The best nightstand gun safes are both biometric and affordable. I've tested and ranked the most popular options to help you find a safe that's perfect for you. Here are hands-on reviews.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. VAULTEK Smart Station - Biometric Alarm Clock Gun Safe With Phone Charger
Highlight: LED back lit fingerprint scanner.
Helpful review: I’ve always liked Vaultek as a company and their products have always been something that captured my interest. I’ll be honest, I was a little unsure about spending the big dollars on this safe, it was a little out of my budget, but I knew that I needed a small gun safe for my bedroom, and I wanted it to come from a company that had high quality and good reputations. After all, a gun safe is an important thing to have to keep your weapons safe, so I obviously want something I feel secure about. I’d like to report back that this is exactly what I’ve been looking for, and then some.
– The safe arrived on time and in great packaging.
– The setup is intuitive and easy to figure out and understand. The instructions for fingerprinting were straight to the point and clear and I had no issue setting them up.
– The quality is top-notch, the material durable, and the safe is overall well-built and sturdy.
– The biometric feature and the Bluetooth are top of the line.
– The phone charge worked great.
– It comes with an extra USB.
– It can hold most handguns with extra room leftover.
– Clocks set the correct times.
– Opens fast for immediate entry.
– Super quiet.
– Interior lighting is an extra nice touch.
– Overall, it has amazing features.
I think it’s even better than advertised. It includes a lot of extra features with optional features like including sound, no sound, lights or, no lights. I feel like overall it has everything I wanted and then some.
BOTTOM LINE:
I think it’s worth the money. Vaultek is truly worth every penny. And then you add in their great customer service, and you won’t be disappointed. — David P. McGillivray
Get it from Amazon now: $399.99 & FREE Returns
2. RPNB Drop Down - Night Stand Gun Holder
Highlight: Sturdy and durable steel construction.
Helpful review: Super fast shipping and great packaging that really impressed me. You can just tell right out the box that this is very high quality. The rubber feet on the bottom came loose from the bottom and that is kind of annoying, but other than that, I’m pretty impressed. The drawer is smooth and quiet when it opens, but I will say that you need to put your finger in different angles if you’re to open the door with only that to make sure it actually responds.
Keep in mind that this is just my initial review, and I’m not entirely sure how I’ll feel about this down the road, but time will tell on that and I’ll update accordingly.
MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW (CHAD KETTER):
I wanted a bedside safe that I could hide by my bed, something safe, but easy to reach and use. It has a passcode and fingerprint option, which I like. I wanted something I could open without hesitation so I could have my firearm ready. The key lock is tough, and I’d say it’s heavy and durable and I’m not worried about anyone breaking into it. I like that it has just enough space for my gun plus my bullets and magazines. The only cons I’d say is that it’s a little on the pricey side, and it doesn’t open very quietly, but that’s a bit of a trade off if you want to be able to open it quickly.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND, DAVID NOVARK:
I’ve been searching for a night stand drop down safe or a slider safe. Most of them on the market couldn’t fit my pistol because it comes with a mounted red dot. I was a little worried the fingerprint reader wouldn’t recognize my print, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well it works. It’s heavy, well made, and functions as I wanted it to. — Trent Bailey
Get it from Amazon now: $199.00 & FREE Returns
3. VAULTEK VS10i - Quick Access Gun Safe
Highlight: Top-notch biometric fingerprint reader.
Helpful review: I discovered this safe after finding it on YouTube after doing a lot of research. I mainly wanted a safe that I could access quickly, but would keep my weapons safe. My toddler is getting a little too curious for my liking. Originally, I considered the Speed Vault Biometric, but I liked this one because it wasn’t bulky or heavy.
I like that the Vaultek also comes with a fingerprint reader, a keypad, keyed entry, and bluetooth. I wanted to make sure I had more options than just the fingerprint reader in case it failed and I needed to open it quickly, and it was an emergency.
I like that I can store up to twenty finger prints and you can store two administrators in the memory. It’s also very silent when I open it, and other options made a very loud whine when I opened it. I loved how the inside light illuminates the cabin and that you can adjust the brightness through the app. The app also has features like a history log, an indicator that shows battery life, a fingerprint management, and it's all connected to Bluetooth.
The app really makes it all come together. I like that they offer different colors. It also comes with a lithium ion battery, a charger, and a cable that plugs into the unit. You’ll also find mounting screws and a screwdriver.
I mainly wanted a gun safe that I could open quickly and I like that the package came nicely. If you’re looking for something that fits all those qualifications, and is still affordable compared to the others on the market, then this is your best bet. — Sam Dooley
Get it from Amazon now: $269.99 & FREE Returns
4. Hornady RAPiD Night Guard - Digital Clock Gun Safe
Highlight: Constructed from fourteen gauge steel.
Helpful review: This safe has all the features I wanted and more. The only thing that was a little odd is that the instructions recommended not storing a loaded firearm inside…which, like…isn’t it a gun safe?
RFID:
I had no issue programming the RFID keys, and it also came with a rubber wristband and a rubber sleeve that you can connect to your own watch band. It also comes with two stick-on chips that are a little thicker than a credit card, but inflexible, and you’re supposed to put them on the back of your cell. It doesn’t work if you have a cover on your phone. There’s also a tag for your key ring, which brings the total to four RFID keys.
FEATURES:
I had no issue programming the time on this safe. I can tell immediately that the spring is strong and that it pops open when you use the drawer. I do recommend using the mounting holes to keep it in place.
ISSUES:
I do have a couple issues with this thing. It lacks a template to put screws into my nightstand so you have to figure out how to do it on your own and waste some time in the process. I really wanted it anchored down, but I felt like without a template it was hard to figure out, and my hands were kind of bulky when using.
ALL IN ALL:
It does come with a nice security leash that lets you tie it to your bed frame.
HOWEVER, HERE’S MY NEIGHBOR’S REVIEW (CHARLES FOLLMER):
I ordered this gun safe on a Sunday and was overly pleased to find it arrived by Monday afternoon. It’s pretty heavy, sturdy, and durable. Just keep in mind that you need three triple A batteries. There are five different ways to access it, and although I tried breaking into it myself, I wasn't able to–which is pretty reassuring if you ask me. I don’t really like how bright red the clock numbers are, but that’s just a me issue. I think I’d recommend it though! I like it so far.
AND A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND, LARRY ELLIS:
This safe is super impressive, and I like that its clock is similar to an alarm clock. A lot of people don’t even notice that it’s actually a gun safe. I also like that I could put two compact guns in it, a 9mm and a 22, and I could put two mags extra in there. I also really like the variety of ways to get into the safe, a key fob, and an electronic combo. And although the combo was a little confusing to use, I figured it out after reading more about it. I’d say it gets the job done. — Christopher A. Phillips
Get it from Amazon now: $289.99 & FREE Returns
5. ONNAIS - Handgun Safe With Large Buttons
Highlight: Stores up to thirty user fingerprints.
Helpful review: This bedside safe is secure and constructed out of durable cable covered in rubber. You can wrap the tether around your bed frame and feed it back itself into itself. It sounds confusing but the construction is pretty cool.
LID AND LOCK:
The lid has a strong hook and latch that makes it super secure and I like how the combo and biometric lock system is super handy. I also really wanted to have a regular key lock and I’m glad this came with that. Technology is cool, but I don’t fully trust it, especially with something that’s holding my weapons. I like to know that there are different options to get in.
CODE VS. FINGERPRINT:
It was pretty easy to set the electronic code, but opening the door does take a little longer than the code. There’s an instruction manual and a quick setup guide and it was pretty easy to understand. All you have to really do is set the code, hit OK, then repeat, and it’s complete. The biometric is also easy. It’s cool that you can have multiple people put in their fingerprints. You can also turn off the electronics and technology and use the manual key. I like that that’s an option.
INTERIOR:
The inside is paddled with open cell foam, so if you live in a place like Florida that’s super humid, I’d recommend throwing in a dehumidifier in the safe with you.
WEIGHT:
I think the weight is ideal, but that’s just personal preference. I wanted something I could move around and I like that it’s only two pounds. But keep in mind that it’s definitely something that can be easily stolen, and the lighter weight does skimp on some of the steel thickness.
SIZE:
Despite its small size, it has a fair amount of room inside and can definitely fit full sized pistols, plus extra mags, my wallet, cell, and a checkbook and passport. It’s also small enough that you can mount it to a shelf or the wall.
ALL IN ALL:
So would I recommend it? Absolutely! Without hesitation. If you’re on the fence, just go for it. I’m getting these for everyone in my family. And even adding an extra one to my drawer at work. Affordable, durable, and gets the job done! — Gary Anderson
Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns
6. VAULTEK Slider - Auto-Open Handgun Safe For Bedroom
Highlight: Rechargeable backup battery offers power for up to four months.
Helpful review: I ended up buying two of these for my house, one for the bottom floor and one for the top floor and I’m so happy I did! You can really tell that Vaultek put top dollar into these. Yeah, they’re expensive, but they’re actual quality, so you’re getting what you put into them.
There are a lot of ways to open the safe quickly, which is what I wanted. The fact that WIFI is enabled is just a plus. You can even get notifications sent to your phone when the safe is opened or even when it’s tampered with. This is super helpful since I have kids in the house, and that way I can find out if they’re trying to get into the safe. Sure, it’s luxurious and a little fancy, but it’s pretty darn cool, and definitely amps up my experience.
I’d definitely say it’s top of the line, and it’s one of the fastest safes for home defense.
There is one thing you should be aware of though, there’s a typo in the instruction manual, where it says that in order to set the fingerprint, you have to hold the program button and then hit 1. That’s wrong. You’ll need to actually hit 2. This may already be fixed, because when I emailed Vaultek, they said they’re aware of the problem, but I found that there were some issues figuring it out, so if you have some struggle with that, I’d say try that first. I heard that now they corrected the typo.
A FEW WORDS FROM A FRIEND, LANCE SUNDERLAND:
This is definitely the most amount of money I’ve ever spent on a metal box, but honestly I don’t regret it at all. It blends seamlessly into my room, and it gives me so much peace of mind, and now I don’t worry about losing my pistols, or worrying about anyone getting access to them if they shouldn’t. Yeah, the biometrics are a little tricky to figure out–it doesn’t always read your fingerprint correctly, and sometimes I have to rescan my print a few times, so as long as you don’t expect it to be as good as an iPhone, and just remember that you might need to adjust it again, you’ll like it.
The foam inside is forgiving enough to fit my subcompact pistol with attachments, even though it's not advertised for doing that. I go to the gun range a few times a week and I’m happy to report that with the frequency I remove this thing from the safe, the foam hasn’t depressed at all. The app was pretty easy to figure out, and there is a smart key that you have to buy separately, but I think it’s a huge plus. I also love that the mountain bracket allows for unlimited mounting possibilities. Overall, I’m really happy with my purchase, and I think it was well worth the money. — Leroy Campsie
Get it from Amazon now: $369.99 & FREE Returns
7. HOLEWOR - Cheap Pistol Gun Safe
Highlight: Display shows temperature, time, and humidity.
Helpful review: I wanted a safe for subcompact pistol so I could make sure my kids wouldn’t access it. So far, I very much like it.
BUILD QUALITY:
Similar to what I saw in other reviews, this safe is on the hefty side. It's thick metal, which is reassuring to know that there’s no way for just anyone to break into it. There are three entry modes: fingerprint, code, and key. I can rest assured knowing that my kids can’t get in.
SETUP:
In under five minutes, I managed to set a new code, put in my prints, and silenced the safe–all without looking at the instruction manual. It was that easy.
SOUND:
You can silence your safe by holding down the number one for a few seconds. Although, keep in mind that you can still hear a mechanical release when the locking mechanism opens, mainly when you’re using the fingerprint scanner or the keycode. I found that the manual key entry has a click from the spring load that’s released. I’d say that for the most part, these sounds are normal and to be expected with most gun safes.
KEY ENTRY:
The physical key is solid, slides inside with no issue, and is definitely the quietest method of entry. I will say that I plan to hide these keys, if not keep them on me at all times, just to add extra assurance that no one can break into the safe.
CODE:
I had no issue setting up the code, and if you use a shorter four digit one, you’ll know when someone tries to enter it incorrectly. I will say that having a longer code, up to eight digits, may give extra assurance, but it may also take you longer to enter the code if you need to do it in a hurry.
FINGERPRINT SCANNER:
I did all ten of my prints super quickly, and I only did one per finger. I’ve found that it hasn’t failed once, although I think in the future I will make sure I’m registering one finger from multiple angles, instead of doing individual fingers once, if that makes sense. A personal preference if you ask me, but even just registering my finger from one angle, it still opened it, which is awesome. I tested unregistered fingerprints and it stayed locked, so that’s a nice extra reassurance as well.
BATTERY LIFE:
I can’t speak to the long term battery life, mainly because I just got thing, but even with the cheaper batteries I put in, it’s still working really well. I haven’t had any issues, but I do plan to monitor the battery life to make sure it’s working the way it should. That being said, I’m happy I have the physical key just in case.
SPACE:
I had no issue fitting my two pistols inside, along with an extra mag each, and my holster. I think it’s large enough that you could fit regular sized pistols inside. There’s foam on the sides and on the bottom to protect your pistols and you can also remove it if you’d prefer that.
As an extra bonus, I’ve found that customer service is great. I’m really happy with this safe. Five out of five stars. — Jon Camarillo
Get it from Amazon now: $79.99 & FREE Returns
8. AINIRO - Lightweight Nightstand Gun Storage
Highlight: Durable, anti-corrosive, steel construction.
Helpful review: I have five gun safes about this size and for many different purposes. For the car, for different rooms, for quick access points. I’ve also tried all the different brands on the market, including different price points, qualities, and features. For the price point, I’d say that this safe is convenient and has some good features. It has biometric, combination, and key options, and because of that, I’d say that of all of the small safes I’ve owned, this one has the most variety.
The programming is super easy to figure out and the instructions were pretty clear. I’d say that the inside padding is pretty solid and that there’s a good amount of cable for securing the safe down. The biometric reader is high quality, and I can unlock it with both clean and dirty fingers, which is something I really wanted to be able to do.
In terms of limitations, I would keep in mind that safes are subjective and need to be looked at like a tool, and something that can store smaller belongings. If you’re wanting something that’s bulletproof and offers protection from motivated burglars, I’d say that this will do the trick. It does come with some exposed cracks, unlike V-lines, but those cost about two to three times more and weigh a lot more, so keep that in mind.
CONCLUSION:
I’d say that this safe is exactly what I needed and is a really good option that can hold important documents like a gun, phone, keys, birth certificate, passport, and the rest. The safe is very convenient and prevents crimes of opportunity. I will say that I think it’s the least bulletproof of all of my small safes, but it definitely is also the most convenient, as well. — Glen Kaczmarski
Get it from Amazon now: $69.99 & FREE Returns
9. RPNB Travel - Portable Gun Safe
Highlight: Durable sixteen gauge steel construction.
Helpful review: I was needing a replacement safe and had a handful of things I wanted to get to make sure it checked off everything in my life. I didn’t like how my last safe was limited to only two fingerprints, and that the door release had to be fully lifted to get my weapon–and that the piston wore down so the door stopped springing open. I knew I wanted my new safe to have a better biometric scanner, too.
This safe has hit all those marks. The scanner reminds me of the strength of an iPhone fingerprint scanner, although I do recommend making sure you’re moving your finger around to get that scan from every different angle. The spring is solid, and I can add more fingerprints than just two.
I saw some negative reviews that I quickly debunked: There is a silence button that allows me to shut off the beeps when scanning my finger to access the safe, despite what others said. I also saw some people complaining that anyone can use their fingerprint to get in. Potentially, if you’re only using the default it comes with. But once I programmed my finger in there, none of my friends were able to access it.
Also - note that the newer version of this safe (which is the one they're sending out nowadays) is quite upgraded - it looks a little cooler and has better foam. I know because I ordered a second one. If I had to list any negatives, I would say that the padding inside could be improved and thickened up. For a portable, affordable gun safe, I’d say it’s pretty great. — Steven L. Byron
Get it from Amazon now: $89.99 & FREE Returns
10. MAXSafes - Mini Hand Gun Safe
Highlight: Portable with three way access.
Helpful review: My old safe was really finicky with the fingerprint log in, and I found that if you had a little dust on your fingers, or if you didn’t align it perfectly, it wouldn’t open for you. I hated that. I knew I wanted something that actually got the job done and that I wouldn’t have to worry about it not working fifty percent of the time.
Reliability is important–especially in an emergency. I knew I wanted a mini safe, and one that had solid keyless entry, along with a PIN and regular key access. That’s ultimately why I went with this safe. The instruction manual was helpful and easy to understand. I love how it opens and has a shock life that makes it reliable. You better believe I tested it with dirty and wet fingers to make sure it still worked correctly.
It functioned exactly as I hoped, and I just love how it looks. It’s rugged, yet modern. Even the packaging looks professional. The features and quality really just make it better than I expected. The customer service also seems top-notch.
I plan to eventually upgrade to a larger version, and I will definitely stay with this brand. It’s everything I wanted. Just a great quality, an affordable price, and the lifetime warranty doesn’t hurt. Definitely recommend. — Leon Gardner
Get it from Amazon now: $129.99 & FREE Returns