The purchase of a gun safe represents a significant financial commitment. Just like other high-end consumer products, safes are available with a wide variety of features, all of which affect the bottom line cost of the unit. With prices ranging from $500 to more than $2,500, it’s important to understand which features are important to you. Here are some of the price-changing details to pay attention to:

Safe Size: The larger a safe is, the more it costs. So the best way to save money is to purchase only as much interior safe space as required. However, it’s common for a first-time buyer to underestimate the amount of space he needs, resulting in added expense purchasing another safe down the road.

Here is a rule-of-thumb to help in avoiding the undersized-safe problem. Take a look at all of the items that will be going into the safe once it arrives. There are the guns you have on hand, including related gear like optics, ammunition and magazines. Then tally the guns and gear you plan to buy in the future. Now add to that the non-shooting valuables that will make their way into the safe, including computer hard drives, jewelry, documents and so on. Once a minimum storage requirement is calculated, find a safe that meets those needs, and then buy the model that’s one size larger. That should leave you with enough room to maneuver.

Steel Thickness: The overall toughness of a safe is generally quantified by the thickness of the steel used in its construction. The thicker the material, the more it costs. Steel is gauged using a reverse scale, meaning the smaller the number, is the thicker the metal will be. This means 10-ga. steel is thicker than 11, 12, or 14 gauge. Buyers need to pay attention to the thickness of the steel in the shell and the door, since thicknesses may be different in each of these components.

Fire Rating: Because fires in the home are far more common than we would like them to be, some gun safes are sold with a fire rating. This rating is determined by measuring the internal temperatures maintained within an insulated safe as it is exposed to a range of elevated temperatures over a measured period of time. There is no federal or industry-regulated standard, however, for how such temperature tests are conducted, and there is no minimum standard for what a fire rating should be. So it’s up to the buyer to pay close attention to the numbers quoted by the manufacturers.

For example, the average American house will burn to the ground in approximately 60 minutes without emergency service intervention. Let’s suppose firefighters can arrive on-site within 10 to 15 minutes of a fire being reported. This means the fire will likely be cooling off, or even extinguished, within the 60-minute window. The temperature of a burning house can reach as high as 1,100 to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit; therefore, if the contents of a safe can survive an hour or more at 1,300 degrees, it has a solid rating.

Other Features: Many of the remaining features of a gun safe can be considered in the same way as those of an automobile. The fancier the paint job and upholstery are, the higher the cost will be. Electronic locks are faster and easier to use than manual (spin dial) locks, but they can be more expensive. When buying a vehicle, we pay close attention to how the configuration of the interior fits our requirements. With a safe, ensure that the shelves and racks will fit the gun collection properly so as to maximize your storage space. And finally, don’t forget to read the fine print in the warranty. Just like a vehicle, safes are expensive to repair if parts of it become smashed up or worn out.

We have a real advantage today over our gun-owning ancestors when it comes to safe gun storage. Not only has the technology changed and improved in so many ways, there are more options for responsible gun owners to choose from than ever before. No matter what your storage requirements or financial situation may be, there is a safe gun storage method to meet your needs.