Front door and entryway
Updated
Smart locks, video doorbells, porch lighting and package protection: how to secure the entry you use every day without a subscription trap.
The front door is where most people start: a video doorbell to see who is there, a smart lock so nobody hides a key under the mat, and lighting that turns on when you arrive. Each choice depends on your door, your wiring and whether you own or rent.
Before you buy, check three things: the deadbolt and door dimensions for a lock, the doorbell transformer and chime for a wired doorbell, and which features sit behind a monthly plan. The guides below walk through each check.
Start with smart locks for renters if you cannot replace hardware.
Calculators 1
Kits 3
KitFront door security kit for a house or apartmentA smart lock, a video doorbell, a motion light, a door sensor and a reinforced strike plate: the front door shopping list with realistic prices,…KitPackage theft protection kit for a front porchA video doorbell with package alerts, a lockable box and a motion light, plus free carrier tools: the shopping list and setup to make porch…KitSecurity kit for the first week in a new homeYou do not know who still has a key. This kit rekeys the doors, reinforces the frame, adds a keypad lock and puts sensors on every ground-floor…
Guides 8
GuideSmart lock for renters: options that leave no traceA retrofit lock keeps your landlord’s key working and comes off with a screwdriver. Here is how to check your lease, your door and your ecosystem…GuideOutdoor smart lighting: what to buy for the porch, path and yardChoose fixtures rated for wet locations, decide between line-voltage and 12 V landscape lighting, then add schedules and motion triggers that…GuideWill a smart lock fit your door? The measurements that decideMost US front doors take a standard smart deadbolt, but five measurements decide it: thickness, backset, bore hole, the handle below and strike…GuideHow high to mount a video doorbell, and at what angleAbout 48 inches above the ground is what makers recommend, but your door, sun and porch decide the rest. Learn when to use a wedge, how to avoid…GuideAutomatic door openers for home accessibility and wheelchair accessHome door operators can open a swing or sliding door with a push plate, remote or voice. Learn the types, power and door requirements, lock and…GuideWhich video doorbell for brick, stucco or vinyl siding?Your wall material changes how a video doorbell mounts. Choose the right screws, anchors, spacer or no-drill option for brick, stucco, vinyl…GuideWhich smart lock for kids, guests and cleaners?If different people need to get in at different times, the features that matter are scheduled codes, an entry log and a reliable backup key. Here…GuideWhich low-voltage landscape lighting transformer size should you buyAdd up the watts of every fixture, leave headroom, then match wire gauge to run length. Worked examples for path lights, spotlights and a smart…
Comparisons 2
ComparisonVideo doorbell or a camera aimed at your front door?A video doorbell answers the door and sees faces. A separate camera watches the porch, the driveway and the doorbell itself. Compare what each…ComparisonBluetooth or Wi-Fi smart lock?The radio inside a smart lock decides battery life, remote control and how guests get in. Compare Bluetooth, built-in Wi-Fi and Thread or Matter…