how much does a safe deposit box cost
A safe deposit box usually costs somewhere between about 30–300 USD per year , with most “standard” small or mid‑size boxes landing roughly in the 50–200 USD per year range at banks and credit unions in 2025–2026.
Typical price ranges
- Small boxes (around 3" x 5" or similar) often run about 30–80 USD per year , depending on the bank and location.
- Medium boxes (for more documents and small valuables) are commonly in the 80–150 USD per year range.
- Large boxes (around 10" x 10" or bigger) can cost roughly 150–300 USD per year , sometimes more in high‑cost urban areas or for very large sizes.
What affects the cost
- Box size: Bigger box, higher annual fee; small boxes might be under 100 USD per year, while larger ones can be 200 USD or more.
- Location & bank: Major city branches and big national banks tend to charge more than small‑town branches or some credit unions.
- Customer discounts: Some institutions discount or waive the fee if you hold premium accounts or maintain a certain balance.
- Private vaults: Independent or high‑security vault companies can charge more than banks, especially for 24/7 access or premium features.
Extra fees to keep in mind
- Key deposit or key fee: Many banks charge a small refundable deposit or a fee for issuing keys.
- Drilling / lost key: If you lose the key, drilling the box open can easily add 100–200+ USD in one‑time costs.
- Late or notice fees: Some charge small annual billing or late‑payment fees (for example, a few dollars per year or per late notice).
At‑a‑glance cost table (HTML)
| Box size / type | Typical annual cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small (≈3" x 5") | 30–80 | For passports, a few documents or small items. | [1][3]
| Medium (e.g., 5" x 10") | 80–150 | Good for multiple documents and small valuables. | [9][1][3]
| Large (≈10" x 10" or more) | 150–300+ | For bulk papers or larger items; higher in big cities. | [7][1][3]
| Private vault / premium | Often higher than banks | May include 24/7 access and extra security features. | [10]
| Lost key / drilling | ≈100–200+ (one‑time) | Charged if the bank has to drill open the box. | [3][7]
Quick takeaway
- If you just need a small bank safe deposit box , planning on about 50–100 USD per year is a reasonable ballpark in many U.S. areas today.
- For a large box or high‑cost city , budgeting 150–250+ USD per year plus possible key or drilling fees is safer.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.