Do You Even Need a Key Lock Box?
Key lock boxes can be useful, but they can also be very obvious. They can tell a potential burglar that you aren’t going to be home for long periods of time, or that you frequently need to let other people into your home. While they can be necessary for certain circumstances, they can also send the wrong message.
If you must hide an entry key, you could try to hide it in an area that isn’t typical (avoid the mailbox, under the doormat, or nearby plants). That way, it isn’t immediately obvious that the key is there and someone may not attempt to break in with it. It takes away the temptation that some (or most) lock boxes may potentially indulge.
So while getting a lock box might be a good idea in very specific circumstances, not using one may be more than beneficial after all – especially for your peace of mind.
Quick Tips
Need a key lock box in a hurry? Here are the most important things to look for.
- Boxes with electronic or dial locks are the most secure.
- Choose a box that mounts to the wall rather than on the doorknob for increased security.
- Expected to spend between $10 and $30 for a non-electronic lock box.
- Think about the number of keys you need to store.
- Choose a box with heavier materials, like steel or zinc.
Key Lock Box Features and Options
There are a lot of different models and features to take into consideration when choosing a key lock box for your home, business, or rental property. Here are some of the most important things that you should be looking for when shopping for a key lock box.
Materials
Options: Steel/Zinc, Steel, Poly-Resin
The materials that a lock box is made of can greatly impact its durability and usefulness to you. You obviously want the strongest box possible, so that no one can smash into it with a hammer or pry it open with a crowbar to get to your key.
Most of the lockboxes that we could find are made of metal. Stronger materials (such as a Steel/Zinc alloy) will prevent anyone from using brute force to break into the box. People seeking to break it may attempt to use hammers and other blunt objects to break the lock or insert thin tools to break a hinge, so stronger materials nearly always stop them from doing this.
Steel is still a sturdy material, but without the zinc alloy, it may be easier to break into. It will crumble a little easier than the alloy might. Still, this metal is vastly preferable over plastic or even poly-resin.
Plastic or poly-resin materials are better for lock boxes that are hidden or not obvious. If someone doesn’t know the lock box is there, they can’t try and break into it using force. Also, plastic and poly-resin materials are easier to mold and color so that they are hidden – such as being shaped and painted to look like a rock in your garden.
Type
Options: Electronic, Dial, Combination, Button, None
There are many different types of lockboxes, and these can determine how safe they are. The way that you get into the box is the second most critical thing to consider, outside of what the box itself is made of.
Electronic key lock boxes are the most secure, as they require a special code that is generated by your phone. The digit combination changes and resets itself, so you can have a different code each time you leave the house if you require. Also, some electronic boxes come with special fail-safe mechanisms that shut down if the wrong code is used, or notify you if someone is attempting to get into your home or enters a wrong code on the keypad.
Dial locks are the second most secure options. Most of the time, these take a lot of time and skill to get into. A sturdy lock box with a dial lock would be nearly impossible to break, as even someone who knows how to pick a combination lock will likely not be able to do it quickly.
Combination locks are a little different; when it comes to lock boxes, these feature three or four separate wheels with letters and/or numbers that must be lined up in a specific sequence in order for the lock box to open. These are less secure than the dial locks or electronic keypads, but much more secure than a button-press box would be. If there is space around the wheels, someone might be able to push something between them to jam the device.
Button-based locks are the easiest type of lockbox to get into. That’s because there is one combination, and the sequence for that combination doesn’t usually matter. In all but very specific lockboxes, for example, you can set the code as ‘123’ and the box will be opened by hitting any of those numbers in any sequence (231, 321, etc). This means that someone attempting to get to your key has a much better chance of getting this type of lockbox open.
Mounting Location
Options: Wall, Car, Doorknob
Where the lockbox is being wall mounted on your property can definitely change how secure it is. Make sure you have the right mounting hardware to do so.
Wall-mounting key lock boxes require a great deal of fuss to get into when you don’t know the code or the combination. Someone is surely going to notice someone attempting to break the box off of your home, especially if you live in a crowded neighborhood. They also have fewer points of easy destruction or prying.
Car-mounting key lock boxes can be a great idea, as long as they are secured to your car well. The problem here is that your car is often moving, and different terrain and speeds all give the car-mounted box opportunities to fly off. The good news? If you lose your lock box while you are away from home, no one is going to know where your home is, and therefore you are safe. However, if you rely on this lock box to get you into your home when you’ve forgotten or lost your keys, you may be disappointed to find it missing when you need it the most.
Doorknob-mounting lock boxes are popular, and they do serve their purpose well. However, some design issues make them a little less secure than other units. First, they are obvious. Even wall-mounting boxes can be reasonably camouflaged or put in a less-likely space. If you hang the box right on the doorknob, however, it’s a lot easier to see and figure out. Plus, the shackle (the loop that connects the box to the doorknob) can be cut, which in some cases can cause the box to spring open easily.
Shackle Included
Some boxes can attach to either the wall or the doorknob. The best ones will have an option to remove the shackle altogether. The connecting point (where the shackle meets the box) can be a weak point that is easily broken into, and as discussed above, the shackle can be cut (which can allow burglar access to your key in some cases).
While having the shackle included can be convenient, it is also an option that can make your lock box less secure. Therefore, a box without a shackle is preferable.
Hidden
There is a certain benefit to hiding your lock box. If someone can’t immediately find it, they may not attempt to break in. Lots of people store keys in potted plants or under their doormats; using a hidden key lock box instead might give you some peace of mind. It will also withstand harsh weather conditions and make keyless entry a breeze. There are options that can be camouflaged into your garden setup, for example.
Size
The size of the key lock box that you choose can determine how easy it is to open, as well as how many keys can fit inside of it. That said, bigger lock boxes do not always hold more keys; boxes with more complicated locks, for example, need most of the interior room for parts of the locks.
Bigger boxes also tend to draw attention, though most are going to take more effort to break into. It can be easier for children to work larger key lock boxes, too. The merit of the lock box’s size is up to what you want out of it.
Weight
Heavier boxes are often made of heavier-duty materials. Weight shouldn’t be the only factor that you use to consider which box to buy, but it can help you determine which is made of better materials if you aren’t shopping for them in person.
Obviously, thicker metals are going to be heavier. Thicker metals are also harder to break into.
# of Keys
How many keys can it hold? Some people need their key lock boxes to hold multiple keys, either for different locks or for different members of the family. Therefore, it’s important to know how many keys each box can hold. This can also give you an idea of how large the inside of the box really is.
Some boxes are large enough to hold a car key with a key fob, so this is a great way to look at the size of the box itself.
Warranty
A warranty is an assurance that the company believes in your product. If the lock box doesn’t stay locked or if there is some other issue or failure, the company will replace it or refund your money in most cases. The length of the warranty differs from product to product; the best warranties are limited lifetime warranties, while not having a warranty at all is a red flag for the quality of the product.
Weather-Resistant
Since the key lock box is going to be outside most (if not all of the time), it’s important that the box is weather-resistant. This means that it can withstand the wind, rain, and snow without rusting or breaking down. This is especially important for metal lock boxes, as rusting can render them useless and can either make them easier to open or not open at all. If you live in an area with a lot of different weather patterns, especially wet or damp seasons, make sure that you go with a lock box that is weather resistant.
Who is Going to Be Using It?
Different types of key boxes will be better for different applications.
For realtors, a combination, doorknob-mounted lock box could be the best option. There is one code to remember, and that code can be given to prospective tenants so they can view houses that are going up for sale or rent. It can save the realtor from keeping all the keys in the office and needing to drive out to the location to show the property.
For people with kids or teenagers, a push-button lock box that mounts on a wall could be best. The code would be easy to remember and the lock box wouldn’t be particular about what order the keys were pressed in. Plus, the buttons are easier to work with than combinations or dials would be, and there is no phone required to get a unique code.
Electronic key lock boxes are probably best for AirBnB properties with multiple tenants coming and going throughout the month. The codes can be issued to each person and changed every day or with every tenancy.
Think about how you intend to use the key lock box before making your final decision, as there is likely an option that works perfectly for your specific set of circumstances.
Do You Need Remote Access?
Some situations may require you to have remote, easy access to the lock box. If you are managing a rental while you are away or if you own an Airbnb or other frequently-rented property where you aren’t around all the time, having remote access to the lock box (as well as alerts when someone is attempting to use it) can be beneficial.
There are some lock boxes that allow this, but they are more expensive; electronic and wifi-based lock boxes will allow you to access the box via your phone, grant and change permissions, and generate key codes.
How Much Do You Want to Pay?
Key lock boxes range in price wildly depending on the features that they include. Expect to pay between $7 and $35 for combination or push-button boxes, as well as for hide-a-key objects. The higher end of electronic lock boxes can range up into the hundreds of dollars. The features and materials in each box really determine how much you will have to pay.
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