Bedroom door security is usually not at the top of a homeowner’s priority list. Bedroom door locks are hardware fitted to an interior bedroom door to control who can open it, and they exist for privacy rather than security. They can significantly affect how comfortable and secure a room feels.
Are you renovating or constructing a new home? Do you love the privacy and want to make sure that you and your family are safe? Are you wondering if bedrooms doors should have locks?
Yes, bedroom doors with locks ensure the person’s privacy in the room, so bedrooms should have locks if desired. However, these locks should not be entered with a key for safety reasons. The only doors in your house that need a key are those that lead outside.
Though the central question of whether or not bedroom doors should have locks has been addressed, several caveats are to consider; you’ll need the ideal bedroom door lock for your specific situation. But how does one go about finding the perfect fit option for their home’s bedroom door? Read on to learn more.
Should Bedroom Doors Have Locks?
Your bedroom is your own space, and securing it with a lock ensures your privacy. Having certain types of door locks, on the other hand, can be detrimental to your safety. Because your front door is the essential door in your house, it’s critical to install a proper and long-lasting exterior door lock.
All options are a hefty mortise lock, a deadbolt, or an electronic door lock.
Regardless, locks should be installed on your bedroom door, but you must not purchase a lock with a key! Parents in a house with children desire a lock on their doors, but having a lock with a key will be a disadvantage in an emergency.
While you are not supposed to use a keyed lock in your bedroom, you must close the door before bed. In an emergency, closing your bedroom door can help. A closed bedroom door, for example, can help to limit the spread of fires, reduce smoke inhalation, regulate room temperatures, and enhance oxygen levels.
Instead of a keyed lock, an indoor lock should be used for your bedroom door. A sliding bolt is a good choice. The door can only be secured and unlocked from your end, and in the case of emergency, a sliding bolt would be easy to break down, and you won’t have to worry about misplacing your keys.
Should Kids Have Locks On Their Bedrooms Doors?
Another important consideration is whether or not locks should be installed in your children’s bedrooms. The reality is your children will want privacy as they grow older, but a locked door may pose a safety risk when they are smaller.
If your kids are teenagers, they should have locks on their bedroom doors. And when you put a lock on your child’s door, ensure it’s a “privacy lock.”
These locks do not require a key to open and can usually be opened from the outside with minimal effort. This will provide the desired level of privacy while yet allowing access in the event of an emergency.
On the other hand, if your child is under the age of 11, it is not recommended that they have locks on their bedroom doors. This is because you still need to watch them at this age. Instead, you should always knock on their door before entering their room to signal that you respect their privacy. This will also teach kids to respect other people’s privacy.
As a result, consider placing a handle with no lock until your child indicates a desire to have privacy.
Why You Shouldn’t Use a Lock & Key
Bedroom doors that require a key to open pose a significant safety risk. A keyed door prevents help from reaching the person inside the locked room in a fire.
If the key cannot be discovered or the person inside the room with the key becomes disabled in an emergency, the only choice is to smash down the door, which is more complex than it appears. These types of locks could be fatal in the event of a fire.
Some communities and properties prohibit using keys to lock interior doors.
Understanding your local building laws and community standards is essential, especially if you rent your house. Make no significant changes until you have thoroughly researched the subject.
Should You Lock Your Bedroom Door At Night?
It would be best if you did not lock your bedroom door at night. If you feel unsafe in your home at night, consider purchasing additional locks for the front entrance. If something were to happen to you while you were sleeping, help would be difficult to reach you behind a locked door.
If there is a fire in your bedroom and you need to flee quickly, a locked door will be another impediment in your way.
Though some may claim that it adds extra safety in the event of a house invasion, a home security system may alleviate this anxiety if you prefer to leave your bedroom door locked at night.
How to Secure a Door Without Bedroom Door Locks Installed
There are various methods for securing a bedroom door without a lock. The most popular approach is to jam a chair underneath the knob, preventing the door from swinging toward the person opening it.
However, this strategy is flawed because most bedroom doors open inward. When attempting to barricade oneself inside, the chair provides an effective barrier, but it does not prevent the door from being forced open from the outside.
A door wedge, often known as a door stopper, effectively secures a door. Place the wedge beneath the closed door. This would take a lot of strength to dislodge and serves as a good deterrent.
The Best Bedroom Door Locks to Consider
To find the best lock for your bedroom door, you must first understand a few key characteristics. For first-time buyers, the procedure may appear daunting at first. But here’s a quick review of the factors that will play a role in determining your bedroom door lock.
- Lock Type:Bedroom door locks are available in various styles, each best suited to a certain situation. Buyers must determine which lock type is most suited to their needs. Are you looking for a deadbolt, knob lock, chain, or padlock for your bedroom door? Before making a final decision, you must answer this question.
- ANSI Security Rating: Each bedroom door lock is ANSI-rated for security. These evaluations are based on a scale of 1-3, set by ANSI, where grade 1 locks are the most secure and grade 3 locks are the least secure.
- Smart Lock Capabilities: Smart bedroom door locks aren’t prevalent, but they can be helpful in certain situations. They’re mainly found on the doors of older people who need assistance.
- Installation Ease: Any bedroom door lock worth purchasing will be simple to install. Buyers will need to conduct extensive research on this aspect before making a final decision.
- Hand-operated or keypad: Some variants have a regular doorknob that can be opened and closed by hand. For these processes, more modern locks feature keypads with a code.
Also, we’ve compiled a shortlist of bedroom door locks worth considering, based on their specs and security rating rather than a hands-on test.
Amazon Basics Bedroom Locks
AmazonBasics’ Bedroom Door Knob Lock is one of the more conventional options on this list. It’s a simple bedroom door lock with no additional features that make it difficult to use or install: an adjustable latch, a turn-knob locking mechanism, and no drilling required to fit it. It comes in four finishes.
Shipment damage is the complaint that shows up most often on this listing, so check the box before you throw out the packaging.
Pros:
- Simple design with a latch that can be adjusted to fit various door sizes
- It’s easy to put together, and there’s no need to drill holes
- Locking mechanism with a simple turn knob
- For a variety of uses, there are four color options
- Reasonably priced option
Cons: Shipment troubles
Copper Creek
Finding an affordable and efficient bedroom door lock isn’t always as easy. Copper Creek’s Door Knob is one of the cheaper options here, built with brass cylinders and nickel-plated bolts.
It carries an ANSI grade-3 security rating, the lowest tier on that scale, so treat it as privacy hardware rather than a serious deterrent. The adjustable round corner latch fits most interior and exterior doors, and it comes in six finishes.
Pros of Copper Creek
- Affordably priced bedroom door lock
- Brass cylinders and nickel-plated bolts provide high-quality construction.
- Security rating of ANSI grade 3
- Most doors can be fitted with adjustable round corner locks.
- Six different finish options for different room décor
Cons: Instructions that are a little confusing
Probico Square Handles
Probico Square Handles come in six pack sizes, from a 2-pack up to a 10-pack, built in stainless steel with a satin nickel finish. Each lock has a turn knob on the inside and a keyed cylinder on the outside, with a key included.
Like the other two options here, it carries an ANSI grade-3 rating, so it is privacy hardware, not a security upgrade. The most common complaint on this listing is receiving the wrong count of locks in a multi-pack, so verify the count against your order before installing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should bedroom doors have locks?
Yes, for privacy. A bedroom lock should never be a keyed lock, since the only doors that need a key are the ones that lead outside.
Should kids have locks on their bedroom doors?
Teenagers can have a privacy lock, one that opens from the outside without a key. Children under 11 generally should not, since they still need supervision at that age.
Should you lock your bedroom door at night?
No. A locked door slows down anyone trying to reach you in an emergency, including a fire. Use a home security system for the front of the house instead.
Conclusion
A bedroom door lock is about privacy, not security. All three options above carry an ANSI grade-3 rating, the lowest on that scale, which is normal for interior privacy locks and not a reason to avoid them. Skip the keyed lock, close the door before bed, and pick whichever of these fits your door and your budget.
For over a decade, Robin has been a real estate agent, interior design specialist, and mother. Through her trials and tribulations, she wanted to create the perfect website to help you save money and make your home look beautiful.