10 Affordable Gun Safe Alternatives

Storing your guns is extremely important for safety and security as a homeowner if you want peace of mind. You want your guns to be easy to access while still retaining a sense of security for when it matters most. Gun safes aren’t for everybody, so what are the best alternatives to a traditional gun safe?

Job boxes, closets, gar gun safes, drawer safes, and gun cabinets are the best substitute for a standard gun safe. Otherwise, gun lockers, kitchen drawers, and cabinets, pantries, and pistol boxes are excellent alternatives. You can also mount your guns on the wall, but that is less secure of a gun safe alternative than a locker, drawer, or cabinet.

Consider how much space you have, your quantity of firearms, and what kind of access you want to your guns. Each of the gun safe alternatives that we are going to explore maximizes space and keeps you and your home’s security in mind. Follow along as we explore the best gun safe alternatives that money can buy.

Job boxes are a safe, secure, and convenient alternative to a traditional gun safe. Whether it be a Snap-On toolbox or a standard contractor’s job box, they can keep your guns safe and secure. They come in all shapes and sizes, and job boxes are almost always equipped with locks.

Gun safes aren’t just about storage, and job boxes are great for safety purposes as well. You can easily tuck job boxes away in a closet, steep drawer, or inside a safe of another kind. Multiple job boxes are perfect for homeowners with many guns, and they are cheap enough that they won’t cost an arm and a leg.

High-quality job boxes cost $100, but you can expect to pay over $400 for larger, more elaborate options. Consider a contractor’s job box if you want great storage, easy access, and peace of mind.

Just about every home has several closets, and they are one of the best gun safe alternatives. Closets that have top shelves are perfect for storing guns, but the shelf isn’t necessary. You can safely place guns in a box, crate, or safe on the floor in your closet if you carefully cover them.

It’s important to make sure that the guns are concealed well and out of reach of children or burglars. Make sure that your closet doesn’t get too much humidity, however, as that can cause rust and damage to your guns. Consider reinforcing your closet, or even putting locks on it, so there is no risk of your guns falling into the wrong hands.

If you already have a gun safe or job box, you can place it in the closet for added security and safety. Look no further than your closet in your hunt for a gun safe alternative, especially if you’re on a tight budget.

If you live in a safe where it’s legal to travel with a licensed firearm, then you will need a car gun safe. You can’t drive around with a gun out in the open, and it will need to be concealed for legal purposes. Brands such as Fort Knox and TruckVault create high-quality and easy to access gun safes for your car.

Many homeowners that own guns also feel the need to protect themselves away from the house, and that’s where car gun safes come into play. Car gun safes pose a risk of theft if a firearm is left in the car, so you should look for one with a lock. You can expect to spend at least $250 for a car gun safe that will keep your firearms, car, and most importantly, yourself safe.

This doesn’t solve the problem of needing a gun safe for your home, but it’s a common need for gun owners. Purchase a gun safe for your car if you feel the need to transport firearms safely and legally when you aren’t home.

NOTE: Make sure to check that it is legal to transport firearms via vehicle in your state before you purchase a car gun safe. Never transport a gun if it is illegal in your state or you are not licensed to own and possess firearms.

Gun drawer safes are a unique and modern alternative to traditional gun safes that you can tuck under your bed. This is a great option for homeowners that desire quick access in case of an unfortunate safety emergency. Drawer-style gun safes are slim, lightweight, and can easily be stowed under a bed, table, or couch.

That is why drawer gun safes have become so popular, and they create a genuine sense of safety. The last thing that any homeowner wants is a gun safe that is hard to access in case of emergency. You can find drawer gun safes that work via key, keypad, and fingerprint access for a quick unlock.

Gun owners can expect to pay $350 or more for a strong and secure drawer gun safe. Consider a drawer safe for your guns if you don’t want to sacrifice safety for quick access.

Pistol boxes are the best gun safe alternative if you only have a pistol or pistols to conceal. The size and slim nature of pistol boxes mean that you can afford safety and security without sacrificing space. You can find pistol boxes suited for a single gun or larger options that hold 4-5 pistols.

Similar to drawer safes, pistol boxes are easy to tuck under beds, couches, or even inside of dresser drawers. That means that you have quick access in the event of a dangerous situation and that it won’t be in the way. Pistol boxes are the ultimate gun safe alternative if you are looking for something that won’t be in the way or hard to access.

Make sure to practice gun storage safety even if you use something as small and convenient as a pistol box. Buy a pistol box if you have small a small firearm or firearms that you need to store in an accessible location.

Gun cabinets are similar to gun safes, but they have more visual flair and are somewhat decorative. Many gun cabinets have glass so that you can view the guns, and that’s great for firearms enthusiasts. That inherently makes gun cabinets at more of a risk for theft, but not if they are well fortified and secure.

Some gun cabinets even feature bulletproof glass so that they cannot be easily broken into by an intruder. Gun cabinets are great because you can store guns, straps, and ammunition in an organized and accessible way. They are also generally easier to move or get into than gun safes, which is both a good and bad thing.

Gun cabinets are not quite as secure as gun safes, but they are still viable options for gun storage. Look into gun cabinets if you have a large collection and want an organized method to store your guns.

Wall mounts are popular gun safe alternatives for homeowners that want to display their firearms. Granted, you risk a lot of security when it comes to wall mounts, but they are popular gun safe alternatives, nonetheless. You can find wall mounts for single guns, both pistols, and rifles, or an array of firearms depending on what you need.

You can mount guns on just about any wall, but it’s wise to place the mount away from doors and windows. This ensures that the guns aren’t visible from the outside of the house which can make you a target for burglary. Wall mounts afford you easier access to your guns than safes and cabinets do, which makes them good for home security.

You can find wall mounts for as little as $55, or as much as $2,000 or more for elaborate options. Take a look at wall mounts if you want to avoid a cumbersome and expensive gun safe.

If your home already has a panty, then you already have one of the best gun safe alternatives. Pantries are great for storing firearms because they are often temperature and humidity-controlled. With that said, you should only store firearms in your pantry if the space is not humid to avoid any rust and damage.

It’s wise to store guns in a box of some sort rather than setting them out loose in your pantry. This will mitigate any risk of misfires or the guns falling into the wrong hands. You can also use a drawer safe in your pantry for double protection from prying eyes and even humidity.

The pantry can be hard to access in the event of an emergency for some homeowners depending on where it is in the home. If your pantry is centralized in the house, then it is the perfect alternative to a traditional gun safe, and it saves money.

Gun lockers are a perfect medium between gun cabinets and gun safes that are easy to access. They come in all shapes and sizes, and gun lockers are much lighter than gun safes. This comes in handy if you want to change its location or you are selling your house.

Gun lockers accommodate rifles, shotguns, pistols, and more, so they are perfect for anyone. There are gun lockers available that you can access via a key, and that is the most common variety. However, you can also find units that have advanced fingerprint technology to ensure maximum security.

Large gun lockers can hold many rifles and pistols, and you can expect to pay up to $700. Consider a gun locker if you want the security of a safe without the expensive price tag and cumbersome weight.

Your kitchen boasts a wealth of clever spots to store your guns safely and securely. Look no further than your kitchen cabinets and drawers for an unsuspecting and safe place to keep your guns. Granted, cabinets and drawers have less room for rifles and shotguns, but they are ideal for concealing pistols.

The kitchen is a smart place to store guns because that is not somewhere that a thief would look. Gun theft is common in burglaries, and visible gun storage can make you a target. Because of that, discreet storage, such as kitchen cabinets, is the ideal way to keep your guns concealed to minimize risk.

Only store your guns in the kitchen if there is no risk of children having access to your firearms. Take steps, such as locks, to ensure that your guns stored in the kitchen are not able to be handled by anyone. Take a look at your kitchen and see if you have space to safely store your guns in the cabinets or drawers.

Job boxes are the best gun safe alternative because of the low cost and convenient storage. You can save money by storing your guns in your pantry, or even your bedroom closet as well. Otherwise, you can purchase more elaborate and secure storage options like gun cabinets and lockers for rifles and pistols.

Pistol boxes are the best gun safe alternative if all that you have is small handguns to conceal and access easily. Your kitchen is one of the best places to store guns in the house, especially if you have deep drawers or large cabinets. Be careful about mounting your guns as walls as that doesn’t prevent unwanted people from having access to them.

Gun drawers are the best option if you want a storage method that is easy to access and easy to hide. No matter what gun safe alternative you choose, make sure that it is out of reach of children or people without gun experience. Each of the aforementioned gun safe alternatives is an excellent choice for any budget.