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Posted: 6/19/2026 3:38:09 AM EDT
[Last Edit: EOTechHWS][Edited]
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Looking into purchasing a safe weighing from 783-980 pounds empty between the options I'm considering. My home was built in 2001. I don't know what the plans called for regarding the flooring structure. My own research online has found most modern homes were designed for 40 PSF. This is safe would put up against an exterior wall and interior wall on the first floor. For folks that are familiar with this subject. Will I have issues with the floor not supporting the weight? Or sagging issues over time? |
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Assuming a wooden joist floor at 40 PSF, a 3' x 3' safe at your max. weight is almost 3x the floor rating. Concrete slab on grade holds a lot more. 3/4" plywood to spread weight may help, but you can consult an engineer, but I don't know how much that costs. I sometimes have to rough-guess commercial bldg equipment temporary storage loads, but I'm definitely not a qualified engineer. Good luck! |
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Originally Posted By Hacksaw25: What's the footprint of the safe? (SF?) Originally Posted By Hacksaw25: What's the footprint of the safe? (SF?) Originally Posted By Mike_Golf: What's underneath? Unfinished basement? Crawlspace? A floor jack is cheap and can provide peace of mind. (Used to keep fish tanks. Same issue.) Crawlspace. The footprint of the 3 safes I’m looking at is 60" x 42" × 24.5” (783 lbs), 72" × 42" × 24.5" (952 lbs) and 60"x 43"x 25" (875 lbs). |
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Originally Posted By EOTechHWS: Looking into purchasing a safe weighing from 783-980 pounds empty between the options I'm considering. My home was built in 2001. I don't know what the plans called for regarding the flooring structure. My own research online has found most modern homes were designed for 40 PSF. This is safe would put up against an exterior wall and interior wall on the first floor. For folks that are familiar with this subject. Will I have issues with the floor not supporting the weight? Or sagging issues over time? If four real big guys stood right next to each other on your floor, would it even cross your mind to think about whether the floor could handle it? PSF is an average across an entire span, used to size beams, joists, etc., it isn't necessarily useful as a metric for what are effectively point loads. Personally, if I could set it so that it shared load with even two of the floor joists, I don't think I'd even worry about it. But if it's a crawlspace, sure, get under there and reinforce it, it'll be easy enough.  Safe Space Episode 49: Can You Put a Safe on a Second Floor? | The Truth About Safe Weight |
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Real hardwood floor? if so you're fine. Carpet, be careful of the edges of the flooring material. I had my 1000 lb empty safe up stares in an apartment before I bought my house. I made sure the safe was in a closet with the floor plan that was the same below so I knew it was well supported at the edges and if it did go through no one unless they were in the closet below would be hurt. Now days my safe is 2500 lbs empty but I have a slab house. So carpet with sheeting type flooring, reinforce the edge joints near the safe from below. If it is close tot he edge of the wall near joict hangers you should be fine. |
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Originally Posted By EOTechHWS: Crawlspace. The footprint of the 3 safes I’m looking at is 60" x 42" × 24.5” (783 lbs), 72" × 42" × 24.5" (952 lbs) and 60"x 43"x 25" (875 lbs). 60" x 42" x 24.5" = 7.145 sqft, 109.6 lbs / sqft 72" x 43 x 25" = 7.465 sqft, 117.2 lbs / sqft You would probably want to span as many floor joists as possible via the width of the safe, support those joists underneath with a large beam, support that beam with posts or jacks. |
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Originally Posted By sgthatred: Real hardwood floor? if so you're fine. Carpet, be careful of the edges of the flooring material. I had my 1000 lb empty safe up stares in an apartment before I bought my house. I made sure the safe was in a closet with the floor plan that was the same below so I knew it was well supported at the edges and if it did go through no one unless they were in the closet below would be hurt. Now days my safe is 2500 lbs empty but I have a slab house. So carpet with sheeting type flooring, reinforce the edge joints near the safe from below. If it is close tot he edge of the wall near joict hangers you should be fine. It was linoleum prior. I now have an engineered wood floor. |
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Life is easier when you just put the safe in the garage…especially if it weighs 1500-2000 lbs… But I would not worry too much about a little safe like that, just add some support below to be safe. |
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