You don't want to leave your spare house keys hidden under the rug. That's the first spot everyone looks, including potential thieves, so it's not very secure. It's much safer to invest in a lock box to store your spare keys in. Costing not very much at all, a lock box will give you peace of mind that your keys will be there when you need them. How do they work? Typically, lock boxes require a combination to unlock. Simply punch in your code and voila — you've got access to your keys. Lock boxes are simple, safe, affordable. To help you sort through the options, we did the research and found the best lock boxes for keys on the market today. Master Lock Portable Lock Box Keep Your Keys SafeYou can safely store up to six keys in this great lock box. Best OverallFind on Amazon It’s easy to see why this lock box made it to the top of our list. Why? Simple: it has so many great features and it’s incredibly easy to use. There’s room in it for up to six keys, and it can even hold a few key fobs. With all this space, you can tuck a spare house key, a car key, and a backup access card inside. We love that the combination locks are easy to set when it arrives, and simple to turn once you’ve set it up. You can pick any four-digit number you want to be your combination. Unlike most combination locks, you don’t need to remember which direction to turn it each time; you simply enter the number and push the open lever. On the outside, you’ll find a weather protection cover that keeps the combination lock and your keys safe if it’s raining. You won’t have any rust to deal with from this one, either. All in all, this one offers a secure way to keep your keys accessible to you and you alone. Pros Several styles available, including adjustable shackle and wall mount, so you can pick the one that makes the most sense for you You can set and reset the code, so if you need to give someone else access, you can change the code once they’re done Large interior space that can hold larger keys compared to many lock boxes Cons The switch to open the box is a little hard to push, especially if you have long fingernails Kingsley Guard-a-Key Black Realtor’s Lockbox Out of Sight If you don't want to call attention to your key lock box, give this thin one a try. It looks like a padlock, but has a safe hiding spot inside for up to five keys. Most Low-ProfileFind on Amazon Some lock boxes are so bulky that they stick out like a sore thumb. (That kind of defeats the purpose of being discreet, no?) This one is different, and that’s why it made our list. It’s a low-profile lock box so it’s very slim and not as noticeable. But don’t let its small size fool you. Inside, there’s room for about five standard keys, and the hanging shackle allows you to put it almost anywhere. You can hang it on your porch railing, over the neck of your doorknob, or on your fence. There are plenty of placement options. The black metal has been covered with vinyl, so you don’t have to worry about it scratching your property. It’s a great little lock box. Pros Slim design that looks similar to a padlock. This design doesn’t instantly alert people that there are keys inside Easy to set the combination to a number you can remember, and simple to change it in the future if you need to Combination lock turns easily Cons The shackle isn’t adjustable, and it doesn’t have a ton of clearance, so if it won’t fit in your desired place, you’ll need to find somewhere else to put it Puroma Security Key Lock Box On the WallYou can mount this lock box on any wall, so you can select where to put it. Best Wall-MountedFind on Amazon If you prefer a wall mounted lock box, give this one a try. It’s got a spacious interior with enough room to hold five keys and a credit card. You can mount this one inside or out, so it’s the perfect lock box for putting in your garage, on the back of the shed, or even on the side of your home. It comes with the screws and wall plugs you need to mount it anywhere. Once you get it in place, it’s quite easy to use. You’ll have the code set in just a few minutes, and then it’s ready to go. Because you can reset the code again and again, you’ll be able to share the code with a contractor or pet sitter on one-off occasions and then change it once they no longer need access. Pros Durable zinc-alloy body that holds up to weather 10,000 possible code combinations Shutter-style door to protect the combination dials from the rain so it won’t rust Cons The numbers are a little small and can be hard to read, especially if it’s in a dark location There’s a metal spring on the inside that you may be tempted to pull out since the top looks like a random piece of wire. Don’t pull it out; it won’t open properly if you do Master Lock 5422D Key Lock Box Push to EnterSimply use the push button keys to enter your code, and this lock box will open. Best with Push Buttons Find on Amazon Sometimes combination locks can get stuck, especially if you don’t use them often. To prevent that possibility, give this lock box from Master Lock a try. Instead of a combination scroll, it features twelve push buttons. There are numbers and letters for each, similar to what you’d find on a phone. (In this configuration, the number 2 represents the letters a, b, and c, and so on.) With this combination, you can set an alpha-numeric code that’s easy for you to remember. Once you enter the code, the box opens to reveal a spot for your keys. There’s enough room for five keys inside, including a larger key fob. The metal body is durable and will keep your keys safely inside until you take them out. Pros Two styles available — wall-mount or shackle — to give you different placement options Comes with a removable key hook to help you keep your key in place at the back Can set an alpha-numeric code that’s harder for people to guess Cons The screws that come with the wall mount style aren’t great, so you may want to replace them with a sturdier option It comes with a tool for setting the code, so you’ll need to hang onto that so you can change it in the future Kidde Stor-A-Key Locking Magnetic Key Case Stays in PlaceThe powerful magnet on this lock box will keep it securely on any flat metal surface. Best Magnetic Find on Amazon If you’re looking for a magnetic key lock box, here’s an excellent option. The strong magnet allows you to stick this to the chassis of your car, underneath your metal mailbox, or anywhere else that’s a flat metal surface. You won’t have to deal with adjusting a shackle, nor will you have to put screws into your wall, so it’s super simple to use. This lock box is made from a durable plastic that won’t get rusty or otherwise damaged if it gets rained or snowed on. It’s a good little lock box for a great price. Pros Good price point Can use it for your spare car key and stick it to your car in case you’re away from home when you lock your keys in Removable foam insert that keeps the keys from shifting around inside and making noise Has a sliding door to protect the combination portion from the elements or road grime Cons It’s made of plastic, not metal, so it’s not as secure if someone wants to bust it open There’s not a lot of room in there. It’s more for emergency access, rather than being a place to keep every key on your ring Frequently Asked Questions How do I set the combination on a lock box? Each lock box will have a different method. Typically, you’ll need to enter the pre-set code (often 0000) and then you can enter the code you want. However, always take the time to read the directions and follow them carefully. That way you can be sure it’ll open again. How secure are lock boxes? While lock boxes are much safer than leaving your spare key hidden under a rock on your porch, they’re not completely indestructible. They really do help keep honest people honest, but if someone wants in badly enough, they’ll probably find a way. There are many videos online about how to bypass the combination on almost any lock box style you can find. And if there are only three digits in the combination, it’ll only take about 30 minutes to try them all. So they aren’t perfect, but they are still a secure place to keep a spare key. After all, realtors use similar lock boxes all of the time.