Buying guide Updated 2026
The Best Front Door Locks of 2026
For most front doors, the best lock is not a smart lock - it's a plain ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 single-cylinder deadbolt like the Schlage B60N, which runs $40-58 and has no batteries or electronics to fail. Pay more only when you have a specific reason to: the Medeco Maxum ($170-330) adds pick- and drill-resistant hardware plus a restricted keyway for real key control, while the Schlage Encode Plus, Kwikset Halo Touch, Yale Approach, and Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 trade some of that simplicity for smart convenience. Prices below were verified in July 2026.
At a glance - 6 front door locks compared (prices verified July 2026)
| Lock | Best for | Approx. price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schlage B60N | Best value / best overall | $40-58 | Keyed deadbolt |
| Medeco Maxum | High-security upgrade | $170-330 | Keyed deadbolt |
| Schlage Encode Plus | Best smart lock | $260-320 | Smart keyed |
| Kwikset Halo Touch | Best fingerprint entry | $200-250 | Smart keyed |
| Yale Approach | Keep your existing key | $129-179 | Interior-only conversion |
| Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2 | Budget keyless | ~$80 | Smart keyless |
What actually makes a front door lock secure
The real benchmark to look for is ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 - not marketing phrases like "heavy duty" or "commercial strength." Grade 1 is the highest of the three residential security grades, and it requires a deadbolt to pass specific tests for bolt strength and cylinder resistance to picking and drilling. A Grade 1 lock like the Schlage B60N sells for well under $60; a lock at that same price with no grade listed usually is not built to the same standard.
The lock itself is only half the equation. Any deadbolt - Grade 1 or otherwise - only works if the door frame around it is solid and the strike plate is anchored with long screws that reach into the framing, not just the door jamb trim. A great lock on a weak frame is still an easy kick-in.
Steel matters more than the app
A $40 Grade-1 deadbolt like the Schlage B60N, installed with a reinforced strike plate and long screws into the door frame, holds up to forced entry as well as or better than a $300 smart lock on a weak frame. Smart locks buy you convenience and access control - remote unlocking, temporary codes, fingerprint entry - not stronger steel. Get the mechanical security right first, then decide whether smart features are worth paying for on top.
How to choose
- Keyed vs. keyless: a keyed lock (Schlage B60N, Medeco Maxum, Schlage Encode Plus, Kwikset Halo Touch) has a physical key cylinder you can fall back on if the electronics fail or a battery dies. A keyless lock (Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2) drops the cylinder entirely and relies on the keypad, fingerprint, or app.
- New deadbolt vs. interior-only conversion: most locks here replace your whole deadbolt. The Yale Approach is different - it installs on the interior only and keeps your existing exterior lock and original key, which matters if you're renting or don't want to touch the outside of the door.
- Single vs. smart: a plain deadbolt like the Schlage B60N has no batteries or app to manage. A smart lock (Encode Plus, Halo Touch, Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2, Yale Approach) adds remote access, temporary codes, or biometric entry on top of the same kind of bolt.
- When high-security is worth it: if you've ever lent a key to a contractor, roommate, or former tenant, a restricted keyway like the Medeco Maxum's M3 stops it from being quietly duplicated at a hardware store - only authorized Medeco dealers can cut one. If that's not your situation, rekeying your existing lock is the cheaper way to control who has a key.
The picks
1. Schlage B60N Deadbolt
A traditional keyed single-cylinder deadbolt with no electronics and no batteries to fail. It's ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified - the highest residential security rating - and uses a universal 2-3/8" / 2-3/4" backset that fits standard 1-3/8"-1-3/4" doors. This is the default locksmith recommendation when someone just wants a plain, strong deadbolt: Walmart lists B60 Grade 1 deadbolts at $39.57-$57.99 depending on finish, confirmed July 2026.
Pros
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certified - the highest residential rating
- No electronics or batteries to manage or fail
- Universal 2-3/8" / 2-3/4" backset fits standard 1-3/8"-1-3/4" doors
- The default locksmith recommendation for a plain, strong deadbolt
Cons
- No smart features - key-only convenience
- Satin nickel is the most common finish; price varies by finish within the $40-58 range
2. Medeco Maxum Deadbolt
Built for real pick and drill resistance: ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 with a UL 437 rated cylinder, hardened steel inserts, and rotating pin tumblers designed to resist drilling and picking attacks. The M3 restricted keyway means duplicate keys can only be cut by authorized Medeco dealers, so a key you've lent out can't be quietly copied at a hardware store - genuine key control. Pricing runs from $169.99 for the polished-brass base keyway at locksmith suppliers up to about $326 for the M3 satin-nickel restricted keyway, confirmed July 2026, and it's sold through locksmith suppliers and Amazon.
Pros
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 with a UL 437 rated cylinder
- Hardened steel inserts and rotating pin tumblers resist drilling and picking
- M3 restricted keyway - only authorized Medeco dealers cut duplicate keys
- Sold through locksmith suppliers and Amazon
Cons
- Costs 4-8x a standard deadbolt ($170-330 vs. $40-58 for the Schlage B60N)
- Restricted keys are less convenient to duplicate - that inconvenience is the point, but it's a real tradeoff
Image: Schlage
3. Schlage Encode Plus
A new deadbolt with a physical key cylinder plus built-in Wi-Fi, so it connects directly without a separate hub. It supports Apple Home Key for tap-to-unlock with an iPhone or Apple Watch, and it carries an ANSI/BHMA Grade AAA rating - the highest residential grade for electronic locks. MSRP runs about $329 depending on finish.
Pros
- Built-in Wi-Fi - no separate hub required
- Apple Home Key support
- ANSI/BHMA Grade AAA, the highest residential electronic rating
- Keyed - a physical key cylinder as backup
Cons
- No Matter support
- No fingerprint reader
- Priced well above a standard deadbolt ($260-320)
Image: Kwikset
4. Kwikset Halo Touch
A new deadbolt with keyed backup via Kwikset's SmartKey re-key technology, but everyday entry is fingerprint or app only - there's no PIN keypad, so there's nothing to shoulder-surf. It stores up to 100 fingerprints for 50 users, has built-in Wi-Fi with no hub needed, and works with Alexa and Google Assistant. It's ANSI/BHMA Grade AAA rated. Typical pricing runs around $240 depending on trim and finish.
Pros
- Fingerprint or app entry - no PIN pad to shoulder-surf
- Stores up to 100 fingerprints for 50 users
- Built-in Wi-Fi; works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Keyed backup via SmartKey re-key technology
Cons
- No PIN keypad - if a fingerprint read fails, the fallback is the physical key or the app
- No Apple Home Key or Matter support
Image: Yale
5. Yale Approach
An interior-only install: it replaces just the interior thumb-turn and keeps your existing exterior lock and original key untouched, which is the option for renters or anyone who doesn't want to swap out the outside hardware. The lock alone runs about $129; adding the Yale Keypad for code entry brings it to about $179. Remote access needs the Yale Connect Wi-Fi bridge, sold separately.
Pros
- Interior-only install - keeps your existing exterior lock and original key
- The realistic option for renters who can't change exterior hardware
- Add the Yale Keypad for code entry if you want it ($179 vs. $129 lock-only)
Cons
- Needs the Yale Connect Wi-Fi bridge, sold separately, for remote access
- Doesn't change the security grade of your existing exterior lock
Image: Wyze
6. Wyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2
A new deadbolt that's fully keyless - fingerprint and keypad entry only, with no physical key cylinder - for about $79.98. It has built-in Wi-Fi and roughly 8 months of battery life, and PCWorld named it an Editors' Choice for value.
Pros
- Lowest price in this list at about $80
- Built-in Wi-Fi, fingerprint and keypad entry
- About 8 months of battery life
- PCWorld Editors' Choice for value
Cons
- No physical key cylinder - there's no key to fall back on, so staying on top of the battery matters
- Replaces the whole deadbolt - not a keep-your-key option
Our pick: Schlage B60N
For most doors, the Schlage B60N is the right buy - a Grade 1 deadbolt for under $60 with nothing to fail. If keys have been floating around and you want real pick and drill resistance plus genuine key control, the Medeco Maxum is worth the jump in price. If you want smart features - remote access, Apple Home Key - without giving up a physical key cylinder, the Schlage Encode Plus is the best keyed smart option here.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is a deadbolt better than a smart lock?
- For pure break-in resistance, a good mechanical deadbolt like the Grade 1 rated Schlage B60N is as strong as - or stronger than - most smart locks, since the smart features sit on top of the same kind of bolt and cylinder. A smart lock's advantage isn't a tougher bolt; it's convenience: remote access, temporary codes, fingerprint entry, no key to carry. Choose based on which one you actually need.
- What is a Grade 1 deadbolt?
- Grade 1 is the highest of the three ANSI/BHMA residential security grades. To earn it, a deadbolt has to pass tests covering bolt strength and the cylinder's resistance to picking and drilling. Grade 2 and Grade 3 locks cost less but are built to lower standards. Both the Schlage B60N and the Medeco Maxum in this list are Grade 1 certified.
- Should I rekey or replace my front door lock?
- If your current lock is in good shape and you just need new keys - after a move, a lost key, or a tenant change - rekeying is the cheaper route; see our rekeying cost guide for typical pricing. Replace the lock when you want a higher security grade, a restricted keyway like the Medeco Maxum's, or smart features your current hardware doesn't support.
- Are double-cylinder deadbolts a good idea?
- A double-cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both the inside and outside, which stops someone from breaking a nearby window and reaching in to unlock the door. The tradeoff is fire egress: if you can't find the key in an emergency, you can't get out quickly either, and many local fire codes restrict or prohibit them on primary exits. We recommend a single-cylinder deadbolt with an inside thumb-turn for most homes - check your local code before installing a double-cylinder lock.
Related
Sources
- Amazon - Schlage B60N 619
- Walmart - Schlage B60 price range
- Door Hardware Center - B60 Grade 1 specs
- Amazon - Medeco Maxum 11TR50319, M3
- Countryside Locks - Maxum $169.99
- Security Product Depot - Maxum M3
- Schlage - Encode Plus
- Kwikset - Halo Touch
- Yale - Approach
- Wyze - Lock Bolt v2 specs
- PCWorld - Lock Bolt v2 review
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.