Biometric Handgun Safes: Fingerprint Pistol Boxes, Read Closely

A biometric handgun safe is a pistol box with a fingerprint reader

A biometric handgun safe, also sold as a biometric pistol safe, fingerprint handgun safe or fingerprint pistol lock box, is a handgun-sized container with a fingerprint sensor on the lid or front. Our table includes every handgun safe we track whose lock types include biometric. Full-size gun safes with fingerprint locks are on the biometric gun safes page, and handgun safes with any lock type are on the handgun safes page.

Common forms at this size:

• Top-opening pistol boxes with a sensor on the lid and a spring- or strut-assisted lid
• Front-opening drawer safes that drop open toward you
• Portable biometric pistol lock boxes with a steel cable for a car or travel
• Small and compact models, down to boxes sized for a single subcompact

Most combine the fingerprint reader with a second lock: an electronic keypad, an override key, or both. That second lock matters more than any spec on the front of the box, for reasons covered below.

Who a fingerprint pistol safe suits, and who should skip it

A bio pistol safe suits a household where one or two adults want a handgun locked but quickly accessible, often at a bedside, without entering a code. Some readers allow several prints, so each adult can enroll their own.

Skip a fingerprint lock, or choose a model where it's optional, if:

• You won't test it regularly. A reader you rarely use is a reader you don't know is working.
• Someone's prints enroll poorly. That person will depend on the backup every time.
• You'd rather avoid the lock type's recall history. A keypad or mechanical pistol safe avoids the specific hazard named in recent recalls; see the handgun safes page for every lock type.
• The safe is only for the car. Our car gun safes page covers models built for vehicles.

If the safe will sit next to the bed, the bedside gun safes page narrows the list to quick-access handgun safes made for a nightstand.

Children and handgun access

If children live in or visit the home, the safe should stay locked whenever the handgun is not in an adult's hands. A Department of Justice storage handout from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont recommends storing firearms unloaded in a locked container, with ammunition locked separately, and keys and combinations kept where children cannot reach them. The same handout says special precautions are needed when a loaded firearm is kept for quick access at home.

A fingerprint lock is not a guarantee against a child's access. CPSC notices on biometric gun safes describe the lock opening for fingerprints that were never enrolled, and two of those notices describe young children gaining access. Storage laws vary by state; check your state's official government site. California's DOJ publishes a roster of firearm safety devices certified for sale and posts recall notices for listed products there.

The CPSC record on biometric pistol safes

Pistol-size products account for much of the recall record. From CPSC notices since 2023:

• February 2024: about 33,500 Bulldog Cases Magnum biometric pistol vaults recalled, and about 2,200 MouTec biometric gun safes sold on Amazon by BBRKIN
• June 2024: about 133,370 Sanctuary and Sports Afield biometric gun safes recalled
• August 2024: a CPSC warning to stop using the biometric feature on about 7,600 Owsoo and Cacagoo safes, after the sellers did not agree to a recall
• January 2025: a CPSC warning covering about 183,000 Stack-On biometric gun safes, pistol vaults and lock boxes

The biometric gun safes page lists the full set, including larger safes. Before buying, search the brand and model number on the CPSC recalls site. After buying, register the product with the manufacturer so a notice can reach you.

What to look for in a biometric handgun safe: backup, power and mounting

A fingerprint reader answers one question: is this the right finger? The rest of the safe answers the harder one: what happens when the reader can't tell, or can't turn on. (The manual covers it. Usually near the back.)

The backup way in

Check what the backup is, and how it's stored:

• Override key — where the keyhole sits, and whether it's covered
• Keypad code — whether it can open the safe alone or only together with a fingerprint
• Key storage — the DOJ handout says to store keys separately from the safe, out of children's reach

A handgun safe biometric lock with no backup means a dead sensor is a locked safe. A backup key left beside the safe gives anyone the same access as an enrolled print.

Power and battery access

Biometric readers need power. Check:

• Battery type and access — outside the safe or only inside
• Low-battery warning — a light or a tone before it dies
• External power port — to power the lock from outside with a dead battery

Fingerprint capacity and enrollment

Manufacturers state how many prints the safe stores. Enrolling two fingers per person gives a fallback when one doesn't read. Check whether adding a new print requires an existing enrolled print or an admin code; that's what controls who can add users.

Interior fit and the sensor's position

Even the smallest biometric pistol safe is only useful if the handgun fits with its light, optic or holster. Compare interior length, width and height against the gun, and leave room for a spare magazine if you plan to store one. Some boxes include foam or a molded insert that limits which pistols fit.

Then look at where the sensor sits. A reader on top of the lid is easy to reach on a nightstand and awkward inside a drawer. A front-facing reader works in a drawer or under a shelf. Match the sensor's position to the spot where the safe will live, so the finger lands the same way each time.

Steel, mounting and impact

At this size, the container can be carried off. Check for mounting holes and an included kit, or a security cable on portable models. The DOJ handout notes that, depending on size, a lock box can be stolen. For steel, lower gauge numbers are thicker: under the U.S. Standard Gauge, 14-gauge is about 0.078 in and 16-gauge about 0.063 in. Impact matters too. In 2018, CPSC announced a recall of about 25,000 electronic handgun safes that could open on impact. Our guide on how to bolt a safe to the floor covers anchoring.

How to read the biometric handgun safe table

The table lists every handgun safe we track with a fingerprint lock. Reading notes:

• "—" means not confirmed. The manufacturer didn't state the value, or we couldn't verify it.
• Lock types shows every way in. Look for a backup entry besides biometric.
• Fingerprint capacity is the manufacturer's stated number.
• Steel gauge reads backwards: lower is thicker.
• Mounting shows whether the safe can be anchored or cabled.

To narrow it down, start with size: measure the drawer, shelf or nightstand where the safe will go, and the handgun that goes inside. Then compare backup type, battery access and steel. A glock biometric gun safe or any other model marketed for one pistol family still needs to be checked against your specific handgun, light and optic. Finally, run each shortlisted model number through the CPSC recalls search.

Choosing a fingerprint handgun safe

Measure first, then judge the lock as a system: reader, backup and power. Check the model against CPSC's recall list, register it, enroll more than one finger, and store the backup key away from the safe. Anchor it where it will live. Then filter the table above by lock arrangement and check the price on the models that pass.