Paragon Lock & Safe In-Wall Safe with Electronic Keypad and 2 Manual Override Keys - Protect Money, Jewelry, and Passports at Home or Business by Paragon Safes

Why I installed this in‑wall safe

I spent a Saturday morning cutting a rectangle between two studs in a closet, and by lunchtime I had a clean, hidden spot for passports, spare keys, and some jewelry. The Paragon in‑wall safe isn’t a vault and doesn’t pretend to be one, but it hits a very practical sweet spot: concealment, quick access, and better-than-a-drawer security without taking up any floor space.

Installation: straightforward if you plan it

There are no surprises here, but a little prep makes the job go smoothly.

• Location and layout: I used a stud finder and verified the cavity with a small exploratory cut before committing to the full opening. Watch for fire blocks and, more importantly, electrical and plumbing. A closet or the back of a cabinet is ideal for concealment.
• Cut and fit: The body is sized for standard 16" on‑center studs, and it dropped in with a bit of wiggle room. I set a short piece of 2×4 at the bottom of the opening as a temporary ledger so I could rest the safe while leveling and fastening.
• Anchoring: The safe includes lag screws that bite cleanly into the studs. You’ll want a compact driver or right-angle drill for the side holes, plus a level to ensure the heavy door swings and latches correctly.
• Weight: At roughly 39 pounds, it’s manageable solo, but a second set of hands helps while you square it up.

The front flange neatly hides minor drywall imperfections. If you’re after a seamless look, a thin bead of paintable caulk around the flange cleans up the joint nicely.

Fit and concealment

This unit is not perfectly flush to the wall. The perimeter flange sits slightly proud, and the keypad and knob project further. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it does change how you hide it:

• A lightweight canvas or art print will hang over it, but it’ll sit off the wall and may bump on the keypad.
• A better approach is a shadow-box style frame or a hinged picture with spacers. In a closet, it disappears behind hanging clothes with no fuss.

If “invisible behind a flat picture” is your top requirement, look for a recessed-door design with a slim keypad. If “hidden in a closet” works for you, this is more than adequate.

Inside the box: usable space with a caveat

Depth is about 3.8 inches—plenty for passports, documents, small cameras, and jewelry boxes. The interior height is generous, and letter-size documents sit comfortably. Two shelves are included; the top and bottom are the most usable. The center area is partially occupied by the boltwork, which is typical for in‑wall safes and worth planning around.

A few practical notes:
- Passport wallets, cash envelopes, and compact valuables fit best.
- Full binders or bulky items won’t.
- If you prefer an open cavity for a single larger item, the shelves can be removed with basic hand tools.

Keypad, codes, and power

Setup took minutes. You can program a master and a guest code (3–8 digits), which is handy if you want to share temporary access. The keypad beeps with each press and on confirmation, and there’s no user setting to mute those tones. It’s not obnoxious, but in a quiet house it’s noticeable. If you need stealthy nighttime access, consider dampening the sound (a small square of tape over the speaker hole reduces volume without opening the unit).

Power comes from standard AA batteries (included). With once‑daily use, the stated battery life of around four to five months aligns with what I’ve seen. I replace them on a calendar cycle to avoid surprises. If the batteries die, the two included override keys work reliably; I tested both before installation and again after. Store those keys somewhere separate and safe.

The door pops open slightly on its own when unlocked—there’s a small spring that saves you from tugging on the edge, which is a nice touch.

Security and what it’s designed for

Any in‑wall safe that fits between studs is more about deterrence and concealment than resisting a sustained, tool‑assisted attack. Within that context, this one checks the boxes:

• Solid steel construction with a door that engages stout locking bolts.
• Six lag points into the studs provide a firm anchor.
• Lockout and alarm behavior: after three incorrect entries it sounds for about 20 seconds; three more incorrect tries trigger a five-minute alarm. That’s enough noise to draw attention in a home or small office.

For casual security—keeping valuables away from kids, guests, contractors, and opportunistic theft—it’s a meaningful upgrade from a lockbox. For high-value assets or compliance storage, you’ll want a rated burglary safe or a bolted-down, heavier unit, ideally with fire protection.

This safe is not fire-rated or water-resistant. If fire protection matters, pair it with a small fire document pouch inside, or choose a different product class entirely.

Build quality and day-to-day use

The enclosure feels solid for its category, and the door alignment held true after installation. Two small observations from daily use:

• Door play: Mine had a tiny bit of rattle when the door was pressed without locking. I added a thin strip of adhesive weatherstripping inside the frame, which made the close more positive and eliminated the rattle.
• Beep volume: As mentioned, a touch louder than I’d like late at night, but manageable.

The finish is a neutral light gray/white that blends fine in a closet. If you plan to place it in a visible area and want it to disappear, you can paint the flange to match the wall color—mask the keypad and knob carefully and use light coats.

Practical tips for a clean install

• Verify stud spacing and scout the cavity with a small cutout first.
• Watch for fire blocking; be prepared to move your opening up or down a few inches.
• Use a ledger (temporary 2×4) to hold the safe while you align it.
• Tighten lag bolts evenly, alternating sides, so you don’t twist the box.
• Check that the door opens freely before final snugging.
• Plan concealment: hinged art frame, cabinet back, or closet placement.

Total time for me, taking it slow and cleaning dust: about 90 minutes.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners and renters (with permission) who want a hidden spot for passports, cash, jewelry, and spare keys.
• Small offices that need a discreet stash for petty cash and sensitive documents.
• Anyone who values concealment and quick access over fire rating or high‑security certification.

Who should look elsewhere:
- If you require fire protection or water resistance.
- If you need a truly flush face that hides under a flat picture without spacers.
- If you plan to store bulky items or large binders.

The bottom line

The Paragon in‑wall safe delivers the fundamentals I care about for this category: easy mounting between studs, solid anchoring, simple code management with a backup key, and an alarmed lockout to discourage tampering. The interior space is practical for everyday valuables, and installation is DIY‑friendly with basic tools. The face and keypad sit a bit proud of the wall, and the keypad beeps more loudly than I’d prefer, but those are reasonable tradeoffs at this price point.

Recommendation: I recommend this in‑wall safe for homeowners and small offices that want concealed, quick-access storage for documents and small valuables without sacrificing wall or floor space. It won’t replace a rated burglary/fire safe, but as a hidden, anchored deterrent that’s easy to live with, it does its job well.