Need a lock box that keeps the keys of your Airbnb property secure as well as allows self-check-in? We did all the research, tests and even consulted experts with loads of experience in lock boxes. As a result, we can determine that Master Lock 5425D is the best key lock box for Airbnb. The lock box is weatherproof and even works in low light conditions. However, you want something smarter that notifies you every time the box accessed, you must go for Igloohome Smart Keybox 2.
Top Pick
Best Key Lock Box For Airbnb Self Check In
1. Master Lock 5425D – Best For All Weather
The Master Lock 5425D is a lock box with light up dials that is suitable for both outdoor and indoor use. As an Airbnb owner, you want to use your key lock box mostly for outside. The biggest factor that tests any lock box meant for outdoors is the weather. The Master Lock 5425D is weatherproof and highly durable as it made of metal.
One thing that we like is the light up dial which allows your guest to access the box even in low light conditions. We tested it in the dark and were able to enter the combination with ease. However, you will have to keep an eye on the battery. There is no indicator for the low battery. For safety, you would be required to change the batteries every two months.
- Light up dial.
- Strong metal housing for the keys.
- It can be wall mounted.
- Key fit even the car key with remote.
- Weatherproof covering.
- Expensive compared to other similar lock boxes.
Bottom Line
We liked the box for its capacity and durability. Even the light up dial, is a good feature to have for a lock box. Overall there is a lot to like about the box for an Airbnb owner.
2. Igloohome 2 – Best For Remote Access
There are plenty of smart locks but not lock boxes. Even when we’re looking for lock boxes with smart capabilities, we hardly found many options. One of our experts suggested us Igloohome. It is a fairly new company but they are growing fast due to their innovative key box. Even we were impressed when we looked at it for the first time.
However, what is the biggest selling point of the box is smart capability. It is enabled by a phone app. The owner can change the codes from anywhere in the world. The homeowner can create unique PIN codes or Bluetooth keys. Also, schedule it depending on the guest’s arrival at the property. Moreover, you have access to logs so that you can keep an eye when the lock box is accessed.
- Guests are not required to install the app.
- Dustproof as well as waterproof.
- If the lock is not locked properly, it relocks itself after 60 seconds.
- When the battery is out, an additional DC9V battery kicks in.
- Expensive
- No backlight for low light visibility.
Bottom Line
If your Airbnb property is in another state or even country, the Igloohome Smart Keybox 2 is accessible with ease. We tested its security and durability. It is on par with the best for vacation rental.
3. ORIA Key Storage – Best For Budget Conscious Users
Do you want a strong and secure lock box and at the same your are not willing to spend much? ORIA Key Storage Lock Box is a good option for the Airbnb owners with a limited budget. With a price range of just $25, you get all the necessary features you require in Airbnb lock box for keys. It is a combination lock box and can store around five keys.
Overall the built quality is really good. Even when you hit it with a heavy object like hammer or stone, it can withstand the impact. Also, it can withstand any weather. We tested it with both dust and water, it worked fine.
- Very simple to use and install.
- Ample storage for the multiple keys.
- Inexpensive compared to similar lock boxes.
- Antirust and weatherproof.
- No easy to use in low light conditions.
Bottom Line
Looking at it’s built and capacity, it can easily compete with the best of the key lock boxes. It is the best lockbox for users with a limited budget.
4. Master Lock 5423D – Best For Key Cards
Most of the lock boxes where suitable for the different types of keys but as an Airbnb owner, it is quite possible you use key cards. In such cases, you must get something like Master Lock 5423D. It is a much better storage space than most of the boxes. In addition to key cards, it uses a push button lock. Using the keypad, you can set a password with 12 letters, numbers or use a combination of both. It is a great digit combination lock box.
The built quality is really good. It uses 79 mm wide metal body for sturdiness and durability. We tested it for impact; it can withstand heavy blows. Next, we tested it for different weather conditions. The body is antirust and also dustproof. We also exposed it to some wet conditions, the box worked fine, and the content of the box was dry.
- It can be wall mounted.
- Uses a metal body for durability and sturdiness.
- Dustproof as well as waterproof.
- It is a letters and digit combination lock box.
- No suitable for use at night.
- Pushing buttons is a little frustrating if you get it wrong.
Bottom Line
We recommend the Master Lock 5423D only if you are looking for a lock box that can accommodate key cards with keys. There is ample space for both with this option.
5. Kingsley Guard-a-key – Best For Garage
If you are looking for a lockbox that can be removable and not fixed, a lock box like Kingsley Guard-a-key is a very good choice. It can store up to 5 keys and as a combination lock box it is easy to open. The overall weight of the lock is only 9.4 ounces; it can be removed and stored it somewhere else.
We liked the build quality of the lockbox. Even if you hit with hammer or stones, Kingsley Guard-a-key doesn’t budge. Outer black cover blends well with the surrounding. As it is made of steel, it is corrosion resistant and can withstand rain and dust. Also keeps the multiple keys secure from the weather.
- Removable lockbox.
- Small and easy to use.
- Strong and durable design.
- Works even with shackles.
- Weatherproof.
- Guest can easily lose the lockbox because of the size.
Bottom Line
We won’t’ recommend you to use lockbox for the main door, but if you want to secure special gates or secure things like a bicycle on your Airbnb property, it is really useful. It is cheap. Hence you can buy a few at once so that if one is lost, you can replace it.
6. Kidde AccessPoint 001014 – Most Durable Design
Most of the lockboxes that we have mentioned in this list have either combination locks or push button. The Kidde AccessPoint 001014 has a dial lock with 10,000 possible combinations as it uses letters compared to numbers. It works well when installed on the wall. Though the combination lock box looks small, Kidde AccessPoint was heavy compared to other similar locks. It is due to its construction.
We tested Kidde AccessPoint for water resistance. Though the outer covering is water resistant, it does not completely seal the water off. In conditions such as heavy rain, the water will zip into the cavity. As a result the keys are prone to corrosion especially, the older ones.
- Easy to install.
- The dial combination lock is highly secure.
- Thick walls of lockbox keep the content safe.
- The lid needs to be twisted to open the key cavity, which is frustrating.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for the lockbox that has much thicker walls to keep the content secure, the Kidde AccessPoint 001014 is best. Also, the dial lock is hard to crack because of the 10,000 possible combinations.
7. KeyGuard SL-590 Wall Mount – Best For Wall Mount
The KeyGuard SL-590 probably has the largest storage among all. It cannot just store a few individual keys, but it can store several bunches of keys. Also, it can store credit cards, key cards, car remote, etc. It may not look great in terms of aesthetics, but it secures and uses push-button locks.
The built quality seems nice. However, we have tested much better locks in terms of construction. It can save the content of the box from a drizzle, but with heavy rain, you might find some water inside it.
- Has a large storage capacity.
- Secure push-button locks.
- Easy to install and use.
- Construction could have been much better.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for lockbox with huge storage capacity, there is not another lock box that could come close to KeyGuard. It is the key lock box for Airbnb in terms of storage capacity.
Buyer’s Guide – What To Consider?
There are several aspects of a key safe. By understanding each aspect you will be able to choose the key lock box for Airbnb. These aspects were identified with the help of experts. We have two experts from sales, two from the manufacturing and one Airbnb owner. Let’s look at these aspects one by one:
1. Installation
There are various places a key safe can be installed. Firstly, it can be installed either inside the house or outside. But most of the Airbnb owner wants the box for the outdoor. Even at the outdoors, the key safe can be can be wall mounted or door mounted. According to our experts, the most secure installation of key safe is on the wall. If you install it on the door, you install it on the handle or any other fixture which is removable. However, if keep the key airbnb lockbox on the wall then it is more of a permanent installation which is more suitable for Airbnb property.
2. Locking System
You might have observed there are almost three types of locking system—dial, push button and combination. If you compare each type, all of them are secure and does the job of keeping your keys safe. The only thing you have to look at it is the ease of use with the locking system. The big reason being, for Airbnb property, you will have a new person accessing it every few days. Guest won’t be familiar with the lockbox. Eeven if you have airbnb self check in lockbox, but it has a complicated locking system, the guest will have tough time opening thekey safe.
During our tests, we noticed that with push button lock using combination number and letters can easily frustrate users as it requires to push a single button several times for certain letter or number. It is secure digit combination key lock box but it can frustrate you. If even a single digit is wrong, the user will have to start again. While with dial or combination lock, all user has to do is bring the dial to the right point and leave it. Chances of going wrong are almost zero if the password is known. This is why we like Master Lock 5425D
3. Storage Capacity
You might find a variety of key safe lock boxes depending on the storage capacity. It is not necessary you have to get the biggest key safe lock box. But have to identify how many keys or key card you want to leave outside your Airbnb property for your guests. Depending on that choose the right lock box. With Igloohome Smart Keybox 2 you can store 3-4 keys which is fine if you want something compact. And if want to store bunches of keys and cards go with KeyGuard SL-590.
4. Durability
A most important aspect after the locking system is the built quality. If the lock box is not durable against impact, weather, and dust, it is not the most secure lock box. You want your lock box to take heavy blows of impact in case anyone forcefully tries to access the box. In addition to theft, lock box must be able to protect the content of the box from dust and weather. Your box may be weather proof, but your keys may not be. So make sure the box is well sealed. The box that passed our durability test with flying colors is Master Lock 5425D and Master Lock 5423D .
How We Conducted The Tests?
We began our testing process by identifying the bestselling and most popular lock boxes in the market. With the help of experts and sellers, we were able to identify 26 lock boxes that are well suited for Airbnb property. They are popular and have good sales numbers. We acquired all 26 the lock boxes from the seller for testing. Next, we began the process of determining the testing parameters. Depending on the features and what the users required from the key lock boxes for Airbnb, we identified the most important parameters.
The parameters for testing included durability, capacity, ease of access, installation, and locking system. All the tests were designed to test the lockbox on these parameters. We made sure that every tool we used for measurement are well calibrated and accurate. We also made sure that we create an environment or situation which resembles the real-life situation so that the results are not just mere numbers but actual practical depiction.
In addition to tests also contact existing users of each 26 lockboxes to know how they have been performing after the purchase. Considering all the data and information we had on all lock boxes, we scored each lockbox for the three most important factor safety, durability and ease of use. Each member of our team scored the boxes separately. After we had the overall score, we sort listed the seven key lock boxes for Airbnb. Here is the scorecard:
Key lock box for Airbnb Tests
FAQs
1. How does Airbnb lockbox work?
Unlock box is a small storage device that can store keys of your Airbnb property. The code is required to access the lockbox. Hence, whenever you have new guest all you have to do is provide the codes, and they can get the key from the lockbox.
2. Can you fit anything other than the key in lockbox?
Some of the lockboxes are big enough to accommodate a smartphone.
3. Are all lockboxes weatherproof?
Lockboxes need to be weatherproof as they are installed outside your door. You do not want your keys to be soaking in water.
4. How strong are the lockboxes?
Lockboxes of high quality are strong, and they can even withstand heavy blows. And they should be strong because you have are storing keys of your Airbnb property.
5. Where do you install lockboxes?
The best place to install lockboxes is right next to the door lock. You can screw the lockbox on the door, or if the lockbox is larger in size, you can install on the nearest wall.
6. How much does a lockbox cost?
Lockbox costs anything between $30 to $140. During our tests, we found that the average cost is around $40 which is not much.
7. Are there any smart lockboxes for Airbnb?
There are not many smart lockboxes, but while testing we came across Igloohome Smart Keybox 2.
8. Can you know if the lockbox has been access without visiting the Airbnb?
Only few lockboxes have that ability. Igloohome is one of them.
Final Thought
Securing the Airbnb property is your most important priority, and you also want to make the stay of your guest comfortable. Any system you install for your Airbnb property must be a combination of both factors. Our list of airbnb self check in lockbox also ensures that both requirements are fulfilled. Beyond that, you have to rule out your requirements. We advise you to go through our comprehensive buyer’s guide to understand your requirements. Also provide clear check in instructions to your guests.
Master Lock 5425D- Editor's Choice
Summary
The Master Lock 5425D is a lock box with light up dials that is suitable for both outdoor and indoor use. As an Airbnb owner, you want to use your key lock box mostly for outside.
We bought a Master Lock key lockbox to provide contractors entry to a house. It served its purpose: the dials worked smoothly enough, the container opened consistently, and the adjustable shackle was, indeed, adjustable. We changed the combination a few times as one offer finished and another began, and we never had any difficulties with establishing a new combination.