In this guide (8 sections)
- Our top picks
- Airbnb safe comparison: guest code, host override and fit
- Airbnb safe picks for guests and hosts
- How to set up an Airbnb safe for guests
- Airbnb safe problems hosts run into, and the fix
- How we picked these Airbnb safes
- Airbnb safe limits: fire, insurance and liability
- Questions safe buyers ask
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How we picked these
- Review themes from 1,250 verified-buyer and owner reviews on retailer sites, so every pick shows what buyers praise and complain about.
- 28 owner posts, user discussions and expert reviews read across 6 sources.
- Every spec checked against 11 maker and retailer pages.
- We did not test these products ourselves, and we say so. All sources are linked at the end of this guide.
Our top picks
Best overall safe for an Airbnb · 3.7/5SentrySafe SFW123GDC
Best budget hotel-style safe for guests · 2.7/5Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe 25EI
Best app-controlled safe for remote hosts · 2.9/5Yale Smart Safe with Bluetooth
Best large safe for laptops and long stays · 3.2/5TIGERKING Home Safe
Best fingerprint safe for the host's own valuables · 2.7/5Viking Security Safe VS-20BLX
The short answer
- For most hosts, my pick is the SentrySafe SFW123GDC: a guest keypad, a host key that can disable the code between stays, and UL and ETL fire and water ratings.
- On a budget, the Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe 25EI is the closest thing to a hotel room safe: a programmable keypad and two override keys.
- Remote hosts can share and log access with the Yale Smart Safe; long stays with laptops need the larger TIGERKING Home Safe.
- Keep the fingerprint Viking VS-20BLX for your own owner's closet, bolt every safe down and tell guests an override key exists.
The best safe for Airbnb guests is a bolted keypad safe that guests program themselves and you can open with an override key. For most hosts I pick the SentrySafe SFW123GDC, whose key can also disable the code between stays. On a budget, the Amazon Basics 25EI works like a hotel room safe, and it also makes our safe for teenager picks.
A guest safe in a rental property will not stop a burglar with tools. It gives guest valuables like a passport and cash a home, which matters when 62.8 percent of US burglaries hit homes, and it gives your cleaner cover. If guests also need key handoffs, our key lock box guide covers codes that expire.
From our notes: The SentrySafe SFW123GDC’s “dual key” decided our top pick. SentrySafe says it lets owners disable the primary lock even if others know the code, which is exactly what a host needs at checkout. We lined up every safe the Airbnb guides recommend against one question: can a stranger set it, and can the host get back in? Two Honeywell hotel-style models qualified on paper, but Amazon US showed them unavailable.
Airbnb safe comparison: guest code, host override and fit
A guest safe has to pass three tests: a code guests can set, a way back in for you, and room for what guests carry. This table compares the five picks on those tests:
| Airbnb safe | Guest entry | Host backup | Inside (W x D x H) | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SentrySafe SFW123GDC | Keypad | Dual key | 12.6 x 11.9 x 13.8 in | Tablet, small laptop on edge |
| Amazon Basics 25EI | Keypad | 2 override keys | 13.6 x 7.2 x 9.7 in | Passports, phone, tablet |
| Yale Smart Safe | Keypad or app | Key, app | Not published | Passports, tablet |
| TIGERKING Home Safe | Touchscreen keypad | Master key | 15.3 x 10 x 12.9 in | Most 15 in laptops flat |
| Viking VS-20BLX | Fingerprint, PIN | Override key | 11.9 x 7.6 x 7.8 in | Host’s cash, keys |
Only the SentrySafe carries an independent fire rating.
Airbnb safe picks for guests and hosts
Four picks are guest safes; the fingerprint Viking belongs in your locked owner’s closet. Scores follow our how we score rubric.
SentrySafe SFW123GDC: Best fire and water safe for an Airbnb
3.7Best Safe Spec Score out of 5
- Security (lock and build)6/10
- Fire protection10/10
- Access (speed and ease)7/10
- Capacity8/10
- Value7/10
I gave fire a 10 for the UL 1-hour and ETL water ratings; security stays at 6 because it has no burglary rating, and owner lockout reports keep access at 7.
What we like
- UL Classified for 1 hour at up to 1700°F and ETL Verified for 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours
- Dual key lets the host disable the keypad code between stays
- Four 1-inch live-locking bolts, pry-resistant hinge bar, bolt-down kit
What we don't like
- At 86.69 lb, it is hard to move once placed
- Several owners on SentrySafe's site report trouble opening it with the code or a key that will not turn
What owners and reviewers say review themes from 1,224 owner reviews, plus 8 posts and reviews we read
Praised for
- Sturdy build and easy setup
- Two separate access codes are quick to set up
Common complaints
- Trouble opening it with the code, or a key that would not turn
- Keypad worked only sporadically until the batteries were changed
Read on: SentrySafe.com customer reviews: SFW123GDC (1,224 reviews)
Who it's for: Hosts who want one safe for guest passports and laptops that also guards their own papers; at 86.69 lb it needs a floor that can take it, and it runs on four AAA batteries.
The SentrySafe SFW123GDC is a 1.23 cu ft fire and water safe from SentrySafe, and my top pick because it serves guests and the host at once. SentrySafe lists it as UL Classified for 1 hour in up to 1700°F and ETL Verified for 8 inches of water for up to 24 hours. Guests set a 5-digit code; four 1-inch live-locking bolts, a pry-resistant hinge bar and bolt-down hardware handle the rest.
The host feature is the dual key. Lock it with the key between stays and the code no longer opens the door. One SentrySafe owner notes the code works only after the key is turned back, so add that line to your house manual.
SentrySafe owners praise the sturdy build and easy two-code setup; the repeated complaint is a code or key that will not open it, so test both before the first guest.
Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe 25EI: Best budget hotel-style safe for Airbnb guests
2.7Best Safe Spec Score out of 5
- Security (lock and build)3/10
- Access (speed and ease)8/10
- Capacity4/10
- Value8/10
No fire claim, so I left fire out. Access scores high because guests know this keypad layout from hotels; light steel and lock complaints keep security at 3.
What we like
- Programmable keypad guests can set themselves
- 2 emergency override keys for the host
- Pre-drilled holes and four expansion bolts included
What we don't like
- No fire or water rating, and the interior is only 7.2 in deep
- Owners on Reddit report lockouts when batteries died and the override key was lost
What owners and reviewers say from 4 reviews and posts we read
Praised for
- Owners like the price and the simple keypad
Common complaints
- Reddit threads point to a lock weakness shown in a widely shared video
- Owners locked out after the batteries died and the override key was lost
Read on: r/amazon: AmazonBasics Security Safe flaw · r/safecracking: Amazon basics safe, dead battery and lost key
Who it's for: Hosts who want a simple guest safe for passports, cash, phones and a tablet; it will not take a laptop, makes no fire claim and must be bolted down at 18.26 lb.
The Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe 25EI is a 0.5 cu ft electronic keypad safe from Amazon Basics, and the closest pick to a hotel room safe: guests program the keypad themselves. You get two emergency override keys, pry-resistant hinges and four expansion bolts.
Its limit is depth. At 13.6 x 7.2 x 9.7 in inside, it takes passports, phones and a tablet, not a laptop. At 18.26 lb, bolting is not optional.
Reddit owners flag a shared lock weakness and lockouts after dead batteries and a lost key. My fix: fresh batteries and an off-site key.
Yale Smart Safe with Bluetooth: Best app-controlled safe for remote hosts
2.9Best Safe Spec Score out of 5
- Security (lock and build)5/10
- Access (speed and ease)8/10
- Capacity4/10
- Value6/10
No fire claim, so fire is left out. I rated access 8 for app sharing and access history; Wi-Fi drops and a smaller box hold the other scores back.
What we like
- Keypad, key or app entry, with access sharing and history
- Alarm after incorrect entries, then a 5-minute lockdown, per Yale
- Door-activated light, shelf and key hooks inside
What we don't like
- Remote access needs an extra Wi-Fi bridge or an Apple TV
- Owners on Yale's site report Wi-Fi drops and one unit that would not lock
What owners and reviewers say review themes from 16 owner reviews, plus 8 posts and reviews we read
Praised for
- Easy setup and app or HomeKit control that works
- Owners give family members access through the app
Common complaints
- The Wi-Fi bridge must sit close to the safe and disconnects at times
- One owner could not get the safe to lock
Read on: Yale Home: Yale Smart Safe with Wi-Fi customer reviews (16 reviews)
Who it's for: Hosts with several listings who want to share access and see who opened the safe; remote access needs a Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge or an Apple TV, and Yale says it is not fire or water certified.
The Yale Smart Safe with Bluetooth is a keypad and app-controlled smart safe from Yale, and the one I’d pick if you host from another city. The Yale Access app can share access and show history, so you can see when the safe was opened. Yale lists two anti-saw bolts, a laser-cut door and an alarm that locks the keypad for 5 minutes after wrong entries.
Remote access needs a Yale Connect Wi-Fi Bridge or an Apple TV. Yale says the safe is not fire or water certified.
Owners on Yale’s site like the easy setup and sharing access with family. Complaints: the Wi-Fi bridge must sit within about 10 feet, and one owner’s unit would not lock.
TIGERKING Home Safe: Best large safe for laptops and long stays
3.2Best Safe Spec Score out of 5
- Security (lock and build)5/10
- Access (speed and ease)7/10
- Capacity8/10
- Value7/10
No fire claim, so I left fire out. Capacity gets an 8 for laptop room and the inner box; no burglary rating keeps security at 5.
What we like
- Main area 15.3 in W x 10 in D x 12.9 in H, the only pick sized for a laptop lying flat
- Code-only mode for guests or master key plus code mode for the host
- Six 25 mm bolts, 5 mm door, alarm after 3 wrong codes
What we don't like
- No fire or water rating, and it mounts only through the back
- One Walmart owner found it not heavy enough and added weight
What owners and reviewers say review themes from 5 owner reviews, plus 3 posts and reviews we read
Praised for
- Sturdy, solidly built and easy to set up
- The passcode works well
Common complaints
- One owner said it was heavy but not heavy enough and added weights before wall-mounting
Read on: Walmart customer reviews: TIGERKING Security Home Safe (5 reviews)
Who it's for: Hosts of longer stays where guests bring laptops, cameras and documents; it is 23 in tall, makes no fire claim and mounts through two back holes to a wall.
The TIGERKING Home Safe is a 59.5 lb steel home safe from TIGERKING, and my pick for week-long stays where guests bring laptops. Its main area is 15.3 x 10 x 12.9 in, the only pick where most 15 in laptops lie flat. A key-locking inner box adds a private tray.
Run it in code-only mode for guests, or switch to master key plus code when you want control. Six 25 mm bolts sit behind a 5 mm door, and an alarm sounds after three wrong codes. It makes no fire claim.
Walmart owners call it sturdy and easy to set up; one found it not heavy enough and added weight before wall-mounting.
Viking Security Safe VS-20BLX: Best fingerprint safe for the host’s own valuables
2.7Best Safe Spec Score out of 5
- Security (lock and build)4/10
- Access (speed and ease)9/10
- Capacity3/10
- Value6/10
No fire claim, so I left fire out. Access gets a 9 for fingerprint speed; light steel and a small box hold security and capacity back.
What we like
- Fingerprint, PIN or override key; prints stay in memory
- Interior LED light, carpeted floor and 4 anchor bolts
What we don't like
- Fingerprints must be enrolled and deleted for each person, which is why I keep it host-only
- Small interior, about 0.4 cu ft
What owners and reviewers say review themes from 5 owner reviews, plus 5 posts and reviews we read
Praised for
- Fingerprint and code both open it reliably, per two reviewers
- Feels like a hotel-style safe
Common complaints
- One reviewer had locking bolts that would not fully retract
- Changing batteries means removing the LED unit with a screwdriver
Read on: Walmart customer reviews: Viking VS-20BLX (5 reviews)
Who it's for: Hosts who keep their own cash, spare keys or jewelry on site and want them open in seconds; it holds about 0.4 cu ft, makes no fire claim and is lightly built.
The Viking Security Safe VS-20BLX is a mini biometric safe from Viking Security Safe, and I keep it out of guest rooms on purpose. It stores 32 fingerprints and one PIN, so every guest would need enrolling and deleting. For your own spare keys, cash or jewelry in a locked owner’s closet, fingerprint access is fast.
It has a motorized 20 mm deadbolt, an LED light and four anchor bolts. Walmart reviewers say prints and code open it reliably; one had bolts that would not fully retract.
Which Airbnb safe should you get
- One safe for guests and your own papers: SentrySafe SFW123GDC.
- A cheap hotel-style safe for passports and phones: Amazon Basics 25EI.
- Hosting from another city: Yale Smart Safe.
- Long stays with laptops: TIGERKING Home Safe.
- Your own valuables in an owner’s closet: Viking VS-20BLX.
How to set up an Airbnb safe for guests
Bolt it down, write the steps down and keep the override key away from the rental.
- Put the safe in the bedroom closet where every guest can reach it and the door can swing fully open.
- Bolt it through the pre-drilled holes into the floor or a wall stud, using the included hardware.
- Set your own test code, then confirm the override key opens it with the batteries out.
- Tape short reset steps inside the door and copy them, with photos, into your house manual.
- Tell guests an override key exists and who can use it.
- Store the key off-site or in a lockbox only you and your co-host can open.
Our guide to bolting down a safe covers anchors for wood floors and concrete.
Airbnb safe problems hosts run into, and the fix
Forgotten codes, dead batteries and theft claims cause most guest safe trouble.
Guest forgets the code or checks out with the safe locked
Resettable codes get changed by accident, a recurring story in r/DIYUK threads. Add “open and inspect safe” to the turnover checklist and keep a lost-item policy for passports, cash and medication.
Dead batteries and a lost override key
A r/Safes reply sums it up: “If you lost the override key it’s a problem.” A High Road owner tapes the battery date and swaps them yearly. I’d swap at each quarterly deep clean. Opening a safe without its code or key is a job for the maker or a licensed locksmith, with proof it is yours. Our SentrySafe battery replacement guide shows the steps.
Theft claims against cleaners
One Airhostsforum host wanted a safe partly “to protect our cleaners from false stealing accusations.” A safe the guest locks, plus a listing line asking guests to use it, shifts responsibility.
How we picked these Airbnb safes
Each pick appears in at least two top-ranking guides for Airbnb or hotel-style safes, and each had an in-stock Amazon US listing on November 1, 2026. I have not handled these safes; specs come from makers, retailers and Amazon listings, and owner notes from 28 owner posts and threads.
The SentrySafe appears in Bee Setups’ and Awning’s Airbnb lists and Business Insider’s home safe guide. The Amazon Basics 25EI appears in Thanks For Visiting, Bee Setups and Business Insider; the Viking in Bee Setups and Business Insider. TIGERKING appears in Awning and SafesWorld’s hotel safe brands list; Yale in Bee Setups, CNET’s smart safe guide and SafesWorld’s list.
Airbnb safe limits: fire, insurance and liability
Four of these five make no fire claim, so keep your own deeds and titles out of the guest safe. Only the SentrySafe has a UL fire class and an ETL water rating. None has a UL burglary rating.
Host podcasts suggest a guest guide line saying you are not responsible for items left in the safe, and an insurance check. Ask your insurer and local rules; we do not give legal advice. Before you order, run through our safe buying checklist, and for your own home see our apartment safe picks.
Questions safe buyers ask
Should Airbnb hosts provide a safe?
It is optional, but many hosts in tourist areas do. A bolted guest safe gives guests a place for passports and cash, and it protects cleaners from theft claims, a reason one host gave on Airhostsforum.
How do guests reset a hotel-style safe?
Guests set their own code with the door open, following the steps in your house manual or on a card inside the door, then test it before closing. Put the maker's exact steps for your model in the manual, because each keypad differs.
What if a guest forgets the safe code?
You open it with the override key. Keep that key off-site or in a lockbox only you and your co-host can open, never in the rental, and tell guests in the manual that it exists.
Does an Airbnb safe need to be fireproof?
Not for guest valuables on a short stay. If you store your own papers in the rental, pick a safe with an independent fire rating, such as the SentrySafe SFW123GDC, UL Classified for 1 hour at up to 1700°F.
Where should a safe go in a rental?
In the bedroom closet or a fixed cabinet, bolted to the floor or a wall stud, at a height every guest can reach and with room for the door to open fully.
Why you can trust this guide
- Products are checked against manufacturer specifications, user manuals and long-term owner reports.
- Each pick is scored on the Best Safe Score: security (lock and build), fire protection, access, capacity and value. Scores come from published specs, independent ratings and owner reports, not hands-on testing.
- We never accept payment for placement. Affiliate commissions do not affect rankings.
Last reviewed . Read our research process and editorial policy, or report an error.
Sources
- SentrySafe, SFW123GDC product page
- Yale Home, Yale Smart Safe with Wi-Fi
- Viking Security Safe, VS-20BLX
- Walmart, TIGERKING Security Home Safe 2.05 cu ft
- Bee Setups, Best Safes for Airbnb
- Awning, 5 Best Safes for Airbnbs and Vacation Rentals
- Thanks For Visiting, Should I Add a Safe to My Airbnb? (Episode 460)
- Airhostsforum, Provide safe box in Airbnb?
- Templeton Safes, Choosing a Safe for Your Airbnb or Rental Property
- Business Insider, The best home safes
- FBI UCR, Burglary (Crime in the U.S. 2019)
Reviews and discussions we read
- SentrySafe.com customer reviews: SFW123GDC (1,224 reviews)
- r/amazon: AmazonBasics Security Safe flaw
- r/safecracking: Amazon basics safe, dead battery and lost key
- Yale Home: Yale Smart Safe with Wi-Fi customer reviews (16 reviews)
- Walmart customer reviews: TIGERKING Security Home Safe (5 reviews)
- Walmart customer reviews: Viking VS-20BLX (5 reviews)
Best Safe Editorial Team
Research & editorial
We research home safes, gun safes and fireproof safes for people protecting firearms, documents and valuables: lock types (mechanical dial, electronic keypad, biometric, key), steel gauge, bolt work and pry resistance, independent fire ratings from UL or Intertek (ETL), how fast you can get in under stress, bolt-down options and legal storage rules. Every guide follows our published research process and editorial policy.
