Till Drawer Safes: Reducing Cash at the Counter

A till drawer safe is a compact, lockable safe that sits under or beside the counter and holds the cash register drawer, or the excess notes taken from it. Instead of leaving a full drawer in the register, staff lock it away during quiet periods and at close. For shops and cafés with one or two registers, it is one of the simplest ways to reduce the cash that is exposed at the counter.

This guide covers what a till drawer safe does, where it should go, how to size it, and the habits that make it effective. It is part of our commercial safe buying guide for businesses.

Why reduce cash at the counter?

Cash in an open register is the easiest target in any shop. It is exposed to opportunistic theft, internal shrinkage and robbery. Victoria Police’s published cash handling advice recommends keeping as little cash on the premises as possible and regularly moving it to a secure location such as a safe.

A till drawer safe puts that advice within arm’s reach. Staff can move cash out of the register without walking to a back office, which means it actually happens on a busy day.

How a till drawer safe works

Most till drawer safes are short, deep steel safes designed to fit inside a counter cavity. The internal space is sized for a standard cash drawer, a laptop or small electronics. Some businesses lift the whole drawer out of the register at close and lock it in the safe. Others keep the drawer in the register during trade and transfer surplus notes into the safe at set intervals.

Examples from our range include:

• The CMI Till Drawer Safe TDS with digital lock, which has a 3mm steel body, a 6mm steel door and four pre-drilled bolt holes for floor anchoring. It is also available with a key lock.
• The CMI Security Drawer SEC/DRWR, a 3mm steel pull-out drawer with a 6-lever key lock and slide tracks, designed to be concealed under counters or workstations.
• Compact safes in the same category, such as the CMI BASIC and Stronghold HD series, for counters that need a higher rating or more space.

Till drawer safe vs deposit safe

A till drawer safe is opened by authorised staff to put the drawer in or take it out. A deposit safe has a one-way opening that lets any staff member drop cash in without being able to open it. If your counter staff should never have access to accumulated cash, a deposit safe is the stronger control. Our article on how drop safes work explains the different deposit mechanisms.

Many small retailers use both: a till drawer safe for the float, and a small deposit safe for takings during the day.

Where to put a till drawer safe

Under the counter, out of sight

The safe should be easy for staff to reach and invisible to customers. Inside a counter cupboard or a purpose-built cavity is ideal. Victoria Police’s robbery prevention guidance also recommends keeping registers out of sight and away from the front door, and not letting customers behind the counter.

On a solid floor

Bolt the safe to a concrete slab where possible. Counter joinery on its own will not stop someone carrying the safe off.

With room for the door and handle

Under-counter spaces are tight. Allow for the door swing, the handle projection and enough clearance to lift a full drawer in and out without catching.

Away from heat and liquids

Keep it clear of dishwashers, coffee machines and drains in café counters. Moisture and heat are hard on digital locks.

Choosing the right size and rating

1. Measure the drawer: width, depth and height including any handle. Compare these with the safe’s internal dimensions and door opening, not the outside size.
2. Measure the counter cavity: leave space around the safe for fixing and ventilation of nearby equipment.
3. Decide what else it holds: a laptop, tablet or EFTPOS terminals overnight may need extra room.
4. Match the rating to the cash: work out the most cash it will hold overnight and confirm the rating with your insurer. Basic security drawers suit small floats; a higher-rated compact safe suits larger amounts.
5. Pick the lock: digital for quick code changes and several users, key for simplicity. Many models are available with either.

Staff routines that make it work

A till drawer safe only reduces risk if staff use it consistently. Set clear rules and write them down.

• Set a cash limit for the register. When the drawer passes it, surplus notes go into the safe.
• Do it discreetly. Do not count or transfer cash in front of customers.
• Close the drawer between sales. Keep cash drawers closed when not in use.
• Lock the drawer away at close. Never leave a full drawer in the register overnight. Many shops leave the empty register drawer open so it is obvious there is nothing inside.
• Limit who has codes or keys, and change codes when staff leave. Our post on changing digital safe codes suggests a schedule.
• Bank regularly and vary the time and route.

Our full guide to cash handling best practice builds these steps into a complete routine for opening, trading and close.

Which businesses suit a till drawer safe?

• Small shops with one or two registers.
• Cafés and bakeries where cash is handled at a single counter.
• Service counters in clinics, salons and offices that take cash payments.
• Market stalls and pop-ups operating from a fixed site.

Pubs and restaurants with several registers often need a mix of till drawer and deposit safes. We cover that in our guide to safes for cafés, pubs and restaurants. If you are fitting out a new shop, our earlier post on choosing commercial safes for shops and offices covers the back-office safe as well.

What till drawer safes cost

In our till drawer safes range, the CMI Security Drawer starts from around $575 and the CMI Till Drawer Safe TDS from around $1,190. The larger CMI BASIC 1 starts from around $1,600, and the Stronghold HD2D from around $1,990. Prices change, so check the product page for current pricing.

Installation is usually straightforward but does need anchoring into the floor beneath the counter. Our under-counter safe installation service can fit it during a shop fit-out or into an existing counter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a till drawer safe used for?

A till drawer safe stores a cash register drawer, or excess notes taken from it, in a locked steel safe under or near the counter. It means the full drawer is not left in the register overnight or during quiet periods, and it keeps surplus cash out of reach during trading. Many are also sized to hold a laptop or tablet point-of-sale device.

Is a till drawer safe the same as a deposit safe?

Not quite. A deposit safe has a slot, chute or drawer that lets staff put cash in without being able to open the safe. A till drawer safe is usually a compact under-counter safe that authorised staff open to store or retrieve the till drawer. Some businesses use both: the till drawer safe for floats and a deposit safe for takings.

How do I know if a till drawer will fit?

Measure the width, depth and height of your till drawer, including any handles or protruding parts, then compare those numbers with the safe’s internal dimensions and door opening, not its outside size. Also measure the space under your counter and allow room for the safe door to swing open and for the handle to project, which our product pages note.

Should a till drawer safe be bolted down?

Yes. Under-counter safes are compact and lighter than most commercial safes, which makes them easier to carry away if they are not fixed. Bolting through the holes in the base into a concrete floor is the usual method. If your counter sits on a timber or raised floor, ask an installer about the best fixing option for that structure.

Find the right till drawer safe for your counter

Bring your counter measurements to our Tullamarine showroom at 38 Barrie Rd and we will show you which till drawer and under-counter safes fit. Call us on 0409 860 011 or get in touch through our website for advice and installation.