7 Best Door Lock Installation Kits (Reviewed 2022)
Easiest to Use
Best Overall
Best for Beginners
Most Economical
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
11.01.2022
Written By: John Fox | Security expert / Locksmith 30 Years Experience
When it comes to security, there’s always more to learn. But you don’t have to be a pro with installation if you have one of these door lock installation kits.
In the age of information, most people don’t call a professional to install door locks. Most door locks are designed for DIY installation and come with an installation guide and all the specifications.
But having a high-security lock isn’t enough if it isn’t installed correctly. Also, DIY locks are made for doors that already have a borehole and a cross borehole in them. They’re also designed to fit boreholes of a certain size and shape. You can’t replace a mortise lock with a cylindrical lock, for example.
This is where door lock installation kits come in. Door lock installation kits are a quick, easy, accurate, and cost-effective way to prepare your door for installation.
We tested some of the most acclaimed door lock installation kits in the market, and we summarized our test results below.
Best Overall
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Ryobi Wood and Metal Door Lock Installation Kit
The Ryobi Door Lock Installation Kit is one of the most impressive door lock kits you can find. The kit includes three different drill bits, two hole saws, one spade bit, and one two-way screw bit.
The kit is latched to the door using screws which allows it to sit firmly and results in clean holes. The hole saws included are for standard diameters, with the bore hole saw being 2-1/8” while the cross hole saw is 1”.
The guide allows you to vary the backset according to your requirements. You can either set the backset to 2-3/4” or 2-3/8”.
The kit includes a two-sided screw bit and a spade bit. The spade bit is of a diameter of 1″, which means that you can use the spade bit instead of the 1″ hole saw to make the cross bore hole quickly.
One particularly interesting feature is something Ryobi calls an “Auto Strike Locator”. The kit can be used for standard doors of thickness 1 3/8” – 1 3/4”. But as you adjust the guide to fit the thickness of the door, the cross bore hole stays in the center. This allows you to make your cross bore hole exactly in the center of the door regardless of your door thickness. You’d otherwise have to make measurements yourself to ensure the right position of the bore hole.
Although the hole saws are only rated for wooden doors, the saws are quite strong and durable.
One frequently reported issue with this kit is that the hole saw sometimes gets stuck to the drill bit and takes effort to remove. This is more of an error than a design flaw, and Ryobi is likely to fix this soon.
What We Liked:
- Handle Material: Wood
- Automatic cross bore hole centering
- Durable holes saws
- Firm grip
What We Didn’t Like:
- Hole saw sometimes gets stuck
Most Versatile
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. DEWALT Hole Saw Kit, 14-Piece (D180005)
DEWALT is one of the leading manufacturers of industrial-grade tools in the US. They specialize in drills, drill bits, drill saws, and many other tools.
The DEWALT Hole Saw Kit is one of the most complete doors lock installation kits you can find in the market. If you have this kit, you may as well consider yourself a professional.
The kit includes hole saws with all the standard radii and two standard drill bits commonly used for door lock installation. You can use this kit to install a cylindrical lock of any standard radius on any door of any thickness.
This kit does not include a drill guide. This is likely because it has so many hole saws that including a drill guide would be impractical. But the good news is that you can make your own drill guide using a plank of wood and some clamps. We think this is how DEWALT intends this kit to be used.
Some users have also complained about the saw teeth breaking easily. This won’t be a problem for wooden doors.
The set includes 14 pieces, 11 of which are bi-metal hole saws. The kit also comes in a durable case to keep everything organized. All the parts in the kit are replaceable, so if you break or lose something, you can simply buy that piece again.
What We Liked:
- Complete kit with all the standard hole saw
- Includes drill bits
What We Didn’t Like:
- Does not include a guide template
Best for Beginners
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Milwaukee Door Lock Installation Kit
Unlike the previous entry, this kit includes a drill guide. The guide clamps to your door and allows you to drill the holes quickly and accurately.
This kit is perfect for you, even if you’ve never installed a door lock before. Using this kit, you can prepare your door for installation within 10 minutes.
First, clamp the guide to the door firmly to ensure you drill the hole at the right location, and then use your hole saw and your drilling machine to drill the holes. You don’t even have to unclamp the guide before drilling each hole. You only have to clamp the guide once and drill both the bore hole and the cross bore hole in the same go.
Unlike some other drill guides that need to be screwed to be fastened, the Milwaukee Installation Kit includes clamps that allow the kit to attach firmly to the door without leaving any scuffs.
One feature that makes the Milwaukee Installation Kit ideal for beginners is its anti-splinter stop which Milwaukee calls “auto centering”. The guide keeps the hole saws from being dislocated and messing up the hole. This results in clean professional-grade holes that allow the cylindrical lock to fit perfectly.
Some users have complained that the guide does not clamp to the door firmly enough. This can be an issue if your door isn’t the right width. The recommended width for the Milwaukee Installation Kit is from1 3/8″ to 1 3/4″. If your door has a width within this range, the guide should clamp to your door perfectly. If you don’t, you may want to consider a kit that can be screwed (such as the next one on this list).
The Milwaukee Installation Kit, like most kits that include a drilling guide, the kit only works for standard cylindrical locks. The kit makes a bore hole of a diameter of 2-1/8″, and a cross bore hole of a diameter of 1″. These are the standard measurements for cylindrical locks and deadbolts, and most locks are designed for these measurements.
If you happen to have a lock with different dimensions than the standard, the first entry in this list is the right option.
What We Liked:
- The drill guide does not need to be screwed
- Auto centering mechanism allows clean holes
- Easy, intuitive, and quick
What We Didn’t Like:
- Only works for standard cylindrical locks
- May not fit firmly on all doors
Easiest to Use
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4. DEWALT Door Lock Installation Kit, Bi-Metal
The DEWALT Door Lock Installation Kit fixes all the shortcomings of the DEWALT Hole Saw Kit. The kit comes with a drill guide that allows you to make accurate holes without having to make a wooden drill guide yourself.
The guide features a C-type clamp that firmly clamps to the door without having to use screws. The clamp has a large surface area which takes care of the risk of surface damage that clamped drill guides usually have. If you clamp too weakly, the guide can dislocate while drilling, whereas if you clamp too tightly, the clamps can damage the door. But the clamp in the DEWALT Door Lock Installation Kit has a large surface area that allows you to clamp the drill guide as tightly as possible without risking any damage to the door.
Another impressive characteristic of the DEWALT Door Lock Installation Kit is that the hole saws are rated for wooden as well as metal doors. The hole saws are made of durable M3 steel; you can use the saw for all kinds of doors without fearing that the teeth might break.
One common problem with door lock installation kits and hole saws, in general, is using them to drill a hole tightens their grip on the mandrel really tight, which makes it hard to disassemble the hole saw from the mandrel. But the DEWALT Door Lock Installation Kit uses backing plates that counter this effect to some degree. Nonetheless, users have reported the hole saw getting stuck on the mandrel for this kit.
The kit is designed for standard-sized doors of thickness 1 3/8” – 1 3/4”. The kit also allows you to adjust the backset.
What We Liked:
- C-type clamp with a large surface area
- Rated for wooden as well as metal doors
- Adjustable backset
What We Didn’t Like:
- The hole saw may get stuck to the mandrel
Most Economical
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5. IRWIN Door Lock Installation Kit for Wooden Door
The BRINKS Combination Padlock is one of the strongest combination locks out there. The lock is made of stainless steel making the lock resistant against the elements while also making it difficult to cut through.
The lock is shaped in a way that makes it resistant to drilling. The black vinyl cover also protects the lock from being drilled into. This is a useful feature since a lot of the hardest to pick locks can be unlocked by drilling, and the method of drilling is particularly more applicable for storage units. You may want to see the best lock for storage unit in the market these days.
The design minimizes shackle exposure, making it impossible to break the deadbolt.
This all-rounder is a really good choice for a storage locker if its smaller shackle ring can fit your needs.
What We Liked:
- Carbon hole saws
- Plate template included
- Adjustable backset
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not the highest quality materials
For Mortise Locks
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
6. RYOBI A99HT2 Door Hinge Installation Kit/Mortiser Template
Unlike the door lock kits discussed so far that were designed for cylindrical locks, the RYOBI A99HT2 Door Hinge Installation Kit is designed for mortise locks.
Mortise locks are more difficult to install than cylindrical locks. But this DIY kit allows you to prepare your door even if you have no prior knowledge of door lock installation.
The guide does not need any screws or nails to be fixed on the door and instead uses a clamp. The clamp has a large surface area which ensures you don’t damage the door no matter how tight you clamp it.
This kit is very different from the rest of the kits discussed here. This kit is mainly a mortising template; it allows you to mortise your door according to the dimensions of your mortise lock.
The kit includes a double-ended screwdriver bit, a bronze oxide drill bit, and a hinge tip router bit. Professionals use a wood router to mortise the door, but you may as well use a chisel.
What We Liked:
- High quality materials used
- Works with a wood router as well as a chisel
- Has a clamp with a large surface area
What We Didn’t Like:
- It May not work for smaller hinges
Portable Option
Last update on 2022-11-10 / Affiliate links / Ratings / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
7. IVY Classic 27003 Carbon-Steel Lock Installation Kit
If you only want to buy a door lock kit to install a few locks and don’t want to invest too much in something you don’t think you’ll use again, the – IVY Classic 27003 Carbon-Steel Lock Installation Kit may be right for you.
The kit comes with a drill guide, a drill bit, and two-hole saws for each bore hole. This kit is designed for doors of thickness 1-3/8” to 1-3/4-inch” thick doors. The guide is adjustable and allows you to choose from backset lengths of 2-3/8” and 2-3/4”.
The kit features carbon caw holes that stay intact even after continuous use. The kit is quite intuitive to use in general, and unlike most other cylindrical lock kits, this kit allows you to drill the bore hole from both sides.
One problem with this kit is that its thickness is not adjustable. In our experience, the guide was too tight for 1-3/4″ doors but was too loose for 1-3/8″ doors. Nonetheless, it can use any thickness between this range because the guild is affixed using screws. You can carefully screw the guide such that the cross bore hole is in the center, and you’re all good.
The backset locking mechanism also seems weak, and you have to be careful while drilling it doesn’t move.
What We Liked:
- Portable Size
- Good materials
What We Didn’t Like:
- Width not adjustable
- Weak backset locking mechanism
Things to Check Before Getting One
Check what kind of lock you’re going to install. Kits for cylindrical locks are very different from kits for mortise locks. To prepare your door for a cylindrical lock, you only need a cylindrical door lock installation kit and a drilling machine. But for a mortise lock, you need a mortise lock kit and a wood router.
Not all hole saws are rated for metal doors. If you have a metal door, make sure the hole saw is safe to use with metal. (1)
Most kits only work for standard-sized door locks. Make sure the kit makes the right holes for your lock.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to prepare a door for a lock?
If you have a door lock installation kit, it won’t take you more than 30 minutes to make appropriate holes.
Door lock installation kit with clamps or without clamps?
If you’re buying an installation kit with clamps, make sure it has a clamp with a large surface area, so it doesn’t damage the door. Door lock installation kits with screws hold the door more firmly. (2)
Wrapping Up
All the locks discussed here offer different features, and it’s not really possible to claim a winner. But for most people, we think the Ryobi Door Lock Installation Kit would be the best. In any case, these kits are the best in the market in their respective category, so any of these can be the best for you if it meets your requirements.
References
(1) metal – https://www.britannica.com/science/metal-chemistry
(2) surface area – https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-sixth
John Fox
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is John Fox and I’ve been working as a security consultant for over 20 years now. During my time in the industry, I’ve learned about what it takes to ensure your home and family are always safe. With Safe Now, I’ve tried to take those two decades of experience and share it with others. My goal now is to help others figure out how to make the right choices for their businesses and families. On my website, you’ll find tips and guides on how to prevent crimes, as well as product recommendations. What’s more, my readers can learn more about what to do in case of an emergency and how to protect themselves at all times. So, if you want to know everything there is about security systems and home safety, I invite you to join me and my team and help us build a community together.
