The 5 Best Gun Safe Dehumidifiers – [Reviews & Rankings]

The best gun safe dehumidifiers can help you protect your firearms and ensure that they last a long time. It’s important to store your guns in a safe, but also to keep that safe at the optimal level of moisture for storing a firearm. That moisture level is 50-55% relative humidity (Source).

Without a gun safe dehumidifier, you run the risk of rust or corrosion. This could cause discoloration and potentially affect the gun’s functionality.

A desiccant gun safe dehumidifier works by using silica gel technology to suck moisture from the air. It will require recharge and removal every few weeks (Source).

A wand or bar gun safe dehumidifier works differently. It circulates warm, dry air throughout the safe and pushes out any moisture. For the most part, it’s just as simple as installing the dehumidifier and plugging it in.

Whichever you choose, a gun safe dehumidifier will keep your firearm collection looking and working their best. It doesn’t matter if you own one firearm as a protective measure or collect them as a hobby. A gun safe dehumidifier is a must for all owners.

Before purchasing, you’ll need to consider whether you want a desiccant or wand gun safe humidifier. The desiccant might require more maintenance, however, can be a more cost-effective solution.

You’ll also need to consider the size of the dehumidifier relative to your safe size, as well as whether or not it’s cordless. In this guide, we’ll review top rated gun safe dehumidifiers, with the quietest, energy-efficient, and easy to use models.

Why Do You Need a Dehumidifier In A Gun Safe?

High humidity leads to gun corrosion. If you want your firearms to stay in good working order while they’re stored away, a gun safe dehumidifier is a must.

A dehumidifier can help prolong the life of your guns as well as your gun safe. These accessories help decrease humidity levels due to storage in dark, damp places, general air humidity, and lack of use.

50% relative humidity is the ideal level for a gun safe. Relative humidity of a higher level can lead to increased rust, corrosion, and pitting of metal parts. Wood stocks can also begin to split or crack. This can happen internally where water tends to concentrate.

The longer you leave a gun in a safe without checking on it, the higher the chance that humidity can leave it in a state of disrepair. To keep your guns in good working order between maintenance sessions, a gun safe dehumidifier is a must.

Comparing The Best Gun Safe Dehumidifiers

1. Goldenrod Original Dehumidifier – The Best Gun Safe Dehumidifier

The Goldenrod Original Dehumidifier is one of the best options for those who need to maintain a crisp environment in their gun safes. The gun safe dehumidifier is a remarkably powerful utility tool that will keep moisture away from your guns and important documents.

One of the best things about the Goldenrod Original Dehumidifier is its lifetime warranty. This shows how much trust the manufacturer has on their product. It is a wired unit so you will need a safe that comes with a wire pass-through. However, after that, the Goldenrod Original Dehumidifier doesn’t need much input from you.

The Goldenrod Original Dehumidifier is capable of heating up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. It will also keep the humidity low without any problems. The Goldenrod Original Dehumidifier provides up to 100 cubic feet of coverage.

The dehumidifier is also straightforward to disassemble and reassemble after installing the wire. Another point to be noted here is that the Goldenrod Original Dehumidifier doesn’t get too hot to touch during operation.

2. Eva-Dry E-333 Mini – The Most Affordable Gun Safe Dehumidifier

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If you’re looking for an affordable gun safe dehumidifier then the Eva-Dry E-333 Mini is a worthy choice. It is designed and manufactured with high standards and this is the very reason for its success.

The Eva-Dry E-333 Mini comes with all the essential features you’ll need to get rid of humidity in your gun safe without any hassle.

One of the best things about the paste it is that it doesn’t even rely on power or even batteries. The gun safe dehumidifier comes with silica gel that can absorb humidity from your safe. This means that it will work 24 7 without the need of any external assistance.

There is even an indication window that tells you how much moisture is absorbed at a certain time. The Eva-Dry E-333 Mini is capable of absorbing moisture for up to 6 weeks before it needs to be recharged. It will, however, take hold like to recharge the device fully.

As the gun safe dehumidifier doesn’t have any batteries, it also doesn’t come with any lights so you’ll have to actually check the color of the crystals to know when it’s time to recharge. If the crystals are green, this means they are maxed out at the moment and will need recharging.

3. Lockdown Dehumidifier Rod – The Best Rod Dehumidifier

The Lockdown Dehumidifier Rod is a well-made gun safe dehumidifier that simply lays at the bottom of the safe and increases the ambient temperature inside. This results in less moisture and a better environment for your guns and important documents to live in.

The Lockdown Dehumidifier Rod is capable of reaching up to 120°F. It also comes in different sizes so you can select the one that best fits your safe. One of the best things about this great gun safe dehumidifier is how easy it is to assemble. It arrives disassembled so you can manually wire it if you’re safe don’t have an outlet inside.

The electrical cord is around 6 feet long so it should be easy to plug it in without the need for an extension cord. There also mounting brackets underneath the rod to keep it elevated from the safe floor.

If you have a safe that is medium in size and comes with a whole to run wires, the Lockdown Dehumidifier Rod is simply a great purchase.

4. Lockdown Silica Gel – The Best Gel Dehumidifier

The Lockdown Silica Gel is a remarkable gun safe dehumidifier simply because it’s so easy to work with. All you need to do is to simply put the Lockdown Silica Gel inside your safe and you are good to go. It doesn’t require any batteries or power to work and can last a few weeks, depending on how humid your local environment is.

Looking at the design, the Lockdown Silica Gel comes in a cylindrical container that houses the silica gel inside. The gel can absorb moisture and is perfect for safes that are small in size. Simply place the Lockdown Silica Gel inside the safe and it will start its work. However, it is recommended that you first charge the dehumidifier in your oven before putting it to work.

You can look at the top of the container go gauge how charged the Lockdown Silica Gel is. Let it charge till the silica beads turn to dark blue. Once you notice the beads turning to orange, you’ll know it’s time to charge again. For the price it is going for, it would be best if you get two of these, especially if you have a bigger safe.

Checking on the charge level can get a little tedious and can be downright impossible if you are traveling. So having two Lockdown Silica Gel working for you would improve the charge times.

5. Stack-On SPAD-1500 – The Best Budget Gun Safe Dehumidifier

If you are running on a tight budget, the Stack-On SPAD-1500 is one of the most affordable gun safe dehumidifiers. One of the best things about this gun safe dehumidifier is its small form factor which makes it easy to carry and portable. It is a perfect dehumidifier for small safes.

On one charge the Stack-On SPAD-1500 can easily go up to 6 weeks. However, this time between recharges is determined by the ambient humidity of your area. The good thing is that you’ll just need to charge it overnight once in a while. The Stack-On SPAD-1500 also covers are up to 100 cubic feet which is more than enough for small gun safes to be moisture free.

There is a small window that indicates when the material is completely saturated with moisture. If fully charged, the absorption pallets will be of blue color. They will gradually turn to pink as moisture is absorbed.

After that, all you need to do is simply plug it in for around 8 to 10 hours and it will recharge. The only downside is that you’ll probably need a couple of these for a large gun safe.

How Does A Gun Safe Dehumidifier Work?

Each of the three most common types of gun safe dehumidifiers works differently.

Desiccant-based gun safe dehumidifiers use a product such as silica gel to absorb excess moisture in the air. It’s possible to place a large desiccant packet in a gun safe and leave it be for a month or more, depending on the humidity levels and product size.

Desiccant Gun Safe Dehumidifiers

When the desiccant product is “full”, there are devices available that will extract the moisture they have held onto. This allows the product to be reused. While not the most accurate method for maintaining moisture levels in a gun safe, this is the most cost-effective.

Wand or Bar Type Gun Safe Dehumidifier

Small dehumidifying bars may also be placed in a gun safe. These raise the temperature of the air within the safe, preventing condensation. This can help prevent humidity from building up inside of the gun safe. A bar-type gun sage dehumidifier may be corded or cordless.

Room Dehumidifiers

If you have a large gun safe, a standard home dehumidifier may work well. These are often self-regulating and, though the most expensive option up-front, these tend to last the longest.

What Size Gun Safe Dehumidifier Do I Need?

To determine what size gun safe dehumidifier you need, consider how big your safe is, how your gun safe is constructed, and how high the humidity in your area generally is.

• Size of Your Safe

If you have a very small safe, like those built for a single handgun, you may only have enough room for a desiccant packet-type dehumidifier. If your gun safe is large enough to stand in, a dehumidifier meant for a small room may work well.

• Safe Construction and Location

Larger dehumidifiers often require direct access to an outlet or have a cord attached. Does your safe allow you to run a cord through the back? If so, you can use a standard corded dehumidifier, if the size of your safe allows you to.

If your gun safe is completely solid,  you should look for a battery-operated or rechargeable product. You should also make reminders to check these products regularly to charge the batteries.

• General Relative Humidity

The higher the humidity in the location your gun safe is kept in, the larger and more efficient a device you will need.

How to Install An Electric Dehumidifier In Your Gun Safe

Below you can read how installation works for each of the three major types of gun safe dehumidifiers.

How to Install Desiccant Gun Safe Dehumidifiers

To use a desiccant in a gun safe, you have a few options. First, there are containers that simply hold silica packets. This is set inside of the gun safe and will retain moisture over time. These can be used in combination with another dehumidifier or alone.

It’s possible to have a self-contained device that, by the same method, pulls moisture from the air but that can also expel it to “recharge” the dehumidifier. These may either be placed inside of the gun safe or may come with something that attaches them to an interior wall.

How to Install a Wand or Bar Type Gun Safe Dehumidifier

Bar type gun safe dehumidifiers usually come mounts, though some may require you to purchase a mount depending on the size of your gun safe.

Once the mount has been installed via the manufacturer’s directions, a cord is run through a hole in the back of the safe to the interior and attached to the dehumidifier bar. Once plugged in, this gun safe dehumidifier is fully installed.

How to Recharge a Gun Safe Dehumidifier

Recharging any type of gun safe dehumidifier is simple. If your gun safe dehumidifier is a battery-operated model, all you need to do is plug the unit in for the recommended amount of time (usually 3 to 6 hours), every four to six weeks.

To recharge a silica-gel or desiccant-based gun safe dehumidifier, you should follow the manufacturer’s directions.

Some gun safe dehumidifier units come with a dock that will heat the unit and remove any moisture. Other types may recommend placing the unit in the oven, set at 300 to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, for 3 to 6 hours, or until all moisture has evaporated.

How Long Do Gun Safe Dehumidifiers Last?

How long a gun safe dehumidifier lasts depends on the type of gun safe dehumidifier you have and the quality of it. Desiccants may only last a few weeks in an environment with high humidity. In a low-humidity environment or a small gun safe, they may last up to a year.

Bar-based gun safe dehumidifiers and standard room dehumidifiers will typically last up to five years if charged regularly. Depending on the brand and model of dehumidifier you choose, it may last as long as 10 years.

Most cordless gun safe dehumidifiers will need to be changed every four to six weeks. Many have battery-life indicators built-in, some will simply shut off when the battery is drained. Combining a desiccant with another type of dehumidifier can make both more effective and last longer.

Things You Must Know Before Buying a Gun Safe Dehumidifier

There are several factors that you need to consider before purchasing a gun safe dehumidifier. You also need to gauge what kind of safe you have, especially if there is no wire pass through and it.

Here are some major things that you should keep in mind while shopping for a gun safe dehumidifier:

Type

There are several types of gun safety humidifiers, the major ones contain silica gel that absorbs moisture from the environment. Then there are electrical dehumidifiers that either requires batteries or need to be plugged in.

Range

If you have a large gun safe, then a small dehumidifier won’t do any good. So you’ll either need a powerful unit to absorb all moisture from the gun safe or deploy multiple smaller dehumidifiers to do the job.

Wire

Wired dehumidifiers don’t require much maintenance or recharging but they need to be plugged in constantly. So this means that either you’ll have to drill a hole in your safe or use the wire pass through it comes with by default. They are also a little bit tricky to install, you’ll probably need to disassemble them, pass through the wire, and then reassemble them again. If you need to make a hole, consider using a quality cordless drill.

Size

A large dehumidifier may sound like a great idea but if it doesn’t fit in your small safe, it is practically useless. So you need to measure the interior of your safe before ordering a gun safety humidifier, just to be on the safe side.

Why You Should Get a Gun Safe Dehumidifier

The answer to this question is quite simple, if you are storing guns and valuables in a safe, you’ll probably need a dehumidifier for it.

Especially if the safe is located in a humid area or area where moisture is a problem, you’ll need to have a gun safety humidifier installed. Otherwise, have the risk of moisture accumulating inside your guns and even ruining important documents.

Ready To Buy The Best Gun Safe Dehumidifier?

The best gun safe dehumidifiers are not expensive to purchase and provide a great service and return. So it makes perfect sense to invest in one as soon as you can. If you’ve already bought a gun safe, it wouldn’t hurt to invest a little bit more and a quality gun safe dehumidifier.

We tried selecting a wide range of different dehumidifiers for gun safe so they can fit into any safe and fill any requirement. However, we do recommend that you use multiple smaller dehumidifiers if you have a larger safe or invest in a rod-type dehumidifier with a bigger range.

Do talk to us if you have any concerns, questions, or suggestions about this list. We would love to hear from you.