How To Install A Key Safe
We fitted a Supra key safe at one of our Airbnbs and these are the six steps we followed from setting the code to testing the lock.
The short answer
To install a key safe, set your code before fitting, mark the fixing holes on solid masonry using the template, drill them with a hammer drill and masonry bit, then clear the dust and push in the wall plugs. Line the safe up, tighten the screws from inside the vault evenly and test the code before you leave a key in it.
A key safe lets carers, family, cleaners or guests get in without you being there to hand over a key. That's why they suit Airbnbs and holiday lets, and why so many people put one up for an elderly relative who can't always get to the door.
If you've used a drill before, fitting one is a straightforward job, and the fixings normally come in the box. The photo up top shows the Supra C500 we fitted at one of our Airbnb properties for this guide. It's one of the best key safes we recommend, and Supra sells it as police approved, with an LPCB certification label inside the lid.
Where To Put A Key Safe
Pick a spot that's out of sight from the street but still gets some light, so whoever uses it can see the buttons after dark. A wall around the side of the porch or just inside a recess works well. It should be at a comfortable height to reach without bending or stretching, which matters if the person using it has limited mobility.
Most manufacturers say a key safe shouldn't go on the edge of a wall and should sit at least 6 inches (around 150mm) in from any corner. Fixings near an edge can blow out the brickwork, and a safe on a corner is easier to attack with a pry bar. Fix into solid brick or block rather than a mortar joint, and if the wall is rendered, make sure your plugs reach the masonry behind it. A motion-activated security light nearby helps at night and puts off anyone taking an interest in the box.
Tools And Fixings You Need
- An SDS or corded hammer drill
- A masonry drill bit sized to the wall plugs
- Red wall plugs and screws, normally supplied with the safe
- A screwdriver or drill driver
- A hammer for tapping in the plugs
- A pencil and masking tape for marking the holes
- A spirit level if you want it perfectly straight
- A small brush to clear the dust
How To Install A Key Safe Step By Step
These are the steps we followed for the Supra key safe. Other brands follow the same order, but check the instructions in your box, as fitting it differently can affect the security rating and the warranty.
- Set the code first: Programme your code while the safe is still in your hands. It's far easier at a table than crouched in front of a wall, and it means you can test the mechanism before it's fixed in place.
- Mark and drill the holes: Hold the template or the back of the safe against the wall, check it's level and mark each fixing hole in pencil. A strip of masking tape over the spot helps the bit start cleanly on smooth render. Drill to the depth of the plugs with a hammer drill and masonry bit.
- Clear the dust and fit the plugs: Brush or blow the dust out of each hole so the plugs grip, then tap them in with a hammer until they sit flush with the wall.
- Position the safe: Open the safe and line the screw holes inside the vault up with the plugs in the wall.
- Tighten the screws: Drive the screws through from inside, a little at a time on each one, so the back of the safe pulls evenly against the wall. Stop once the screw heads sit snug against the metal, as over-tightening can strip the plug or crack soft brick.
- Test the lock: Close the safe, enter your code and check it opens, then scramble the buttons and make sure it stays locked. Do this a few times before leaving a key inside.
Once it's fitted, the screw heads are hidden inside the vault, so nobody can undo them without first getting the safe open.
How To Change The Code On A Key Safe
The exact method depends on the make and model, but most push-button key safes like the Supra follow a similar sequence. You'll need the safe open to do it.
- Open the cover and press and hold the clear button.
- Enter the existing code and turn the dial to open the safe.
- Slide the plastic instruction card out of the lid.
- Turn the dial back to the locked position.
- Use the card to turn all the grey code dials to the off position.
- Turn each grey dial for your new numbers 180 degrees with the card until the button pops fully back up.
- Put the card back on the inside of the lid.
- Close the safe and test the new code a few times.
Changing the code between guests is good practice at an Airbnb or holiday let, and it's worth doing whenever a carer or tradesperson no longer needs access. If you want to stop sharing codes altogether, a smart lock on the front door lets you give and remove access from your phone.
Opening A Key Safe Without The Code
There's no back door into a key safe, which is the whole point of fitting one. If the code is lost, the only way in is to cut or drill through to the fixing screws inside, which destroys the safe. Keep a note of the code somewhere secure away from the property, and if you're locked out, a locksmith is the safer option than going at it with power tools yourself.
Before You Leave A Key Inside
Once the safe is on the wall, check your home insurance terms before the first key goes in, as some insurers have rules about keys kept outside the home. For extra reassurance at a rental or a relative's house, a video doorbell shows you who's been using the key safe and when.
Watch Us Do It
Need To Hide Keys In A Secure Location? Use A KEY SAFE! We've Tested Multiple To Find The Best!
More Questions Answered
Do you need a professional to fit a key safe?
No, you don't need a professional to fit a key safe if you can use a hammer drill safely. The job takes a few fixings into masonry and a screwdriver. Get help if the wall is hollow, soft or covered in thick render or cladding, as the fixings need solid material to grip and a poor fixing weakens the whole safe.
Can you fit a key safe to a rendered wall?
Yes, you can fit a key safe to a rendered wall as long as the wall plugs go through the render and into the solid masonry behind. Use longer screws and plugs if the render is thick. Fixing only into the render gives a weak hold that someone could lever off the wall.
How high should a key safe be fitted?
Fit a key safe at a height that the person using it can reach comfortably without bending or stretching, which is around chest height for most adults. For an elderly relative or a carer visit, ask the person who'll use it most. Keep it out of view from the street and away from the corner of the wall.
Can you fit a key safe to a wooden fence or shed?
You shouldn't fit a key safe to a fence, shed or wooden cladding, because the screws can be pulled out of timber far more easily than out of masonry. Brands design their fixings for solid brick, block or stone. If there's no suitable wall, a smart lock is a better way to give someone access.
How far from a corner should a key safe go?
Fit a key safe at least 6 inches (around 150mm) in from any corner, as most manufacturers say it shouldn't go on the edge of a wall. Fixings near an edge can blow out the brickwork, and a safe on a corner is easier to attack with a pry bar. Fix into solid brick or block rather than a mortar joint.
Why set the code before fixing the key safe to the wall?
Set the code first because it's far easier to programme the safe at a table than crouched in front of a wall. It also means you can test the mechanism before it's fixed in place, so a fault shows up while the safe is still in your hands. We did exactly that with the Supra C500 at our Airbnb.
What if I forget the code to my key safe?
There's no back door into a key safe, which is the whole point of fitting one. If the code is lost, the only way in is to cut or drill through to the fixing screws inside, which destroys the safe. Keep a note of the code somewhere secure away from the property, and call a locksmith rather than using power tools yourself.
When should I change the code on a key safe at an Airbnb?
Change it between guests, and whenever a carer or tradesperson no longer needs access. You'll need the safe open to do it. With the Supra, you turn the grey code dials to the off position using the card in the lid, then set each dial for your new numbers. Test the new code a few times before you leave a key inside.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.