Hide Smartphone at Home (Diversion Can Safe)

A diversion can gives you a simple way to keep a smartphone out of casual view without altering your home. Choose a removable, non-powered container, check its real interior dimensions, and keep the phone dry, cool, and easy to retrieve. It is a hiding place, not a secure safe or a suitable place to charge a phone.

Could you keep a phone nearby but out of sight without building a cabinet or hiding it somewhere that blocks access? A can-style diversion container can do that when you choose its location and size with care. The aim is modest: conceal the phone from casual view while keeping it safe to reach and use.

I treat this as a small fit-and-safety project, not just a matter of finding a convincing can. A phone may be larger with its case on, and a container’s label does not tell you how much room remains inside. The steps below help you check the details before you use one.

Planning the Container and Location

A diversion container is an ordinary-looking, removable container with a hidden space inside. It can make a phone less noticeable, but it does not provide the protection of a tested safe. Choose a dry, stable spot and a container whose maker permits the intended use.

Start by deciding what “hidden” means in your home. A phone tucked away from a visitor’s view may still be found by a household member, child, or anyone who knows the hiding place. If your goal is theft protection, use a suitable security product instead; a diversion can is not a substitute.

Choose a suitable spot

Pick a location at room temperature, away from heaters, cooking appliances, direct heat, and places where plumbing leaks could wet the container. Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and avoid spots where it could fall or be knocked over.

The container should not block a doorway, walkway, air vent, or required access panel. Do not place it inside an appliance cavity, HVAC duct, electrical box, or other space that needs ventilation, service access, or fire protection. These spaces are not suitable hiding places.

Check the outside, too. A can that looks out of place on a shelf may draw more attention than a discreet container in a sensible location. The most useful spot is one you can reach without moving heavy items or using tools.

Keep the container non-powered

Use the container only for storage. Do not charge a phone inside it, even if a cable can be routed through a gap. A closed container can hold heat, and a metal container can weaken radio reception. It is not a charging enclosure or a fire safe.

Keep the phone dry and separate from loose metal objects, such as coins or keys. If the phone has a swollen, damaged, or unusually hot battery, do not store it in a closed container. Stop using it and follow the phone maker’s battery-safety guidance.

Phone Fit, Lid Access, and Clearances

Measure the phone with its case on, then compare those measurements with the container’s usable interior. As a design allowance, aim for at least 20 mm more interior length, width, and depth than the phone’s matching measurements. This leaves about 10 mm of space on each side; it is not a code requirement.

Use a ruler or tape measure to record the phone’s length, width, and depth. Include any camera bump, grip, or other part of the case that affects the fit. Then measure the container’s inside, rather than relying on its outside size or product name.

Measure the space you can actually use

Rolled rims, liners, lids, internal seams, and shaped bottoms can all reduce the usable interior. Measure the narrowest points where the phone must pass and sit. If the container has a removable insert, check the space both with and without it, then follow the maker’s instructions.

For example, if a cased phone measures 160 mm long, 78 mm wide, and 12 mm deep, use those figures as the minimum reference. The target interior would be at least 180 mm long, 98 mm wide, and 32 mm deep. This is a fit allowance, not a guarantee that the phone will fit through the opening.

Check the opening separately from the inside dimensions. A phone may fit in the body but catch on a narrow rim or lid. The lid should open without binding, and you should be able to remove the phone by hand, without tools or force.

Add a smooth, removable liner

A removable, smooth, nonconductive liner can help keep the phone from rubbing against a rough interior. Make sure the liner does not reduce the space so much that the phone presses against the lid or becomes hard to remove. Avoid permanent adhesives, sharp edges, and dividers that can trap the phone.

Keep the liner clean and dry. Do not use a loose metal divider or store coins, keys, or other metal objects beside the phone. A simple fit test is better than guessing: place the phone in gently, close the lid, open it, and take the phone out again.

Installation Without Building Alterations

For this project, “installation” means placing and checking a removable container, not fixing it inside a wall. Keep the container intact and retain its original lid mechanism. This avoids creating new access, ventilation, or fire-safety concerns in a building assembly.

Do not cut studs, fireblocking, or finished walls to make a space for the container. Avoid turning a wall cavity, cabinet service area, or equipment enclosure into a phone hideaway. If you are considering a built-in change, check the locally adopted building and fire codes and the requirements for the affected assembly before work begins.

Place it securely and preserve access

Set the container on a stable surface where it will not tip when the lid opens. If it sits on a shelf or fixture, check the manufacturer’s rated load. The rating should meet or exceed the measured gross weight of the container and its contents. There is no universal hardware rating for this use.

Do not drill, cut, or alter the container to attach it. Keep the original lid and closure working as designed. If the location requires you to move another item every time you retrieve the phone, choose a more accessible spot rather than adding a complicated mounting method.

Final Fit and Safety Verification

Before relying on the hiding place, check the phone, container, location, and access as one system. The phone should fit without pressure, the lid should work normally, and the container should sit securely. A quick repeat check can catch problems such as moisture, heat exposure, or a change in the phone’s battery condition.

Use this sequence after choosing a container:

• Confirm the location is dry, at room temperature, and away from heat, leaks, children, and pets.
• Measure the cased phone and the container’s usable interior, including the opening.
• Add a removable liner only if the phone still fits with room to spare.
• Insert and remove the phone by hand, then open and close the lid without binding.
• Check that the container is stable and that any shelf or fixture meets its rated load.
• Make sure the container does not block a path, vent, appliance, or required access panel.
• Inspect the phone and container from time to time for moisture, heat exposure, damage, or battery swelling.

If the phone becomes unusually hot or shows battery swelling, take it out of the container if it is safe to do so. Stop using it and follow the manufacturer’s battery guidance. Do not treat a metal can as protection from battery fire or as a place to isolate a damaged device.

Illustrative Setups and Container Comparison

These examples are planning scenarios, not reports of tested installations. They show how the same checks apply in different homes. In each case, the useful choice depends on the phone’s actual dimensions, the container’s interior, and whether the location stays safe and accessible.

Scenario	Potential setup	Checks before use
A phone kept out of view in a living area	A removable can on a stable shelf	Confirm the shelf rating, lid clearance, and an easy hand-reach
A phone stored in a bedroom	A container on a dry, open surface away from heaters	Check that bedding or stored items cannot cover or trap it
A phone with a thick protective case	A container with a larger usable opening and interior	Measure the phone with its case and test the opening
A metal-bodied can	Storage only, with the phone unpowered	Do not charge inside; radio reception may be weaker

An illustrative fit check might start with a phone measuring 160 by 78 by 12 mm, case included. A container with an interior of 180 by 98 by 32 mm meets the 20 mm allowance in each dimension, but you must still check its opening, seams, lid, and liner. Dimensions alone do not prove easy access.

If the container is too tight, do not force the phone in or remove parts of the case just to make the fit work. Choose a larger option. If the location makes the phone difficult to retrieve, move the container. A good concealment choice should not create a new snag or access problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers cover common questions about concealing a phone in a removable can-style container. The main limits are simple: the container is for non-powered storage, its usable interior must fit the cased phone, and it should not interfere with building access or safety.

Can I charge a phone inside a diversion can?
No. Keep the container unpowered and do not charge a phone inside it. A closed container can trap heat, and metal can weaken radio reception.

Will a metal can block phone signal?
It may weaken or block reception, depending on the container and signal conditions. Do not rely on a hidden phone to receive calls or alerts while stored inside.

How much larger should the container be than my phone?
As a design allowance, aim for at least 20 mm more interior length, width, and depth than the cased phone. This gives about 10 mm clearance per side and is not a code requirement.

Should I measure the phone with its case on?
Yes. Measure the phone in the condition in which you plan to store it, including its case and any raised parts that affect fit.

Can I use the container as a fire safe?
No. A diversion can is not a tested fire safe. Do not use it to protect a phone from fire or to contain a damaged battery.

Can I hide the phone in a wall cavity or electrical box?
No. Avoid spaces that need ventilation, service access, or electrical or fire protection. Do not cut into studs, fireblocking, or finished walls for this removable container.

Do building codes specify how to install a can safe?
There is no universal building code that specifies can safes. Follow the container maker’s instructions, and check locally adopted building and fire codes before any wall alteration.

What if the phone does not fit through the opening?
Choose a larger container. Do not force the phone past a rim or alter the can in a way that creates sharp edges or traps the phone.

Is a diversion can secure against theft?
No. It can keep a phone out of casual view, but it is not a security-rated safe. Use a suitable security product if theft protection is the goal.

What should I do if the phone’s battery looks swollen or feels unusually hot?
Do not store or use the phone as usual. Follow the manufacturer’s battery-safety guidance and keep it out of the container.

The best setup is a removable container that fits the phone with its case, stays dry and cool, and opens easily without blocking anything. Check the fit and condition from time to time, and choose a purpose-built safe when you need security rather than concealment.

(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Michael Donovan. Visit our Meet the Team page.)