five Best Door Locks for Apartments and Renters

We selected the superlative door locks that are easy to install without angering your landlord or risking the loss of your security deposit.

Co-ordinate to FBI statistics, residential backdrop are more likely to exist burglarized than businesses, and 63% of all burglaries result from forcible entries.1 With statistics like that, it'south essential to have apartment locks you can trust.

Defender Security Lock: Constructive and Affordable

The Defender Security Lock boasts an affordable price and strikes the perfect balance between temporary and permanent use. Installing it takes just four screws, which means uninstalling information technology leaves just four small, easy-to-fill screw holes backside. Fifty-fifty better, it can withstand up to 800 lbs. of force, and there are no keyholes to exist picked.

We reviewed the meridian locks on the market, keeping your varied security needs in mind. The Defender Security Lock may exist the best overall pick, simply read on for insight on specific needs similar portability, keyless entry, smart locks, and deadbolts.

Compare the Best Apartment Door Locks

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5 Picks for Best Apartment Door Locks

i. Defender Security Lock: All-time Overall

The minor and discreet–but effective–Defender works much similar a door blocker. When it'due south in the locked position, information technology rests in a slot and can withstand upwardly to 800 lbs. of force. To unlock information technology, you slide information technology upwards and swing it out.

There are no keyholes that tin be picked, and unlike a swing latch or chain, it doesn't allow your door to open up even a crack, so information technology can't be tampered with. At under $10, it's besides like shooting fish in a barrel on your wallet.

It fits nearly exterior doors, merely it's probably not a swell choice if your flat door fits snugly in its frame, equally you might take to chisel out a chunk of the frame to get the security lock to fit. Our research showed that some of these locks come with rough, sharp edges that might crave some filing down.

Users besides say that the lock loses functionality if you're using it to lock the door several times a day for more than a year.two

2. Addalock Portable Door Lock: Best for Convenience

Known equally the "original portable door lock," the Addalock is the easiest, lowest bear on item on our listing. Information technology works like a door blocker, but information technology'southward held in place at the existing strike plate on your door, so there's no drilling or changing out hardware.

Like the Defender Security Lock, y'all'll need to make sure there'southward enough room between the strike plate on the door frame and the border of the door itself for the Addalock to slide through.

About complaints from customers were about this lock not plumbing fixtures their entrance doors, so it'south worth the extra fourth dimension to ensure a good fit.3

3. Baronial Smart Lock: Best for Keyless Entry

If yous similar the idea of a hands-gratis, keyless door lock for your flat, and then the 3rd generation August Home Smart Lock is the easiest manner to get it. A total of 252 Amazon reviews mention its easy installation.4

If you take a unmarried-cylinder deadbolt on your door (keyhole on only one side, not ii), you lot only upgrade it with the Baronial Smart Lock by replacing your standard thumbturn with the bombardment-operated smart device.

The bluetooth lock lets you lot lock and unlock the door using your phone's bluetooth connection, and if you have it synced to a Wi-Fi-continued hub like an Echo or Google Assistant, you can fifty-fifty operate it remotely.

More than Door Locks That Are Worth a Look

We similar how secure these door locks are, merely their installation is a little more involved than our top picks. Keep in heed that either of these locks can also be used in tandem with the other top locks on our list.

4. Kwikset Single-Sided Deadbolt: Best Price

The Kwikset Single-Sided Deadbolt has a thumbturn on the inside for you lot, and a solid blank plate for anybody on the other side of the door. Information technology sends a clear signal to intruders that at that place's no picking your lock, since at that place's no keyhole to pick.

It'south ANSI grade 3 rated, which isn't the highest quality, but it's designed to work with well-nigh standard strike plates. It'southward an ideal choice for shared rental properties that demand to be locked off from other tenants.

v. Kwikset Unmarried Cylinder Traditional: All-time Deadbolt

If y'all desire to lock upwards your belongings when you're away from your flat, the Kwikset Single Cylinder Traditional lock is every bit sturdy as they come up. Information technology has an ANSI grade 1 rating, which is the highest rating for cylinder locks (it's usually only establish in commercial construction).

The SmartKey characteristic lets you rekey your own lock if a key goes missing, and it makes the lock resistant to bumping and picking. It's a little pricier than standard deadbolts, only we call back it'due south worth the investment.

Things to Consider before Yous Buy

Before choosing a lock, consider whether your apartment security concerns are for when you're at dwelling house or when you lot're out.

If yous want to feel safer while you're in your apartment, adding an additional lock to your apartment door that works like a door jammer will do the job. If yous're worried about people using old keys to go far while you're out, so a full lock replacement might be in order.

FAQs

Permission to change the locks on your apartment depends on your charter. Some leases let it, as long equally it doesn't cause damage, while others don't. Before y'all make a lock modify, check with your landlord or your local tenant resource centre.

Information technology depends on the types of locks you take in your apartment building. Most door knob locks tin exist pretty easily inverse equally a DIY project, but mortise locks and electronic locks with a pin code are more complicated and will likely need a professional.

Again, it depends on the blazon of locks you need to alter. Electronic door locks will involve more fourth dimension, labor, and price for materials, while knob locks are more common and volition cost less. Expect to pay a locksmith anywhere from $30 to $300.5

If you lot're locked out, check all possible entry points first for something y'all might take left unlocked. If yous tin can't open the door or a window, ask for help from a neighbor, landlord, or telephone call a locksmith. Our favorite method for avoiding this scenario is to hide a key somewhere outside a neighbor's dwelling house or apartment. That way you tin always become it, but any intruder who finds it won't know what door it goes to.

How We Chose the Best Locks for Apartments

Well-nigh apartment edifice dwellers desire to avoid upsetting their landlords, so we looked for door locks that could be easily installed and removed with trivial to no trace. We watched a dozen installation videos to make sure the locks nosotros selected are like shooting fish in a barrel to install, and we read more than 100 customer reviews to ensure nosotros chose the most secure, durable locks.

Cheque out our full methodology for more about how nosotros review products.

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Sources

Disclaimer

Amazon.com list toll as of postal service date. Product prices and availability are accurate equally of the engagement/fourth dimension indicated and are subject to alter. Whatever price and availability data displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided "as is" and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Kaz Weida

Written by

Kaz Weida

Kaz is a journalist who covers home security, parenting, and community and child safety. Her work and product testing in the security and safe field spans the past four years. You lot can notice Kaz in HuffPost, SheKnows, Lifehack, and much more. Her degree in education and her background equally a teacher and a parent make her uniquely suited to offer practical advice on creating safe environments for your family.

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