Are Outlet Safes Worth It? Pros, Cons and Who They're For

Updated: October 29, 2026 · By the Elder Welder Team

Disclosure: We make the Elder Welder outlet safe and vent safe discussed below. We don't earn anything from the other products in this guide. Prices and ratings come from Amazon.com and elderwelder.us on October 29, 2026 and change often.

Short answer: Yes, an outlet safe is worth it if you want a cheap, discreet spot for small things you reach often: emergency cash, a ring, a spare key or a hardware wallet. A well-made Elder Welder outlet safe costs $29.97–$74.97 and installs in drywall in under 30 minutes. It is not worth it for passports, guns or irreplaceable originals. It is concealment, not a certified safe.

An outlet safe is a small hidden wall safe disguised as an ordinary electrical outlet; it has no live wiring. It is not an outlet cover for child-proofing, a surge protector or a store at an outlet mall. The Elder Welder outlet safe is a metal box behind a real wall plate that sits in the wall cavity between studs.

Are outlet safes worth it?

For most homes, yes, as long as you use one for what it does well: hiding a few small, high-value items in a place nobody thinks to check. Outlets are everywhere, so one more near the baseboard rarely draws attention, and a quick search tends to focus on drawers, closets and the bedroom.

Burglary is less common than a decade ago, but it hasn't gone away. The FBI estimates 661,800 burglaries in the United States in 2025, and 53.4% of them hit residential properties. A hidden spot outside the bedroom lowers the chance that your cash and jewelry turn up in a fast grab. Wirecutter (The New York Times) also recommends the Elder Welder Hidden Outlet Safe in its guide to hidden safes.

How does an outlet safe compare with other options?

An outlet safe beats a book safe on discretion and beats an in-wall keypad safe on price and install effort, but it holds far less than either a vent safe or a full wall safe.

Neither of our safes is a working outlet or a working vent. They are hiding places designed to blend in.

What are the pros of an outlet safe?

The main advantages are discretion, low cost and fast access.

• Hidden in plain sight. The front is a real wall plate, so it matches the other outlets in the room.
• Placement options. Almost every room has outlets, so you can choose a hallway, laundry room or closet instead of the bedroom.
• Quick to reach. The no-lock version opens in seconds; the key-lock version adds a second barrier.
• Easy install. A cut-out template and written and video guides are included. Most people finish in under 30 minutes in drywall.
• Low price. From $29.97, it costs less than most lockboxes.

Elder Welder Outlet Safe

Our outlet safe comes in four versions: single or double, with a key lock (two keys) or no lock. The single holds about 30 cubic inches and the double about 50. Pick the plate color and gang size that match your other outlets.

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What are the cons of an outlet safe?

The biggest limits are size, the install and the fact that it is not a rated safe.

• Small capacity. Even the double won't take a passport. Think rolled bills, rings and keys.
• You cut drywall. Renters should ask the landlord first. Solid masonry walls are much harder.
• Never wired. Install it only in a stud bay with no cable, pipe or duct. Use a stud finder with AC detection, and ask an electrician if you're unsure.
• Not fire-rated or burglary-rated. If someone knows it is there, they can open it or pull it out.
• It can give itself away. An outlet at an odd height or in a different color stands out. So does one that nobody ever uses in a room full of plugs.

Who is an outlet safe for, and who should skip it?

An outlet safe suits people who want to split small valuables across the home and reach them quickly. Skip it if what you need to protect is large, irreplaceable or a firearm.

• Good fit: homeowners with drywall, people who keep emergency cash, anyone hiding a spare key indoors, crypto owners who want the hardware wallet away from the desk.
• Better with a vent safe: passports, a stack of documents or a watch box. Our vent safe holds 300+ cubic inches.
• Better with a rated, bolted-down safe or a bank safe deposit box: irreplaceable originals and large amounts of cash or gold.
• Firearms: an outlet safe is not a gun safe. Keep firearms locked and unloaded, out of reach of children, in a safe made for them, and know your state and local laws, including child access prevention (CAP) laws.

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Still deciding between the two? Read Outlet Safe vs. Vent Safe: Which Hidden Safe Fits Your Home? To compare every type, from book safes to in-wall models, see our best hidden safes for home ranking.

How do you make an outlet safe less likely to be found?

Make it look exactly like the outlets around it and put it where a real outlet makes sense.

• Match the height (usually 12–16 inches above the floor) and the plate color of nearby outlets.
• Avoid the primary bedroom. Hallways, laundry rooms and closets work well.
• Choose a spot behind furniture that still lets you reach it, so nobody tries to plug in a vacuum.
• Don't keep everything in one place. One discovery shouldn't cost you everything.
• Tell one trusted person where it is.

What diversion safes can and can't do

An outlet safe keeps small valuables hidden in plain sight and quick for you to reach. It is concealment, not a certified safe. It isn't rated for burglary or fire, and it can't stop someone who has lots of time, tools or inside knowledge. Keep locks, lighting and an alarm as your first line of defense, and use a hidden safe as an extra layer.

Frequently asked questions

What is an outlet safe?

An outlet safe is a small hidden wall safe disguised as an ordinary electrical outlet; it has no live wiring. It is a metal box behind a real wall plate that installs in drywall between studs.

Are outlet safes worth it?

Yes, for small items you want hidden and close at hand, such as emergency cash, rings, a spare key or a hardware wallet. They are not worth it for passports, guns or irreplaceable originals, which need more space or a rated safe.

Do burglars know about outlet safes?

Some do, which is why placement matters. An outlet safe works best when it matches the outlets around it and sits outside the bedroom, where a quick search usually starts. It is concealment, not a certified safe.

Is an outlet safe a fire hazard?

Not if it is installed correctly. It must never be connected to electrical wiring, so install it only in a stud bay with no cable, pipe or duct, and check with a stud finder that detects AC wiring before you cut.

How much fits in an outlet safe?

The Elder Welder single outlet safe holds about 30 cubic inches and the double about 50. That is enough for rolled bills, rings, keys or a hardware wallet, but not a passport.

Can renters install an outlet safe?

It requires cutting a hole in drywall, so renters should ask their landlord for permission first. A book safe needs no install if that isn't possible.

Sources

• FBI, Reported Crimes in the Nation, 2025 (Crime Data Explorer): burglary estimate and residential share, data year 2025.
• Wirecutter (The New York Times), The Best Hidden Safes (updated June 2026).
• Prices and ratings: Amazon.com product pages and elderwelder.us, checked October 29, 2026.