Follow this comprehensive guide to selecting and buying a safe specifically optimized for paper documents. 📄 1. The Golden Rule: Fire Rating vs. Burglary Rating

Demand an independent testing certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Edison Testing Laboratories (ETL) .

The lock determines how quickly you can access your documents and how reliable the safe will be over several decades. Consumer Report's Safe Buying Guide

Fire protection is your primary metric.

Paper begins to char and burn at 350°F (177°C) . You need a safe certified to keep the internal temperature below this threshold.