Home Safety

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.

How to plan and protect yourself in areas at risk of hurricanes.

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.

How to plan and protect yourself in areas at risk of wildfires.

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.

A smart lock lets you go key-free and know whenever someone comes and goes. Our pick, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, is sturdy, simple, and reliable.

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.

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.

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 reader shares how a small collection of smart devices make her days more convenient and secure, and have enabled her to live more independently.

HEPA air purifiers, such as our picks from Coway and Airmega, are excellent at filtering wildfire smoke from your home’s air.

You can do better than the flashlight on your phone.

These masks work to block particulate inhalation in conditions ranging from wildfire smoke to dusty home projects.

Outdoor lighting enhances home security. Smart lighting makes it versatile and attractive. Here are our picks for smart bulbs, path lights, and fixtures.

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 best electronic keypad lock is the Yale YRD256 Assure Lock SL.

Smart-home devices can make it easier, safer, and more comfortable to age at home. They’re also great tools for caregivers who want to stay in touch.

SimpleLab’s Tap Score Advanced City Water Test offers comprehensive analysis of your drinking water with easy-to-read results.

Whether you want to stash cannabis and THC edibles away from pets and kids or keep medicine under lock and key, these are the best lockboxes available.

Get reliable, accurate air quality information with these apps and tools.

New homeowners quickly discover that they also have new worries. These smart security devices provide peace of mind whether you’re home or away.

Electrical problems can silently fester in your house before they turn into fires. Ting helps spot a problem before it’s too late.

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.

When preparing for a blackout, here’s the best gear for backup power and lighting.

Wyze doesn’t seem to understand its responsibility to customer security and privacy. We won’t review Wyze smart devices until it learns to do better.

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.

We help you pick the right filter for your HVAC system and tell you what those MERV numbers mean. Our pick is Nordic Pure's MERV 12.

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

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

HomeKit is a straightforward smart-home system for anyone who uses Apple devices. Here’s how it works and our pick of the best compatible smart devices.

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

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.

Here are some of the most popular home and lifestyle Wirecutter picks from 2023.

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.

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.

Smart delivery boxes keep packages safe and alert you when they arrive. But in our testing, we found that they’re useful only if the delivery person uses them.