The cash rating is usually determined by the manufacturer after taking into account several relevant factors comprising the thickness or strength of the walls and door of the unit; the resistance a safe has to offer while being moved; the security, complexity and solidity of the lock and bolt mechanics, and the overall build quality. The higher the cash rating a safe gets, the more secure it will be.

As a practical example, a safe with a cash rating of £2,000 will indicate that you can store up to £2,000 cash or say up to £20,000 worth of valuables (As a rule, multiply the assigned cash rating by 10 when storing non-cash items like jewellery in it).

This means that your insurance firm should insure cash of up to £2,000 or valuables worth up to £20,000 stored in a safe with a cash rating of £2,000. It is advisable to crosscheck with your insurance firm if you possess a specific high value item, which you wish to store in a safe. It is not uncommon for insurance firms to ask for safes that have a higher cash rating tag than the actual value of the item.