"Which lock is best for my main door?" depends on your door, your gate and how you live. Here are the types you'll see on Singapore homes, in plain terms.
The main types
| Lock type | How it works | Where you'll see it |
|---|---|---|
| Mortise lock | The lock body sits inside a pocket cut into the door edge, usually with lever handles and a key cylinder. | Very common on HDB and condo main doors. |
| Rim lock | The lock box is mounted on the inside face of the door, with a keeper on the frame. | Gates and older doors. |
| Deadbolt | A solid bolt thrown by a key or thumbturn. It doesn't spring back, so it's hard to force. | Added to main doors for extra security. |
| Cylindrical (knob) lock | The latch and lock are in the knob or lever. | Room and toilet doors, rather than main doors. |
| Digital lock | An electronic lock opened by PIN, fingerprint, card or app, with emergency power and often a backup key. | Increasingly common on HDB doors and gates and in condos. |
Mortise vs rim lock
A mortise lock is hidden inside the door, so it's neat and harder to attack, but it needs a door thick enough for the pocket. A rim lock sits on the surface, so it suits doors and gates where a mortise won't fit, and is simpler to fit, but is more exposed. On HDB main doors, mortise locks are the usual choice; rim-style locks are more common on gates.
Mortise vs deadbolt
They're not either-or: many mortise locks include a deadbolt as well as a latch. A separate deadbolt adds a second lock point, which makes the door harder to force. If your main door only has a spring latch, adding or upgrading to a lock with a deadbolt is one of the best security improvements you can make.
Mechanical vs digital
- Mechanical locks need no batteries and are simple and durable, but keys can be lost or copied.
- Digital locks mean no keys to lose and codes you can change, but they need battery care. See digital vs traditional locks for HDB.
What matters on an HDB main door
- Fire-rated doors: many HDB main doors are fire-rated, with a door closer you shouldn't remove. A digital lock on a fire-rated door must be SCDF-certified: see digital locks on fire-rated doors.
- Fit the existing cut-out: a lock that suits your door's current holes keeps the door intact. Extra holes can be hidden with a cover plate.
- Match the gate: door and gate together decide how secure (and how convenient) your entrance is. See HDB gate lock types.
Which is best?
For most HDB and condo main doors, a quality mortise lockset with a deadbolt, or a certified digital lock with a mechanical backup, is a sound choice. Tell us your door, your gate and how you live, and we'll recommend what fits. See HDB main door lock replacement and digital lock installation.
Not sure what you have? WhatsApp a photo of your lock and the door edge to 9224 9224, and we'll tell you.