Best Deadbolt Locks for Your Home
Statistics indicate that most burglars strike between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, and most enter via through the front door. These worrying statistics indicate just how easy it is to slip through the front door when household members are out and about their daily routing – school, work, etc.
Deadbolt locks serve as the most basic and effective type of home security, and are installed separately from the handle or knob, making them difficult to saw through, pick or jimmy open.
Buying one of the best deadbolt locks for your home can be a tricky task, because there are myriad options to choose from. But if you don’t want to put your home security on the line with a poor quality lock, here are three highly recommended options.
*I hope you’ll love the products I recommend! Just so you know, Plumb and Lined may collect a share of sales or other compensation from some of the links on this page.
BEST DEADBOLT LOCKS for YOUR HOME - COMPARISON TABLE
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Product
My Rating
Buy
#1. Best Overall Pick
SCHLAGE B60N 619
The Schlage B60N 619 tops this list of best deadbolt locks for home use, owing mostly to its single cylinder design, which basically requires a key to lock and unlock the door from the outside.
Furthermore, it is designed to fit existing standard pre-drilled doors, and can be ordered in a choice of 11 great colors including bright chrome, distressed nickel and matte black. And if the standard style isn’t a good fit, the Schlage B60N is available in an assortment of other styles including Camelot, Wakefield and Century.
It features a unique snap and stay design, which secures it place for easy installation. The Schlage B60N 619 is tried and tested for strength and durability, and is brought to you by a company that’s been in the home and security business for over 95 years. It is backed by an impressive lifetime warranty on the lock and finish, so you can rest assured it will provide you with unsurpassed security for years to come.
Pros
- Available in several styles and colors
- Easy installation
- Single cylinder design
- Lifetime manufacturer warranty
Cons
- None
#2. Best Budget
KWIKSET 660 Smartkey
If you’re looking to secure your home with the best deadbolt without breaking the bank, the Kwikset 660 Smartkey is worth a second look. It can be ordered in a choice of four appealing colors including polished brass, satin chrome, and features a keyed entry design.
The Kwikset 660 Smartkey is engineered to be used on exterior doors, and can be installed quickly, usually within minutes by securing the exposed screws on the interior face. Adding to this, it is equipped with an adjustable latch, making it a perfect fit for all standard door preparations.
The 660 Smartkey deadbolt by Kwikset features SmartKey Security Re key, and is compatible with Kwikset KW1 Keyway, which protects your home against advanced break-in techniques, and allows you to re-key your lock without any professional help, and in a matter of a few seconds.
The 660 Smartkey deadbolt is backed by side locking bar technology, which protects against lock bumping and other attack techniques. It is billed as the largest selling deadbolt in America, which speaks volumes about the high level of security you can expect.
Pros
- Colonial design and four colors available
- Easy installation
- SmartKey Security Re key
- Adjustable latch and side locking bar technology
Cons
- Cannot be re-keyed with Schlage style keys
#3. Best Electronic
SCHLAGE BE365
If you’re looking for an electronic deadbolt, i.e. one that allows you to open it by either punching in a preset code or with keys, you really can’t go wrong with the Schlage BE365 deadbolt. It comes pre-programmed with two codes, making it easy to use right out of the box, and showcases premium metal construction for effective performance and long service life.
The Schlage BE365 electronic deadbolt can be installed in minutes without any wiring, and is guaranteed to fit most standard doors between 1 5/8 inches to 2 inches thick (41mm 51mm). Additionally, it is appointed with a silicone coated keypad, which prevents the numbers from wearing off, and can be paired with most popular trim styles for a uniform look throughout your home.
The keypad of the Schlage BE36 is appointed with a backlight, making it easy to see in low light conditions. It can be programmed with up to 19 access codes, and is powered by a 1 D battery. The Schlage BE36 electronic lock features a low battery indicator, so you know exactly when the battery needs to be replaced, and is backed by a limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty.
Pros
- Can be programmed with up to 19 codes
- Low battery indicator
- Backlight for easy viewing at night
- Easy to install and fits most standard doors
- Manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Limited color options
DEADBOLT BUYING GUIDE
There are a few factors to consider when on the shopping trail for the best deadbolt for your home, most importantly:
ANSI Grade 1
The ANSI (American Nation Standards Institute) grading system ranges between the highest grade 1 to lowest grade 3. It takes into account several factors such as toughness and longevity of the lock and latch strength. To give you an idea about what grade is right for home use, grade 1 locks are generally used where the most secure locks are needed (commercial applications), grade 2 for residential doors, and grade 3 as a secondary security measure.
Bump and Pick Protection
Lock bumping is a technique that provides access to locks when a key isn’t present. Cheap and poor quality deadbolt locks are easy to bump and pick, so buy a home deadbolt lock that is both bump and pick resistant, but remember that no lock is 100 percent pick-proof.
Strength & Drill Resistance
By using a standard drill, burglars can easily drill through the cylinder of your lock. Drill and strength resistant deadbolts come with reinforced plates that prevent the door frame from being kicked in, and rods and plates placed strategically within the cylinder to make drill attacks near impossible.
Key Override for Electronic Models
Keyless deadbolt locks offer great convenience, given that you can open them with just a pin code and without keys. But in the rare occasion a malfunction does occur or you forget the code, the key override feature allows you to manually unlock the device when you need emergency access.
Final Thoughts
Installing a deadbolt lock in your home is undoubtedly a wise decision, given the high level and extra layer of security it provides. The three options mentioned on this list are brought to you by leading brands in the home security space, fit all standard doors, and come with the right features for top notch home security. However, if you want a deadbolt lock that can be accessed via a PIN code or keys, and by up to 19 different people – family and friends, the Schlage BE365 is a great choice.
