As we have such astonishing proportion of burglaries and break-ins which involves thieves and other intruders coming in directly through the front door, your home and the valuables within it might be as safe as the lock on your door allows them to be. Having your home broken into is an unspeakable and traumatic violation that no one should experience. To ward off such threats, it’s deeply important to install the right lock on your door, one that can reliably resist when being picked, that is sturdy enough to keep thieves from breaking-ins through the doors and it will keep secure you and your possessions and those things which are close to you.
Below, we will discuss 10 of the best door locks on the market today, paying attention to their various features and evaluating them to enable you to make the best choice possible to protect your home.
Best Door Locks (Updated July, 2023)
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1. Schlage FE469NX – Best Keyless Entry Door Lock for High Home Security
This is a highly expensive lock, but given the extraordinary amount of security and convenience that it provides, it is a worthy price for buying it.
As a smart lock, it can be connected to your smartphone and set up for home automation with other devices. In particular, it works with Alexa, enabling you to control the lock with the help of your voice. If you desire, you can also open the lock automatically with your smartphone and without the need to enter the security code.
The lock is ANSI Grade 1 and therefore provides the best security available on the market today. It also features a three-tiered alarm system (the three tiers being “activity,” “tamper” and “forced entry”) that detects movement of the door and alerts your phone whenever it detects something untoward.
For those who will accept nothing but the best in security, this lock comes highly recommended.
- ANSI Grade 1
- Can be integrated with home devices, including smartphones and Alexa
- Has an automatic alarm system to notify you of intruders
- Highly expensive
2. Kwikset 660 Deadbolt with SmartKey – Best for Exterior Doors
This Kwikset model is an excellent lock for those takes care of their budget and whiles it’s far from the strongest sort of lock out there (being only of Grade 3), it is sufficient for most ordinary domestic purposes and still keeps from potential intruders with a significant deterrent.
Furthermore, the Smart Key technology that goes with this lock makes it possible to rekey it in just seconds and with absolutely minimal hassle.
However, there have been occasional issues with the deadbolt after multiple rekeying.
This lock is recommended for those who take care of their budget and have simple security needs. But those desiring more security for their possession are advised to look for the locks elsewhere.
- Very cheap
- Easy to install
- Extremely simple to rekey
- Only of Grade 3
- The deadbolt may be rendered useless with too many rekeying
3. Flip Guard FG 1000 – A Foolproof Way to Protect Against Lock Picking
The outstanding feature of this lock is its flip guard, a simple latch that goes over the deadbolt handle on the interior side of your door and prevents the deadbolt from moving.
This means that even if an intruder manages to successfully pick your lock with a pick or a bump key, he will not be able to gain access to your home.
Given what a simple and low-cost device this is, it truly does provide a tremendous amount of additional security.
Potential buyers should be aware, however, that there have been a small number of complaints regarding the flip guard’s durability. While the number of these claims is small, some have complained that their flip guard has been damaged on their lock after only a short period of use.
- Quite cheap
- The flip guard is an extremely simple and cheap device that makes lock picking useless
- There have been some complaints that the flip guard is not very durable and call fall off easily
4. Schlage BE365VPLY505 Plymouth Keyless Deadbolt – Best Smart Electronic Front Door Lock with Keypad
One of the obvious advantages of having a keypad lock like this one is that you don’t need to have your keys with you in order to open it.
You can program up to 19 4-digit codes into the lock, granting access to whomever you wish to share the codes with. It’s also easy to reprogram the lock and change the access codes.
With this model, moreover, there is a key override that allows you to insert a key and open the lock the old-fashioned way, in case you happen to either forget your code or the lock’s batteries die. The rekeying feature makes it easy to rekey the lock as well.
Like many keypad locks, this lock is substantially more expensive than a typical door lock, but the added convenience may well be worth the price.
Also, most keypad locks are of ANSI Grade 3, but this one is of Grade 2.
- Convenient to use because you don’t need a key to gain access
- Can be programmed with up to 19 access codes
- ANSI Grade 2 (instead of the usual Grade 3 for most keypad locks)
- Significantly more expensive than typical door locks
- The key override is still vulnerable to picking
5. Ideal Security SK703 GL Series for Storm and Screen Doors – Cheap Lock For Screen Doors
For those in search of a cheap and easy-to-install lock that provides additional security for a screen door, this model should be quite adequate. While it isn’t any sort of high-end or top-of-the-line lock, it does perform its function admirably.
Potential buyers should be aware that the deadbolt may, in some cases, be a bit too short, depending on the kind of door to which one attaches it.
The lock is also not really intended for use on ordinary doors but only, as indicated, on screen and storm doors. For those desiring especially high security, it’s recommended that they be willing to spend more money on some other kind of lock.
- Very cheap
- Easy to install
- Only suitable for screen or storm doors
- The deadbolt may be too short for some doors
6. Ohuhu Keyed Door Knob Lever – Best Budget Door Lock for Rental Property
This lock and door knob combination is something that has to be considered for those who would like to have a budget option. Considering how cheap it is, it is a decent enough lock. If all you need is a simple lock to install on a door or some of them in your house and your security requirements are not especially high, it will work well enough.
It is extremely easy to install into almost any kind of door, with only a screwdriver and screws required.
However, some users have complained that the lock button gets stuck easily.
- Very cheap
- Easy to install
- Not adequate to those with high security needs
- The lock button can sometimes get stuck
7. Baldwin Prestige 380 with SmartKey – Best Patio Door Lock
This lock earned an ANSI Grade 2 rating, meaning that it provides a level of security exceeded only by the absolute best locks on the market.
Even for especially security-conscious homeowners, the level of protection offered by this lock should be more than sufficient for all but the most extreme of circumstances.
This model also features Smart Key technology, enabling you to rekey your lock whenever necessary in only a few seconds. Quite significantly, it also incorporates a side locking bar into its design, replacing the traditional pin and tumbler system found in most locks. This fact makes the lock essentially impervious to bump keys and extremely resistant to picking.
With all of these excellent security features in this lock, its mid-range price actually makes it quite the bargain and so it might be highly recommended.
However, buyers should know that on this model, the deadbolt knob will be vertical when in locked position and horizontal when in unlocked position – the opposite of how most locks are oriented.
- Very easy to rekey
- Side locking bar makes it extremely difficult to pick and impossible to bump
- More expensive than some of the cheaper locks we’ve been considering
- The deadbolt knob is oriented the opposite way from most locks
8. Defender Security U 10309 for Hinged Swing-In Door – Cheap Supplemental Door Latch
This is a basic bar lock latch that is very easy to install and can be placed out of reach of children so that they don’t tamper with it. Since the bar is of reasonable length (3 7/8”), it’s also possible to slightly open the door without unlocking it and view whatever is on the other side. It also has the advantage of being extremely cheap.
Though you should never set something like this as your primary lock, since it is not especially durable, it is adequate for providing some additional security on a door at very low cost.
- Very cheap
- Easy to install
- Possible to slightly open the door while keeping the latch in locked position
- Not very durable
- Not intended to be a primary lock on any door
9. Defender Security U 10827 – Best Child Proof Door Lock
This is a somewhat higher-qualify door latch that is designed to withstand up to 800 lbs. of force. It is easy to install and can also be placed safely out of the reach of children.
As it is very compact, this latch does not allow you to slightly open a door while it is in the locked position.
As a supplement to your door’s primary lock, its durability makes us recommend it. However, this should not be only lock placed on your door.
- Fairly cheap
- Can withstand up to 800 lbs. of force
- Easy to install
- Can be up out of the reach of children
- Only recommended as a supplemental lock on a door and not as a primary one
10. Kwikset 91590-001 Halifax with SmartKey – Best Choice for Residential House
This Kwikset deadbolt lock contains Smart Key technology, making it possible to rekey in just seconds. It is also bump proof and very pick resistant.
It also meets ADA/ANSI A117.1 requirements, guaranteeing accessibility to all disabled persons.
Though more expensive than some of the cheaper locks that we’ve been considering here, since it is an ANSI Grade 2 lock, it does provide a higher level of security in exchange for that price.
- Very easy to rekey
- ANSI Grade 2
- Bump proof
- Accessible to the disabled
- Somewhat more expensive than many more ordinary locks
Things to Consider When Buying Door Locks – Buyer Guide
Locks differ in a great variety of kinds and have a number of especially salient features that every savvy buyer interested in protecting his home from break-ins should keep in mind. We will look through a number of these here below.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Grading System
ANSI, a private non-profit organization that administers voluntary quality standards on builder hardware, has three different grades that it can assign to a lock, with a lower grade number indicating higher quality. Here are the three grade levels with a discussion of the standards that a lock must meet in order to attain that particular grade level.
Grade 3
This is the most common type of lock grade. Most residential door locks are of this grade because Grade 3 locks happen to meet the minimal standards for residential security. Although they are acceptable for most ordinary purposes, Grade 3 locks do not provide adequate security against professionals or other potential intruders determined to pick or otherwise bypass the lock. Therefore, for those serious about security, Grade 3 locks should be used only as a secondary security measure on a door, but never as the primary measure.
As they are the easiest of the three lock grades to bypass and provide the least security, Grade 3 locks are generally the cheapest.
To attain Grade 3 from ANSI, a lock must be able to withstand at least 2 strikes against it of a force of 75 pounds and be able to withstand at least 800,000 opening and closing cycles.
Grade 2
Grade 2 locks provide a middling level of security and are also generally found on residential doors, though they are not as common used as Grade 3 locks. Grade 2 locks may be found on the doors of those who try to be a bit more security-conscious than the average person. As they provide better security than Grade 3 locks, they can also be expected to cost more than Grade 3 locks.
To attain Grade 2 from ANSI, a lock must be able to withstand at least 5 strikes against it of a force of 75 pounds and be able to withstand at least 800,000 opening and closing cycles.
Grade 1
Grade 1 locks are generally those that meet the absolute highest standards for security. One typically finds them only in commercial settings where security is indispensable, such as on the doors to corporate office buildings or other places containing extremely valuable information, items or things. In exchange for the excellent level of quality of Grade 1 locks, however, you naturally have to expect to pay significantly more.
To attain Grade 1 from ANSI, a lock must be able to withstand at least 10 strikes against it of a force of 75 pounds and be able to withstand at least 1,000,000 opening and closing cycles.
Although, Grade 1 locks provide by far the highest and most reliable level of security and are certainly the best choice for security-conscious people, there are some situations in which placing a Grade 1 lock on your door may be overkill. When shopping for a door lock, you should always consider the specifics of your own situation – the kind and frequency of the security threats that you expect to encounter, how much money you are willing or able to spend on a lock, etc.
Lock Types
There are a number of different lock types. While quite a few locks are hybrids that belong to more than one of the following types, it’s a good idea to remain aware of the different types of locks. Doing so will enable to you to select the best lock or combination of locks that fits your security needs and can keep you secure. Although this list is not absolutely exhaustive, it does cover a number of the major types.
Deadbolts
A deadbolt can substantially increase the security on your door when combined with the door’s standard lock. Although some primary door locks already come with deadbolts, adding a deadbolt lock to a primary door lock that doesn’t already contain a deadbolt will greatly improve security.
The idea behind a deadbolt is that the bolt is fixed in place when the lock is locked and cannot be moved from that position unless the key is inserted into the lock’s cylinder. While this does not necessarily mean that a deadbolt lock cannot be picked, it does make it significantly more difficult for a would-be intruder to kick in your door or to shove a thin object like a credit card in between the door and its frame in an attempt to shift the position of the bolt. A cheap and extremely simple way to enormously increase the security provided by a deadbolt lock is to install a flip guard on it. A flip guard is just a latch that flips over the turn knob of the deadbolt and physically prevents it from rotating. With this, it ceases to matter if an intruder picks the lock or uses a bump key; regardless of this, the deadbolt will not move.
Keypad Locks
Keypad locks offer an extremely convenient feature to users: You don’t always need to have your keys with you in order to open the lock. It is merely enough to enter the correct combination or code into the lock and it will open for you.
Moreover, keypad locks enable you to set multiple combinations to the lock, granting access to your house only to those people whom you wish to have it. The codes may then be changed, deleted or added to at any time, allowing you to grant temporary access to your house to some people such as babysitters or repairmen, and then revoke that access as required.
It should be remembered, however, that the key which is overridden in such locks tend, in general, to be more vulnerable to picking and so usually receive only Grade 3 ratings from ANSI. Thankfully, there are a number of exceptions to this general rule.
Smart Locks/Bluetooth Locks
Smart locks have in common with keypad locks the fact that a physical key is not necessary to open them, but they represent a step beyond simple keypad locks in terms of technological integration and sophistication. A smart lock can be integrated with other smart devices – especially your smartphone – and made to open automatically when it is near your phone. The added automation adds additional convenience, but without the key override vulnerability of a standard keypad lock.
Like with keypad locks, you can also give limited-use passcode to certain guests to grant them temporary access to your home and then revoke that access at your discretion.
Door Latches/Bar Locks
This type of lock is usually added onto a door as a supplement to its primary lock and it provides an additional layer of security. The idea behind a latch or a bar lock is that it fastens together two surfaces – usually the door with its door frame – and allows for the regular and easy separation of these surfaces by the user. With a latch on your door, it becomes significantly more difficult for would-be intruders to break in the door.
Conclusion
Home security is profoundly important. No one wants the stress, terror and loss of the sense of security that comes with someone’s home when being broken into. The locks that we’ve discussed above in this review can all contribute in their various ways and with their different features, to securing the doors to your home and making the place where you live much more difficult to break into.
The locks which we’ve discussed all come at different prices and provide different levels of security, so it is important for you to decide what combination of security and price suits your needs and your situation when choosing what kind of door lock to buy. However, for those who insist on buying absolutely best locks and are willing to contend with the hefty price tag, we give our highest recommendation to the Schlage Connect Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt.
