A gun safe seems to be the best place to store your guns that every gun user needs to have. However, it comes as a big question to many of us: How many guns fit in a gun safe? If you are also clueless about this topic, keep reading our article to find out the answer!
How Many Guns Fit In A Gun Safe?
The number of guns that can fit in a gun safe depends on several factors, including the size and configuration of the safe, the type of firearms you have, and how you choose to store them. As a general rule of thumb, you can estimate that a safe’s advertised gun capacity is often optimistic. If a safe is marketed as accommodating, for example, 30 guns, it may realistically hold around 15 to 16 guns. However, this estimate can vary based on factors such as the size of the firearms, the presence of accessories, and the layout of the safe.
Gun safes typically come with pre-designated shelf slots, and arranging guns in these slots can be somewhat challenging. Slim rifles with minimal attachments might allow you to maximize the capacity, but bulkier firearms or those with scopes may reduce the number of guns you can store.
Before directly jumping into discussing the number of guns fit in a gun safe, there is a term that we need to clarify to you: Safe gun counts.
Safe Gun Counts
Almost all safes will have a clear list of how many guns they could hold. Some producers even give detailed instructions on typical guns that your safe could contain. So is this number accurate? How do manufacturers determine them?
Normally, your gun safes will come with gun racks to hold your “pew pew” possessions. The safe gun counts number is determined by how many slots are in the gun racks. Unfortunately, this number doesn’t seem to reflect well the number of firearms you could fit in the safe.
The reason for incorrectness is that you could only make full use of the rack by taking every slot into it. Each gun has its shape and size, so that some guns may take much more space than others.
See: Sizes of Gun Safes
You could imagine it like a parking lot but at the shooting range. While your Pirus fits nicely into a stall, your overcompensating truck could take you up much more space.

Mid-Size Gun Safe
To simplify the matter, we would like to give you a small example of a mid-size gun safe to simplify the matter. When you look at a gun’s specifications, you will find its gun capacity, which is 12-19-31+2.
And several questions may arise to your mind: “What is the exact meaning of these numbers?” Or you may feel surprised, like: “Wow, this safe seems to hold so many guns? Is this true?”
These numbers sometimes are quite misleading, too. Let’s figure it out together! To begin with, you should take a closer look again at the gun capacity detail: 12-19-31+2. The sum of the first 2 numbers is amazingly equal to the third one.
That is why you should pay more attention to the third number because it is the total capacity your safe can hold. Still, the first 2 numbers will respectively describe the storage capacity of the left side and the right one of your safe.
What about “+2”? It represents the number of guns you could put on your safe’s door organizer. So generally, the meaning of these three numbers is respectively: the left side, right side, total storage capability, and additional door organizer capability.
The Maximum And Minimum Capacity Of A Gun Safe
Thousands of gun safes with various shapes and sizes are available on the market. Nonetheless, there are just three main categories of guns according to their storage capacity: high, medium, small.
Recently, a new extra-large gun-safe version has been released with the capacity of up to 64 long guns. At the same time, there is also a gun safe with an extremely small storage capacity.
It even just holds one rifle or a shotgun with accessories attached. This design is suitable for those who want a portable and convenient gun safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some typical questions related to the topic that you should take into consideration. Let’s take a look!
How many guns fit in a 24-gun safe?
The number of guns that can fit in a 24-gun safe can vary depending on the size, type, and configuration of the firearms. While a 24-gun safe is designed to accommodate that number, it’s essential to consider the size and shape of your guns. Slim rifles without many attachments may allow you to maximize the space, but bulkier firearms or those with optics may reduce the capacity. Efficiently organizing your firearms can help you make the most of the available space.
What is the average size of a safe?
The average size of a safe can vary significantly, as safes come in various dimensions to suit different needs. Smaller safes designed for handguns or small valuables are typically more compact, while larger safes meant for rifles and larger items have more substantial dimensions. It’s crucial to consider what you plan to store in the safe and choose a size that accommodates your specific requirements.
How big of a safe do I need?
Determining the size of the safe you need depends on what you intend to store in it. Consider the types and number of firearms, valuables, documents, and other items you want to secure. Take into account not only the immediate storage needs but also potential future acquisitions. It’s often recommended to choose a safe slightly larger than your current needs to accommodate any future additions and ensure you have ample space.
Gun safe size chart?
A gun safe size chart provides a visual reference to help you understand the dimensions and capacities of different safes. These charts typically outline the width, height, and depth of the safe and may include information about the number of guns each safe can hold. Consulting a gun safe size chart can be a useful tool when comparing different safes and determining which one suits your requirements.
Best gun safes?
To find the best gun safes for your needs, it’s essential to consider factors such as the size of your firearm collection, the level of security required, fire resistance, and ease of access. Research reputable brands and models, read reviews, and seek recommendations from experts or fellow gun owners to make an informed decision. The “best” gun safe ultimately depends on your unique circumstances and priorities.
Remember that when choosing a gun safe, prioritizing safety and security should be paramount. Ensure that the safe you select provides adequate protection for your firearms and valuables while meeting your storage needs.
Can I Ignore My Gun Cabinet And Wall-Mount My Guns?
Of course you can. It may not be an absolute requirement to keep guns in a cabinet for most people. Yet, it is a practical solution for you.
An alternative option for you is to put your guns in a proper gun room. You should appoint a meeting with your local police to discuss the possibility of your office turning into a room.
Can I Store My Guns In The Attic?
Yes! An attic may be an ideal place for you to install the gun cabinet, but you still consider some more factors. For example, aloft is prone to temperature and humidity. This danger may adversely affect your firearms’ performance.
If your cabinets were made after 1992, there would be many strict requirements to your locks, the thickness of the steel, etc. It then will conform to BS 7558.
How Many Guns Can A Mid-Size Gun Safe Hold?
As an example above, a mid-size gun safe could technically hold up to 31 guns. Your guns are to the bare minimum, or they are slim rifles with no extra attachments.
However, most guns often come with one or even several attachments, which will decrease the safe capacity. Gun accessories are everything along with them, including scopes, grips, lasers, or sensors,…
Normally, the total number of guns you could store is half the number labeled on the safe. Hence, if the storage capacity in the instruction is 31, you could just store around 15 to 16 guns.
Luckily, some accessories could help you keep more guns. These extra gun storage accessories are rifle rods, handgun hangers, or pistol racks.

Gun Cases
How Much Secure Storage Space Do You Require for Your Valuables?
The most common gripe about most gun users purchase is that they should have purchased a larger safe!! The safe’s storage capacity quickly depletes.
It’s inevitable that family members may hope to store their precious things in the safe. So invest in a safe that can hold the additional valuables that you and other family members will amass in the future.
Should I Buy A Small Gun Safe Or A Bigger One?
In my opinion, a big gun safe is worthier investing. We have encountered tons of safe owners who chose a small gun safe to save their space and money. But the outcome quickly falls short of their expectations.
Why? As normally, your gun collections tend to increase over time. That is not mentioned the number of your valuables such as jewelry or some essential documents.
The Bottom Line
Now we bet that you have got your desired answer! There is no specific number to the question of how many guns fit in a gun safe. Instead, the answer depends on the kind of your gun as well as the gun accessories. Nevertheless, normally, you could store half the number of the gun capacity written on the label.