5 Best Airbnb Key Lockboxes 2023 – Top Rated

Looking for an Airbnb lockbox? We’ve got you covered.

If you don’t want to travel onsite every time you rent out your Airbnb, a key lockbox is a fantastic solution. You can “hand off” your keys to the next guest without having to risk your rental’s security. Our guide will help you find exactly which lockbox is best for you so that you can allow your guests to quickly and easily check themselves in without having to spend all day waiting around the house.

These options are affordable, and almost all of them have reprogrammable passwords. That way, you can rest easy when they leave, knowing that your apartment is safe and secure.

Let’s get started.

At a Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Airbnb Lockboxes

The Top 5 Airbnb Lockboxes

1. WordLock Lockbox

This lockbox has a 4-letter keyword combination. As we mentioned above, the good news is words are easier to remember than numbers, but the bad news is words are easier to remember than numbers, and that might make it easier for a potential intruder to break into your home.

There are less than 500 possible four-letter word combinations with the given options on each combination dial (there are much fewer than 26 letters per dial).

If you live in a dangerous area, this isn’t your best option. If you just need something quick and easy, though, it’ll work perfectly.

2. Iron Lock Lockbox

The best thing, by far, about the Iron Lock lockbox is the ability to reset the code. It’s probably unlikely, but if a guest knows the code to the lockbox, they can come back at any time if they want to.

With this lockbox, you can reset the code whenever you want, as many times as you want. If you’re ever worried that a guest might decide to come back one day because you have a self-check-in system that’s just a little bit too simple, worry no more.

3. YDO Security Key Lock Box

The YDO Security Key Lock Box is easily one of the best value lockboxes on this list. And the long list of reviews shows that it holds up well to the weather. Just make sure you try out the lock before you install it.

This is as simple as it gets when it comes to lockboxes. If you’re on a budget and you want something that works, this is a product that’s worth a second look.

4. Kingsley Guard-A-Key Lockbox

Didn’t think it could get any cheaper than the YDO Lock Box? Think again. The Kingsley could make the perfect Airbnb lockbox for someone on a budget (given, however, they live somewhere where the weather won’t interfere with the dials). This would also be a great option for locking up indoor storage (like pool toy storage) or keeping the keys to equipment you have available for guests to use, like ATVs or Snowmobiles.

At around $15, this might be a good product to keep around in case you ever need—and not just want—to have your guests check themselves in. If you’re ever on vacation or traveling out of town for business, it would be nice to be able to keep your Airbnb listed.

5. Kidde AccessPoint Push-Button Lockbox (TOP PICK)

Finally, on the other end of the spectrum, is the Kidde Push-Button Lockbox. If you need an Airbnb lockbox that’s going to last (and that needs to be able to take a beating), the Kidde Push-Button lockbox is the option for you.

At just under $30, it comes in a little bit pricier than most models. But just check out the top review on Amazon, from a professional locksmith:

They’re solidly constructed, EXTREMELY hard to cut open, and if mounted correctly to a concrete fixture, virtually impossible to remove without anything short of using a sledgehammer to take a chunk of the wall out… and THEN they’d still need to get it OPEN, which is a WHOLE different trial

Top Amazon Review for Kidde Push-Button Lockbox, “My professional opinion.“

Typically push-button lockboxes are criticized for being less safe than other types of lockboxes, and some reviewers claim that, because you can enter the numbers in any order, not just the order you set them in, it’s much less safe than it seems. But that’s not the case here.

Since you can enter any number of digits when you’re setting the code (want it to be “123” (not recommended)? It could also be “3028058230580”), it’s pretty much impossible to guess the correct combination. And it’s available in multiple colors to make it a discreet addition to your entryway.

What is a lockbox? Why should I get one for my Airbnb?

A lockbox, or a key safe, is essentially a little locker for your keys.

Instead of physically handing your guests a key, you can put the key inside of a lockbox, and that lockbox can be unlocked with whatever combination you set it up with. That way, in order for your guests to get inside the rental, they only need the lockbox combination and not the key itself.

All you have to do is set up the lockbox somewhere, put a code (32-15-29, for example) in the “check-in directions” on your Airbnb page, as well as directions to the location of your lockbox, and you’re good to go.

AirHost Academy Survey: 84% of Airbnb Users Prefer Self Check-In

One of the worst things about Airbnb, for guests and hosts alike, is coordinating a time for check-in. Flights get delayed, buses are missed, and cell phones stop working. It’s a perfect example of Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

How can you, as a host, avoid at least some of the pains associated with check-in? Simple: by buying a lockbox and letting the guests do it themselves.

More importantly, people love this option.

In fact, according to a poll that we conducted on Reddit, Airbnb hosts and guests overwhelmingly prefer self-check-in against any other check-in model:

Traveling can be very, very stressful — and people aren’t always looking forward to having to chat with another person just after hopping off a plane. Sometimes, you just want to get inside and get to sleep so you can see the sights tomorrow.

A lockbox will give your guest that ability with as little effort on your part as possible. It’s a win-win: You can go out and grab a drink while your guest can check in to the rental and get some much-needed shut-eye.

4 Things to Keep In Mind

The best lockbox for your rental will depend on four main factors:

• Weather. Do you have an Airbnb in a location that experiences extreme cold? Some lockboxes, particularly push-button lockboxes, will freeze up and become virtually impossible to unlock in the cold. You’ll want to opt for something with a cover.
• Crime. You want to strike a balance between “difficult to break into” and “easy to unlock,” and this will depend on the prevalence of crime in your area. Generally, wheel combination padlocks (like the type you probably used in high school) are more difficult to break into than pushbutton models (which are easy to use but not as secure).
• Price. How important is the security of your home? What is your monthly Airbnb maintenance budget? This one, of course, ties into the bullet point on crime, but it’s different in that you don’t want to buy an expensive lockbox that’s going to erase your profit for the next three months (doubtful, but possible).
• Purpose. While most hosts will use a lock box to swap keys with guests, there are other reasons to purchase one. And those reasons will affect the style and features you’re looking for. Indoor lockboxes work better for storage, maintenance equipment, or expensive toys.

It’s difficult to say, definitively, that “these are the best lockboxes and key safes for your Airbnb,” because, as with virtually everything, it’s going to depend on your exact circumstances.

So, keep the above factors in mind as you pick the right Airbnb lockbox for you.

Quick Review: Top 5 Airbnb Key Lockboxes

Roughly 85% of Airbnb users prefer self-check-in over other check-in methods. It’s easier, it’s less awkward, and it’s affordable. If you want an Airbnb lockbox, go with one of these five options:

• WordLock Lockbox
• Iron Lock Lockbox
• YDO Security Key Lock Box
• Kingsley Guard-A-Key Lockbox
• Kidde AccessPoint Push-Button Lockbox (TOP PICK)