How Much Does a Home Safe Installation Cost?
A home safe installation in Australia typically costs between $300 and $1,500 or more in total, depending on the safe itself and the complexity of fitting it. A basic floor safe might cost $200 to $400 for the unit plus $100 to $200 to have it bolted down professionally. A high-quality fire-rated wall safe or a concealed floor installation can push the total well above $1,000 once parts and labour are included.
Most people buying a home safe for the first time underestimate what the full job costs. They price the safe online, find something in their budget, and then discover that installation doubles the spend — or that the safe they bought isn't suitable for the type of installation they had in mind.

A bit of groundwork before you shop saves a lot of that frustration.
What Drives the Cost of a Home Safe Installation
The price of a home safe installation isn't a single number. It's the sum of three things: the cost of the safe itself, the cost of labour to install it, and any additional materials or structural work the installation requires.
The safe.
Entry-level residential safes start around $150 to $250 for a basic steel floor model without fire rating. Mid-range safes with fire protection and better locking mechanisms sit between $400 and $900. High-security safes — those with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) ratings, thicker steel, or certified fire protection — typically start at $1,000 and go up from there. The safe is usually the largest single cost in the job.
Installation labour
A locksmith or safe technician will typically charge between $100 and $300 to supply fittings and secure a safe to a floor or wall, depending on the complexity. A straightforward concrete anchor into a garage or laundry floor is at the low end. A concealed installation inside a built-in wardrobe, a wall installation that requires cutting through plaster and finding studs, or any job that requires two people to move a heavy unit will cost more.
Additional materials.
Concrete anchors, fixing bolts, and patching materials are usually minor costs. Where the price can climb is if the installation involves hiding the safe behind a removable panel, recessing it into a wall cavity, or any carpentry work associated with the fit-out.
Types of Safe and What They Typically Cost to Install
The type of safe you choose affects both the unit price and what installation involves.
Floor safes (surface-mounted). These are bolted directly to a concrete or timber floor, often inside a wardrobe or under a desk. The safe sits visible but secured. Installation is usually the most straightforward of any type — a locksmith can typically complete the job in under an hour once the safe is positioned. Total cost including a mid-range safe: $500 to $900.
In-ground floor safes. These are set into a concrete slab so the lid sits flush with the floor. Installation requires cutting into the slab, setting the safe in concrete, and finishing the lid so it can be concealed under a rug or flooring. It's a more involved job and usually requires a locksmith with safe installation experience. The concrete work may add another $200 to $400 to the job on top of the safe cost. Total cost: $700 to $1,500 or more.
Wall safes. Installed into a wall cavity between studs, behind a painting or panel. The unit itself is typically shallow and smaller than a floor safe. Installation involves locating studs, cutting an opening, fixing the safe box into the cavity, and making good the surrounding wall if needed. Finishing work varies. Total cost including safe and installation: $500 to $1,200.
Heavy freestanding safes. Large gun safes or high-capacity document safes that stand on their own. These may not need to be anchored if they're heavy enough — some weigh over 200 kg when empty. Delivery and positioning may be the primary cost here rather than fitting. Professional delivery of a heavy safe typically adds $100 to $250.
Does the Locksmith Supply the Safe or Do You?
Either arrangement works, and each has trade-offs.
If you supply the safe yourself, you have more control over the brand and specification you're buying, and you may be able to find a better price for the unit online or through a specialist supplier. The risk is buying a safe that isn't suited to the installation type you have in mind, or one that turns out to be harder to install than expected. Some locksmiths will decline to install safes they consider poorly made, because a poorly constructed safe in a good location still provides inadequate protection.
If the locksmith supplies the safe, you benefit from their knowledge of what actually performs well, what fits the space, and what meets Australian standards. The unit cost may be slightly higher than buying retail, but you won't be left with a safe that can't be installed where you planned.
CTA: Get a quote for safe supply and installation — Malvern Lock Service installs residential safes across Malvern, Toorak, Hawthorn, South Yarra, Armadale, and surrounding suburbs. Call 0477-615-507 for a price on supply and fitting.
What Australian Standards Apply to Home Safes
The Aus/NZ standard most relevant to residential safes is AS/NZS 3809, which covers the construction and security rating of safes. A safe rated to this standard has been tested for resistance to forced entry using specific tools over specific time periods. The rating tells you how long the safe is expected to resist a determined attack with basic tools.
For most residential use — protecting documents, jewellery, cash, and small valuables — a mid-range safe rated to a basic security class is sufficient. If you're storing high-value items or firearms, a higher security rating is worth the additional cost. Firearms storage has specific requirements under Victorian law, and the safe must meet those requirements rather than just the general residential standard.
Fire ratings are separate from security ratings. A safe marketed as fire-resistant should specify the temperature it protects to and for how long. An AS/NZS 4438 rating covers fire protection for paper documents. If you're storing USB drives, external hard drives, or photographic media, note that these items have lower heat tolerance than paper and require a safe rated specifically for digital media.
What to Ask Before Booking an Installation
Before committing to a safe and an installation, a few questions are worth asking.

Ask where the safe will be installed and whether that location is realistic given the structure — concrete floors anchor differently to timber floors, and not all walls have suitable cavity dimensions for a wall safe. Ask whether the safe you're considering is suited to that installation type. Ask whether the locksmith can supply the safe, and if so what brands or grades they recommend for residential use. Ask for an itemised quote so you can see the cost of the unit separately from the cost of labour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bolt a safe to a timber floor instead of concrete?
Yes. Timber floors can accept anchor bolts, though the fixing method is different from a concrete installation. The locksmith will use appropriate fixings for the floor type. A safe bolted correctly to a solid timber floor is reasonably secure, though a concrete installation is generally considered more resistant to removal attempts.
Is a cheap safe worth buying and having installed professionally?
An inexpensive safe with thin steel walls and a basic lock provides limited protection against anyone who knows what they're doing. The installation cost is the same regardless of the safe quality. Spending $150 on the safe and $150 on installation gives you $300 spent on something that provides modest security at best. A better safe at $500 to $600 installed gives you meaningfully better protection for a not-much-higher total cost.
Does a locksmith or a builder install a safe?
For most residential safe installations — floor-mounted, wall-mounted, or in-ground — a locksmith with safe installation experience is the right tradesperson. If the installation involves significant structural work (cutting into concrete, patching walls, building concealment panels), a builder may also be involved. A locksmith can usually advise on whether additional trades are needed for a specific installation.
Are home safe installations covered by insurance?
Some home and contents policies include cover for loss from an unforced safe — meaning if valuables stored in your safe are stolen without the safe being forced, they may still be covered. Others require the safe to meet a minimum security rating. Check your policy wording, and ask your insurer whether the safe type and installation method you're considering meets their requirements.
How long does a safe installation take?
Most residential safe installations take between 30 minutes and 2 hours depending on the type. A surface-mounted floor safe in an accessible location is at the shorter end. An in-ground installation or a wall installation in a confined space takes longer. Your locksmith should be able to give you an honest estimate once they know the safe type and the location.
Getting the Right Safe in the Right Place
The total cost of a home safe installation is usually between $400 and $1,200 for most residential jobs, with the safe itself making up the majority of that spend. What you pay for the installation is relatively fixed — the labour cost doesn't change much with a better safe. Which means the best way to get value from a safe installation is to spend more on the unit itself rather than cutting corners there.
At Malvern Lock Service, we install and service residential safes across Malvern, Toorak, South Yarra, Hawthorn, Armadale, Camberwell, and Melbourne's inner south-east. We can supply the safe, recommend the right grade for your needs, and complete the installation in a single visit. Call 0477-615-507 for an honest quote on supply and fitting.