Is It Worth Having a Safe at Home?
Why Home Safes Are Worth Considering
Investing in a home safe is increasingly considered a smart decision by homeowners and security experts alike. With rising concerns about theft, insurance compliance, and the need to protect irreplaceable items, a certified home safe offers both practical protection and peace of mind. But determining whether it’s “worth it” depends on several key factors.
Home safes are designed to protect high-value and sentimental items such as jewellery, important documents, passports, cash, and digital backups. Unlike hiding spots or basic lockboxes, certified safes are built to resist tampering, burglary, and in many cases, fire.
Modern safes are graded by certification standards that indicate how much cash or equivalent value they can protect. For example:
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EN14450 S1-rated safes typically protect up to £1,000 in cash or £10,000 in valuables.
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Eurograde safes offer higher levels of protection — with Grade 6 models capable of safeguarding up to £150,000 in cash or £1.5 million in valuables.
Insurance Compliance & Safe Ratings
One of the most compelling reasons to own a home safe is to meet insurance requirements. Many insurance providers require specific security measures for high-value items — and a properly certified safe is often essential to maintain or increase coverage.
Insurance ratings for safes are based on recognized European standards such as:
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EN14450 (for secure storage)
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EN1143-1 (for burglary resistance — Eurogrades 0 to 6)
These ratings help determine how much your insurer will cover and may even reduce premiums if the right safe is installed.
Eurograde ratings for safes explained
| Cash Rating | Valuables Rating | Standard that should apply | Our Opinion |
|---|---|---|---|
| £6,000 | £60,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 0 (Eurograde Zero) | A large leap forward, heavier and stronger safes. |
| £10,000 | £100,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 1 (Eurograde One) | Getting even heaver, lightest models circa 70kg+. |
| £17,500 | £175,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 2 (Eurograde Two) | Significantly resistive and heavy safes, 180kg minimum. |
| £35,000 | £350,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 3 (Eurograde Three) | The start of the monsters, very strong and heavy, 230kg+. |
| £60,000 | £600,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 4 (Eurograde Four) | The next stage in monster strong safes, 300kg+. |
| £100,000 | £1,000,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 5 (Eurograde Five) | Very heavy and strong 675kg+. |
| £150,000 | £1,500,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 6 (Eurograde Six) | Enormous, jeweller's grade safes over 1000g. |
| £250,000 | £2,500,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 7 (Eurograde Seven) | The heaviest safes, beyond this there are only built-in vaults. |
| £400,000 | £4,000,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 8 (Eurograde Eight) | Vaults for high end luxury homes or gem dealers. |
| £650,000 | £6,500,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 9 (Eurograde Nine) | Vaults for high end luxury homes or gem dealers. |
| £1,000,000 | £10,000,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 10 (Eurograde Ten) | Vaults for high end luxury homes or gem dealers. |
| £1,500,000 | £15,000,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 11 (Eurograde Eleven) | Vaults for high end luxury homes or gem dealers. |
| £2,250,000 | £22,500,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 12 (Eurograde Twelve) | Vaults for high end luxury homes or gem dealers. |
| £3,500,000 | £35,000,000 | EN1143-1 Eurograde 13 (Eurograde Thirteen) | Vaults for high end luxury homes or gem dealers. |
Key Considerations Before Buying
Choosing a home safe isn’t just about buying the most expensive model — it’s about matching the right safe to your specific needs. Consider the following:
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Installation: A certified safe only performs well if professionally installed. Bolt-down installation can prevent removal during a break-in, and many suppliers offer free or discounted installation.
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Size and Placement: Factors like floor strength, wall structure, and accessibility affect where and how a safe can be installed. Choosing the correct size for your available space is just as important as choosing the right rating.
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Budget vs. Security Needs: A modestly priced, properly rated safe often offers better protection than a more expensive but uncertified alternative. The best safe is one that balances cost, protection level, and install location.
Expert Recommendations
Security professionals generally advise against buying cheap security boxes or “lockable cabinets” with no certification. Instead, they recommend safes that:
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Are certified to EN14450 or EN1143-1
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Feature robust steel construction and reliable locking mechanisms
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Are suitable for professional installation
Safes like the Bloomsbury range at London & Home Counties Safes have earned praise from independent testing bodies — even receiving a "Best on Test" award from Which? magazine, proving that solid protection doesn’t always require a premium price.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?
For most households, a certified home safe provides excellent value. The benefits extend beyond burglary protection to include:
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Compliance with insurance policies
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Reduced financial and emotional risk
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Long-term peace of mind
Instead of asking if a home safe is worth it, the better question is: “What kind of safe best fits my needs?” With the right research — and possibly a consultation with a professional — the investment in a secure, properly installed safe is often well justified.