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Gun cabinet vs gun safe for UK certificate storage

Updated: 17 October 2026

The same steel box is called a gun cabinet on one line and a gun safe on the next. Gun cabinet vs gun safe, for a UK certificate, is not a fire-rating contest. Level 1 in most homes is a sheet-steel cabinet fixed to the building. The Firearms Rules 1998 do not name EN 1143-1 or BS 7558. This page uses the handbook and the listings in our [gun cabinet comparison](/hub/safes-and-secure-storage/gun-cabinet). None of the seven is an EN 1143-1 safe. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The same steel box is called a gun cabinet on one line and a gun safe on the next. Gun cabinet vs gun safe, for a UK certificate, is not a fire-rating contest.

Our top picks

Genie Hand Genie Hand rifle safe

Best overall

Genie Hand Genie Hand rifle safe
8.6/10about £373.21
View offer
KAER KAER 1450-c

Rank 2

KAER KAER 1450-c
8.0/10about £650.15
View offer
Generic Generic 57-inch biometric

Rank 3

Generic Generic 57-inch biometric
4.0/10about £499.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What each name means in the UK
  2. 2.When the cabinet is the level 1 answer
  3. 3.When to talk about a graded safe
  4. 4.What the names on these listings do not prove

What each name means in the UK

A gun cabinet here is sheet steel sized for shotguns or rifles, with locks and a way to bolt it to the building. A commercial gun safe, in the handbook’s higher-construction note, is ideally a safe to EN 1143-1 Grade 1, 2, or 3. A US fireproof definition is not the certificate frame. A 40 cm jewellery safe cannot hold an unbroken shotgun. A small combination safe that BASC discusses for keys is a key box. Where those keys go is on how to install a gun cabinet. BS 7558:1992 was withdrawn on 7 November 2025, and that does not create a BS 7558:2023.

When the cabinet is the level 1 answer

In most dwellings the handbook’s route is a purpose-built cabinet fixed to the structure, or a clamp only for one low-risk gun. It says new cabinets should conform to BS 7558 (1992). Devon and Cornwall ask for a bona fide cabinet in the main house. That is one force’s line, not a national specification. For a first shotgun certificate, with one or two guns that fit, shortlist the fixed sheet-steel cabinet. Key cabinets in this set sit at about £160 to £185. Who should buy which row is on best gun cabinet. An 18–48 kg cabinet that can be lifted out is not level 1.
Genie Hand Genie Hand rifle safe

Testsieger

Genie Hand Genie Hand rifle safe
8.6/10about £373.21
View offer

When to talk about a graded safe

Talk about a commercial safe when the officer has asked for higher construction, or when the guns will not fit any cabinet you can buy and fix. For a stated higher-risk dwelling the handbook says a cabinet to BS 7558 or better, or a commercial safe ideally to EN 1143-1 Grade 1, 2, or 3. Ideally is the handbook’s word. It is not a rule that every holder must buy Grade 3. Then check the floor. The suspended-floor example is about 56 lb per square foot. A graded safe is more likely to meet that figure than a 25 kg cabinet. If the officer has not asked, and a cabinet will hold the guns, stay with the cabinet.

What the names on these listings do not prove

The Genie Hand at £373.21, the unbranded biometric cabinet at £499.99, and the KAER at £650.15 use safe-like names and are still keypad cabinets. Genie is not water resistant. No fire duration is given. The KAER’s written reviews are from the United States. None of the three claims EN 1143-1. A BS 7558 claim on the GDK key cabinets or the Sealey is not an EN grade.

Common questions

Is a gun safe the same thing as a gun cabinet?
On amazon.co.uk the words are often swapped for the same sheet-steel box. In the handbook they are not the same step. A gun cabinet is the usual level 1 container, fixed to the building. A gun safe, when the handbook means higher construction, is a commercial safe ideally graded to EN 1143-1.
Do I need EN 1143-1 for a first shotgun certificate?
Not as a default. The Rules do not name EN 1143-1. For most dwellings the handbook points to a purpose-built cabinet fixed in place. You raise a graded safe if the officer asks for that construction, or if the guns will not fit a cabinet. Buying a grade to be sure adds weight the floor may not want.
When does the handbook point to a commercial safe?
When it describes higher construction for a stated higher-risk dwelling: a cabinet to BS 7558 or better, or a commercial safe ideally to EN 1143-1 Grade 1, 2, or 3. A commercial safe able to hold the firearm may be suitable. Check the floor. Levels 2 and 3 still involve the building and alarms.
Are the keypad rifle safes in this set graded safes?
No. The Genie Hand, the unbranded biometric cabinet, and the KAER are keypad cabinets. None of them claims EN 1143-1. Genie states it is not water resistant, and no fire duration is given. A keypad does not change level 1 into a graded safe.
Does a heavier safe have to be bolted down?
The handbook allows that a very heavy safe might not need fixing if it cannot realistically be carried off, and it must still be sited to frustrate removal. That does not cover the cabinets in this set. They weigh about 18 kg to 48 kg. A graded safe is more likely to load a suspended floor, at about 56 lb per square foot, so check the floor before you skip the bolts.
What should I buy if the officer has asked for a higher level?
Ask which part they mean. If they want higher construction, discuss a commercial safe ideally to EN 1143-1 Grade 1, 2, or 3, and check the floor before delivery. If they want level 2 or 3, they are also talking about the building and alarms. A bigger keypad cabinet from this set does not answer that by itself.

Related pages

Gun cabinet certificate storage

Gun cabinet

Best gun cabinet: who each listing in this set is for

Gun cabinet buying guide: length, locks and fixing

How to install a gun cabinet on brick, joists or floor

Sources

Public UK sources on firearm and shotgun storage, BS 7558:1992, and air weapons. Listing prices and star counts are from the amazon.co.uk extracts kept for this comparison, dated 15 October 2026. Prices move.

  1. The Firearms Rules 1998 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. Firearms security handbook 2020 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. Statutory guidance for firearms licensing, August 2025 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. BS 7558:1992 listing (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. Circular 005/2023, storage of air weapons (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. Air weapons: a brief guide to safety (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. PSNI firearms and explosives branch (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. Scottish Government, air weapon licensing (retrieved 15 October 2026)