Skip to content
LocksmithRates Independent locksmith pricing & how-to

Buying guide Updated 2026

The Best Door Security Bars of 2026

A door security bar is not a lock upgrade - it's a brace that jams a hinged or sliding door shut while you're on the other side of it. The Master Lock 270EC ($17-21) folds flat for renters and travelers, the Doorricade 38-Inch bar (around $90) screws into the wall studs for the highest rated strength, and the Amazon Basics bar ($17-20) is the simplest telescoping option if you just want one bar and don't care about folding it up. All three only work while they're set in place - none of them replace a deadbolt or a reinforced frame for when you're away. Prices verified August 2026.

At a glance - 3 door security bars compared (prices verified August 2026)

Bar Best forApprox. priceInstall
Master Lock 270EC Best overall - folds for travel or storage$17-21Wedges under the knob or lies in a sliding-door track - zero install
Doorricade 38-Inch Bar Best heavy-duty - screws into the studsaround $90Two brackets screw to the jamb; bar drops in and thumb-locks
Amazon Basics Door Security Bar Best budget - simplest telescoping bar$17-20Wedges under the knob or converts for a sliding-door track - zero install

How a door security bar works (and its real limits)

An under-knob bar like the Master Lock 270EC or the Amazon Basics bar wedges diagonally between the doorknob and the floor, so a kick or shoulder-hit against the door gets transferred straight down into the floor instead of into the lock or jamb. A mounted bar like the Doorricade works differently: it locks into brackets screwed to the door jamb on both sides, so the force gets carried sideways into the wall studs rather than the floor. Both approaches protect the door - but only while the bar is physically in place. That means a portable door jammer or a mounted bar protects you while you're home (or in a hotel room with one packed along), not while the house is empty. It's a supplement to a good deadbolt and a solid frame, not a replacement for either.

How to choose

Seen the Master Lock 265D recommended elsewhere?

The 265D is Master Lock's older, non-folding bar, and it's fading out. Master Lock's own 270D product page rates the 270-series at twice the strength of the 265D in the company's angled compression testing, single 265D bars have largely disappeared from Amazon (only 3-packs turn up now), and at least one retailer lists the 265D as discontinued. If you want a full-size, non-compact Master Lock bar, the 270D is the current model at hardware retailers like Ace and Menards; on Amazon, the 270EC covered above is the one to buy.

What about the Buddybar?

The Buddybar Door Jammer is a well-regarded heavy-duty under-knob bar - 8.2 lbs of powder-coated steel with no plastic parts, tested by the manufacturer to withstand 2,560 lbs, and it extends 36-51 in. We left it off the picks above because, as of August 2026, its availability is spotty: we found no current Amazon US stock (the last third-party price tracked was $118.95 back in January 2026), one retailer shows it backordered, and Walmart lists it at $132.03. We'd rather tell you that plainly than link a listing that may be dead - if you want a Buddybar, buy direct from buddybardoorjammer.com.

A bar protects you at home - plan separately for when you're away

Every bar on this page - and the Buddybar - only works while it's physically set in place, which means someone has to be on the other side of the door to use it. That covers you at night or during a home invasion attempt, but it does nothing while you're at work or on vacation. For that, the fix is the same one recommended for burglary-resistant doors generally: reinforce the frame so the jamb and hinges can't be kicked in (see our door reinforcement kit guide) and install a quality deadbolt (see our front door lock guide).

The picks

Best overall for most doors

1. Master Lock 270EC Folding Door Security Bar

$17-21

A 20-gauge steel bar that folds compact enough to pack in a suitcase, making it the pick for both everyday home use and travel. It does double duty: wedge it under the knob of a hinged door, or lay it in the floor track of a sliding patio door. It adjusts from 25-1/2 to 43-1/2 in. for hinged doors and up to about 39 in. for sliding doors, with padded, non-scratch contact points. This is Master Lock's current compact bar - see the callout below on the older 265D.

Pros

  • Folds flat enough to pack in a suitcase - the travel and hotel-room pick
  • Works on both a hinged door (under the knob) and a sliding patio door (floor track)
  • Adjusts 25-1/2 to 43-1/2 in. for hinged doors, up to about 39 in. for sliding doors
  • Padded, non-scratch contact points

Cons

  • Only protects while you're home and the bar is set in place
  • Effectiveness depends on the floor surface under the foot - carpet reduces grip
  • Not rated as heavy-duty as a stud-mounted bar like the Doorricade
Check price on Amazon
Doorricade aluminium door security bar mounted across an inward-opening door

Image: Doorricade

Best heavy-duty (mounted)

2. Doorricade 38-Inch Door Security Bar

around $90

A solid aluminum bar with stainless steel hinge brackets that screw to the door jamb using included 3-inch screws long enough to reach the wall studs on both sides of the door. The bar drops into the bracket slots and thumb locks secure it; when it's not in use, the brackets fold flat against the trim. Doorricade rates the bar to resist 2,000 lbs of battering-ram force. Because it spans the full width of the door, force is carried into the studs on both sides rather than into the floor alone. Sizing matters: the bar needs to be at least 2 in. wider than the door, so this 38-inch SKU fits doors 32-36 in. wide; Doorricade sells other sizes from 30 to 60 in., plus custom lengths, direct at doorricade.com. Doorricade has sold these since 2012 and backs them with a lifetime warranty; buying direct runs $89.95 with free continental-US shipping.

Pros

  • Rated by the manufacturer to resist 2,000 lbs of battering-ram force
  • Anchors into the wall studs on both sides of the door, not just the floor
  • Brackets fold flat against the trim when the bar isn't in use
  • Lifetime warranty; sold since 2012

Cons

  • Requires screwing two brackets into the door jamb - not renter-friendly without permission
  • Costs roughly 5x as much as the two other picks here
  • This 38-inch SKU only fits doors 32-36 in. wide; other sizes and custom lengths cost more
Check price on Amazon
Best budget / simplest

3. Amazon Basics Door Security Bar

$17-20

A classic non-folding telescoping bar in powder-coated steel - the simplest option here if you just want one bar and don't need it to fold up. It adjusts roughly 25-45 in. (the listing specs it at 29-45 in.), with a rotatable foot and rubber sole for grip, and a removable head that converts it for a sliding glass door's floor track (up to about 41-3/4 in. in that mode). It was priced at $17.95 as of June 2026, and as an Amazon house brand, stock has stayed more stable than many third-party bars.

Pros

  • Simplest possible bar - one telescoping tube, no folding mechanism to learn
  • Rotatable foot with a rubber sole grips the floor
  • Removable head converts it for a sliding glass door's floor track
  • Amazon house brand, so stock has stayed consistent

Cons

  • Only protects while you're home and the bar is set in place
  • Doesn't fold, so it's bulkier to store than the Master Lock 270EC
  • Effectiveness depends on the floor surface under the foot - carpet reduces grip
Check price on Amazon

Our pick: Master Lock 270EC Folding Door Security Bar

For most people, the Master Lock 270EC is the right starting point - it works on both hinged and sliding doors, needs no installation, and folds small enough to travel with. If you want the strongest brace a door bar can offer and don't mind screwing brackets into the jamb, step up to the Doorricade 38-Inch bar. If you just want the cheapest bar that works and don't care about folding it away, the Amazon Basics bar does the same core job as the 270EC for a similar price. Whichever you pick, remember it only protects you while it's set in place - pair it with a reinforced frame and a quality deadbolt for when you're away.

We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never affects which product we recommend. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions

Do door security bars actually work?
Yes, within their design: an under-knob bar like the Master Lock 270EC or Amazon Basics bar wedges against the door and transfers a kick's force down into the floor, while a mounted bar like the Doorricade transfers that force sideways into the wall studs on both sides of the door frame. Manufacturers back that up with strength testing - Doorricade rates its bar to resist 2,000 lbs of battering-ram force, and Buddybar rates its bar to 2,560 lbs. The catch is that every one of these bars only works while it's physically in place, so they protect you while you're home (or in a hotel room), not while you're away.
Do door security bars work on carpet?
Less well than on a hard floor. The rubber foot on an under-knob bar like the 270EC or the Amazon Basics bar grips wood or tile floors well, but deep or plush carpet lets the foot sink and shift under pressure, which reduces how much force the bar can hold before it slips. A mounted bar like the Doorricade avoids this problem entirely because it locks into wall-mounted brackets instead of bracing off the floor.
Can renters or travelers use a door security bar?
A portable under-knob bar is the renter- and traveler-friendly option: the Master Lock 270EC and Amazon Basics bar both wedge under the doorknob with zero installation and zero screws, and the 270EC folds compact enough to pack in a suitcase for a hotel room. The Doorricade requires screwing two brackets into the door jamb, so it's a better fit for a home you own (or have a landlord's permission to modify) than a rental or a hotel stay.
What's the difference between an under-knob bar and a mounted bar?
An under-knob bar like the Master Lock 270EC or Amazon Basics bar needs no installation - it just wedges between the doorknob and the floor - but its holding force depends on the floor surface and the angle of the brace. A mounted bar like the Doorricade screws stainless steel brackets into the door jamb, reaching the wall studs with the included 3-inch screws, and spans the full width of the door, so force is carried by the studs on both sides rather than the floor alone - which is part of why Doorricade rates it for 2,000 lbs.
Is a door security bar enough on its own?
No - treat it as a supplement, not a full security plan. A bar only works while someone sets it in place, so it protects you while you're home but does nothing while you're away. For all-the-time protection, pair it with a reinforced door frame (see our door reinforcement kit guide) and a quality deadbolt (see our front door lock guide).

Related

Sources

Specs and prices are compiled from the sources above and current as of the update date. Availability and pricing change — confirm on the retailer page before buying.