9 DIY Gun Safe and Cabinet Ideas to Store Your Firearms

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When it comes to protecting your firearms, a gun safe is an essential investment. However, not everyone can afford to purchase a commercial gun safe or may have unique requirements that cannot be met by off-the-shelf options. This is where a DIY gun safe makes the perfect alternative.

Important Considerations for Building a DIY Gun Safe

When building a DIY gun safe, there are several important factors to consider to ensure that it is effective, secure, and meets your needs.

  1. Size and Capacity: You will need to determine how many guns you want to store and how much space you have available. It’s important to build a safe that is large enough to accommodate your current firearms and any future additions.
  2. Security Features: A DIY gun safe should be secure enough to keep your firearms safe from theft or unauthorized access. You will need to consider the locking mechanism, the strength and thickness of the materials used, and any additional security features such as alarms or sensors.
  3. Location and Accessibility: Consider factors such as accessibility, ventilation, and visibility when picking a location. The safe should be easily accessible for you, but not easily visible or accessible to others. It’s also important to ensure that the location you choose has adequate ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and rust.

By considering these factors, you can build a DIY gun safe that is both effective and secure, providing peace of mind and protection for your firearms.

DIY Gun Safes Ideas

Woodworking tools

These projects have a locking mechanism included so that your home-built gun safe can be secure no matter who is around.

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1. Easy DIY Gun Cabinet

If you are looking for the easiest DIY gun cabinet ideas, this suggestion is perfect for you – such a simple construction that is both secure and pretty straightforward to make.

This makes it a great starter project for DIYers that don’t have a lot of hands-on building experience.

Man building a storage

To make this gun cabinet, the main things you will need are an electric drill, some drill bits, a good saw, and a plyboard.

For building a gun cabinet that really serves its function, you will also need to pick up a simple locking mechanism to install into the door to make sure that your guns stay locked away.

Check out the blueprints here: www.keepgunssafe.com

2. Hidden Cabinet in the Wall

Gun cabinet behind a frame

You can skip the traditional DIY wood gun cabinet plans and create hidden storage in your wall to hold your guns. Creating this DIY gun cabinet is just like ​installing a pocket door in the wall, and you’ll appreciate the tips you learn from adding one in your home.

Did I also mentioned that this behind a mirror DIY gun safe also has a secret keypad that you type through the glass to unlock the door?

While it may seem challenging, this project can be done in about a day if you have all of the key components.

First, you will need to cut a hole in your wall, and then you will build a gun cabinet in the form of a small box out of 1x4s and plyboard. Spackle the area afterwards if needed.

Take a look at the rest of the easy to follow instructions at the DIY hidden gun cabinet plans available here: www.instructables.com.

3. Gun Rack Behind a Mirror

This is the ultimate in a hidden gun rack or secret storage for other important things in your home. While you may need to bust out your socket organizers for this project, ​you can still build it yourself by following the thorough instructions.

Gun cabinet beneath a mirror

The original DIY tutorial didn’t include a secure lock, but the creator has updated the article to include the instructions on how to add in a locking mechanism to make this a really secure DIY wooden gun rack.

See the plans for this hidden gun rack here: www.sawdust2stitches.com

Hidden Gun Racks

While these gun racks don’t offer the security of a locked door, they do give you a hidden compartment to store your guns where most people won’t think to look.

4. Picture Frame

Picture frame with gun holder

This may be the coolest way to store your handguns (sorry, shotguns and rifles not compatible).

If you have it high enough, you can mostly make sure that your firearms stay out of reach from little ones.

This DIY gun storage project is really easy to make, even for new DIYers. You will need a nice, painted picture frame, some additional frame pieces to thicken the picture frame (​or you can use a really good and cheap table saw to cut scrap wood), and long metal bars that will be the hinges to lift the picture frame away from the wall.

You’ve got to see this: www.diyeasycrafts.com

5. Floating Gun Shelf

Discreet gun holder

If you were feeling left out because you couldn’t hide your rifle behind a picture frame in the previous DIY project, then here is the perfect idea for you.

This floating shelf has a secret opening and serves as a DIY wooden gun case for shotguns and rifles.

Just like ​those honeycomb type shelving you see nowadays, this shelf is fairly easy to make yourself. 

You will attach the boards to create an open box for the shelf design and then use hinges to attach a long U shaped door that will fit flush with the box to make this floating shelf look like a single piece to the ​amateur eye.

Take a look here: www.diyeasycrafts.com

6. Coffee Table with Hidden Storage

This sleek looking coffee table holds a great secret – the top lifts off to give you access to DIY hidden gun storage under the top without being too obvious about it. This coffee table is great for hiding your unloaded guns.

Coffee table with storage

The step by step instructions show you ​how to build the coffee table from scratch and what materials you will need. Since there is no locking mechanism, I wouldn’t suggest storing loaded guns unless you found a way to add in a locking mechanism for the table.

Check out the tutorial for this homemade gun safe here: www.hertoolbelt.com

Open Rack Storage

While you will want to keep loaded guns under lock and key, some guns just need to be shown off – hidden gun safe ideas seem irrelevant if you want to be proud of your collection when someone visits you. For your unloaded guns, these DIY gun racks are the perfect project for you to try.

7. Simple Gun Rack

Gun display rack

This easy to make gun rack is a simple design that holds three rifle-sized guns and has storage for smaller handguns or ammunition. You could also hang any swords or other long souvenirs or weapons that you have.

You can cut and build this rack in a single day, as long as you have all of the tools and materials needed. If you wanted a secure element to this gun rack, then you could put a hinged locking door over the bottom opening.

Get the instructions here: www.woodworkingcorner.com

​8. Reclaimed Gun Rack

This beautiful gun rack is created with reclaimed wood from a pallet, which makes it cheap since you can get wood pallets for little to no money. I love this project because it is really simple to make but turns out beautiful when it’s finished, thanks to the wood staining. (You can also paint the frame if you prefer colored wood.)

A reclaimed wood gun display rack

You will need to take the pallet apart to make this easy DIY gun rack and then trim the reclaimed wood to fit the frame size. Instead of having to cut out wood grooves, you will simply attach metal hooks to hold your guns and use a framing hammer to attach the wood pieces together.

Check out this easy project here: www.instructables.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Put My Gun Safe On?

A gun safe should be placed on a solid and level surface that can support its weight, such as a concrete floor or reinforced wooden floor joists. Don’t place the safe on soft surfaces like carpet or hardwood floors, which can weaken over time and compromise the integrity of the safe.

What Kind of Material Is Used Inside a Gun Safe?

The most commonly used material for the interior of a gun safe is foam, which provides cushioning and protects the firearms from scratches and damage. Some gun safes feature adjustable shelving, racks, and other components made of steel or other durable materials to organize and secure the guns inside the safe.

What Makes a Good Gun Safe?

A good gun safe should be made of sturdy, durable materials, have a secure locking mechanism, and be able to resist tampering, theft, and fire. It should also be large enough to accommodate your current firearms and any future additions, and be placed on a solid, level surface in a secure location.

Concluson

Building a DIY gun safe can be a practical and cost-effective way to protect your firearms. With the ideas I have shared, you can choose a design that fits your specific needs, budget, and skill level. Remember to prioritize security, accessibility, and size when building your DIY gun safe, and always follow safety guidelines to ensure that your firearms are properly secured.

Allen runs a popular home website, and understands what it takes to educate audiences through online content. Through his focus at home, Allen developed an insatiable appetite for home improvement projects that he could do for cheap on weekends. Over the years, he has gained valuable experience, which he shares in detail in articles like How to Build A DIY Dining Room Table. His ability to clearly share these DIY ideas is a huge asset, and he is a valuable resource to the home improvement community.