The key cabinets are a great way to arrange keys if you run a motel or Airbnb or even you have many keys to handle for different properties. But how do you choose them? To help you with that we have done small research to find the seven best key cabinets. According to our research, Kidde 001795 Combination TouchPoint is highly recommended.
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Top 7 Key Cabinets
1. Kidde 001795 – Best As Wall Mount
The Kidde’s key cabinet is worth considering if you are looking for a durable and secured one. This heavy-duty key cabinet is made of 16 gauge steel. There is a locking system with combination entry so that you are going to have safety from burglars and even from children or any other unwanted person. This cabinet can hold up to 30 keys and has a dimension of 12.04 × 8.11 × 3.19 inches. The package consists of all the necessary hardware for easy mounting like wall anchors and screws. The weight of the cabinet is 5 lbs. which is not heavy and easy to handle when you have to move it.
Make sure to remember the code and keep the resettable card; otherwise, you will be stuck, and there’s no possibility to open it without breaking. As observed, it can be easily broken if the burglars have heavy tools like drill because it is not pry-proof. So, you should use it in your home or office at a secured place. But, the powder-coated finish makes it a good looking cabinet, and it is not prone to rust. And, the staff or home members also remain disciplined and organized with this type of locking cabinet.
- Key tags with rings.
- Location chart.
- Clutch mechanism.
- Combination lock.
- Small.
- Lock issues.
Bottom Line
Among all the key cabinets, it was one of the few key cabinets that had numbering to help you manage your keys. Because this reason we believe it is best for property management. Also the combination lock makes it key-free access, which is quick, and you don’t have to worry about handling the key for cabinet too.
2. First Alert 3060F – Best For Property Management
It’s a clean looking cabinet by First Alert. The inward space provided is 0.15 cu ft. with 28 key rings. Cabinet’s colour is overall black with a nice finish and handy design. Its interior dimensions are given as 11.38 × 7.50 × 3 inches. There is a locking mechanism with a standard key. The product’ weight is just a pound, and thus it can be carried around in a car or a bag. There are secured hinges on the side. The opening door is thick sturdy. You are going to get the keyrings behind the door as well as inside the cabinet.
Unlike other cabinets, it is easy to close after use. So, you do not need to adjust the keys for closing. Have them as they are! As the door is thick and secured, so there are very fewer chances of burglary. It is the most impressive feature of it. During our durability it outscored most of the key cabinets. Even with right tools burglars will have hard time opening this cabinet. One thing that bugged was the key hooks. It needs to be handled with due care as they are made up of cheap metal.
- Nicely finished cabinet.
- Includes tags with hooks.
- Security lock.
- Two standard entry keys.
- Well organized.
- Small knob for easy handling.
- Hooks cheaply built.
- Not a secure lock.
Bottom Line
It is one of the simplest key cabinets to use. But with brand quality of First Alert you get the most secure key cabinet. For us it among the best locking cabinets that you can buy for your home or rental property. Also it is the most portable key cabinet which is useful for users like real estate agents who need to keep several keys with them.
3. SentrySafe Box – Best For Budget Conscious Users
If you are looking for a spacious cabinet, then this one by Sentry Safe might hold well. It can hold 50 keys. There is also a standard key locking mechanism with one backup key. The steel construction is heavy-duty with overall black coated finish. The dimensions of the box are 11.8 × 9.4 × 3.9 inches. You will get a bolt down hardware kit along with colored key tags. The weight is approx. 5 pounds and thus a little bit heavy to carry as compared to other key cabinets.
However, unlike other cabinets, the door opens to the right, which may look odd. Except for the key lock, there is no handle. So, you need to open the door as you lock in the key. The box is all solid steel except that the key tags which are made of plastic. The key cabinet is perfect for office use or home use.
- Solid construction.
- Secure.
- Includes key tags.
- Easy to mount.
- Little heavy.
- No handle.
Bottom Line
It is among the best for rental property management because it can store up to 50 keys. The capacity is on the higher side. Not the highest but enough for storing keys in office or in any other commercial buildings.
4. BARSKA 160 – Best For Commercial Building
Barsksa introduces a spacious key cabinet that can hold up to 160 keys. The measurements of the box are 14.5 × 11 × 3.25 inches. All of the key tags provided are colored and helps you organize the keys. You are also going to get the all necessary hardware for easy installation inside the package. The door of the box made of 0.8mm steel. The weight is 6.7 pounds and thus heavy among all other key cabinets. There are four pre-drilled mounting holes.
The advantage of having this barska key cabinet is that you are going to get a one-year limited warranty. However, there is a downfall with this cabinet. If you are hanging regular keys, then using bottom rows may not be useful as the tags always go out of the box. And closing the cabinet is much of tedious task. The next thing is the hinges. They are not tough, maybe because of the extra panel inside. Thus, you need to make sure of its safety.
- Spacious.
- Good construction.
- Multipurpose use.
- One year limited warranty.
- Includes key tags and necessary mounting hardware.
- Not sure of the security of hinges.
- Bottom row not for hanging regular keys.
Bottom Line
Looking at the capacity of the box, we can say that it perfect for big facilities that have too many locks like a factory of some kind. Also the branding of BARSKA assures you of high quality and durable key cabinet. Also it is among the cabinet that comes with a cabinet.
5. Hercules KE1002-30 – Best For Home Use
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Hercules presents a unique looking key cabinet that can hold up to 30 keys. The dimensions of the box provided are 9.87 × 2.5 × 12 inches. There are two lanes inside divided into 15 each with white key tags. And the weight of the product is 4.60 lbs. It has an electronic locking mechanism with 8 number codes over the keypad. Just above it, there is a small knob provided for easy handling. For security and emergency purposes, you will also be provided with two override keys.
The steel hooks, along with key tags, are chrome plated and thus provides a durable finish. They have good strength which can bear a heavy of bunch of keys. For smooth opening and closing, we analyzed its locking system, and it provides a satisfactory result. First of all, you have to operate it with the key provided and then set up the code as per your choice to operate it further. The downfall is that you get only 20 informative key tags and 10 simple white key tags. However you can always make your own tag. The handling knob is made up of plastic and thus needs to be handled with proper care.
- Unique style.
- Lightweight.
- Full piano hinges for extra security.
- Electronic lock with keys as a backup.
- Heavy gauge steel.
- Handle knob made of plastic.
- Described key tags less in number.
- Small size.
Bottom Line
There are many other electronic key cabinets, but most of them are expensive and but either they are too small or too big. Hercules KE1002 is perfect for any use. Be it home use or commercial use. Looking at the size we believe it is the best for garage.
6. AdirOffice Secure – Best For Office
The design of this key cabinet is somewhat similar to most of the key cabinet. But the quality helped this unit to gain a place in our list. This black colored key cabinet can hold up to 40 keys and is manufactured by AdirOffice. There is a good amount of space given beneath the second panel given so that you need not have to remove the keys to fit inside the key cabinet. The build quality is 16 gauge heavy-duty steel along with continuous piano hinges that are tough to break. There is necessary hardware included like wall anchors and screws for easy setup and mounting.
The build quality is strong, but as per the knob side and hinges, we are not sure about the total security. It is looking that it can be break upon applying force. However, this issue persists with ever key cabinet you are going to see. You are not going to get total security. These type of key cabinets are best to use for office and home and should be kept in secured places. The knob is also in plastic material quality. And, there are no keys to access the cabinet in case of emergencies.
- Code lock mechanism.
- Easy to install.
- Good finish.
- Durable quality.
- Includes key tags and metal hooks.
- Contains necessary mounting hardware.
- Plastic knob.
- Not sure security of hinges.
- Small.
- No key lock for backup.
Bottom Line
The big reason AdirOffice Secure made it to our list was due to the construction quality and secure combination lock. Looking at the capacity of the cabinet it can be used by the home user as well as it can be used for office or commercial environment.
7. Steel Key Cabinet Security Box – Best For Stores
If you are looking for a small and personal key cabinet with a lock mechanism, this one by Masmartox may fit your choice. It can hold up to 24 key along with colored key tags provided. The build quality is tough and made up of 0.7mm thick steel. There is a black powder-coated finish that gives a clean look to the box. With 3 digit combination lock, you can set up to 1000 possible combinations as in the case with the previous key cabinet.
The colored key tags provided are in plastic material with metal keyrings as a hook. These are built of quality material. There is a plastic knob which may pose a problem while opening or closing it. Upon forcing it with a hammer, it will not remain dent free. However, this is a great personal key organization tool that everyone would love to have.
- Code lock mechanism.
- Sturdy.
- Handy design.
- Best for personal use.
- Includes numbered key tags and hooks.
- Small.
- Plastic key tags.
- Plastic knob.
Bottom Line
The biggest issue with products like cabinets is that if they have thick metal construction, then they are heavy and if they are light the thickness of the walls are not up to the mark. But Steel Key Cabinet Security Box Wall you not only get good construction but light as well.
Buyer’s Guide- What To Consider?
Key Cabinets are pretty good organizers for your keys. They provide a safe and secure option along with authorized access. It is better to have them if you are one of the guys struggling with keeping lots of keys at one designated place. Looking to buy one? Keep these factors in mind while purchasing best locking key cabinets.
1. Requirements
If you are considering to buy a key cabinet, look for your specific requirements like you might require a decorative key cabinet or wood key cabinet or you may require key cabinet with combination lock. Also you have to consider how many keys do you want to secure? This is necessary as you are going to have particular key holding cabinets according to the quantity they can hold. Suppose you have 30-40 keys, then you can go for a cabinet that contains 40 key hangers. There is also the availability of key cabinets that are having 100-150 key hangers.
2. Quality
Quality matters a lot. There should be a strong build quality with heavy gauge constructed steel. It is mandatory because whenever you are going to put it over the wall, it shows and a bad quality will destroy the décor. It is not that you are going to have a fully secured key cabinet that cannot be broken. The point is the basic build quality that is enough to take in use for home as well as office purposes.
3. Locking mechanism
There are variants in key cabinets that come in either key locking mechanism or without it. Generally, you should opt for a secure one having a locking system. It will help to keep the users in discipline regarding access to important keys. Further, lock systems are divided into electronic code and key locks. Depending upon your preference and ease of use, you can choose between these two. Like if you want for home use like you want it in your kitchen go with best for small kitchen like Kidde 001795 Combination TouchPoint. The electronic coding system looks classy, whereas key locks are easy to operate.
4. Accessories
Think of accessories like key tags, hooks or handle. They will let your cabinet to function easily. It helps to make it that convenient box you are looking for one. Either the key tags are numbered or not, having them is enough. If they are not numbered, you can put them over there. But, the absence will make it difficult to identify each key. On the other hand, you can consider handle for easy opening or closing of the cabinet. Usually, you are provided with mounting holes for easy mounting. For that, they provide necessary hardware like screws or wall anchors.
FAQs
1. If the box is carried around, will the keys remain organized?
Most of the box that we have tested came with hooks. The hook means box should stationary most of the time. If you move or change the position keys will fall off. If still want to use then get the most portable key cabinets.
2. Are key boxes waterproof?
No. As far as we know and the kind of key cabinets we came across during research, none of them was waterproof. And we think this feature is not necessary because most of the time unit will be mounted on the wall. Also, you will be using it to store keys which won’t get affected by the water. However, there are places like laundry where you need best for laundry room. But we think even non-waterproof key boxes will work.
3. Which lock is better, key lock or combination or electronic?
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. One thing you will find that key lock is available in almost all key cabinets. Also the type of lock you need depends on the use. If you want secure the keys of some safe, cars, any other expensive property, you will need electronic lock. For general use like you want best for bathroom or kitchen remodel we would suggest going for combination lock key cabinet.
Final Thought
There is number of key cabinets out there. Some almost look same. But it is once used or tested you can compare them. With our post you will have several quality options out of which you can select according to your needs.
Kidde 001795- Editor's Choice
Summary
Among all the key cabinets, it was one of the few key cabinets that had numbering to help you manage your keys. Because this reason we believe it is best for property management. Also the combination lock makes it key-free access, which is quick, and you don’t have to worry about handling the key for cabinet too.
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