Home Safety

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We've spent hundreds of hours researching and testing home safety gear and security systems, as well as interviewing countless experts who know an alarming amount about how to break into homes. Here's our advice on stuff from door locks to fire extinguishers to smoke alarms, with trustworthy recommendations that can keep your home and belongings protected.
  • A white Google Nest Doorbell, our pick for best smart doorbell camera, shown mounted on a white wall.

    The Best Smart Doorbell Camera

    by Rachel Cericola

    A smart doorbell camera allows you to see who’s on the other side of your front door so you can screen visitors and package deliveries—even if you aren’t home.

  • Five emergency weather radios, of different shapes and sizes, that we tested to find the best emergency weather radio.

    The Best Emergency Weather Radio

    by Thom Dunn

    After 36 hours of research and tests of more than a dozen emergency weather radios, we’re confident the Midland ER310 is the best choice for most people.

  • Our three picks for best indoor security camera, displayed next to each other in front of a yellow background.

    The Best Indoor Security Camera

    by Rachel Cericola

    Security cameras keep a watchful eye on all your prized possessions—not only your stuff, but family and pets, too—and send an alert when motion is detected.

  • The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera, one of our picks for best outdoor security camera, with a modern rounded square shape.

    The Best Outdoor Security Camera

    by Rachel Cericola

    An outdoor security camera can alert you to prowlers, package deliveries, and visitors, as well as animals in your trash and things that go bump in the night.

  • A Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt installed to a door and set to lock.

    The Best Smart Locks

    by Jon Chase

    A smart lock lets you go key-free and control your door remotely. Our pick, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, isn’t the smartest lock, but it is sturdy, simple, and reliable.

  • Our picks for best home security system, which are all smart devices, displayed next to each other and a couple of padlocks.

    The Best Home Security System

    by Rachel Cericola

    A good home security system should make it easy to find peace of mind. It can alert you to an open door or window, frighten away prowlers, and call for help.

  • A Google Nest Protect and a Kidde Hardwired Smoke Alarm with Indoor Air Quality Monitor, our picks for the best smart smoke alarms.

    The Best Smart Smoke Alarm

    by Roy Furchgott

    Smart smoke alarms are pricey, but unlike traditional ones, they can alert you to a problem even when you’re not home. The Google Nest Protect is our pick.

  • Two different shower mats pictured together.

    The Best Shower Mat

    by Shannon Palus and Anna Wenner

    These grippy, easy-to-clean mats can help prevent a fall in the bath or shower, offering peace of mind that anyone can use.

  • Thirteen security cameras we tested side by side.

    The Best Security Cameras for Your Home

    by Rachel Cericola

    Wi-Fi security cameras can help protect your family and possessions. We’ve reviewed and picked the best models for every area of your home.

  • Three LED light bulbs, two loose and one in a wooden geometric lamp.

    The Best LED Light Bulb

    by Thom Dunn and Anna Perling

    The best LED bulbs offer long life and efficiency, plus a look that matches that of a traditional incandescent.

  • Three of our picks for the best portable power station, the EcoFlow Delta 1300, the Jackery Explorer 1000, and the Jackery Explorer 300.

    The Best Portable Power Station

    by Sarah Witman

    Our top pick for three years running, the Jackery Explorer 1000 is the best portable power station for going off the grid or prepping for an emergency.

  • Four of our picks for the best flashlight side by side with their lights turned on.

    The Best Flashlight

    by Doug Mahoney

    The best flashlights, such as the ThruNite Archer 2A V3, offer unmatched illumination, versatility, and durability.

  • Two of our picks for the best fireproof safes engulfed in flames.

    The Best Fireproof Document Safe

    by Nick Guy

    We tested seven new safes and found the models that offer the best combination of fireproofing, waterproofing, size, and price.

  • Two people walk in a blizzard near snow-covered vehicles on a snow-covered street.

    Essential Tools to Ride Out a Winter Storm

    by Doug Mahoney

    Winter storms are coming. Prepare with standout tools that’ll save your back—and your pipes. Then enjoy playing in the snow or cozying up inside.

  • Three fire extinguishers.

    The Best Fire Extinguisher

    by Doug Mahoney

    The First Alert PRO5 is available, affordable, and UL-certified—and it’s one of many similar extinguishers that can also get the job done.

  • An HVAC filter placed over a standard box fan.

    How to DIY an Air Purifier

    by Tim Heffernan

    If your air quality is bad and you don’t have an air purifier, an HVAC filter taped to a box fan is better than nothing.

  • three fire escape ladders on a wooden surface

    The Best Fire Escape Ladder

    by Doug Mahoney

    The X-It 2-Story Emergency Escape Ladder is simpler to set up, easier to climb, and more convenient for storage and practice use than any other ladder we tested.

  • Four smoke alarms, shown surrounded by matches and a book of matches.

    The Best Basic Smoke Alarm

    by Doug Mahoney

    Here are our recommendations for several types of home smoke alarms with and without carbon monoxide detection.

  • Closeup of a disassembled chrome Schlage B60N deadbolt lock.

    The Best Door Lock

    by Tim Heffernan

    After 40 hours of research and interviews with locksmiths and security experts, the Schlage B60N deadbolt is the best door lock for most homes—it’s tough, secure, widely available, and universally recommended.

  • Illustrations of a few things you would find in an emergency bag: a blanket, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and the emergency bag.

    The Best Gear for Your Bug-Out Bag

    by Doug Mahoney and Joshua Lyon

    These items will meet your needs for water, nourishment, comfort, and more while you evacuate to a safe location.

  • An illustration showing emergency preparedness supplies.

    The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies

    by Ellen Airhart

    After hundreds of hours of research, we narrowed down the items that could prove indispensable in a natural disaster—and most are helpful in everyday life, too.

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