Doorknob, Wall or Push-Button: The Best Key Lock Box for Caregivers and Guests

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A caregiver arriving early, a dog walker, a contractor or a relative checking on the house all need a way in. The best key lock box holds a spare key behind a code you control, so you can stop hiding one under the mat and change who has access whenever you like.

We compared seven lock boxes sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store: wall-mount models that screw to a surface, portable boxes that hang from a doorknob or gate, and a two-in-one that does both. They cover dial and push-button codes, a box with light-up dials and a high-capacity box for 20 to 30 keys. Every pick landed in our lowest price tier, so the choice comes down to mounting, code type and capacity rather than budget.

A lock box is a deterrent, not a safe. Strength claims below are each brand’s own, and none of these listings states a third-party security rating.

Our Top Key Lock Box Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Master Lock 5400EC Portable Lock Box: Best Overall

Master Lock’s 5400EC is the classic portable key box: a metal body with a combination dial on the front and a shackle on top that loops over a doorknob. Inside, it holds up to five standard house keys, which the listing pitches as controlled access for family, renters and trusted helpers without hidden spares.

You set your own four-digit code and can reset it any time, with “no keys to copy or locks to replace.” Master Lock describes a solid metal body and a protective shutter door that shields the dials from rain, dust and daily exposure, and calls it built for year-round outdoor use.

Installation is the simplest here. The vinyl-coated shackle hangs over most ball, biscuit and tulip-style door knobs, plus gates, fences and select mailboxes, and the listing says it installs in seconds without scratching surfaces. Because nothing is screwed in, it suits renters and anyone who doesn’t want holes in the siding. Master Lock names realtors, Airbnb hosts and families managing keys for caregivers as typical users.

It suits a household that needs to share one or two keys with a rotating cast of helpers and wants a box that can come down the day it’s no longer needed. Check that your door hardware is a knob style before ordering, since the listing doesn’t mention lever handles.

Why we like it

• Most popular lock box listing
• No drilling
• Shutter door over the dials

Watch out for

A shackle box can only be as secure as what it hangs on, and the listing names knob styles rather than levers.

Check Price on Amazon →

2. Kidde AccessPoint KeySafe Original 001015: Best Push-Button Wall Mount

Kidde’s AccessPoint KeySafe Original is a permanent, wall-mounted key safe with a push-button keypad. Rather than spinning dials, you press a sequence of buttons to enter the code and open the door. It stores up to five keys.

The listing describes “over 1,000 personalized combos to chose from” and frames the box for keyless entry by people you trust. Kidde specifically mentions after-school access for kids who lose keys, and it works just as well for a home health aide or a neighbor who feeds the cat. Mounting hardware is included, and the listing says the box is for outside or indoor use.

Day to day, the box stays fixed where you mount it, which means no one can lift it off a doorknob. Kidde offers different colors so it can match or blend in with the surface behind it, and this listing is in Titanium Gray. The specs list it at 7 x 3.2 x 2.7 inches and 2.25 pounds, and it ships in Amazon’s Frustration-Free Packaging.

It suits homeowners who expect regular visitors for months or years and want a fixed box they can find, open and reset without fiddling with small dials. Renters should ask their landlord before drilling into an exterior wall.

Why we like it

• Simple push-button entry
• Fixed mount resists removal from a knob
• Hardware in the box

Watch out for

Kidde lists “over 1,000” combinations, a smaller pool than the dial boxes, so pick a code that isn’t obvious.

Check Price on Amazon →

3. Master Lock 5425D Wall Mount Lock Box: Best for Low Light

The Master Lock 5425D is a wall-mount key box with one feature none of the others offer: dials that light up. The listing says the dials “light up automatically each time the weather cover is opened,” powered by a replaceable CR2032 coin battery that comes installed.

Inside, Master Lock describes a large internal cavity for multiple keys and access cards, and the title rates it for six keys. The listing gives interior dimensions of 4-3/16 inches tall, 60 millimeters wide and 1 inch deep; the width is printed as “2/38 inch,” which by our math is a typo for about 2-3/8 inches. The lock body is 2-7/8 inches wide.

Day to day, you lift the weather cover, the dials light, and you set the four-digit code you chose. You can reset it for thousands of personalized combinations. The box is designed to be installed on a fixed object, with a metal body and weather cover for durability, per the listing.

It suits porches without a light, early-morning caregivers and anyone who has squinted at tiny dials in the dark. Keep a spare CR2032 on hand, and plan to buy screws suited to your wall, since the listing doesn’t say hardware is included.

Why we like it

• Lit dials for night visits
• Six-key capacity
• Weather cover

Watch out for

The light depends on a coin battery, and the listing doesn’t state a warranty or include mounting hardware in its bullets.

Check Price on Amazon →

4. Iron Lock XXL Wall Mount Lock Box: Best High-Capacity

Iron Lock’s XXL is a wall-mount key box sized for far more than a single spare. The listing says it holds 20 to 30 house keys plus car fobs and access cards, with an interior of 4.7 x 3.6 x 1.9 inches and a 5.0-inch door opening for loading a full key ring.

Organization is built in. An internal tray stops keys tumbling out when the door swings open, a metal hook fits under the top mounting screw and a peel-and-stick hook goes anywhere inside. Iron Lock is candid about one limit: the dial mechanism uses up to an inch of depth at the top, with full room below.

The four-digit code is resettable among 10,000 combinations, and the listing advises setting your code with the door open and testing it three times. A weather shield slides over the dials, and the body is zinc alloy and aluminum that the brand calls rust- and corrosion-resistant. It is fully mechanical, with no app or battery. Iron Lock also says plainly that it “is not a sealed waterproof case, so an eave or overhang is ideal.”

It suits rental hosts, property managers and big households, and anyone who wants to hang separate keys for different helpers. Iron Lock’s own advice fits every box on this page: change the code any time a guest, cleaner or contractor leaves.

Why we like it

• Room for 20 to 30 keys
• Tray and hooks keep keys sorted
• Honest weather and sizing notes

Watch out for

Mount it under an eave or overhang, as Iron Lock recommends, and ignore the specs size field, which is smaller than the listed interior.

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5. Puroma LB125 Key Lock Box: Best Budget 2-in-1

Puroma’s LB125 gives you two ways to install one box. It ships with a removable shackle for hanging on a doorknob, and with four screws and four expansion plugs for mounting it to a wall. The listing warns that the shackle is packed inside the box, so open it before assuming a part is missing.

The code comes preset to 0-0-0-0, and Puroma says you can set your own four-digit code in four steps, from 10,000 possible combinations. The body is aluminum alloy and steel. Puroma calls it rustproof, cut-resistant and resistant to hammering, sawing and prying; those are the brand’s claims, not test results.

Inside, Puroma describes a large storage space for house keys without giving a key count. The listing says the box is rust-proof, corrosion-resistant and weatherproof, and suggests it for homes, offices, garages, apartment entrances and rental houses, plus cleaners and pet sitters. At a listed 0.6 pounds and 1.54 x 3.07 x 5.75 inches, it is compact.

It suits renters who may want to switch from a doorknob to a wall later, and anyone who wants a backup box without spending much. Set the code before you load a key, and test it a few times with the box open.

Why we like it

• Two mounting options
• Hardware included
• Very popular listing

Watch out for

The listing gives no key count and doesn’t mention a dial cover, so expect a basic box.

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6. KeyGuard SL-500 Punch Button Lock Box: Best Auto-Locking Keypad Box

KeyGuard’s SL-500 is a portable lock box with a phone-style keypad. Instead of turning dials, you punch in the code on large buttons, which KeyGuard says suits people who have trouble with small keypads. A shackle on top lets it hang from a doorknob or another fixed object, so there’s no drilling.

Two behaviors stand out in the listing. The box “is secured automatically when closing,” so a helper can’t forget to scramble a dial, and the shackle release “can only be released when the lock box is open.” A protective cover door hides the keypad from passersby, which KeyGuard says helps prevent unauthorized access and tampering.

KeyGuard describes a solid metal vault with a tough ABS plastic coating that protects surfaces from scratches, and a metal frame inside for strength. It lists room for house keys, car keys, fobs, cards and IDs, though it gives no key count. The listing also mentions joggers and outdoor athletes, alongside homeowners sharing access with friends, family and caregivers.

It suits older homeowners, caregivers and anyone who finds dials fiddly in cold weather. FJM Security Products, which makes KeyGuard, sells it directly. Because the box locks itself, test your code a few times with the lid open before you load the only spare key inside.

Why we like it

• Big, easy buttons
• Locks itself on closing
• Keypad cover

Watch out for

The listing leaves out capacity and code length, and its specs size field can’t be right for a key box.

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7. Vewaci 8109 Portable Key Lock Box: Best Portable With Key Hooks

Vewaci’s 8109 is a portable lock box with a 12-button keypad and a shackle that hangs from a doorknob, fence, railing or gate. There is nothing to screw in, so you can move it whenever you like without damaging a wall.

The keypad uses oversized numeric buttons, which Vewaci says work smoothly for users of all ages, even in low light. You choose your own code, and the brand recommends four to eight digits for a balance of security and memorability. An ABS shield covers the keypad from rain, dust and UV rays, and the body is aluminum alloy that Vewaci says resists hammering, sawing and prying.

Inside, the listing gives 4.13 x 2.36 x 1.77 inches of space with built-in hooks that keep standard keys organized and stop them slipping, plus room for car keys and access cards. The large opening makes loading easy. Vewaci notes that returns must be restored to the original, no-code state before shipping back.

It suits Airbnb hosts, families sharing keys with several helpers and anyone who would rather hang keys on hooks than drop them loose in a box. Record your code after setting it, as Vewaci advises, and hang it somewhere less visible than the front door if a gate or side railing is available.

Why we like it

• Hooks for tidy key storage
• Push-button code
• Moves without tools

Watch out for

Warranty and weight aren’t stated, and like every shackle box it is only as secure as the object it hangs on.

Check Price on Amazon →

How We Chose the Best Key Lock Boxes

We kept only in-stock boxes sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store, limited Master Lock to two different designs (one portable, one wall mount) and compared what each listing says:

• Mounting: doorknob shackle, permanent wall mount or both.
• Code type: dials or push buttons, and whether the code is resettable.
• Capacity: stated key count or interior size.
• Weather protection: a cover over the dials or keypad, and any limits the brand admits.
• Support and popularity: warranty field, seller and Amazon sales rank.

We treated every strength claim (“cut-resistant,” “withstands hammering”) as the brand’s own words. None of these listings states a third-party security rating.

Why Not Just Hide a Key?

The National Crime Prevention Council’s home and neighborhood safety tips advise keeping spare keys with a trusted neighbor or nearby shopkeeper, “not under a doormat or planter, on a ledge, or in the mailbox.” Those are the first places anyone looks. A key lock box puts the spare behind a code instead, and lets you change that code when the people who need it change.

It is still a deterrent, not a safe. A determined person with tools can get into most small boxes, and a portable box is only as secure as the knob, rail or gate it hangs on. Mount it where it isn’t obvious from the street, and don’t label it with your address.

Key Lock Box Buying Guide

Best Wall Mount Key Lock Box

Wall-mount boxes screw to siding, brick or a post, so no one can lift them off a knob. The Kidde KeySafe, Master Lock 5425D and Iron Lock XXL are our wall picks, and the Puroma can be mounted too. Kidde, Iron Lock and Puroma include screws; Master Lock’s 5425D bullets don’t mention hardware. Renters should get permission before drilling into an exterior wall.

Best Portable Key Lock Box

A shackle box hangs on a doorknob, gate or fence and moves when you do, which suits renters and short-term needs. The Master Lock 5400EC, KeyGuard SL-500 and Vewaci 8109 are portable, and the Puroma can be either. Check your hardware: the Master Lock listing names ball, biscuit and tulip knobs, and Vewaci lists knobs, fences, railings and gates.

Best Push Button Key Lock Box

Push buttons are quicker for many people than four small dials, especially with cold hands. The Kidde (over 1,000 combinations, per the listing), KeyGuard (large phone-style buttons that lock automatically when closed) and Vewaci (12 buttons, 4 to 8 digits recommended) use keypads. Dial boxes from Master Lock, Iron Lock and Puroma offer resettable four-digit codes, and Iron Lock and Puroma each cite 10,000 combinations.

Best Key Lock Box for Outdoor Use

Look for a cover over the code. Master Lock’s 5400EC has a shutter door, the 5425D a weather cover, the Iron Lock a sliding dial shield, the KeyGuard a cover door and the Vewaci an ABS keypad shield. The Kidde and Puroma listings don’t mention a cover. Iron Lock is the most candid, saying its box is not a sealed waterproof case and that an eave or overhang is ideal. That’s sensible advice for any of them.

Best Key Safe for Caregivers

For a home health aide, family caregiver or visiting nurse, the box needs to be easy to find, easy to open and easy to re-code. A fixed push-button box like the Kidde or a lit dial box like the Master Lock 5425D works well for daily visits. Give each new helper the code, then change it when they stop coming. For a longer-term setup, a keypad deadbolt removes the physical key altogether; our best smart lock guide covers models with guest codes.

Lock Boxes, Break-Ins and Your Policy

A lock box only protects the key. The door it opens still has to stand up to force, so pair it with a solid strike plate and longer screws; our best door reinforcement kit guide explains the options. Change the code after contractors, cleaners or caregivers finish, and keep a list of who had it and when.

If something goes missing after someone used a lock box code, how a claim is handled can depend on your policy and the circumstances. We can’t say how your coverage applies, so ask your agent before you hand out codes widely. Our Ohio homeowners insurance guide covers the basics, and renters can see renters insurance costs in Ohio.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best key lock box for most homes?

The Master Lock 5400EC is our top pick. It ranks #1 in Amazon’s Security Lock Boxes category, has a shutter door over the dials, carries a “Limited Lifetime Warranty” in its warranty field and hangs on a doorknob with no drilling.

Are key lock boxes safe?

They are safer than a key under the mat, which the National Crime Prevention Council advises against, but they are deterrents rather than safes. None of our picks lists a third-party security rating. Mount them out of plain view and change the code after helpers leave.

Wall mount or portable key lock box: which is better?

A wall mount is fixed, so it can’t be lifted off a knob, and suits long-term use. A portable shackle box needs no drilling and suits renters or short jobs. The Puroma LB125 does both, with a removable shackle and wall hardware.

What is the best key safe for caregivers?

A box that’s easy to open and re-code. The Kidde AccessPoint push-button wall mount and the Master Lock 5425D with light-up dials both suit daily caregiver visits. Change the code when a caregiver stops coming.

How many keys does a key lock box hold?

Most hold about five. The Master Lock 5400EC and Kidde list up to 5, the Master Lock 5425D title says 6, and the Iron Lock XXL claims 20 to 30 keys plus fobs and cards.

The Bottom Line

For most homes, the Master Lock 5400EC is the best key lock box to start with: the category’s top seller, a shutter door over the dials and no drilling. The Kidde AccessPoint KeySafe is the permanent push-button choice, the Master Lock 5425D lights its dials at night, the Iron Lock XXL holds 20 to 30 keys, the Puroma LB125 hangs or mounts, the KeyGuard SL-500 locks itself with big buttons and the Vewaci 8109 keeps keys on hooks. Whichever you choose, change the code when helpers move on.

Giving caregivers or contractors access to your home and want to know where your coverage stands? Call Jeff Smith’s State Farm office at (740) 354-7747 or book a free coverage review.