7 Common Deadbolt Types

When securing your home a deadbolt lock is without question the safest way to go. They offer important supplemental protection to your basic key-in-knob locks, which are mostly spring-bolt locks. As the name suggests, these locks merely hold the bolt in place with a spring. If enough force is applied to the bolt it will retract. This is impossible with a deadbolt lock as the spring mechanism is absent. What follows is information about 7 common deadbolt types.

1. Single Cylinder Deadbolt

This lock is the most common deadbolt type. It is mounted inside the door and has a twist knob in the interior and key cylinder on the exterior of the door’s face.

2. Double Cylinder Deadbolt

The double cylinder is also mounted internally. The difference between the single cylinder and the double is that there is no twist knob, instead, both sides have a key cylinder. A key is always needed to open the door whether you’re inside or outside the residence. The advantage to this is that if there is glass in or near your doorframe it cannot be broken and the intruder then able to simply reach in and use the twist knob to unlock the door. The criticism of this style deadbolt is that if you had to leave your residence in a case of emergency, a fire for example, it would take more time to find and use the necessary key.

3. Keyless Deadbolt

This lock is also mounted on the inside of the door but has a keypad instead of a keyhole where you type in a secret pin code of your choosing. The advantage of these is that you do away with the need for a key altogether. So, there’s no chance of ever having your key stolen or misplaced again. And if want to be cautious, or if you think someone has learned your combination, you can change it immediately and with ease as often as you like.

4. Digital Deadbolt

This is just like a keyless deadbolt having a keypad in place of a keyhole; only it requires batteries or electric current in order to operate.

5. Rim Deadbolt

This type of lock is bolted to the inside face of the door. The advantage to this deadbolt is that it locks automatically behind you each time the door is closed. So it takes away the problem of always remembering to lock up.

6. Vertical Deadbolt

This lock is also bolted to the inside face of the door. However, it is placed on top of the door making it impossible for an intruder to pry it open by placing a bar between the door and the frame as can be done with some horizontal deadbolts. The vertical and rim deadbolt are the most easily installed type of lock but also have a tendency to be bulkier and therefore a bit of an eye sore.

7. Mortise Deadbolt

This is an older style key lock that’s installed in a mortise or recess pocket cut in the edge of the door so it can’t be tampered with easily. The lock is very strong, however, problematically, boring a large hole into its frame weakens the structure of the door itself.