Where to Install a Safe
Where to Install a Safe
Choosing where to put your safe is usually much easier than people think. A safe does not have to be bolted to the floor and the floor only.
Depending on the safe and your property, it can normally be securely anchored to a concrete floor, a solid brick or masonry wall, or both.
Don't assume you can't have a safe. Tell us where you would ideally like it and we will help work out the best practical solution.
Start With Where You Would Like the Safe
Don't start by worrying about bolts, concrete or brickwork. Start by thinking about where the safe would be most useful and discreet in your home.
A bedroom wardrobe, cupboard, under-stairs space, dressing room, study or another concealed area may all be possibilities.
We can then look at what is actually behind the wall and beneath the floor and advise on the most appropriate way to install it.
How Can a Safe Be Fixed?
There are three common arrangements. The best one depends on the safe and the construction of your property.
Inside a Wardrobe
Wardrobes are one of the most popular places for a home safe. They keep the safe out of immediate sight while still making it convenient to use.
The important part isn't the wardrobe itself. We look at what is behind and beneath the wardrobe.
There may be a solid masonry wall behind the back panel, which can provide the structural fixing even though the safe appears to be simply sitting inside furniture.
Remember: fixing through the rear of a safe into suitable brickwork is a perfectly normal method of securing a safe. It does not necessarily need a bolt going through the floor.
Inside a Cupboard or Fitted Furniture
Safes don't always need to sit directly on the floor. Depending on the safe, its weight, the furniture and the available structural fixing points, another position can sometimes work very well.
This is particularly useful when a customer would prefer their safe at a more comfortable height or wants to preserve storage space elsewhere.
We consider the weight of the safe, the strength of the support, door clearance and where the safe can be structurally anchored.
What if I Don't Have an Obvious Concrete Floor or Brick Wall?
That does not automatically mean you can't have a safe.
Homes vary enormously. You may have a suspended timber floor, plasterboard lining, fitted wardrobes, a raised cupboard base, a hollow plinth or another arrangement that makes the structural surface difficult to see.
Sometimes suitable masonry is hidden behind furniture or wall finishes. In other situations the structural floor may be below carpet, timber or fitted joinery.
Some installations need additional preparation and sometimes an alternative position is a better choice.
Our aim is to work with you to find the best possible location rather than telling you that you cannot have a safe simply because the ideal fixing surface isn't immediately visible.
Other Cupboards Can Work Too
The bedroom isn't the only option. Depending on your home, other cupboards can provide a discreet and useful position.
We have installed safes in hall cupboards, kitchen cupboards, utility cupboards, dressing rooms, home offices and under-stairs storage.
What matters is having enough room for the safe, sufficient clearance for its door and lock, and a suitable way to structurally secure it.
What Makes a Good Safe Location?
There is more to choosing the right position than simply finding an empty space.
Is there suitable masonry, concrete or another appropriate structural arrangement available?
Ideally the safe should not be immediately visible to anyone casually entering the room.
The safe door, handle and keypad need sufficient space to operate properly.
The final position and access route need to be suitable for the size and weight of the safe.
You still need to be able to comfortably reach and use your safe when required.
Stairs, doors, corridors and fitted furniture all need to be considered before delivery.
The Wardrobe Floor Isn't Necessarily the Property Floor
This is particularly important with fitted furniture.
The visible bottom of a wardrobe may simply be a timber panel sitting above a hollow plinth. Beneath it could be carpet, floorboards or the concrete structural floor.
Likewise, a thin wardrobe back panel may have solid brickwork immediately behind it.
That is why we don't judge an installation solely by looking at the decorative surface. We need to consider the actual structure behind it.
You Don't Need to Work This Out Yourself
Tell us where you would ideally like your safe. We can help with the technical side.
Choose Your Preferred Area
Tell us where you would like the safe — for example a wardrobe, cupboard or under the stairs.
We Consider the Construction
We look at the available space, floor and wall construction, safe weight and fixing options.
We Find the Best Solution
If your first choice isn't practical, we can discuss another position or any preparation that may be required.
Does Your Insurance Company Have Specific Requirements?
If an insurance company has specified a particular Eurograde, cash rating, safe model or installation requirement, please tell us before ordering or installation.
Requirements can vary between insurers and policies, so any specific instructions given by your own insurer should always be taken into account.
Real Safe Installations
These are genuine installations completed for our customers. Click below to see many more examples throughout London and the Home Counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a safe have to be bolted to the floor?
No. This is a common misconception. Depending on the safe and the property, a safe can often be structurally secured through its rear into a suitable solid brick or masonry wall instead.
Can a safe be fixed to a wall instead of a concrete floor?
Yes, where the safe has suitable rear fixing points and the wall is appropriate for structural anchoring. Many of our installations use rear wall anchoring.
Can a safe be fixed to both a wall and the floor?
Yes. Where the safe and property allow, both rear and base fixing points can be used.
What if my home doesn't have an obvious concrete floor?
Don't assume that prevents you having a safe. There may be suitable masonry behind the proposed position, a structural floor underneath the visible finishes or another location that works better.
What if I can't find a suitable brick wall?
Contact us before ruling out a safe. Property construction varies considerably and we can discuss the proposed position and the other options available.
Can you install a safe inside a wardrobe?
Very often, yes. Wardrobes are among the most popular locations we use. We consider the construction of the wardrobe as well as the structural wall or floor behind or beneath it.
Can you help me decide where the safe should go?
Yes. Tell us where you would ideally like the safe and we can help determine whether that position is suitable or suggest an alternative.
Not Sure Where Your Safe Can Be Installed?
Tell us where you would ideally like it. We can discuss your room, wardrobe or cupboard, the construction of the property and which safe is likely to work best.