Door Locks & Latches

About

Door locks and latches buying guide A latch holds a door closed, a lock secures it, and the two are often confused. This collection holds the locking half of door hardware: single and double cylinder deadbolts, deadlatches, Euro mortice locks and cylinders, roller locks, double turn lock kits and smart locks, from Lockwood, Lane, Zanda, Nidus, Yale and others, in stainless steel, zinc alloy, brass and brass-plated finishes. This guide explains the difference between a latch, a lock, a deadbolt and a deadlatch, how single and double cylinder differ, which lock suits a front door, a side door, a bathroom or a toilet, what keyways and keys mean, which door measurements decide fit and how to plan and fit a lock. For related groups, see deadbolts , entry door lock sets and door locks, latches, hinges, bolts and accessories . Latch, lock, deadbolt and deadlatch A latch is a spring loaded tongue in the door edge that holds the door shut. A handle withdraws it. A lock is a device that needs a key, a code or a turn to move a bolt. A deadbolt is a lock with a solid bolt that does not spring back when pushed, so it holds the door firmly. A deadlatch is a latch that locks itself in place when the door closes, so it cannot be slipped open with a card. The difference matters for security. A latch alone keeps a door closed against the wind but not against a push. A deadbolt or deadlatch resists a push. Most external doors have a latch in the handle and a deadbolt as well. Single cylinder and double cylinder The cylinder is the part that takes the key. A single cylinder lock takes a key on the outside and a turn, snib or thumbturn on the inside. A double cylinder lock takes a key on both sides. The Lane, Zanda and Nidus ranges come in both, the Lockwood 005, 355 and 7107 are double cylinder and the Lockwood 001 deadlatch comes as double cylinder with an open in strike. Single cylinder lets you leave quickly without a key. Double cylinder is harder to open through a broken pane, but