Deadbolt Installation

Deadbolt installation starts from $120. Locksmith Auto installs single-cylinder and double-cylinder deadbolts on residential doors. New installs and upgrades from existing hardware. Grade 2 and Grade 1 options from Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and Medeco.

A deadbolt is hands down the best security upgrade for any exterior door. A spring-latch knob lock can be shimmed open with a credit card. A deadbolt pushes a solid metal bolt 1 inch into the door frame. You can't shim it, can't push it back with a knife, and kicking it in takes way more force than most people can produce. There's a reason police departments and insurance companies both say put deadbolts on every exterior door.

Two types to know about. Single-cylinder deadbolts have a key outside and a thumb turn inside. That's standard for most homes. Double-cylinder deadbolts need a key on both sides. Those are for doors with glass panels, because they stop an intruder from breaking the glass and reaching in to flip the thumb turn. One thing to keep in mind with double-cylinder: you need a key to get out too, so keep one nearby for fire safety. Just not where someone could reach through broken glass to grab it.

To install, we drill two holes in the door. A 2-1/8 inch face bore for the lock body and a 1-inch edge bore for the bolt. We chisel a mortise for the bolt plate and mount a reinforced strike plate on the frame with 3-inch screws. Those long screws matter. They bite into the wall stud behind the trim, not just the soft frame wood. That's the difference between a deadbolt that holds when someone kicks the door and one that rips right out of the wall.

What it costs. Basic Kwikset deadbolt installation runs $120-160. Schlage B60N commercial-grade single cylinder is $150-200. Smart deadbolts with a keypad (Schlage BE365, Kwikset SmartCode) go for $200-300 installed. High-security from Medeco or Mul-T-Lock starts at $250-350. Locksmith Auto keeps the popular models on every service van.

Already have a knob lock but no deadbolt? Adding one takes 30-45 minutes. Already have a deadbolt that's worn out, loose, or sticking? Replacement is quicker, about 20 minutes, since the holes are already there. Either way, we test it from both sides, make sure it operates smooth, and hand over new keys before we leave. 90-day warranty on every installation.