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Fortis Lock Lock Box – Large Key Safe Box with Resettable Combination | Heavy-Duty Outdoor Key Lockbox | Weatherproof Wall-Mount Security Box for Home, Office, Airbnb, or Real Estate Use Review
Why I picked this lock box
I needed a no-nonsense way to give family, a pet sitter, and the occasional contractor access to my place without juggling schedules or hiding a key under the mat. The Fortis lock box promised a heavy-duty, weather-resistant, wall-mounted solution with a resettable combination and enough internal space to be genuinely useful—not just a token compartment. After a few weeks of daily use on an exterior wall, it’s become a dependable part of my home setup.
Build and design
The housing is solid metal and feels dense in the hand. There’s no flex in the body or door, and the edges are neatly finished with no sharp burrs. It’s exactly the kind of tool you want to forget about until you need it. The front door seats flush against the body, and the hinge doesn’t feel wobbly or delicate. It opens wide enough to access everything inside without scraping knuckles, which sounds like a small thing until you’re loading it while standing on a stoop.
A protective cover shields the combination dials from rain and dirt. It’s not just a cosmetic flap; it helps keep grit out of the mechanism and keeps the numbers readable after a storm. The overall footprint is compact enough to be discreet, but the interior is surprisingly roomy. I was able to store two standard house keys on a short ring with space to spare. For most household use—spare keys, a small key ring, or a few access cards—it’s the right size.
Installation experience
I mounted the box to an exterior brick wall near the door. The backplate has clearly defined mounting holes, and the body sits tight against the wall once installed. Here’s what worked well for me:
- If you’re mounting on masonry, use proper anchors and a hammer drill; don’t try to drive wood screws into brick.
- On siding or a wooden stud, pre-drill pilot holes to avoid splitting and to get tighter bite.
- Aim for chest height. That makes the dials easier to see and operate, and it keeps the box away from ground splash during heavy rain.
- Test the door swing before final tightening to ensure nothing binds.
In total, installation took about 15 minutes with the right drill bits and hardware. Once secured, there’s minimal play—no rattling or rocking when you tug on it.
Setting and using the combination
The resettable combination is straightforward. The sequence to set a new code is the standard process for these boxes: open the door, move the internal reset switch/lever to the set position, dial in your new code, and return the switch to lock it in. I appreciate that the reset step is inside the box, not accessible from the exterior.
In day-to-day use, the dials turn cleanly and don’t feel mushy. With cold fingers and light gloves, I could still operate them, but gloves with thicker insulation made it a little clumsy. That’s the nature of small dials more than a flaw here. The numbers line up predictably with the indicator line, so there’s no guessing whether you’ve overshot a digit. In low light, I could manage with a porch light; in near-darkness, a phone flashlight helps.
Security and peace of mind
No wall-mounted key safe is a substitute for a full-blown safe or a monitored lock cabinet. That said, this box lands in the right place for residential and light commercial use: a sturdy, weather-protected, code-based compartment that keeps keys accessible to approved people and out of obvious hiding spots.
Things I liked on the security front:
- The door feels thick, and the latch action is positive—there’s a confident “seat” when you close it.
- The housing tolerates prying attempts poorly, which is exactly what you want. While I didn’t stress-test it with tools, the solid-metal construction and tight interface between door and body don’t offer easy leverage points.
As always, mount it to something strong. No lock box can outperform flimsy mounting. Brick, concrete, and solid studs are your friends; thin trim boards are not.
Weather performance
I installed it on a wall that sees rain, direct sun, and a decent amount of dust from landscaping. After a few wet days and cold nights, the mechanism has stayed smooth. The cover keeps the dials dry, and the interior stayed free of moisture. If you live near the ocean or in areas with salt spray, a light silicone spritz on the dials once in a while is a smart maintenance step, but I haven’t needed it yet.
The box doesn’t whistle in the wind, rattle, or collect standing water. There’s enough clearance for the door to open even when the exterior is wet or slightly gritty.
Capacity and organization
For a “large” wall box, the inside space is practical without being cavernous. I comfortably stored:
- Two standard house keys on a small ring
- A small access card
- A folded note with instructions for a contractor
If you use oversized car fobs, note that very chunky fobs can be awkward in many lock boxes. This one can handle a short ring plus flat keys easily, but I’d avoid packing it with bulky fobs and trinkets. Keeping the contents simple makes getting keys in and out faster and reduces the chance of snagging on the lip.
Day-to-day convenience
The biggest win for me is predictability. The combination dials land on the digits reliably; the door opens and closes without needing to jiggle; and the cover slides into place without catching. Those small details make a difference, especially if multiple people use the box and you don’t want to field “it won’t open” texts.
Tips that make it even better:
- Choose a code that’s easy to communicate by phone but not an obvious pattern. Avoid birthdays and street numbers.
- After you close the door, spin the dials to scramble them. It’s easy to forget in a rush.
- Periodically test the code before handing it out to a new user, just to confirm no one accidentally changed it.
Where it fits best
- Homeowners who want to share access with cleaners, dog walkers, or guests
- Hosts who manage short-term stays and need a dependable outdoor key handoff
- Small offices where a few staff need access to shared keys or cards
- Real estate showings where agents cycle through a property
It’s not intended to guard high-value assets or resist a determined attack with tools. If your use case involves high risk, pair it with cameras, lighting, and solid mounting, or consider a different category of security hardware.
Quirks and limitations
- Like most mechanical dial boxes, it rewards patience: align digits carefully, and don’t force the latch if it doesn’t open on the first try.
- Thick winter gloves make the dials harder to operate. If this will be used in very cold climates, plan to pull off a glove or use thinner liners when entering the code.
- If you rely on oversized car fobs, check fit before finalizing installation height; the extra reach helps maneuver bigger items in and out.
None of these are dealbreakers; they’re the normal trade-offs of a durable, compact, mechanical lock box.
Maintenance
This is a low-maintenance piece of kit. A few simple habits will keep it smooth:
- Keep the cover closed whenever it’s not in use.
- If the dials feel gritty after a storm, wipe them down and give a quick dry spin.
- Once or twice a year (or after a dusty season), a very light application of silicone-safe lubricant on the dials is plenty. Avoid oils that attract dirt.
Final take
The Fortis lock box does exactly what I want from an outdoor wall-mounted key safe: it’s sturdy, straightforward, weather-conscious, and easy for multiple people to use without a learning curve. The internal space is genuinely useful, the combination reset process is sensible, and installation is quick if you have the right anchors for your wall type. It’s not a high-security vault, but for keys and access cards, it provides the right balance of durability, usability, and deterrence.
Recommendation: I recommend this lock box for homeowners, hosts, and small offices that need reliable, shared access to physical keys. It’s a solid build with predictable operation, weather-friendly design, and a sensible combination mechanism. Mount it well, pick a smart code, and it will quietly do its job.
Project Ideas
Business
Airbnb/Short-Term Rental Key Management Package
Offer turnkey lockbox installation and key-management services to hosts: sell or rent the lockbox, mount it securely, program the combination, and provide training on updating codes remotely. Upsell maintenance visits, seasonal weatherproofing, and branding (host logo/name on box) for a recurring fee.
Mobile On-Site Contractor Stash Service
Target contractors, landscapers, and property managers by offering a service that installs lockboxes at job sites to secure keys, access cards, or small tools. Package options include temporary rentals, weekly code rotation, and accountability logs. Charge per-install plus a subscription for ongoing management and replacements.
Realtor Showing & Open-House Kits
Create branded realtor kits with lockboxes, signage, and instructions for safe showings. Offer bulk discounts to brokerages and include optional services: pre-programming different combinations for each agent, offering tamper reports, and mounting solutions tailored to property types. Add a warranty/maintenance upsell.
Event & Festival Secure-Wrap Service
Provide short-term secure storage solutions for outdoor events, festivals, and film shoots where staff need controlled access to equipment or keys. Rent weatherproof lockboxes with on-call support to change combinations, replace units, or provide on-site tech. Revenue from rentals, deposits, and emergency callouts.
Branded Lockbox Product Bundles
Design value-add bundles for small businesses (vacation rentals, gyms, salons) that include a heavy-duty lockbox, customized branding (stickers or powder-coat), installation, and an online how-to portal. Sell as one-time purchases with optional add-ons like key duplication, lockbox recycling/trade-in, and scheduled combo-change services.
Creative
Weatherproof Time Capsule
Turn the lockbox into a personalized time capsule for families or couples. Decorate the exterior with outdoor-grade paint or vinyl, line the interior with silica packets and a padded insert, then store letters, small keepsakes, or USB drives. Use the resettable combination to set a future opening code and mount it somewhere discreet in a yard or garden.
Puzzle-Entrance Art Piece
Create an interactive outdoor sculpture where viewers solve clues to open the box. Integrate the lockbox into a wood or metal art pedestal, add weatherproof clue panels, and change the combination periodically. Great for community events, garden tours, or as an escape-room style backyard attraction.
Seed & Bulb Cold-Storage Vault
Use the weatherproof locking box as a mini seed vault for gardeners. Add desiccant packs and a small removable tray to store rare seeds or bulbs that need dry conditions. Label trays and keep a rotation calendar—mount the box near an outdoor workbench for convenient access.
Hidden Gift Stash
Convert the lockbox into a surprise-gift dispenser for special occasions. Camouflage it as part of an outdoor installation (faux rock or planter) and hide small gifts, notes, or scavenger-hunt clues inside. Reset the combination after each use and incorporate creative reveal instructions.
Portable Geocache/Adventure Cache
Modify the lockbox for use as a durable geocache or adventure cache on private properties (permits permitting). Add a logbook, small trade items, and weatherproof tags. The combination can be distributed to participants or changed with each event to make hunts repeatable without replacing hardware.