17 Different Types of Door Locks

This Post may contain Affiliate Links. Please read our Disclosure for legal jargon.

Door locks are important in every aspect of livelihood irrespective of whether it’s for keeping your bedroom safe, your office room, or your main entrance door. There are different types of door locks that will not only secure your valuables but also provide privacy. 

Thousands of robberies take place on a daily basis. It’s urgent and serious that you select the best door lock to keep your premises out of harm’s way. Going through the list below and choosing a credible door lock will ensure there are no thefts or property damage. 

17 Different Types of Door Locks

Would you believe me if I said there is more than one level of security in door locks? Because it’s always better to be safe than sorry. You can opt for a simple or elegant design that will suit the interior and exterior of your house. But you also need to be mindful of checking the lock’s features and efficiency.

1. Keyed Entry Door Knob Locks

Keyed door knob locks have knobs on both sides. They come with a lock and key mechanism. Some door knobs have a bulged button that is pressed to lock the door.

The door gets unlocked when the knob is twisted. It’s the most common type of lock you will find in most houses. It is traditional, and stylish, and prevents tears on your dress when you accidentally bump into the knob.

Pros: Keyed entry door knobs are inexpensive and guarantee high security. They come in various designs and colors. You can select as per your interior taste. You can choose from a plethora of options. 

Cons: You can lock yourself out of your home if you miss your key somewhere. You will need to hire a locksmith if that happens. 

2. Deadbolt locks

Deadbolt locks are also very common in residential properties because of their simplicity. It’s an exterior door lock that comes with a single cylinder. This is more secure than a doorknob lock as it can be opened only by a key and it’s not spring-activated.

Pros: Deadbolt locks are very strong and hard to break in. They provide a much stronger seal for your doors and they are very easy to install.

Cons: Even though they are strong, they are not completely impenetrable. 

3. Padlocks

Padlocks are stationary locks mostly used to secure garages, sheds, storage units, land gates, and other building areas. They are portable and come with a key.

There are two types of padlocks: Keyed and Combination padlocks. The keyed padlock is unlocked using a key, whereas the latter doesn’t require a key and can simply be unlocked by precisely lining the combination code.

Pros: Padlocks are convenient, small, and provide decent enough rooms. It can be easily opened by a child if they get stuck in a room. 

Cons: You can’t use padlocks to secure valuable things as they are manufactured just for doors.

4. Barrel bolt locks

Barrel bolts are also known as sliding bolt locks or shoot bolt locks. They have a simple locking system mainly used in public and residential bathrooms. They are also seen in windows. A catch plate and a sliding metal bar are the two main components here.

Pros: Barrel bolt locks are easy to use and come in many options. You can select a brass or a stainless steel barrel bolt lock. 

Cons: One barrel bolt lock isn’t secure enough. You need to install two, one at the top and the other at the bottom to keep your room safe.

5. Cylindrical lever locks

They are used in both commercial and residential properties. The way cylindrical lever locks work is quite similar to the workings of deadbolt locks. It’s more flexible than a deadbolt lock and is easier to open. The latch here can be operated from both sides of the door which is why this type of lock is very common in bedrooms. 

Pros: Cylindrical lever locks are easy to install and perfect for modern door decor. They are easily re-keyable. You don’t have to break a lock when you lose the key. You can just call a locksmith and they will open it without any hassle using a bump key.

Cons: These locks don’t last for a long time. 

6. Chain locks

Chain locks are usually found in apartments, hotel rooms, and terrace doors. Its main advantage is that it can be slightly opened to view who is standing at the door. The chain lock comes with a barrel bolt lock with a chain that is fixed to the door.  They are also called security chains or chain door interviewers. 

Pros: Its main advantage is that the chain provides extra protection. The door can be slightly opened to view who is standing at the door.  

Cons: Chain locks come with short screws and they can easily rip out when someone forcefully tries to break in. 

7. Rim locks

Rim latch lock is one of the ancient locking devices. They are also called Mortise locks. It’s spring-loaded and pressure operated. They are fixed on the surface of the door. They are originally made from cast iron. You can unlock this with a key. One of the disadvantages of a rim lock is that it’s very visible because of its big body mounted on the surface. 

Pros: Rims locks have a simple mechanism and they are super affordable. It is cheap to replace as well. 

Cons: The disadvantage of a rim lock is that it’s very visible because of its big body mounted on the surface.  

8. Cam lock

If you want to safeguard your valuable possessions, then cam lock is your trusted choice. It’s an L-shaped lock that is installed in lockers and cabinets. The cam lock has to be installed in the cabinet or locker inside the front of their enclosures. It unlocks by the turn of a key. Cam locks are made of different materials such as zinc alloy, brass, and even stainless steel. 

Pros: Cam locks are extremely difficult to break. They can be custom-made based on what kind of key you want. They are also water-resistant. 

Cons: Since cam locks are key-operated, they are prone to get lost easily. 

9. Smart or digital lock

If you are a tech lover, then the smart lock is the best option for you. You don’t need to carry a key. All you need is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to manage and control the lock. You have to mount the lock on the surface of the door and set your preferred unlocking electronic input methods such as passcode or fingerprint. Some smart locks also come with audio and video recording options. 

Pros: Smart locks increase accessibility without compromising security. Some smart locks also come with audio and video recording options. 

Cons: They can be easily hacked and tampered with. They are quite expensive. 

10. Electronic lock

If you are looking for a sophisticated automated lock system, then electronic locks will leave you mighty impressed. It works with the help of an electric current. You have to set a password and use it to unlock the door. It’s as simple as that.

Pros: It provides improved security and boosts the value of your property. You don’t even have to carry a key anymore. 

Cons: The main drawback of electronic locks is power cuts. Since it relies purely on electricity, power failure can be a problem when opening the door. 

11. Multipoint locks

Just as the name suggests, the multipoint locking system provides you with more than one locking point. It’s exactly like a deadbolt lock. The only difference is that deadbolt has only one lock. Multipoint locks have at least three locks from top to bottom in order to provide you with maximum security. It comes with one activation for all three locking points. 

Pros: Since they have more than one locking point, they provide additional security to your place.

Cons: If anyone gets ahold of the keys, they can easily unlock and enter the house. It comes with one activation for all three locking points.  

12. Furniture lock

If you have important files and documents to secure, then furniture locks are the perfect fit for you. They are installed in desks or drawers. Furniture lock comes mostly in bolt lock style. You have to use a key to unlock it. Another design is the push-style button similar to the doorknob where you have to push the button to unlock it. 

Pros: You can easily make as many spare keys as you want. It provides great security for your documents and papers.

Cons: They are just for desks, drawers, and cabinets. You can’t use a furniture lock on doors and storage units.

13. T-handle or vending lock

These types of locks are mainly used in vending machines. They are simple, easy to use, and very unique. You need to pull the T handle first and then insert the key to unlock it. These locks are also seen in ATMs and pay phones. 

Pros: It can resist any form of physical attack. It doesn’t compromise its security even when drilling machines are used. 

Cons: It becomes a problem when you lose the key. You will have to call in a professional and break the lock. 

14. Disc lock

If you are looking for heavy-duty looks, then a disc lock is the perfect one for storage units and lockers. They are designed to keep your things safe. They are very difficult to break or cut open because of the shape of the lock. The hasp in the lock makes it very difficult to access by robbers and thieves. 

Pros: Disc locks are lightweight and they are made of superior mechanical resistance. 

Cons: Sometimes disc locks are made of cheap materials. You need to be careful while selecting the lock and make sure you select the one which is made of copper. 

15. Electromagnetic lock

A maglock or an electromagnetic magnetic lock are fail-safes. The main advantage of this is that it unlocks easily even when there is a power outage. The lock has two components. An electromagnet and an armature plate. The two are in contact when the door is locked. 

Pros: Electromagnetic locks are fail-safe and don’t compromise under any kind of stress. 

Cons: The real drawback here is the power outage. Anyone can easily enter the house when the power is out. 

16. Retinal scan door lock

The retinal scan door lock is a crowd favorite among smart home lovers. It has high-resolution cameras. It works on the biometric principle and unlocks upon scanning either the retina or iris. Detailed scanning of your eye is done while installing this lock. The retinal eye scan has much better accuracy than the fingerprint lock system. 

Pros: They are extremely reliable because no two people have the retinal map.

Cons: When the owner takes more than a couple of attempts to scan the eye, it can lead to a false rejection rate and the security alarm will go off. 

17. Euro cylinder door lock

A euro cylinder lock is usually made of plastic or metal and is mostly found in commercial and domestic properties in European countries. These locks are barrel-shaped and are very easy to install. This type of lock comes with an advanced feature known as “Anti-snap locks” which has high security and won’t be easy to break. 

Pros: This type of lock comes with an advanced feature known as “Anti-snap locks” which has high security and won’t be easy to break. 

Cons: The exterior of the euro cylinder door lock is easily prone to scratching, blistering, plate peeling, and other problems. 

Conclusion

All in all, all these types of door locks are very helpful in keeping your property safe. Each one is different from the other in terms of operation, features, and cost. We hope you learned something new about locks and their mechanism.