Know your door before you buy the lock.
Plain-language guides to door locks, strike plates and smart deadbolts for US homes. Every recommendation starts with a measurement, not a sales pitch.
- Written for standard US doors
- Checked against ANSI/BHMA grades
- No jargon, no upsell
Door fit finder
Measure your door, then pick what you see. Takes about two minutes.
Start with the part of your door that worries you
Six topics cover nearly every question we get. Pick one and the guides explain what to measure and what to buy.
Door locks
Lock types, bore and backset sizes, and how to match a lock to the door you already have.
8Deadbolts
Single, double and keypad models explained.
9Smart locks
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Matter, without the hype.
6Strike plates and reinforcement
The cheapest upgrade against forced entry, and how to do it right.
5Padlocks and outdoor
Sheds, gates and garages.
10Rekey and repair
Stuck bolts, loose knobs, lockouts.
Latest guides
See all guidesStrike Plate Screws: Why Length Alone Is Not the Fix
The 3-inch screw is real, and it only works if it ends inside framing. What decides that, which holes to use, and why the hinge side needs the same job.
Types of Door Locks: The 5 a US Front Door Actually Uses
Check your door’s bore, backset and thickness in two minutes, then choose the right one.
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The cheapest security upgrade is a screw that reaches the frame
Most kick-ins split the door jamb, not the lock. Long screws in the strike plate and hinge side tie the jamb to the wall framing behind it.
Read the strike plate guideFive lock types at a glance
A quick map before you read the full guide. Match the row to what your door already has.
| Type | Best for | Door needs | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-cylinder deadbolt | Most front doors; simple and strong Common | 2-1/8 in bore, 1 in edge hole | Thumb-turn inside, so keep glass out of reach |
| Keypad deadbolt | Families, rentals, no keys to lose | Standard bore, batteries | Change batteries on a schedule |
| Smart deadbolt | Guest codes, remote lock check Needs Wi-Fi or hub | Standard bore, app and power | Check ecosystem support before buying |
| Handleset with deadbolt | Traditional look, grip handle and lock in one | Two separate bores | Measure backset for both |
| Mortise lock | Older and commercial doors | Rectangular pocket in edge | Hard to swap; match the existing case |
Sample content. Edit the rows to match the five types in your published guide.
How every guide is built
Three steps, in the same order, so you can trust what you read and repeat it on your own door.
Measure the door
Bore, backset, thickness and edge prep. If a guide skips this, it cannot tell you what fits.
Check the standard
Compare the lock to ANSI/BHMA grades and the door’s actual use, not packaging claims.
Explain the fix
Say what to buy, what to install and what to leave alone, in steps anyone can follow.
One lock tip, every week
A short email with one fix, one measurement or one product worth knowing about.