Different Lock Brands for Different Security Needs
Walk the hardware aisle at any big box store and you’ll see eight brands of locks ranging from $15 to $80. Browse online and you’ll find another layer of options up to $400. The prices vary wildly. The marketing copy all sounds the same. What actually separates a $20 Defiant from a $250 Medeco — and when does that difference matter? This is the no-nonsense breakdown from someone who installs and services these locks every day in Philadelphia.
Budget Brands ($15–$40)
Kwikset (Standard Line)
Kwikset is the most installed residential lock brand in America. That’s a fact of market penetration, not a security endorsement. The standard Kwikset deadbolt line — the 780 and similar — is ANSI Grade 1 but uses simple pins with minimal pick resistance. What Kwikset does well: widespread availability, easy rekeying (their SmartKey rekeying system is genuinely user-friendly), and low cost. What it does poorly: pick and bump resistance are minimal compared to even mid-tier options.
Kwikset SmartKey: A specific cylinder design that resists standard pin tumbler attacks differently. SmartKey locks can be rekeyed in 30 seconds without a locksmith using a special tool. The trade-off: SmartKey cylinders have a documented vulnerability to certain manipulation attacks with a specific tool. Not a common burglar attack, but worth knowing.
Verdict: Fine for interior doors, storage sheds, and garage entry doors with an additional barrier. Not our first recommendation for primary exterior entry on a Philadelphia home.
Defiant (Home Depot Brand) / Brinks
These are budget-tier brands sold at big box stores, sometimes marketed with aggressive security language. They are not built to the same standards as Kwikset’s higher-tier products. Avoid for any exterior security purpose. The price point tells you what you need to know — nobody puts high-security hardware on a $15 deadbolt.
Mid-Tier Brands ($40–$80)
Schlage B-Series Deadbolts
The Schlage B60N is the professional workhorse recommendation for Philadelphia residential homes. Here’s why:
- ANSI Grade 1 — the highest residential rating for physical strength
- Hardened steel bolt with anti-saw pins
- Mushroom security pins that significantly raise pick difficulty
- Solid brass cylinder with tight manufacturing tolerances
- Extensive parts availability — any locksmith can service it
- Door reinforcement compatible — the bolt and hardware are designed to work with reinforced strike plates
The B60N costs about $60–$80 retail. Installed by a locksmith in a typical Philadelphia rowhouse door, you’re looking at $90–$140 total. That’s the sweet spot — meaningful security at an accessible price.
Kwikset 980 (Deadbolt)
Kwikset’s upgraded deadbolt line uses a different cylinder from the standard SmartKey products. It’s Grade 1 and a solid mid-tier option, though most professional locksmiths still prefer Schlage’s construction quality at this price point.
High-Security Brands ($80–$200+)
Medeco
Medeco is the benchmark for high-security residential locks in the American market. Made in Salem, Virginia, Medeco deadbolts offer three security layers over standard designs:
- Angled cuts: Each key cut requires the corresponding pin to rotate — bumping and standard picking fail because they only move pins vertically
- Sidebar mechanism: A secondary bar that physically blocks rotation unless all rotating elements are aligned — requires both correct height and rotation, not just height
- Key control: Patented keyway — only authorized Medeco dealers can cut keys, giving you verifiable control over who has copies
Hardware cost: $150–$250 for the deadbolt. Installed: $200–$350 depending on door preparation needed. For a Philadelphia homeowner who wants the best available protection, Medeco is the answer.
Mul-T-Lock
An Israeli security brand with a strong reputation in commercial and high-security residential applications. Mul-T-Lock’s telescoping pin design (a smaller pin inside each standard pin) resists bumping and standard picking attacks. Like Medeco, it’s a restricted keyway system with key control. Pricing is similar to Medeco. Often preferred for applications where the customer wants high security without the Medeco premium for key cutting.
ASSA Abloy / Abloy
ASSA Abloy is the parent company behind many lock brands. The Abloy Protec2 — their flagship disc detainer lock from Finland — is widely considered the most pick-resistant lock available to residential customers. The disc detainer design has no pins at all, making standard picking and bumping attacks completely irrelevant. Pricing is higher than Medeco, and finding authorized dealers in Philadelphia requires some research. Best for customers who specifically want maximum pick resistance.
Commercial Grade
Commercial-grade locks — Sargent, Yale Commercial, Corbin Russwin, Best — are designed for high-traffic institutional environments (schools, offices, hospitals). They’re built to last millions of cycles and integrate with master key systems. For residential applications, they’re generally overkill in terms of cycle rating and unnecessary in terms of the features they add. The exception: if you’re managing a multi-unit rental property and want a master key system across multiple units, a commercial-grade system makes sense.
Smart Lock Brands
Smart locks add convenience — keypad entry, phone control, access logs, guest codes — but they’re only as secure as the underlying deadbolt they’re built on or paired with.
| Smart Lock | Underlying Security | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Schlage Encode | Schlage Grade 1 built-in | Best overall — solid cylinder integrated into the unit |
| Yale Assure | Grade 2 cylinder | Good app, adequate security — pair with Grade 1 deadbolt if possible |
| August Smart Lock | Your existing deadbolt | Adapter only — security = whatever deadbolt you have |
| Wyze Lock | Adapter — your existing lock | Budget option — fine for convenience, not a security upgrade |
| No-name Amazon brands | Unknown/Grade 3 | Avoid for exterior security |
| Smart lock security depends on the deadbolt, not the app. Evaluate the cylinder first. Call (215) 554-6109 for recommendations. | ||
Smart locks add a digital attack surface that traditional locks don’t have. Bluetooth and Z-Wave smart locks can be vulnerable to relay attacks, credential theft, or factory reset exploits. This doesn’t mean they’re unsafe — it means you should choose reputable brands with strong encryption and firmware update support. No smart lock from a brand you’ve never heard of from Amazon. Ever.
Brand Recommendation Matrix
Here’s the practical breakdown for common Philadelphia scenarios:
| Situation | Recommended Lock | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Renter (typical apartment) | Schlage B60N | Grade 1, works with most doors, portable knowledge if you move |
| Homeowner (rowhouse, average area) | Schlage B60N + reinforced strike | Best value/security ratio for most Philly homes |
| Homeowner (high-crime area or high-value property) | Medeco or Mul-T-Lock | Pick/bump resistance + key control worth the premium |
| Landlord (rental property) | Schlage B60N (rekeyable) | Easy rekey between tenants, parts widely available |
| Commercial / office | Sargent or Best (commercial grade) | Master key capability, high cycle rating |
| Smart lock preference | Schlage Encode or Yale + Grade 1 deadbolt | Solid underlying cylinder + convenience features |
| Phila Locksmith stocks and installs Schlage, Medeco, and Mul-T-Lock. Call (215) 554-6109 for a site-specific recommendation. | ||
For most Philadelphia homeowners, we install Schlage B60N deadbolts with reinforced strike plates — it’s the best value combination in the residential market. For customers wanting high security, we’re authorized Medeco dealers and can supply and install Mul-T-Lock. We don’t stock builders-grade hardware for exterior applications, period.
Not sure which lock is right for your situation?
We come to you — on-site assessment, honest recommendation, licensed and insured installation across Philadelphia.Lock Brands — FAQ
Is Schlage better than Kwikset?
For exterior deadbolts, yes. Schlage’s B-series deadbolts are ANSI Grade 1 and include mushroom security pins that provide meaningful pick resistance. Kwikset’s standard line is Grade 1 on paper but uses simpler pins with less pick resistance. For most Philadelphia homeowners, Schlage B60N is the better choice for exterior doors. Kwikset’s SmartKey rekeying system is genuinely convenient for landlords and people who rekey frequently, but the cylinder itself offers less pick resistance than Schlage at the same price point.
Are expensive locks worth the money?
Jumping from $20 builders-grade to a $60 Schlage B60N is absolutely worth it — you get significantly better construction, true Grade 1 security, and meaningful pick resistance for a modest cost difference. Jumping from Schlage to a $250 Medeco makes sense for high-value properties, high-crime areas, or situations where key control is important. The Medeco is not simply “three times more secure” in everyday terms — but it offers features that the Schlage doesn’t, particularly the sidebar mechanism and restricted keyway.
What lock brand do professional locksmiths recommend?
For most residential customers, Schlage B-series deadbolts are the professional go-to — solid, reliable, widely available for parts, and genuinely Grade 1. For customers who want high security, Medeco and Mul-T-Lock are the professional standard. We avoid recommending brands sold exclusively at big box stores under private labels (like Defiant at Home Depot) for exterior security — these are budget products regardless of the marketing language on the packaging.
Can any locksmith rekey Medeco locks?
No. Medeco is a restricted keyway system — only authorized Medeco dealers can cut keys and rekey cylinders. This is intentional: it’s part of Medeco’s key control system. If you have Medeco locks, verify your locksmith is an authorized Medeco dealer before you call. Phila Locksmith is an authorized Medeco dealer and can supply, install, rekey, and cut keys for Medeco locks.
What smart lock brands are actually secure?
Smart lock security depends on two things: the underlying deadbolt mechanism and the electronic/connectivity layer. Schlage Encode uses a Schlage Grade 1 deadbolt with the electronics built in — solid foundation. Yale and August are adapter systems that sit over an existing deadbolt, so security depends on which deadbolt you pair them with. Avoid no-name Bluetooth locks from Amazon with unknown manufacturers. The weakest link in any smart lock is usually the cylinder, not the app — evaluate the underlying lock grade first.
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