8 Types of Door Locks To Keep Your Home Safe | Family Handyman

By Chris Deziel

Updated on Sep. 24, 2024

If you don't want intruders in your house, you need to lock the doors. We asked a security expert for a rundown on locks and where to use each type.

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In the film “Bowling for Columbine,” filmmaker Michael Moore visits Windsor, Ontario, walking up to random houses and opening front doors to show they aren’t locked. Windsor is just across the river from Detroit, Michigan, still considered one of the most dangerous cities in the United States.

Windsor happens to be my hometown. I can confirm that, compared to Detroiters with their barred windows and padlocked doors, Windsorites are relatively lax about security. The two cities present a stark contrast.

Though FBI data shows a general decline in property crimes in the U.S. from 2011 to 2020, that contrast isn’t as stark for every American city. Where you live has a bearing on how seriously you should take home security.

If you live in a high-crime area, it goes without saying you should lock your doors at all times. According to the Aurora, Illinois Police Department, 50% of burglars enter homes through unlocked doors and windows.

We asked Eugene Klimaszewski, president of Mammoth Security, Inc., to explain the different kinds of locks available and where you should use them.

“Deadbolts are the stalwarts of home security,” says Klimaszewski. “They come in single and double-cylinder varieties. Single-cylinder deadbolts are great for exterior doors, while double-cylinder deadbolts, requiring a key on both sides, are ideal for doors near windows.”

A deadbolt provides two-tier security, because it’s almost always installed on a door with an existing knob lock. An extra-long barrel penetrates deep into the door jamb, making it virtually impossible to force the door open with a crowbar.

Knob locks are common on interior doors. The knob on one side of the door features a button you push or turn to lock it, and the lock automatically disengages when you turn the knob. The knob on the other side may be keyed or blank.

“While they offer a basic level of security, knob locks should be complemented with deadbolts on exterior doors,” says Klimaszewski. That’s because this type of lock can be jimmied open with a credit card or simple tool. P.S. To take security up a notch, make sure you secure equipment in your yard with these locks that cannot be cut with bolt cutters, too.

This consists of a keyed lock set on the inside of the door that spins a flat metal cam. When you lock the door, the cam nestles into a holder screwed to the inside of the jamb.

“Cam locks offer basic security and are easy to install,” says Klimaszewski, “but they are mostly used for cabinets, mailboxes and other lightweight applications.” They aren’t nearly as secure as deadbolts for entry doors. But they provide a good level of security for interior passage doors to utility and storage rooms that need to be locked to keep out intruders.

Typically found in older homes or commercial buildings, mortise locks are robust and secure. According to Klimaszewski, they’re suitable for interior and exterior doors.

The lock mechanism fits into a deep recess, or mortise, inside the door. It operates a locking cylinder that may fit into a strike on the top or bottom door jamb (or both) or on the side jamb. Vintage skeleton key lock sets were this variety.

Mortise locks are among the most secure available, Because it involves digging a two-and-a-half to three-inch-deep rectangular mortise into the door, best to leave installation to the pros.

Keyless entry locks work basically the same as keyed locks, only with a keypad instead of a key. When you punch in the right combination, a deadbolt or mortise lock automatically retracts, or a knob lock automatically opens.

“These modern locks provide convenience and security,” says Klimaszewski. “They are perfect for entry doors and can be programmed with unique codes for family members and guests.” They also work well for multifamily dwellings, because they can be programmed to give each user a custom code.

Some keyless locks require batteries. Those that do usually come with an emergency keyhole, so you don’t get locked out if the batteries die.

“With remote access and compatibility with your smartphone, smart locks are excellent for all entry points,” says Klimaszewski. “They allow you to monitor and control your locks from anywhere.”

Smart locks are a favorite of Airbnb hosts, because a guest can download the app that operates the lock and open and close the door from their mobile device for as long as the host gives permission. It’s a handy tool I’ve used several times.

The Wi-Fi device that operates the lock takes the place of a keyed lock set or keypad, but the lock itself is just a deadbolt or knob lock. It installs like a conventional lock. The only maintenance required? An occasional recharge or fresh battery.

As the name suggests, this type of lock is more common in Europe — especially the United Kingdom — than North America. It’s best suited for patio and sliding glass doors, according to Klimaszewski.

The cylindrical lock set fits into a hole in the door. A key or handle spins a cam in the middle of the door that moves a bolt. In the case of sliding doors, a hook moves and latches onto another hook set inside the door jamb. Both sides of the cylinder may be keyed, or one side may have a handle that operates the lock from inside.

Padlocks aren’t elegant, but they work.

A typical padlock consists of a U-shaped shackle and keyed or combination lock body. When the lock opens, it frees one side of the shackle from the lock body, allowing the entire shackle to spin freely. You lock it by pushing the free end of the shackle into the lock body until it clicks.

Padlocks are removable and portable. But before use one, you must install a somewhat unsightly latch on the door and another on an adjacent jamb or post. You can make padlocks work on entry doors, but they’re better for gates, garage and utility room doors, where the unsightliness doesn’t matter.