Are you worried about your personal belongings every time you go to your next class? Do you need something to help ensure the safety of your items from random people who might enter your dorm room? If so, you could use a safe that is small and designed to keep your items safe in these types of situations.
However, it is important to understand that there are many factors that you need to consider before purchasing a dorm safely, and we have compiled reviews of the college dorm safes.
Plus, we have created an educational section that is full of facts that you need to consider and a comprehensive FAQ section to answer some of the most important questions you might have. Let’s get started.
Best College Dorm Safes:
1. Amazon Basics Steel Security Safe with Programmable Electronic Keypad
AmazonBasics is a well-known manufacturer of various college student items, and this is one of their security boxes designed specifically for dorm students.
Each safe comes with reprogrammable digital access that is battery-operated, but it still has 2 override keys that help to ensure you can get into the safe even if the batteries fail without you realizing it. Plus, it does come with four bolts that will allow you to mount the safe if it is possible in the dorm room, and it is made from high-quality material.
Many consumers who purchased this particular lockbox liked that it comes with four bolts for mounting possibilities and that it comes with 2 live-door bolts and pry-resistant hinges that are concealed inside of the lockbox.
However, some consumers have mentioned that it provides a poor battery lifespan. So, it is recommended to only use name-brand high-quality batteries to power the vault safe.
Pros
- Comes with 2 live-door bolts and pry-resistant concealed hinges
- Comes with four bolts to mount it safely
- Has reprogrammable digital access that is battery-operated
- Comes with 2 override keys
Cons
- Minor issues with battery lifespan
2. SentrySafe PL048E Electronic Security Box, 0.5 Cubic Feet
SentrySafe is considered to be one of the top manufacturers of security boxes, and this is one of their top electronic models.
It is made from solid steel, and although it comes with an electronic combination locking mechanism, it still comes with an override key that is designed to provide you with peace of mind and a way to access the security box if the power is on the box ever fails for any reason.
Plus, this combination lock allows you to set your own, which means you can personalize it to something you can easily remember for quicker access.
Many consumers were looking for good safes for college students, and they liked that this security box comes with a tethering cable to help secure the safe and keep sentry laptops safe from easily being stolen.
However, this security box does require a specific type of high-quality battery for it to work properly, and most rechargeable batteries will not work with this safe.
Pros
- Allows you to set your combination
- Comes with a tethering cable to secure a safe conversation
- Constructed from solid steel
- Comes with an override key for backup access
Cons
- Requires the use of specific high-quality batteries to work properly
3. SAFEGO Portable Indoor/Outdoor Lock Box Safe with Key and Combination Access
SAFEGO is considered to be one of the box-safe manufacturers, in the industry, and this portable safe is one of their top models. It comes with a custom 3-digit combination code plus an access key in case of any electronic failure.
This safe is also designed to be lightweight and water-resistant, and it comes with a 90-day warranty to help ensure peace of mind upon purchase. Finally, it comes with a flexible steel cable that is capable of locking this box to stable objects.
Most consumers purchased this safe when looking for a small safe for college, and they liked that it is both lightweight and water-resistant. Plus, they liked that it comes with a 3-digit custom combination code and an access key for easy access. However, some consumers did mention having minor issues with the 3-digit combination lock.
Pros
- Designed from ABS plastic to make it lightweight and water-resistant
- Comes with a flexible steel cable to lock to any object
- Comes with a 90-day warranty
Cons
- Minor issues with the 3-digit combination lock
- Most of the services need a paid subscription
4. Honeywell Safes & Door Locks Fire Safe Box Chest
Honeywell has created a positive reputation for their company by creating the college safes, and this is one of their top door locks and safe models, available.
This fireproof safe comes with a 30-minute UL fire protection rating that will hold up to temperatures reaching 1550 degrees, it is designed to be small and compact, and it can hold various things like flash drives, folded letters, and many other personal effects.
Most consumers purchased this particular safe because of its fireproof rating, and they liked that it comes with a 7-year warranty to provide them with peace of mind about their purchase. However, some consumers did mention having issues with the manufacturer’s customer service department when trying to contact them.
Pros
- Comes with a 7-year limited warranty
- Designed to keep smaller things safe like CDs/DVDs, folded letters, and digital flash drives
- Made from quality materials
Cons
- Poor customer service department
5. VAULTEK Essential Series Quick Access Handgun Safe
Vaultex is a well-known manufacturer of safes and vaults, and this is one of their quick-access safes that are designed to make it easy to get in and out of the safe as needed for college.
They have added a responsive LED lighting system that is designed to make it easier to see what you are looking for, and it is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Finally, this safe is made from high-quality 14-gauge carbon steel, which makes the safe durable and harder to get into some other safes.
Many consumers purchased this dorm room locking storage because they liked that it provided simple but secure access storage. Plus, they liked that this safe also comes with a responsive LED lighting system to make it easier to find what is needed. However, some consumers did not like that they could not control the brightness of the LED lighting system.
Pros
- Designed for simple access and secure storage
- Comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Has a responsive LED lighting system
- Made from high-quality 14-gauge carbon steel
Cons
- Can’t control the brightness of the LED lighting system
6. Book Safe with Combination Lock
This vault is designed to look like a natural book, which makes it an excellent choice for a dorm room because most dorm rooms are full of books and therefore it can easily be concealed.
Plus, it is constructed from a sturdy zinc alloy that is portable but durable if it needs to be taken anywhere. Finally, it comes with a secure 3-digit combination locking system that makes the vault both easy to secure and easy to open at the same time.
Many consumers purchased this diversion safe because they liked that they could easily conceal its location amongst other books in their dorm room. Plus, they liked the 3-digit combination locking system that it provides. However, some consumers have mentioned having minor issues when trying to contact the manufacturer’s customer service department.
Pros
- Designed to look like a normal book
- Designed to be portable and made from sturdy zinc alloy
- Has a secure 3-digit combination locking system
Cons
- Poor customer service department
Factors to Consider
It can be difficult to pick a security safe for a college dorm because several factors need to be considered. For instance, do you need a safe that fits a laptop or just a small safe to keep important documents and smaller devices safe? Here are some of the factors that you should consider before making your final purchasing decision.
Space and Personal Effects:
The most important thing you should consider before making your final purchasing decision is what exactly you have that needs to be kept in a safe.
After all, a safe is only good if it is large enough to hold the personal items that you need to keep safe.
So, you should make a list of items to be able to accurately judge the space that your safe will need to adequately hold everything that it needs.
Security:
Unlike with a regular home safe, you also need to consider if a safe will easily be able to be picked up and moved. Considering these are dorm safes, it is usually not possible to mount them to anything.
However, it still needs some sort of contraption to start it down to ensure that someone cannot just walk off with the entire safe with no effort.
Another aspect of security you should consider is the type of locking mechanism that the safe has.
If you choose a safe that has an electronic locking system, you should ensure that it also has backup key access in case of power or battery failure. This will ensure that you will always be able to open the safe when you need it, regardless of what is going on around you.
Materials:
It is important to consider the different types of materials that are used. The sturdiest safes are made from steel, but that does not mean that there are no other materials that can make a quality safe.
The best thing you can do to figure out if a safe is made from quality materials is to read reviews and see what people have had to say about the materials to see if it holds up to their needs.
Manufacturer:
Finally, you should consider the manufacturer of the safe. Many manufacturers make safes, but not all of them stand behind their products, which can make it difficult to warrant purchasing their products.
Before making a final purchasing decision, you should consider this and see if the manufacturer provides some sort of satisfaction guarantee or warranty with their safe.
This will help to ensure that you have some peace of mind in purchasing their safe over rivals.
FAQ
What type of locking mechanism is the best for a safe?
When it comes to the locking mechanism, this is mainly a personal decision and preference. Several locking mechanisms can be found in these types of safes, but if you choose to go with an electronic safe, you need to ensure that the safe also has some sort of key access.
This will help to ensure that you will always be able to get into the safe even if the power source connected to the safe fails or is unavailable. However, each type of locking mechanism has its pros and cons, and you should make yourself aware of each type of pros and cons to ensure that you are making the best purchasing decision for your needs.
Is steel the only type of safe that should be considered?
Although steel is one of the top choices for quality, it is not the only material that these types can be made from. Some are made from high-durability zinc, and some are even made from durable ABS plastic, depending on the circumstances, any of these materials can make for a quality safe.
Does fireproof mean they are fireproof?
Just like with any type of safe, just because it is classified as being fireproof does not mean that it can be placed in a fire and left there indefinitely. Each fireproof safe comes with a particular rating, which will give a time limit and temperature that the safe will be capable of keeping the contents in the safe relatively safe from the fire.
However, no safe is entirely fireproof, and depending on the contents of the safe, some items still might falter under the temperatures of the fire. For instance, even if a safe is fireproof, devices like phones and laptops might still experience some minor damage due to the high temperatures of the heat provided by the fire.
Conclusion:
After reviewing all of the above and looking into various consideration factors, we have concluded that the college safe is AmazonBasics.
It provides plenty of space for most college students’ devices and personal items that they need to keep protected when outside of their rooms. This one is made from high-quality material, and it is backed by the manufacturer.
However, it is important to understand that this is only a recommendation. Some of the others could better fit your individual needs, which is why we recommend that you do your research and make a list of what you want from your safe to ensure that you make the right purchasing decision for your needs.
