Best Door Locks 2020: Product Reviews + Buying Guide

Nobody wants to be the victim of a home invasion. Not only do they completely ruin your family’s sense of privacy and security, but they also can result in a lot of valuable possessions being stolen.

Alongside a good alarm system, a good door lock is one of the best ways to deter a home invader. In this article, we are going to be looking at the best door locks that money can buy.

We picked 5 high-quality locks and we are going to do a review of each one. Additionally, we will also be doing a buying guide to tell you what to look for in a good door locking system. If you want a quick purchase recommendation, get the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt with Century Trim.

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Door Locks in 2020:

 

Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt

To start off our best door locks article, we are going to be taking a look at a lock system that is decidedly modern and that is perfect for those with a smart home setup.

As you can see quite plainly from the product name, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt is equipped with a variety of modern, tech-friendly features. Of course, it also remembers that its primary purpose is to keep your family safe and so it provides solid protection as well.

Let’s start this review by talking about what is undoubtedly the most important and impressive feature of the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, which is how well this lock integrates into just about any smart home setup.

For starters, it can connect to your home’s WiFi system and it can then be controlled via a wide variety of apps (including an official app from Schlage). The official app works well, and you can do things like a lock or unlock it remotely and even create custom passcodes for specific people.

Of course, every smart home lock needs to be able to connect to one of the bigger smart home devices out there. Schlage has clearly not overlooked this as the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt is compatible with Amazon’s popular Alexa Smart Home Service.

Like we said in the introduction to this review, in addition to being very modern, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt is just a solid lock system overall. It keeps your door shut firmly and it won’t budge easily.

When the battery starts to die, you will be warned very clearly through voice alerts and phone alerts. So, you will end up having plenty of time to change the batteries on the lock (this will prevent any unfortunate accidents like being locked out of your house).

Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt with Century Trim

Moving on with our look at some of the best door locksets on the market today, we are going to be reviewing yet another entry from Schlage.

Much like the last lock system that we reviewed, the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt with Century Trim is also a smart lock system that is designed to integrate into your existing smart home infrastructure. Also, much like the last lock system that we took a look at, the Schlage is a very well-made option that you can trust to keep yourself safe.

Since this is a smart lock system and those of you reading this are interested in how it is going to fit into your current setup, let’s start the review by talking about that aspect of the lock. The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt with Century Trim is capable of connecting to Amazon’s Alexa system.

Likewise, it can also be connected to your home’s WiFi system. When it comes to controlling the lock, you have a variety of options at your disposal. You can use a variety of different apps that are on both iPhone and Android. Likewise, you can also use voice commands to control the lock.

Much like all products from Schlage, this lock provides exceptional protection and it is very well-made. You can definitely rest easy knowing that this lock is protecting your house and your family.

Probably the biggest issue with this entry from Schlage is that it is weirdly vulnerable to water. The reason for this seems to be that the lock doesn’t come with any sort of a rubber seal to help keep water out.

So, if your door is for some reason exposed to the rain, it could potentially result in the lock getting damaged. If this isn’t a problem for you because your door isn’t exposed to the rain, then you can disregard this problem and take a chance on this pretty well-made smart lock system.

Yale Assure Lock SL, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Deadbolt

Moving on with our best door locks review article, we are going to be taking a look at the Yale Assure Lock SL, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Deadbolt. This is the first non-Schlage locking system that we are going to be reviewing on this list.

So, those of you who didn’t like the two locks from Schlage will hopefully find the Yale Assure to be a better fit for your home. Rest assured that this lock system is just as well-made and as feature-heavy as locks from Schlage.

First off, the Yale Assure Lock SL, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Deadbolt is first and foremost a very solid lock system. Yale has been around since the 1800s, so you can trust that they know what they are doing when it comes to making locks to keep your family safe and secure.

In terms of smart features, the Yale Assure Lock SL, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Deadbolt offer about what you would expect out of a high-end smart lock. It can be connected to a variety of smart home systems (including Google Home and Amazon Alexa). It can also be controlled through various apps and voice commands. It also has features like a built-in sensor that will tell you whether you closed the door or not.

One small issue that may annoy some when it comes to the Yale Assure Lock SL, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth Deadbolt is the fact that there is no key required. Both of the Schlage locks that we reviewed let you go either electric or key. The Yale Assure has no key option. Everything is done electronically either through the app or via voice commands.

Schlage FE595 CAM

For this next review on our best door locks 2020 review list, we are going to be doing a review of yet another lock system from Schlage. However, the Schlage FE595 CAM differs quite heavily from any other lock system that they have made for a variety of reasons.

By far the biggest difference is that this is the first lock from Schlage (and indeed the first lock on our best door locks article) that is not a smart lock. The FE595 is an old-style lock system with a keypad for added security.

Even though it may not be a smart lock, this is still a product from Schlage, so you know that this is going to be a very reliable lock that you can trust to keep unwanted visitors out.

While this is primarily an old-school lock system, it does feature keyless entry for a bit of extra convenience. You can enter a combination on the keypad to be able to enter without fumbling around for your keys. It is minor compared to the convenience features found on most smart lock systems, but it is still a nice addition.

Kwikset 99130-002 SmartCode Deadbolt Door Lock

For the final review on this look at the best door locksets. We are going to take a brief look at the Kwikset 99130-002 SmartCode Deadbolt Door Lock. This high-quality door lock is both convenient and sturdy.

In addition to also being very reliable when it comes to protecting your house from potential home invaders, the Kwikset is also remarkably easy to install.

Usually, one associates these kinds of locks with being very difficult to get up and running, but that isn’t the case with this one. If you know what you are doing, you can have the Kwikset 99130-002 SmartCode Deadbolt Door Lock installed in just a few minutes. There should be a minimal hassle on your part.

It also comes with a bunch of very nice convenience features like a backlit keypad and automatic locking. Read our detailed review on Kwikset Smartcode 913 door lock.

Best Door Locks Buying Guide

Hopefully, you found our best door locks review article to be useful. We also sincerely hope that you found one of our 5 door locksets to be to your liking. If you are still curious about how we came to the decision to feature some locksets and not others, don’t worry because we have you covered.

In this second part of our best door locksets article, we are going to be taking an in-depth look at what goes into picking out a good door lock. We will take a look at the different kinds and styles of best keyless door locks, as well as what features to focus on.

Old-School or Electronic?

 

One of the first decisions that you have to make when picking out a good door lockset is whether you want to go old-school or if you want to go for a more modern electric locking system. On our look at the best door locks 2020, we included both kinds of door locking systems. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

On the one hand, traditional deadbolt locks are extremely easy to use. Just stick in the key and turn, it doesn’t get much simpler than that. You can trust them to always work (old-school lock and key systems tend to malfunction a lot less than electronic models). On this note, we should also mention that for those looking for even more security, there are two things that you should keep in mind when buying an old-school lock.

First off, always make sure that the old-school lock that you invest in is an anti-drill lock. Power drills can often make short work of a lot of lock and key systems. So, you need to make sure that the lock manufacturer protected against that.

Secondly, many lock and key systems come with locks on both sides of the handle. This is good because it prevents a potential criminal from breaking glass near the door and just manually turning the lock from the inside (this only applies to those with windows near their door or those who have doors with glass parts).

At the same time, we have to acknowledge that they aren’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. The biggest issue with old-school systems is that they lack all the convenience features of modern, electronic locks.

For example, pretty much every modern electronic lock can be remotely controlled from your phone, which lets you lock and unlock the door without ever getting up. It is a lifesaver if you accidentally forget to lock your door as you leave for work.

Also, many types of electric locks tend to be a bit harder for your average criminal to break into. The sheer sight of one may be enough to deter a lot of criminals who might otherwise try their luck at breaking into a regular door lock.

If you do go with an electronic lock, make sure that it fits nicely into your current home setup. You want a lock that can be connected to your current smart home system (whether that be Google Home or Amazon Alexa). You also want to make sure that it can be controlled using your current smartphone.

Valuating The Quality Of A Lock

 

If you are aiming to buy a door lock (especially a lock and key set), then you need to become familiar with the systems used to evaluate the best keyless door locks. There are two standards that you should become familiar with in this regard.

The first is the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. The second is the American National Standards Institute. Both of these bodies evaluate many commercial lock systems and they can give you a good idea of what sort of quality lock that you are dealing with.

Typically, they evaluate lock systems using a grade scale. Grade 1s are the highest quality lock systems and they will last you the longest. They also provide the most protection. Quite a few of the entries on our best door locks review article fell into this category. Grade 2 and Grade 3 locks are obviously not as good, but still provide a baseline level of quality.

Do note that these rating systems tend to apply more to old-school lock and key systems. They do rate more modern, electronic locks, but they aren’t as common. So, if you are interested in an electronic lock system, then you are going to have to find another way to evaluate the quality of the lock.

Don’t Expect A Lock To Do All The Work

 

Something else that we feel like we should mention in our best door locksets buying guide is that door locks aren’t always the miracle solution to home break-ins. We find that people often go shopping for the best keyless door locks either because their current lock is broken or because they are extra paranoid about break-ins and home invasions for whatever reason. If you follow into the latter category, then you need to be aware that locks aren’t the only thing that will keep a criminal out.

To illustrate what we mean, imagine a rickety old door. Now, take one of the entries from our best door locks review article and slap it on the door. Do you think it would do a whole lot? The correct answer is probably not.

The reality is that the best keyless door locks are only one possible factor that can determine how safe your house is. You also need to look at the overall strength and security of your door frame and the door itself. You also need to give some consideration as to whether points of entry into your house (like windows) are also properly secured.