Keyless Entry Door Locks: The Complete Buyer's Guide

You've been there: arms full of grocery bags, keys buried somewhere in your pocket, fumbling at the front door in the dark. Or you're halfway to work and can't remember whether you locked up. These are common triggers that push homeowners to start looking at a keyless entry door lock, and for good reason.

Keyless entry systems have moved well past novelty status. Whether you want a simple PIN keypad, a fingerprint scanner, full Wi-Fi remote access, or deep smart-home integration, there's a well-built option for nearly every door and budget. At RightSet Hardware, we sell keyless lock lines from Schlage, Kwikset, and August, and we help homeowners and contractors spec the right model every day. This guide pulls from that experience to walk you through the four main lock types, what your door actually needs, how to read security ratings, and which models are worth your money in each price tier.

The Four Types of Keyless Entry Door Locks (and Who Each One Suits)

Keypad and Touchscreen Deadbolts

These are the workhorses of the keyless category. You punch in a PIN, the bolt retracts, and you're in. No phone required, no Wi-Fi dependency, no hub setup. That simplicity is exactly why keypad deadbolts are the right starting point for renters, vacation homes, and households that don't want their front door tied to an app or a home network. Most models accept both 2 3/8" and 2 3/4" backsets and drop directly into an existing single-cylinder deadbolt prep, making the swap straightforward for most standard doors.

Fingerprint and Biometric Locks

Fingerprint scanners and facial recognition locks like the Lockly Visage offer hands-free entry that feels genuinely futuristic in daily use. Enrollment is quick, and many high-end models offer near-instant recognition. The honest caveat: biometric sensors struggle in wet or very cold conditions, and enrollment quality matters. Always choose a model with a PIN or physical key backup, because failure modes happen. Most biometric keyless entry door locks fall in the $150 to $400+ range, prices vary by retailer and model tier, so prioritize options from vendors with active firmware support.

App-Controlled Wi-Fi Smart Locks

Built-in Wi-Fi is what unlocks remote access: you can lock or unlock from anywhere, pull access logs, issue temporary codes for a contractor or house guest, and tie the lock into smart home routines. The Schlage Encode and Schlage Encode Plus are clear examples of this done well, with both running on built-in Wi-Fi and requiring no separate hub. The trade-off is battery life. Wi-Fi draws more power than other protocols, so expect roughly quarterly battery changes on alkaline cells, or closer to 12 to 18 months with lithium AAs. For a general overview of keyless entry options and how they differ, Vivint maintains a helpful resource on keyless entry door locks that explains the trade-offs and features for consumers in plain language.

Z-Wave and Zigbee Hub-Integrated Locks

If you're already running a smart-home hub like SmartThings, Hubitat, or Ring Alarm, a Z-Wave lock can become the most capable option in your setup. These locks offer the best battery life in the category, 12 to 15 months is typical, along with tighter automation control and mesh-network reliability. The important caveat: without a compatible hub, a Z-Wave lock won't deliver its full value. This category is built for home automation enthusiasts, not someone starting from scratch.

Does This Keyless Entry Door Lock Fit Your Door? What to Measure Before You Buy

Ordering a lock that won't physically work on your door is the most common and most avoidable mistake in this category. Skip the measurements and you may end up with a keypad deadbolt that sits proud of the door face or a latch that won't reach the strike plate, either way, a return trip.

The Three Measurements That Matter

The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the bore hole. Residential doors use either a 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" backset, and most smart deadbolts are adjustable between both. Measure before ordering. The cross-bore diameter is the large hole through the door face; the standard is 2 1/8". The door thickness matters too: most residential smart locks cover the 1 3/8" to 1 3/4" standard range, with some models stretching to accommodate doors up to 2 1/4" thick.

When Your Door Falls Outside Standard Specs

Custom entry doors on craftsman or contemporary custom homes often run thicker than standard. Older homes sometimes have unusual bore sizes. Commercial doors may require ANSI Grade 1 hardware with different footprints altogether. For example, specialized parts like the Alarm Lock S6070S Schlage Interchangeable Core Tailpiece can bridge compatibility gaps. These situations aren't impossible, but they do require more careful spec work before you order. The RightSet Hardware support team fields these questions regularly and can help you identify the right model or adapter kit before you commit to a purchase.

Security Ratings: What the Grades Actually Tell You

How BHMA/ANSI Grading Works

ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 is the highest rating for residential and light commercial hardware, covering resistance to drilling, kick-in, picking, and cycle testing. The newer BHMA AAA residential system maps closely to that standard. Grade 2 is common in mid-range locks and offers solid protection for most homes. Grade 3 is entry-level and best avoided for exterior applications. The Level Lock+ is documented as BHMA AAA certified; the Schlage Encode Plus is commonly associated with high mechanical standards, check each model's specific ANSI/BHMA listing to confirm its exact certification before purchasing. For a clear deep-dive on standards and compliance, see this ANSI/BHMA lock standards compliance guide that walks through grading criteria and testing protocols in more detail. For access-control products in commercial settings, UL 294 is the relevant additional certification to look for.

The Vulnerabilities That Matter More Than the Grade

The real-world risks for most homeowners aren't someone picking their deadbolt at 2 a.m. They're weak account security (stolen login credentials give remote access to anyone), outdated firmware left unpatched by a vendor who stopped supporting the model, and Bluetooth radio weaknesses on older hardware. A Grade 1 deadbolt installed in a weak door frame with a two-screw strike plate is still vulnerable, because the weakest point in the assembly determines how much force is needed to get through. Check whether your lock vendor has an active firmware update history and whether the lock can operate locally without cloud dependency. Those two factors often matter more than the certification label.

Connectivity and Smart Home Compatibility

Wi-Fi vs. Bluetooth vs. Z-Wave: The Practical Trade-offs

Wi-Fi gives you remote access from anywhere with no hub required, but plan on battery changes every three to six months on alkaline cells. Bluetooth works well for proximity-based phone unlocking with lower power draw, but you lose remote access unless you pair the lock with a bridge. Z-Wave and Zigbee offer the best battery life and deepest automation control, but both require a compatible hub to function fully. Several premium keyless entry door locks, such as the Schlage Encode Plus, now support both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in a single unit, which covers remote access and low-power proximity unlocking without choosing between them.

Voice Assistants and Ecosystem Matching

The three main ecosystems are Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. For iPhone-heavy households, HomeKit support is worth prioritizing, and Apple Home Key (available on the Schlage Encode Plus and a handful of other models) takes it further: you tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, no app required. One practical nuance worth knowing is that most ecosystems restrict voice-based unlocking for security reasons, requiring a PIN confirmation or app action rather than a simple "Hey Siri, unlock the front door."

Battery Backup: What Happens When Power Runs Out

Lithium AA batteries are worth the cost over alkaline in any smart lock. They last significantly longer, perform better in cold weather, and don't leak. When batteries do run low, most locks provide low-battery alerts well in advance. Emergency backup options include a 9V battery terminal on the exterior of many models, Micro-USB ports on others, and a physical key override on any lock that includes a cylinder.

Top Picks by Budget

Budget Picks: $60, $100

At this tier, a basic keypad deadbolt or entry-level Wi-Fi lock covers the fundamentals of keyless convenience without adding smart home complexity. The Eufy Smart Lock C220 and entry-level Kwikset models offer a solid starting point for homeowners who want PIN access and basic app connectivity. Reliability is decent, but warranties are shorter and smart home integrations are more limited. This is a reasonable choice for a secondary door or rental unit.

Mid-Range Picks: $150, $250

This is where the category gets serious. The Schlage Encode features built-in Wi-Fi, a touchscreen keypad, support for 100+ access codes, and tamper detection, check the model's ANSI/BHMA listing to confirm its specific grade before purchasing. The Kwikset Obsidian takes a different approach: no key cylinder at all, which eliminates one attack surface entirely and delivers strong brute-force resistance. Consistently solid security ratings become available at this tier, and the build quality shows. RightSet Hardware carries Schlage and Kwikset models at this price point with expert support available if you need help confirming which SKU matches your door prep.

Premium Picks: $250+

The Schlage Encode Plus with Apple Home Key, the ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro with fingerprint scanning and an anti-peep keypad, and the Eufy Video Smart Lock S3 Max with integrated video and palm unlock represent the full-feature end of the market. These are the right choice for buyers who want complete smart home integration, biometric convenience, and top-tier security in a single unit. RightSet also carries the August smart lock line, worth considering if you'd rather keep your existing deadbolt and add smart functionality on top without changing the door hardware entirely. For a consumer-facing review of several top electronic deadbolts across price tiers, see Popular Mechanics' roundup of the best electronic deadbolts for an independent comparison.

DIY Installation: What the Job Actually Involves

What a Standard Keyless Deadbolt Swap Looks Like

For a like-for-like replacement, removing an existing single-cylinder deadbolt and dropping in a new smart deadbolt, this is a genuinely DIY-friendly job. Most straightforward swaps take 20, 30 minutes for an experienced DIYer with a Phillips screwdriver. The basic steps are:

1. Remove the old deadbolt

2. Confirm backset and bore fit with your measurements

3. Install the new latch and exterior body

4. Connect the wiring to the interior mounting plate

5. Install the interior unit

6. Load batteries

7. Pair to the app or program your access codes

Nearly every residential smart lock is designed with this exact scenario in mind. If you want detailed, step-by-step guidance while you work, Home Depot's how-to guide for installing a smart door lock is a practical walkthrough that many DIYers find useful to follow along.

When You Should Bring in a Professional

Professional installation makes sense in a few clear situations: installing into a door with no existing deadbolt prep (which requires boring new holes), any commercial-grade application, multi-family access systems (for example, the Alarm Lock DL2700IC Trilogy Electronic Digital Lever Lock with Interchangeable Core), or integrating a Z-Wave lock into a complex smart home setup where the automation logic matters. A weak strike plate under a high-grade deadbolt is also worth a professional's eye before you commit. A licensed locksmith typically runs $100 to $200 per lock for a standard installation, a cost worth paying when the door prep isn't standard or the stakes are higher.

Choosing the Right Keyless Entry Door Lock

Pick the keyless entry door lock that matches your door's measurements, the connectivity protocol that fits how you actually live, and a security rating appropriate for your home. Get those three aligned and the decision becomes much cleaner, the rest is budget and features.

RightSet Hardware carries a curated selection of keyless entry systems from Schlage, Kwikset, and August, including specialty SKUs and architectural finishes that can be harder to find elsewhere. If the measurements feel uncertain or you're not sure which connectivity option fits your smart home setup, the team is here to help you get it right before you order.

Browse the full keyless lock selection at RightSet Hardware and find the model that fits your door, your network, and your budget.