When deciding on the correct safe to purchase several factors must be considered, the most important of which is what type of items you expect to store in your safe.

If you require a safe to protect cash, jewelry and other valuable items you ideally require a Security or Cash Safe. This type of safe offers a level of protection against theft and is usually gauged by the manufacturer cash rating. The cash rating of a safe is determined by the build quality of the safe and the higher this rating the more secure the safe. For more information on Cash Ratings click here.

Cash and Security Safes are identified by the following icon:

If you require a safe to protect paper documents against fire damage you ideally require a Fire Safe. This type of safe offers a level of protection against fire where the internal temperature of the safe must not exceed 177°C, the approximate combustible temperature of paper. For more information on Fire Ratings click here.

Fire Safes are identified by the following icon:

If you require a safe to protect computer media such as disks and cassettes against fire damage you ideally require a Data Safe. This type of safe offers a yet higher level of protection against fire where the internal temperature of the safe must not exceed 52°C, the approximate combustible temperature of plastic. For more information on Fire Ratings click here.

Data Safes are identified by the following icon:

Please note certain safes offer protection against some or all of the above indicated by the relevant icon in each product listing.

It is also worth considering where the safe will be located as we stock safes, which can be fitted into the floor or wall of a building and free standing safes which in certain instances can be bolted to the floor or wall for additional protection.

The Cash Rating of a safe relates to the amount of cash for which an insurance company will offer over night insurance cover. As with all insurance companies this value can vary slightly depending on location and may be higher or lower than the manufacturer recommended Cash Rating quoted. Please check with your insurer for exact ratings.

Cash Ratings are determined by door and wall thickness, lock types used and the general build quality of a safe. The higher the Cash Rating the more secure the safe is.

The following is an explanation of internationally accepted fire resistant safe testing procedures for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes. During all tests the internal temperature will remain below 177°C when exposed to furnace temperatures during a one hour test period of 925°C, a two hour test period of 1010°C and a three hour test period of 1105°C.

1. Fire Endurance Test
   This test measures the temperature rise over a given time span. Thermocouples are fixed on all six internal surfaces of the safe to record the temperature rise inside the safe, the unit is locked and placed inside a specially constructed test furnace where the temperature is raised in accordance with the standard temperature curve BS 476 to the to the required test temperature and for the appropriate time period. Once cooled, the unit is opened and examined for usability. The unit locking mechanisms and parts fastenings are examined for security and the interior examined for visible evidence of undue heat transmission.
2. Explosion Hazard Test
   This test is designed to simulate the safe being suddenly exposed to superheated temperatures which could cause the fire resisting compounds used in the safe to expand rapidly and explode. The safe is locked and placed into a furnace preheated to 1095°C. This temperature is maintained for 30 minutes (2 hour test is 45 minutes) and if no explosion results, the unit is allowed to cool without opening the furnace doors.
3. Fire Drop Test
   This test measures the strength of the safe and its ability to withstand the effect of falling through a burning and collapsing building. The safe is locked and placed into a furnace preheated to 925°C. This temperature is maintained for 30 minutes before the safe is removed hoisted to a height of 10 metres and dropped onto a bed of rubble. The safe is then placed back in the furnace upside down for a further 30 minutes.

Many of the products sold on this website will require installation either on a DIY basis or by a professional installation engineer. Further information regarding installation is displayed on each product listing. All our prices EXCLUDE installation and where required full installation instructions are included with your safe.

We offer an optional installation service whereby we arrange work to be performed by an appropriately qualified installer. For safes that require this type of installation you are given the option to select this service at point of sale. Alternatively you can arrange your own installation.

Yes, all freestanding security safes come with pre-drilled bolt down holes and bolting hardware indicated on each product listing. The majority of fire safes cannot be bolted to the floor, as holes through the bottom or wall would breach the fire resisting barrier. Some Phoenix fire safes have specially designed and patented base fixing trays to overcome this problem.

Safes with a traditional dial combination are available in either changeable or with preset number combination. Preset numbers are not changeable except by qualified Master Locksmiths. All electronic combination locks are changeable by following the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

You may contact us to retrieve the combination for preset dial combinations. You need to have the serial number of the safe and proof that you are the original owner of that safe.

All Electronic locks are designed to save your combination through an internal memory even if the batteries run down. Batteries are very easy to replace by following the manufacturer instructions.

When you stand outside facing the door and the hinges are on the right, the door is right-handed if they are on the left the door is left-handed.

Buying from The Safe Shop is very simple. Each item for sale will have a buy button. When you choose a product for purchase, it is stored in the basket. To view items in the shopping basket and amend them accordingly simply click on the basket button on the left of this page.

You can add as many items as you like, decide to continue shopping, remove an item from the basket or check out and place your secure order.

When you are happy with your selections choose your desired payment option. It is at this time you would be asked for your name and address and then your payment details if applicable. Once your order is completed you will receive confirmation via e-mail within 30 minutes.

All personal data, including your card number is transmitted over secure connections, meaning that no one can 'eavesdrop' and capture your details. In addition to this, your card details are not viewable by us at all. They are simply transmitted over the bank's private network for authorisation and payment transactions. For more information on website security please click here

Every on-line transaction made is processed using SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption via SagePay. This industry standard method ensures that information sent from your browser is scrambled whilst in transit and decoded when it arrives on our server.

We take the issue of security very seriously and have taken every step possible to protect you. Our servers sit behind a state of the art hardware firewall and the computer that handles the card services is not accessible from the Internet.

All our prices are shown both exclusive and inclusive of VAT at 20%.

We accept payment by PayPal and all major credit cards and debit cards including Visa, Visa Electron, MasterCard and Maestro.

When the goods are dispatched, we will debit funds from your account overnight directly into our own. If certain items in your order are out of stock or unobtainable we will only partially debit your card order. We are also able to cancel or refund individual items of your order should this become necessary.

If the authorisation fails, the most likely explanation is usually that you have input your credit card details incorrectly. If this happens, press the back button on your browser and you will be returned to the card input page. Check that all the details are correct, and make any changes necessary before proceeding. If all the details are correct and you still fail to get an authorisation then we advise that you contact your card issuer to establish why your card was not authorised.

We offer a FREE standard delivery service on our entire range of products to UK mainland addresses.

We also offer free delivery to other UK areas such as the Isle of Man or Northern Ireland on selected items but usually there will be an extra charge to these locations.

The delivery services available for a product and their associated costs can be found on each individual product page.

Due to the wide range of products in a variety of sizes we use several different couriers. Lightweight items (under 60kgs) are sent using traditional couriers including CityLink, DHL, DPD, InterLink Express, Parcel Force, Royal Mail, UPS and TNT.

Heavy items (over 60kgs) are sent using specialist heavy goods movers.

You can track your order progress once you have completed your order using the "Track Order" link at the top of every page.

You will need the email address used when placing your order and your order number.

All deliveries require a signature on delivery.

For heavy items (over 60kgs) our courier will contact you by telephone several days in advance to arrange a suitable delivery date.

On the majority of products it is not possible for us to specify a delivery time. Delivery will usually take place between 9am and 6pm.

On selected smaller items where you see this icon the delivery service includes a text message indicating a 1 hour delivery window.

We deliver to most postal areas in the UK including Northern Ireland, but geographical location and courier availability can restrict our service. Delivery of certain products to Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Man may not always be available as standard and there will usually be an extra charge.

The delivery services available for a product can be found on each individual product page, however if the location you require delivery to is not listed please contact us or telephone 0800 432 0722 as we should always be able to obtain a delivery quotation.

On selected products we also offer delivery to many areas outside the United Kingdom.

For small or lightweight items (under 60kgs) deliveries will usually be made Monday to Friday, between 9am and 6pm. If you are not available each time an attempt is made our courier will leave a card at the delivery address confirming they have tried to deliver. Follow the instructions on the card to rearrange delivery or to collect your item(s) from the courier depot.

For heavy items (over 60kgs) our courier will contact you by telephone several days in advance to arrange a suitable delivery date. Once agreed if you find you will be unable to meet the agreed date please contact us so that we can arrange a new delivery date. Failure to inform us of any changes will result in an aborted delivery charge.

Small or lightweight items (under 60kgs) are delivered to your doorstep only.

Heavy items (above 60kgs) include our Position Delivery service free of charge which includes bringing the item indoors and positioning in a location of your choice providing there is no more than one step on the delivery route. This also includes basements and upper floors providing there is lift access. If there is more than one step on the delivery route see delivery via steps or stairs.

Many of our safes and cabinets can be installed to solid floors or walls by a professional safe engineer when choosing our Delivery & Install service. There is generally an additional charge for this service depending on the size and weight of the product however selected Chubbsafes and large Eurograde safes include this service free. The installation services available for a product can be found on each individual product page.

For more information on installation see our Installation FAQs.

Small or lightweight items (under 60kgs) are delivered to your doorstep and are exempt from stairs deliveries.

Heavy items (above 60kgs) which include our free Position Delivery service where the item is brought indoors and positioned include a maximum limit of one step on the delivery route.

If there are two steps or stairs you will require our Position Delivery (via Stairs) service and an additional charge may be incurred. Extra steps can generally be quoted for at the time of order and selected items list these extra charges on their individual product page. However, due to the difficulty in delivering heavy items via stairs complicated deliveries may require a free delivery survey to be carried out at your premises.

If you are considering a heavy item for an upper floor delivery you should also consider the floor loading of your building.

If you have any concerns regarding delivery and to avoid aborted delivery charges please contact us or telephone 0800 432 0722 so that we can provide the best advice possible and avoid any unnecessary charges.

We can deliver your order to any address such as your work address but we will require your billing address during the order process.

If you would like to have items sent to separate addresses, please complete a separate order for each address.

Selected items include free delivery to extremities such as the Scottish Highlands or UK Islands but usually there is an additional charge to deliver to these locations.

The delivery services available for a product can be found on each individual product page including any additional costs which may apply.

We now offer delivery to the Republic of Ireland and many destinations in Europe on selected products as standard.

If you require delivery to Germany also see our German Website.

The delivery services available for a product can be found on each individual product page, however if the location you require delivery to is not listed please contact us or telephone 0800 432 0722 as we should always be able to obtain a delivery quotation.

If your delivery is damaged in transit we must be notified within 24 hours so that we can report this to the courier and arrange for a replacement.

Please contact us free on 0800 432 0722.

Very large or very heavy safes (over 1000kgs) are generally available only as a Special Order and can take up to 5-6 weeks to be ready for delivery. We will contact you by telephone once your order is ready for dispatch so that we can arrange a suitable delivery date.

Our range of Probe Lockers are "Made to Order" and take up to 3 weeks to be manufactured and delivered from the date of order. We will contact you by telephone once your order is ready for dispatch so that we can arrange a suitable delivery date.

Floor loading is a measurement which indicates the maximum weight your floor will accept. For large, heavy safes or cabinets delivered to upper floors it is possible that your floor will not accept the increased weight and may cause damage to your building. If you are considering an item weighing in excess of 400-500kgs we would generally advise contacting a qualified surveyor who will measure your floor load.

If you require more information on floor loading please contact us or telephone 0800 432 0722.

An aborted delivery is generally caused by incorrect delivery instructions such as inaccessible doorways and corridors, more steps/stairs than expected or out of service lifts. Providing we have the correct information we should always be able to avoid an aborted delivery.

We regret that in the event of an aborted delivery an additional 10% of the purchase price will be charged to your account.

If you have any concerns regarding delivery of a product on our website please contact us or telephone 0800 432 0722 so that we can provide the best advice possible and avoid any unnecessary charges.

Security Safes and selected Fire Safes include pre-drilled holes in the base of the safe and sometimes in the back designed specifically for installation.

The Safe Shop would advise that any safe that includes pre-drilled holes should be installed either by one of our own professional safe engineers or on a DIY basis.

To meet the manufacturer's recommended cash rating your insurer may insist on the safe being installed. Quite often this must be by a qualified installer so we also advise checking with your insurer.

We offer a Delivery & Installation service which is carried out by a professional safe engineer on the majority of our security safes and also on selected fire safes. This is usually a chargeable service but is included free with selected Chubbsafes and large Eurograde safes. The specific delivery services available for each product can be found on each individual product page.

Our Delivery & Installation service includes bringing the safe inside your building and bolting it down to the floor. The safe can be installed in a location of your choice providing adequate access is available with only one step on the delivery route. Upper or lower floors are also acceptable if there is access via a lift with the correct weight load capacity.

If you require installation to a wall and the location is suitable you must remove the skirting board and any other obstructions prior to installation. (see 'Can safes be bolted to a wall?')

We can also install to upper or lower floors accessed via stairs but we will require specific information of the delivery route before we can provide a price. Please contact us for details.

We do not offer installation as standard on our range of Budget Safes as the cost can often outweigh the price of the safe and these can generally be installed on a DIY basis.

We do not offer installation of under floor safes. You will require a qualified builder to install an under floor safe.

If the safe is suitable for installation - and most are - it will include pre-drilled holes and you can certainly install this type of safe yourself on a DIY basis or arrange for someone to install it for you. However we do advise checking with your insurer as they may insist the safe is installed by a qualified safe engineer.

Our safes usually include Anchor Bolts which are designed to secure a safe to a solid surface so all you require is a good drill and the correct size heavy duty masonry drill bit (usually 10-12mm diameter).

Under no circumstances should you drill holes in the safe as this will compromise the protection offered and invalidate your warranty.

We also offer a Delivery & Installation service by a professional safe engineer.

Safes are best installed to solid surfaces so you will need a good quality drill ideally with a cord and a heavy duty masonry drill bit. Cordless drills do not generally have enough power to drill solid surfaces and although suitable you will most likely spend more time charging the battery than installing your safe.

Anchor Bolts are usually included with each safe (excludes Gun Safes) and this will be mentioned in the details section on each product page. However you can replace them with longer/thicker bolts if required but check the hole diameter on the safe to ensure they will fit. The bolts supplied are normally around 75mm in length and 10 or 12mm in diameter. It should be noted that the manufacturers change the bolt sizes from time to time so these are only estimates.

It will also make life easier if you have a template so you know where to drill the holes. We recommend cutting a section of the safe box to match the size of the safe and making holes in the cardboard to match the hole positions on the safe. You can use the template to mark where your drilling points should be with a marker pen.

Also consider the size and weight of the safe as you might need to enlist the help of a friend who can help you move the safe into position.

All security safes and selected fire safes include pre-drilled holes in the base designed to allow for a floor installation.

Due to the potential to compromise fire protection only selected fire safes include holes in the base. You can view fire safes that include holes in the base here.

Most safes are supplied complete with Anchor Bolts which are designed to be used with a solid surface such as concrete or brick. Solid wood such as floor joists are also suitable but you would need to purchase alternative heavy duty wood screws.

Floor boards (unless fixing into the joist) are not strong/thick enough and we would advise against bolting just to floor boards.

If you do not have a solid floor surface you could consider a Chemical Installation or Wall Installation.

Selected security safes include pre-drilled holes in the back which are designed to allow for a wall installation but the wall must be solid such as an exterior brick wall. You should not install a safe to a stud wall.

Due to the potential to compromise fire protection a fire safe does not have holes in the back. Selected models have holes in the base and can be bolted to the floor.

If you choose to install to a wall you must ensure that a section of the skirting board is removed so that the safe can be fitted flush to the wall. Leaving a space between the safe and the wall makes it easy to pry the safe from the wall and will compromise security.

You can view security safes that include holes in the back here.

You can view fire safes that include holes in the back here.

Unless you have left a specific area of the floor free from under floor heating we would not advise bolting your safe to the floor.

More recently and due to the increased popularity of under floor heating we have started to provide a Chemical Installation which involves securing the safe to the floor using an industrial strength adhesive.

A Chemical Installation involves securing a safe to the floor using an industrial strength adhesive. There can be a variety of reasons to opt for this type of installation but generally it will be due to under floor heating, which prevents securing points being drilled into the floor surface.

This is a relatively new type of installation and we recommend checking with your insurance company if you are considering a Chemical Installation. It is also worth noting that should you move it is unlikely you will be able to take your safe with you. If it is possible to move the safe at all the most likely outcome would be serious damage to the floor.

Please contact us for more information on Chemical Installations.