Best Door Locks for Your Home in 2026 — Recommended by a Dover Locksmith

Walk down the lock aisle at any home improvement store and you'll find dozens of options. But as a Dover locksmith, we see the same thing repeatedly: homeowners spending money on locks that look solid but offer very little real protection. Here's what actually matters when choosing door locks for your home in Delaware, and which brands and grades we recommend.

Understanding Lock Grades — Start Here

Before shopping for locks, understand that the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) grades residential locks on a 1–3 scale:

• Grade 1 — Commercial/high-security grade. Withstands the most force and picking attempts. Best for front and back doors.
• Grade 2 — Mid-range residential. Good for interior doors and secondary entry points.
• Grade 3 — Basic residential. Most cheap locks you find in big-box stores fall here. Adequate for interior doors only.

For any exterior door — front door, back door, garage entry — you want ANSI Grade 1. Grade 3 locks are not sufficient for exterior security regardless of how they look.

Why a Deadbolt Is Non-Negotiable

A doorknob lock alone is not enough security for any exterior door. Doorknob locks use spring latches that can be defeated with a credit card in seconds. Every exterior door in your home should have a properly installed deadbolt as the primary lock.

Key features to look for in a deadbolt:

• 1-inch throw bolt — The bolt should extend at least 1 inch into the door frame.
• Hardened steel bolt — Resists sawing and cutting attacks.
• Anti-drill protection — A hardened steel plate or ball bearing inside prevents drilling the cylinder.
• Anti-pick pins — Security pins in the cylinder make picking much harder.
• Reinforced strike plate — The door frame is often the weak point. A 3-inch steel strike plate with 3-inch screws dramatically improves kick-in resistance.

We offer professional deadbolt installation throughout Dover and Kent County, including reinforced strike plates and door frame reinforcement.

Top Lock Brands Recommended by Locksmiths

Schlage — Best Overall Residential Lock

Schlage is consistently the top recommendation from locksmiths. Their Grade 1 deadbolts (the B60N and B62N series) offer excellent anti-pick, anti-drill, and anti-bump protection at a mid-range price point. Schlage locks are built in the USA and have proven durability in all weather conditions — important for Delaware's climate.

The Schlage B60N (single cylinder) and B62N (double cylinder) deadbolts are workhorses that professional locksmiths trust. They're widely available and we keep them in stock for immediate installation.

Medeco — Best High-Security Lock

If you want the best-of-the-best for a front door, Medeco makes some of the highest-security residential locks available. Their patented key control system means keys cannot be duplicated without authorization, and the cylinders are extremely pick and drill resistant. Medeco is the choice for homeowners who want true high-security protection. The price is higher, but so is the peace of mind.

Kwikset SmartKey — Best Value

Kwikset's SmartKey series offers a convenient re-keying feature — you can rekey the lock yourself without calling a locksmith, using a small tool that comes with the lock. It's a Grade 2 product, so it's not our first choice for front doors, but it's a solid option for secondary entrances or budget-conscious upgrades where self-rekeying convenience is valued.

Smart Locks — Should You Upgrade?

Smart locks (Schlage Encode, Yale Assure, August Smart Lock) allow keypad or app-based entry and can be convenient for families, Airbnb hosts, or homeowners who frequently need to grant access remotely. A few things to keep in mind:

• Smart locks are only as secure as the deadbolt they're built on. Look for ANSI Grade 1 smart locks.
• Battery dependency means you need to monitor battery life or you'll be locked out.
• For maximum security, pair a smart lock with a traditional deadbolt backup.

The Lock Is Only Part of the Security Equation

Even the best deadbolt can fail if the door frame isn't reinforced. Most residential break-ins happen by kicking in the door — not picking the lock. The door frame gives way before the lock does. Here's what we recommend for complete door security:

• Door frame reinforcement kit — Wraps the door frame in steel to prevent kick-in.
• 3-inch screws in the strike plate — Standard 3/4-inch screws barely reach the framing. 3-inch screws anchor into the structural stud.
• Solid wood or metal door — A hollow-core door negates the value of a good lock entirely.
• Door viewer (peephole) — Know who's on the other side before opening.

Professional Installation Makes a Difference

A Grade 1 lock installed incorrectly is only as good as a Grade 3 lock. Proper installation means the deadbolt is plumb, the strike plate is fully anchored into the stud, and the bolt engages fully into the strike plate with zero play. Our residential locksmith team installs deadbolts throughout Dover, Smyrna, Milford, Harrington, and all of Kent County with guaranteed workmanship.