Turning a Closet Into a Gun Safe - Is it Safe?

Anyone with firearms in the home needs to make sure guns are kept secure from unauthorized access and theft. Of course, we recommend that anyone wishing to keep their guns protected from theft, fire, humidity damage, and unauthorized use buy a US-made, fire-rated Liberty gun safe. Still, a closet gun safe can be viable for some people in certain situations.

Let’s go over the basics, some tips regarding closet gun safes, and some pros and cons of this method of firearm storage.

You can install a gun safe into an existing closet

Second, you can turn your bedroom closet (or any other closet in your home) into a closet gun safe simply by selecting a free-standing gun safe that fits the space closely, allowing provision for opening the safe door enough to gain access and hiding the entire thing behind a locked, sturdy door or a hidden panel/mirror. The safe should be bolted to the floor and, ideally, to the wall studs. Bada-bing, bada-boom… instant closet gun safe.

This approach is by far the least intrusive and time-consuming method for turning a closet into a safe, and it may actually be the most economical from a security perspective, but it may not be for everyone. (See below for the pros and cons of gun safes versus converting your closet.)

How to convert an existing closet into a type of gun safe

The third option for creating a closet safe is to turn an existing closet into a more secure storage space for your guns. You’ll need to remove any existing clothing hanger rods, shoe racks, unsuitable cabinetry or shelving, and other items that don’t belong in a gun safe. You can reinforce the existing walls if necessary/desired, using Kevlar panels and/or fireboard. Generally, an interior closet framed with 2x4s and covered with sheetrock is as far as many people want to go, but this, of course, is not a super-secure option since if someone knows your closet gun safe is there, they can easily penetrate drywall or sheetrock if they have access to your home.

After the interior is to your liking, and you have installed whatever wall-mounted or freestanding gun racks you want to use, you’ll need to think about the door. Most residential closet doors are hollow-core and can easily be cut or destroyed. So you’ll need to install a good hardwood, solid core door, or a metal door for increased security. If possible, you’ll also want to beef up the framing and install keyed deadbolt locks, a digital keypad, or both. Digital keypad locks have the advantage of quick access without a key and are difficult to bypass. Deadbolts are generally stronger, but you’ll need a key, of course, and you should always have that key in your direct control.

After you have your closet safe outfitted and relatively secure, one of the most important steps is to conceal it effectively. It’s best if nobody but you know you have a closet safe since, as noted above, the bedroom closet is one of the first places a burglar will check for valuables. So, in addition to the secure door, you’ll want to add a hidden outer door, such as a wall mirror, moving bookshelf, or similar setup. Wall mirrors are often found in bedrooms, so they may not look strange to a burglar. Ask around your local area and find a trusted contractor who can build you a swing-out mirror, rolling/sliding bookcase, or other cabinetry to hide the closet safe. Depending on the design and the contractor, this can be cost-prohibitive, but if you want maximum security, you must keep your closet gun safe hidden.

Disadvantages of a gun closet

• Relatively poor security of the door/locks: Even a solid-core, hardwood, or steel residential door with deadbolts or a keypad doesn’t provide the same level of security against prybars, saws, drills, and hammers as a proper safe’s door or a vault door.
• Fire protection: Unless you have a knowledgeable, professional build you a fire-resistant closet, no “gun closet” will have the fire resistance of a good, well-made gun safe, with expanding door seals and up to a 2.5-hour rating at 1200º F. Most people building hidden “closet safes” don’t even think about fire protection. You can add a fire-resistant document safe inside your closet for a little more peace of mind, but your guns won’t likely survive any kind of serious home fire if they’re in a typical closet gun safe.
• Easy access via the side and back walls: As noted above, drywall or sheetrock doesn’t provide much of a barrier to entry. Properly installed Kevlar panels can help, but a determined thief will make it into your gun closet much easier than he/she will into a proper gun safe.

Advantages of a proper gun safe

• Increased security: A well-built gun safe provides excellent security against impact, drill, and pry attacks. Liberty’s safes have hardened steel, military-type locking bars, automatic relockers, and available ball-bearing-hard drill plates.
• Increased fire resistance: Liberty’s gun safes start with a full 30 minutes of fire resistance at 1200º F and are available with up to 2.5 hours of fire resistance. Even if your entire house burns down around it, your Liberty Safe can provide peace of mind.

Video: Liberty Safe Survives a Raging Garage House Fire

• Speed of installation: When you buy a free-standing safe and have it delivered and installed, you’re done. You are up and running with good security and fire protection, and you didn’t have to mess with or wait for a contractor or build a closet safe yourself.
• Mobility: When you move, you can take your gun safe with you or re-sell it to the new owner of your home. A “closet” can’t really be removed and taken with you.
• Humidity and pest control: Because a gun safe is a relatively small internal space compared to most closets, keeping it at the proper humidity level is easier to prevent damage to your firearms. You also don’t have to worry about mice or other pests gnawing through the steel floor or walls, like you might with a closet.

Disadvantages of a gun safe

• Higher cost: Though you might be surprised at how affordable an entry-level gun safe can be, it will likely be more expensive than installing a better closet door and locks. However, once you finish upgrading and concealing your gun closet, you might have spent more than you would have on a good entry- or mid-level gun safe that will ultimately have better security features and fire protection.
• Weight: Good quality steel and locking bars are heavy, as is a suitable fireboard. A full-sized safe will weigh at least 250 pounds empty, and they go up to 1,500+ pounds for the large-capacity, high-fire-resistance models. So make sure your floor and joists are rated for the load, and hire professionals if you need to move your heavy safe.
• Reduced capacity: Compared to a large walk-in closet (or most bedroom closets), even the largest free-standing gun safe will probably have lower capacity.
• Greater visibility (potentially): Unless you install it in a closet (as mentioned above), a free-standing gun safe is more noticeable and difficult to conceal than a simple door or a hidden mirror panel. If someone knows you have a gun safe, they might tell others, and word can get around. It’s best to keep your safe hidden in an interior room or basement where few people other than close family members will ever see it.