and the same pattern continues. Both examples have a capacity of 60 litres, but the Grade 2 version weighs 145kg while the Grade 3 version reaches 239kg.
What changes as the grade increases?
Eurograde safes are independently tested and certified under the EN1143-1 European security standard.
Each grade represents the amount of time, effort and specialist tools required for a professional attack to gain access to the safe.
Eurograde 2 vs Eurograde 3
The security increase is real, but so is the increase in weight and installation difficulty.
| Feature | Eurograde 2 | Eurograde 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Rating | £17,500 | £35,000 |
| Valuables Rating | £175,000 | £350,000 |
| Size 1 Typical Weight (36 Litres) | 109 kg | 177 kg |
| Size 2 Typical Weight (60 Litres) | 145 kg | 239 kg |
| EN1143-1 Certified | ✓ | ✓ |
| Can Be Installed Upstairs | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lift Required For Non-Ground Floor | ✗ | ✓ |
The weight difference is significant
One of the biggest differences between Eurograde 2 and Eurograde 3 safes is not immediately obvious when looking at specifications online. It is weight.
To achieve the higher certification level, manufacturers typically use thicker steel construction, denser barrier materials, reinforced locking systems and additional anti-attack protection.
As a result, a Eurograde 3 safe can weigh dramatically more than a similarly sized Grade 2 model.
For example, a Grade 2 safe with around 70 litres of internal capacity may weigh approximately 150–250kg, whereas a comparable Grade 3 safe may weigh 250–450kg or more.
Need a Eurograde 3 level of protection, but the safe is too heavy to carry upstairs or onto a higher floor?
An alternative option is to install two Eurograde 2 safes together. When used in this way, they can provide a combined insurance level comparable to a Eurograde 3 solution, while making installation much easier in properties where weight or access is a concern.
Important: each safe still carries its own individual insurance rating of £17,500. You cannot exceed the rating capacity of either safe. The cash or valuables must be divided between the two safes so that each one remains within its individual rated limit.
The same principle also applies at lower grades. If a Eurograde 2 safe is larger or heavier than you require, two Eurograde 1 safes can provide a combined insurance capacity equivalent to a single Eurograde 2 safe. Again, each Eurograde 1 safe maintains its own individual insurance rating, so the contents should be divided between the two units rather than exceeding the rating of either safe.
This approach can be particularly useful where access restrictions, upper-floor installations, narrow staircases or floor-loading considerations make a larger, heavier safe impractical.
The hidden risks of installing a heavier safe
Many customers focus solely on the security rating and overlook the installation process.
A 350kg or 400kg safe is not simply “a bit heavier” than a 200kg safe. The forces involved when moving these safes through a home are substantial.
The heavier the safe, the greater the likelihood that specialist lifting methods will be required.
In some cases, a Grade 3 safe may not even be suitable for the intended location without structural assessment. This is particularly relevant for first-floor installations, loft conversions, apartments and properties with narrow staircases.
Does a Grade 3 safe provide double the security?
Not necessarily.
A common misconception is that a Grade 3 safe provides dramatically more protection than a Grade 2 safe.
The reality is that both grades offer an extremely high level of resistance against opportunistic burglars and most criminal attacks.
The difference becomes more relevant when protecting very high-value assets, commercial cash holdings, jewellery stock, or where insurers specifically mandate Grade 3 protection.
For many homeowners storing jewellery, watches, family heirlooms, important documents and moderate cash values, a Eurograde 2 safe already exceeds the security requirements of the average residential burglary.
What do insurance companies actually require?
This is where confusion often arises. An insurer may state that valuables must be kept in an “approved safe” without specifying a particular grade.
Some customers assume that selecting the highest grade possible is therefore the safest option. However, insurers generally base their requirements on the value and nature of the items being protected.
If your insurer requires a Grade 2 safe, installing a Grade 3 safe may provide no additional insurance benefit whatsoever. You may simply be paying more for a heavier product that is harder to install and less practical for your property.
The answer may save considerable expense and installation complications.
Choose Grade 3 when the extra rating is genuinely required
In these situations, the additional weight and cost can be justified.
A strong balance between security and practicality
Most importantly, it often delivers all the security required without introducing the challenges associated with significantly heavier safes.
The bottom line
Choosing a safe should never be about selecting the highest number available. The right safe is the one that meets your security requirements, satisfies your insurer and can be installed safely within your property.
Unless there is a specific insurance or security requirement for Eurograde 3 protection, many homeowners find that a quality Eurograde 2 safe provides the ideal balance between security, practicality, installation flexibility and cost.