A house usually has more than one type of door lock, and each one does a different job: a knob or lever that holds the door shut, a deadbolt above it on the outside doors, and plain latches on the closets. Knowing which is which helps when a lock wears out or when you want a stronger one on the front door. We install regular and electronic locks at homes across metro Atlanta, and we can help you choose the right lock for each door.
Knob locks and lever locks
On many doors, the lock is built into the doorknob or the lever. It holds the door shut with a spring latch: the angled bolt that clicks into the frame when the door closes, held out by a spring. A keyed version has a key cylinder in the outside knob or lever and a turn button or thumb turn on the inside. A lever works like a knob, except you push it down instead of gripping and twisting.
On an outside door, a knob or lever lock works best with a deadbolt above it. Consumer Reports, which tests door locks, says deadbolts significantly improve security over key-in-knob locks alone.
Deadbolts: single cylinder and double cylinder
A deadbolt is a separate lock that throws a bolt into the door frame. Unlike a spring latch, it can only be opened with the key or the handle on the inside, so it stays put until someone turns it.
A single cylinder deadbolt takes a key on the outside and has a thumb turn on the inside, so you lock and unlock it from inside without a key. A double cylinder deadbolt takes a key on both sides. People sometimes choose one for a door beside a glass panel, but it also means you need the key to get out, and many municipalities consider double cylinder deadbolts a fire hazard for that reason. Tell us about the door when you call, and we can go over which kind fits it.
Smart locks
A smart lock opens with a code, a phone app, or on some models a fingerprint, and most are fitted to a deadbolt. Because the lock moves the bolt by itself, the door has to close and latch smoothly for it to work well. Our guide to smart lock installation covers what they do and how we install them.
Mortise locks
A mortise lock sits inside the door rather than through it: the lock body goes into a pocket, called the mortise, cut into the edge of the door. You find them in older buildings, and they have become more common in higher-end homes in the United States. A mortise lock is typically stronger than the newer bored lock, which mounts through a round hole in the door. If your door has one, mention it when you call so the technician knows what to expect.
Locks inside the house
Interior doors use the same knobs and levers in different versions:
- A passage set has a working latch and no lock, for hallways, closets, pantries, and laundry rooms.
- A privacy set adds a simple lock on the inside, for bathrooms and bedrooms.
- A keyed set has a key cylinder outside and a turn button inside, for a home office, a storage room, or the door from the garage into the house.
Which lock goes on which door
| Door | Lock it usually gets |
|---|---|
| Front and back doors | A keyed knob or lever with a deadbolt above it, or a smart lock fitted to the deadbolt |
| Door from the garage | A keyed knob or lever |
| Bedrooms and bathrooms | A privacy knob or lever |
| Hallways, closets, laundry room | A passage knob or lever, with no lock |
| Home office or storage room | A keyed knob or lever |
Changing the lock or changing the key
Putting a different type of lock on a door, such as adding a deadbolt or switching a knob for a lever, is a lock installation. If the lock you have is the right type and works well, but you want the old keys to stop working, rekeying keeps the hardware and changes the key. Our guide to rekeying or replacing your locks explains when each one makes sense.
| Service | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Lock replacement | Starting at $99 |
| Lock rekey, per lock | Starting at $49 |
We check a photo ID and proof that the home is yours before any lock work, and we confirm the final price on-site before any work begins. Every published starting price is on our pricing page.
Choosing locks for your Atlanta home?
Call (470) 668-2196 and tell us which door it is. We work Tuesday through Sunday from 7 AM to 7 PM, Wednesday until 5 PM, and we are closed on Mondays.
We cover Atlanta and more than 20 surrounding cities, listed on our service area page. Do not see your city? Call and we will confirm. You can read more about our home services on our residential locksmith page, and if you also run a business, our guide to commercial door locks covers the doors there.