Best Gun Safe Under $300 – 5 Picks for Long Guns, Bedside and Car

Gun safe under $300 comparison: what each pick stores

Only one in-stock gun safe under $300 holds long guns; the other four are for one or two handguns. This table compares what each stores, how it opens and what backs it up:

None of these five has a fire rating from UL, Intertek/ETL or the maker. Every one is a quick access safe or cabinet that keeps children and visitors out; none lists a UL burglary rating.

Gun safes under $300, reviewed

Each gun safe under $300 below wins one job: long guns, a bedside handgun, fingerprint access, the lowest cost or the car. Scores follow our how we score rubric, and owner notes come from forums and reviews I read.

KAER Biometric Gun Safe Rifle 14-15: Best gun safe under $300 for long guns

3.0Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Access (speed and ease)6/10
• Capacity8/10
• Value8/10

I scored capacity and value high because no other in-stock pick holds long guns in this budget; I held security at 4 because owners and reviewers call it a locker that tools defeat, and there is no fire rating.

How we score

Check price on Amazon

What we like

• Fingerprint (30 prints), keypad and emergency key, so a bad read is not a lockout
• Tall interior: guns up to 45.5 in with the shelf in, 57 in tall outside
• 78 lb, with expansion bolts for floor or wall mounting

What we don't like

• Thin cabinet steel (the listing says 15-gauge but also shows 16 and 18), so power tools get through
• No fire rating, and realistic scoped-rifle capacity is well below 14-15

What owners and reviewers say from 4 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Roomy for the money; a reviewer says the door does not sag and the bolts line up cleanly
• Fingerprint access works well once several fingers are enrolled at different angles

Common complaints

• Owners call it a glorified locking cabinet that will not stand up to power tools
• Needs anchoring to a stud, floor or heavy furniture to stop it being carried off

Read on: Reddit r/liberalgunowners: Kaer Rifle safe (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/Firearms: Ordered one of the Kaer gun safes (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/guns: Gun safe newb (search excerpt only) · The Armory Life: Review KAER Biometric Rifle & Pistol Safe

Who it's for: Hunters and new owners with several long guns who need them locked away from kids and visitors; it has no fire rating and the claimed capacity shrinks with scoped rifles.

The KAER Biometric Gun Safe Rifle 14-15 is a tall biometric gun cabinet from KAER, and my pick for rifles and shotguns because it is the only in-stock long-gun option I found that two or more top guides back. The listing gives 78 lb, 57 x 18.5 x 15.8 in outside, a 45.5 in maximum gun height with the shelf in, and a 13 cubic foot interior.

Entry is a fingerprint scanner that stores 30 prints, a digital keypad or an emergency backup key, so a missed read or a dead battery is not a lockout. The listing includes expansion bolts for floor or wall mounting. The listing calls the steel 15-gauge but its images also show 16 and 18 gauge, so I treat it as thin cabinet steel.

What owners say: an r/Firearms owner calls it a glorified locking cabinet that works fine for what it is, and an r/liberalgunowners reply says it won’t hold up to power tools and should be attached to a stud or floor. The Armory Life’s reviewer found the door does not sag and the bolts line up cleanly. I’d bolt it in a closet corner.

Hornady RAPiD Safe Night Guard: Best bedside gun safe under $300

3.4Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)7/10
• Access (speed and ease)8/10
• Capacity5/10
• Value7/10

I scored access high for RFID entry with code and key backups and security at 7 for the weight, cable and DOJ listing; capacity is low because the drawer holds one handgun.

How we score

Check price on Amazon

What we like

• RFID reader, user-set code and mechanical key; four RFID tags included
• Wall power or four AAA batteries, plus a 1,500 lb-rated security cable
• Listed by Hornady as a California DOJ approved firearm safety device

What we don't like

• Shallow 2.2 in interior sized for a single handgun
• One owner says the RFID button in a watchband fell out

What owners and reviewers say from 3 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Easy setup with the RFID tags, code and keys
• A gear reviewer had no issues with the RFID reader

Common complaints

• An owner's watchband RFID button fell out unexpectedly
• The same owner saw Hornady units fail within two years

Read on: The Armory Life Forum: Review Hornady Rapid Safe NightGuard (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/tacticalgear: Bedside gun with little kids (search excerpt only) · Field & Stream: Hornady Rapid Safe Night Guard review (search excerpt only)

Who it's for: Owners who keep one handgun on the nightstand and want the fastest no-code entry; keep the four RFID tags away from children.

The Hornady RAPiD Safe Night Guard is an RFID nightstand gun safe from Hornady, shaped like an alarm clock. I picked it for one bedside handgun because a tap of an RFID tag opens the drawer, with no code or fingerprint to fumble in the dark.

Hornady includes four RFID tags, a user-set code and a mechanical key. The interior is 2.2 x 9.2 x 6.9 in, it runs on wall power or four AAA batteries, and it weighs 18 lb. The included cable is rated to 1,500 pounds, and Hornady lists it as California DOJ approved.

What owners say: a forum reviewer found setup easy. The complaint I’d weigh is an r/tacticalgear owner whose watchband RFID button fell out, plus units that failed within two years. Keep the tags on your key ring and away from children.

Vaultek 20 Series Essential Biometric: Best fingerprint pistol safe under $300

3.5Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)7/10
• Access (speed and ease)8/10
• Capacity6/10
• Value7/10

I scored access 8 for three entry methods and the auto-open lid, and security 7 for 16-gauge steel and anti-pry bars; I took off for battery dependence and the latch complaint some owners report.

How we score

Check price on Amazon

What we like

• Fingerprint (20 prints), 4-8 digit backlit keypad and two backup keys
• 16-gauge carbon steel with anti-pry bars and dual anti-impact latches
• Pre-drilled holes, mounting hardware and a 4 ft steel cable included

What we don't like

• Battery powered (three AAA alkaline, about a year)
• Owners report a print being accepted while the latch stayed shut

What owners and reviewers say from 3 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Sleek, robust and packed with features (a long-term VT20i review)
• Owners like the three entry methods

Common complaints

• One owner's reader accepted the print but the locks did not release
• Reader can need re-enrolling at new finger angles

Read on: Pew Pew Tactical: Vaultek VT10i and VT20i review (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/Safes: Vaultek safe not opening (quote via search) · Reddit r/SigSauer: Does anybody have a Vaultek safe? (search excerpt only)

Who it's for: One or two compact handguns in a drawer, desk or car console; it fits handguns up to 10.70 in long, and a dead battery means using the key.

The Vaultek 20 Series Essential Biometric is a compact biometric pistol safe from Vaultek, and my pick if you want fingerprint entry first. It stores up to 20 prints, so each adult can enroll their own, and the lid opens on its own.

The listing gives 16-gauge carbon steel, anti-pry bars, dual anti-impact latches, pre-drilled holes, 7.2 lb and 11.5 x 9 x 2.625 in outside. It fits handguns up to 10.70 in long. Backups are a 4-8 digit backlit keypad and two keys; three AAA alkaline batteries last about a year, per Vaultek’s support page.

What owners say: owners like the three entry methods. One r/Safes owner reported, “Fingerprint works and says it takes the fingerprint but the locks do not disengage.” That is why I keep the keypad code memorized and one key outside the safe.

ONNAIS Iron SE Biometric Gun Safe: Lowest-cost gun safe that is still good

3.0Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Access (speed and ease)7/10
• Capacity6/10
• Value9/10

I scored value 9 for three entry methods at the lowest cost on this list and security 4 for the thin shell; access loses a point for a reader owners call reliable most, not all, of the time.

How we score

Check price on Amazon

What we like

• Fingerprint, keypad and mechanical key, the cheapest way I found to get all three
• Interior 10.63 x 6.69 x 2.91 in, sized by ONNAIS for two pistols
• Light enough to move between home and car

What we don't like

• Thin 1.2 mm steel shell
• Owners say the fingerprint pad works most of the time, not every time

What owners and reviewers say from 2 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Easy to open when needed, and the stated dimensions are accurate
• Works for a nightstand pistol at a low cost

Common complaints

• The biometric pad works most of the time, not every time
• Smaller inside than some buyers expected

Read on: Reddit r/guns: Bedside pistol safe recommendations (quote via search) · ONNAIS Iron Series customer reviews (search excerpt only)

Who it's for: Tight budgets and second handguns that need a locked box in a drawer or car; screw it down or cable it, because it is easy to carry.

The ONNAIS Iron SE Biometric Gun Safe is a budget fingerprint pistol safe from ONNAIS, and the cheapest gun safe I’d still call good. You get a fingerprint reader, a keypad and a mechanical key, and ONNAIS sizes the 10.63 x 6.69 x 2.91 in interior for two pistols.

The trade-off is the 1.2 mm steel shell. It keeps curious hands out, but it is not a burglary safe, so screw it into a drawer or use a cable. It runs on four AA batteries.

What owners say: buyers on ONNAIS’s own review page call it easy to open and accurately sized. An r/guns owner was blunter: “the biometric pad works most of the time.” I’d enroll the same finger three or four times.

Vaultek LifePod 20: Best gun safe under $300 for the car and travel

2.8Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Access (speed and ease)6/10
• Capacity6/10
• Value8/10

I scored value 8 because one case covers car, office and air travel, and security 4 because the body is polymer and relies on its cable.

How we score

Check price on Amazon

What we like

• 3.3 lb, 12.25 x 8.5 x 2.875 in, fits handguns up to 9.25 in long
• Two backup keys and a 48 in steel cable for a seat bracket or bed frame
• 9V battery rated up to a year

What we don't like

• Impact-resistant polymer, not steel
• Owners say it is not quick-access storage for a bedside gun

What owners and reviewers say from 4 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• An easy theft deterrent and TSA travel friendly
• Holds a holstered handgun plus a spare magazine or two

Common complaints

• Not quick-access storage for a bedside handgun
• Owners weigh it against cheaper first-generation cases

Read on: Northwest Firearms forum: Thoughts on the Vaultek LifePod 2.0 (search excerpt only) · USCCA Community: Vaultek LifePod 1 or LifePod 2 (search excerpt only) · Reddit r/CCW: Vaultek (search excerpt only) · The Armory Life: Vaultek LifePod 20 Biometric review (search excerpt only)

Who it's for: Owners who drive, fly or stay in hotels with one full-size handgun up to 9.25 in long; it is polymer, so the cable does the anti-theft work.

The Vaultek LifePod 20 is a lockable travel case from Vaultek, and my pick for the gun that leaves the house. It weighs 3.3 lb, measures 12.25 x 8.5 x 2.875 in, and takes handguns up to 9.25 in long.

A keypad opens it, with two backup keys and a 48 in steel cable to loop around a seat bracket or bed frame. The 9V battery is rated for up to a year, and Vaultek says it meets TSA guidelines. The body is polymer, so the cable does the anti-theft work.

What owners say: a Northwest Firearms owner calls it an easy theft deterrent that is TSA friendly, but not quick-access storage. A USCCA forum member fits a holstered gun plus a spare magazine or two.

Which gun safe under $300 should you get

• Rifles and shotguns: KAER Biometric Gun Safe Rifle 14-15, bolted to two studs.
• One handgun by the bed, no code: Hornady RAPiD Safe Night Guard.
• Fingerprint first, or two adults: Vaultek 20 Series Essential.
• Lowest cost for a second handgun: ONNAIS Iron SE.
• Car, office or flights: Vaultek LifePod 20.

What a gun safe under $300 can and cannot do

A gun safe under $300 keeps kids and casual thieves out, but it will not survive a fire or a burglar with power tools. Knowing that up front decides where the money goes.

Gun cabinet or gun safe under $300

Under $300, a long-gun “safe” is a gun cabinet or gun locker: thin steel, a few locking bolts and no burglary label. A biometric lock adds speed, not strength. On r/Firearms, a buyer weighing a safe under $500 heard that many bigger brands “are just RSC rated like the cheaper safes.” Compare steel gauge, weight and anchoring, not the brand on the door.

Fire ratings on budget gun safes

A fire rating should name who certified it: UL, Intertek/ETL or only the maker. None of my five picks makes any fire claim. The one fire-rated budget gun safe the top lists name, the Hornady 95407 (maker claim: 30 minutes up to 1400°F), had no Amazon offer when I checked. If you also store passports, see our fire-rated gun safe picks or add a separate fire box.

Real capacity of a budget gun cabinet

Gun counts assume thin rifles without a scope. A scoped AR-15, a pistol grip or an inserted magazine takes a second slot, while a slim shotgun takes one. Cut the number on the box by a third, as the High Road advice above says, and buy the size you need for next year’s rifle too, such as one of the best 24 gun safes.

How to anchor a budget gun cabinet to wall studs

Anchor a budget gun cabinet to two wall studs, and to the floor if you can, because a 78 lb cabinet goes out the door on a dolly. Here is how I’d do it with the KAER or any cabinet that has pre-drilled back holes:

1. Pick a closet corner away from the door, where a thief has no room to swing a pry bar.
2. Find two studs with a stud finder and mark their centers.
3. Empty the cabinet, stand it in place and mark where its back holes meet the studs; drill new holes in the back panel if needed.
4. Drive lag screws with large washers through the back into the studs. One reviewer found the supplied anchors too short, so buy longer ones.
5. Add floor bolts through the base if the floor allows it.
6. Load the heaviest items low to lower the center of gravity, and add a rechargeable dehumidifier if the closet is damp.

For floor types and hardware, see our guide on how to bolt down a safe. Renters should get written permission first.

Budget gun safe problems owners run into, and the fix

Most complaints about a budget gun safe come down to fingerprint readers, dead batteries, overstated capacity and recalled cheap biometric locks. The Vaultek 20 Series tutorial in this section shows how to set the master code and enroll prints.

Fingerprint reader misses

Readers on budget and premium safes alike miss wet, dry or cut fingers, a recurring complaint in r/guns and r/Safes threads. Enroll the same finger several times at different angles, clean the sensor and practice the keypad until it is muscle memory.

Dead battery and no key

Locked-out owners in r/Safes threads usually had a dead battery and no key at hand. A High Road owner suggests you “tape a date when you installed new batteries and just exchange them every year, regardless of use.” Every pick here has a key backup, so keep one key outside the safe. If your own safe still won’t open, contact the maker with your proof of purchase.

The cabinet is full on day one

High Road members repeat one line: “BUY A BIGGER SAFE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED.” For long guns under $300, that means the largest KAER that fits your closet.

Recalled budget biometric safes

In February 2024 the CPSC recalled about 60,000 awesafe biometric gun safes because the lock could open for unauthorized users. Before buying a cheap biometric safe, especially secondhand, search the brand on cpsc.gov for a recall.

How we picked these gun safes under $300

I kept only safes that two or more top-ranking gun safe guides recommend and that I found as an in-stock Amazon US listing, then checked each spec on the maker’s page or listing. American Firearms, Top Firearm Reviews and Cape Fear Investigative name KAER cabinets; Pew Pew Tactical, American Firearms and Top Firearm Reviews back the Vaultek, ONNAIS and Hornady safes.

Stack-On’s 10-gun cabinet and the Hornady 95407 fire safe were also recommended, but neither had an Amazon offer on November 3, 2026. The Barska biometric rifle safe was over this budget on Amazon US. I compared capacity, entry, backup, steel and anchoring, and read owner threads for each. I did not handle these safes myself.

Gun safe storage laws and your next step

Storage and transport rules differ by state and city, so check your state’s official firearm storage page; I don’t give legal advice. California buyers can confirm a device on the California DOJ roster; Hornady lists the Night Guard as approved.

Next, compare fingerprint models in our biometric gun safe guide, or if your budget stretches, see the home safe under $500 picks with independent fire ratings.