Guides & Information
Gold Storage Guide
How to keep your physical gold and silver safe — comparing home storage, safety deposit boxes, and professional vaulting.
Your Storage Options
Once you own physical gold or silver, storing it securely is essential. There are three main options: at home, in a safety deposit box, or with a professional vault. Each has different cost, security, accessibility, and insurance implications.
Home Storage
Most AccessibleSafety Deposit Box
Good BalanceProfessional Vaulting
Most SecureHome Storage
Keeping gold at home gives you immediate, 24/7 access to your metal with no ongoing fees. However, it comes with significant responsibilities.
Advantages
- Instant access at any time
- No monthly or annual fees
- Complete privacy
- No third-party counterparty risk
Considerations
- Burglary risk if disclosed
- Standard home insurance may not cover bullion
- Fire and flood risks
- Requires quality safe & installation
Safe recommendation: If storing at home, use a floor-mounted or wall-mounted steel safe rated to at least £10,000 cash value (typically equivalent to £100,000+ in valuables). Look for Sold Secure Diamond or AiS graded safes. Tell no one what is inside.
Safety Deposit Boxes
Several private safety deposit companies (and some banks) offer box rentals in secure, purpose-built vaults. You retain the only key and the provider does not know the contents of your box.
Annual fees vary from roughly £100–£500 depending on box size and provider. Most deposit box companies do not provide insurance as standard — you will need to arrange your own specialist bullion insurance or declare the contents to your home insurer.
Popular providers: Safe Deposit Centres, Metropolitan Safe Deposits, various building societies.
Professional Vaulted Storage
The most secure option for larger holdings is professional allocated vaulted storage. Your metal is stored in a commercial-grade vault, typically insured by Lloyd's of London underwriters, with full allocated ownership in your name.
With allocated storage, your specific coins or bars are legally yours — they are not pooled, leased, or used as collateral. You own the actual metal, not just a paper claim.
Our Vaulted Storage Service
We offer fully allocated, insured vaulted storage for our customers. Your metal is held in a segregated account, audited regularly, and can be withdrawn or sold at any time.
Learn About Vaulted StorageStorage Comparison
| Feature | Home | Deposit Box | Vault |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Free | ~£10–40/mo | From ~£10/mo |
| Insurance included | No | No (arrange own) | Yes (Lloyd's) |
| Instant access | ✓ 24/7 | Business hours | Arranges delivery |
| Segregated ownership | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Security grade | Varies | High | Highest (EN1143-2+) |
| Suitable for | Small holdings | Medium holdings | Any size |
Record Keeping
Regardless of where you store your gold, keep a clear record of every purchase:
- Date of purchase
- Description of item (coin/bar type, weight, year)
- Purchase price including premium
- Dealer invoice / receipt
- Serial number (for bars)
- Storage location
Good records are essential for CGT reporting purposes and for making an insurance claim should the need arise.