Smart locks
Updated
Retrofit, keypad or fingerprint, door measurements, battery failures and security: choose a smart lock that fits your door and your household.
A smart lock has to fit the door before it can fit your life: deadbolt type, door thickness, backset and the space around the handle all decide which models work. Then choose how you unlock (app, keypad, fingerprint, key) and which ecosystem should control it.
Keep a physical backup, plan for dead batteries and never install a lock that requires a key to get out: egress doors must open from inside without a key.
Renting? Read smart lock for renters.
Kits 2
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,…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 7
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…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…GuideSmart lock battery dead: how to get in and how to avoid itA smart lock warns you for weeks before the batteries die, and most have a backup way in: a key, emergency power terminals or a keypad. Here is…GuideAre smart locks safe? What the real risks areA smart lock is as strong as its bolt, its cylinder, your door frame and your account password. Here are the real risks, from forced entry to…GuideSmart lock for a sliding glass door: your optionsSliding patio doors have no deadbolt, so standard smart locks do not fit. You can add a smart latch, a sensor or a bar. Here is what each option…GuideSmart home setup for Airbnb and short-term rental hostsShort-term rental hosts need codes per booking, temperature limits, noise alerts and leak sensors, without breaking platform rules on cameras.…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…
Comparisons 5
ComparisonRetrofit or full-replacement smart lock: how to chooseA retrofit lock keeps your existing deadbolt and key; a full replacement swaps the whole lock for a keypad version. Compare security, looks,…ComparisonKeypad or fingerprint smart lock: which fits your householdA keypad needs a code you remember; a fingerprint reader needs a clean, readable fingertip. Compare kids, older adults, worn hands, rain, shared…ComparisonSmart lock or keypad deadbolt without an appA Wi-Fi or Bluetooth smart lock gives remote control and logs; an electronic keypad deadbolt just opens with a code. Compare access, batteries,…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…ComparisonSmart lock or key lockbox for caregivers and family accessYou need a safe way for a nurse, neighbor or adult child to get in. A smart lock gives each person a code and a log; a lockbox holds a physical…