A commercial electronic door lock system is a keyless entry and exit system that allows for automatic locking and unlocking of doors. It provides a high level of security, convenience, and flexibility to any home or business owner.
They promote safety and security at your location, preventing the risk of unauthorized entry or theft. An electronic lock system is an easy way to upgrade your existing hardware on doors, providing you with peace of mind in knowing that your property is safe and sound.
These systems can be installed quickly and easily. They’re also more cost-effective than adding an additional locksmith or security guard for the whole night. Here are some of our favorite electronic door lock systems!
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Types of Electronic Locks
Automatic Door Locks
Automatic door locks immediately securely lock after you close them for convenience and safety. These types of locks offer the advantage of remote control, allowing you to lock doors through security protocols or other access control systems. Panic hardware and fire alarm security also provide options to customize automatic door locks. If you want to geek out, biometric entry systems and proximity readers augment mechanical door locks.
Electric Deadbolt Locks
Electric deadbolt locks are automatic but operate on an electrical current that activates the lock. These locks can offer upgraded access control and security to the systems already in place in business without further modifying them. Users have the choice of right-angle bolts for narrow doorframes or solenoid-driven mortise bolts for any others.
Electromagnetic Locks
Electromagnetic locks are another form of automatic lock that uses an electromagnet plate to attract an armature plate on the door. A constant electrical current keeps the two sealed together. This locking mechanism can be used anywhere but is most useful for closing automatic sliding doors.
Commercial Automatic Door Operators and Closers
When buying a door for a commercial installation, it is essential to know the safety and security requirements of the establishment. Fire safety comes first, and accessibility and style can be considered secondary concerns when choosing an automatic door.
Door Closer Grades
Door closers come in two grades. Grade 1 door closers are useful for high-traffic establishments. They can open for hundreds of people every day and last for at least seven years before needing to be serviced or replaced. Commercial traffic requires this grade.
Grade 2 door closers are similar but for less traffic. They are more viable for 100 or fewer uses per day. This detail makes them ideal for less-trafficked commercial establishments or industrial operations with fewer instances of entry.
Regenerative Power Operators
Regenerative Power Operators are essential for providing the low-energy current that seals doors shut and cuts off to open them. They use a built-in battery to generate the electrical current they need to work, though some can be plugged in. These operators are the simplest to install and are guaranteed to last for years.
Wave-to-Open Switches
Wave-to-Open Switches can be operated without touching them, with visual or audio cues like motion to open the lock. After a predetermined amount of time, the door recloses. These switches are convenient but are particularly applicable to places that value hygiene. Hospitals and public restrooms have been converting their doors to this system.
Mechanical Door Closers
Unlike electronic or motion-operated doors, mechanical door closers operate using a spring mechanism. The force of the door closing stores energy which can then be used to open the door automatically. It also automatically closes the door with the same force without slamming it.
Smartphone Locks
A lock connected to smartphone activation is convenient for 21st-century users. You never have to worry about whether the door is locked because you can activate the mechanism from your phone. These doors are more commonly used for personal residences, but any installation can use a smartphone lock to keep track of their building’s security software and protocols.
How to choose an Electronic Door Lock that Works Best for Your Home or Business
Since there are quite a few different types of electronic door lock systems available, you may be wondering how to choose one for your commercial or private establishment. Since security is a priority for any home or business owner, physical keys get lost all the time, and electronic door systems have other benefits that conventional doors lack. Consider these factors when choosing a door for your installation.
Key Features to Consider
The key features that should be considered when choosing an electronic door lock system depend on the preferences of individual buyers and the needs of their establishment.
Since different locks can be fitted with different activation mechanisms, employers and homeowners need to ask how they want people to enter their doors. For secure areas in businesses that want to go keyless, keypad combination compatibility may be preferable. More advanced systems like wireless smartphone activation or biometric locks also offer high-security options for automatic locking doors.
Other installations, such as hospitals or grocery stores, will likely prefer wave-to-open switches or other automatic opening doors. This is because they see a lot of traffic from people whose arms are full and are more likely to prioritize hygiene. The fewer people have to touch the doors, the cleaner they’ll be.
An important feature that may not seem apparent at first is a low-battery indicator. Since most electronic doors don’t plug into a wall, they run on a battery pack. Doors that lack a blinking light indicator that tells you when the battery needs to be charged can be inconvenient and even dangerous. If you don’t know if the door will open, you can get locked out of your home or business or even trapped inside during an emergency.
Durability is an important factor because most electronic door systems open to the outside. Find a door made of water, heat, and cold-resistant materials. Prioritize brands that give guarantees on their doors against weather-related damage.
If you have other systems in your installation, the door’s ability to integrate with them is another important factor. For homes, Alexa and other home security options should integrate with an electronic locking door. For businesses, surveillance systems, fire alarms, and cameras can integrate with the right door.
Finally, price is a factor many buyers will consider to be the main part of their decision. The range in the locks reviewed below is hundreds of dollars, so it’s important to prioritize the features a home or business needs.
Advantages of Electronic Smart Lock Systems
Electronic smart lock systems have many advantages, ranging from safety to convenience. Electronic door systems can be safer and more hygienic than conventional doors by automatically opening for customers inside and outside the door. During a fire or other emergency, doors that can be opened electronically can help control traffic out of the building. In a hospital setting, hands-free doors offer a hygienic alternative.
Integration with security systems, surveillance technology, fire alarms, and other electronic systems can also be useful. For installations with security concerns, electronic door systems can be indispensable.
How Smart Electronic Door Lock Systems Work
Smart electronic door lock systems work by connecting to Wi-Fi and transmitting the access code to a smartphone. Lock systems modified for smart locking capabilities can be controlled no matter where the user is, sending out notifications to remind you to lock up.
These doors often come with other conveniences as well. You can assign guests a temporary guest code that activates the door. In fact, you can often make dozens of different codes and assign them to different people that need access to your house or business, from cleaning staff to dog sitters. This saves you the real security concern of making extra keys and lending them out: instead, everyone gets their own code.
There are biometric, and voice-activated locking options on some models that give you added security. Smart electronic door lock systems can connect to security cameras and other entry systems for added surveillance. With many systems, users can set custom rules for who can enter the home, how the security systems respond, and what surveillance systems activate to protect packages and possessions.
Secure Electronic Commercial Door Locks
Choosing a secure electronic commercial door lock starts with knowing the systems that make sense for a particular business. Hospitals and grocery stores opt for automatic opening doors because of the high foot traffic and focus on hygiene. Magnetic closing mechanisms are key for security.
Other electronic locks have different entrance mechanisms, ranging from keypads to biometrics to wireless access codes. Keeping them secure means keeping track of the installation’s needs, setting the proper custom rules, keeping track of who has access codes at any given time, and getting doors that are listed as suitable for the predicted foot traffic in the establishment.
Best Commercial Electronic Door Lock Systems
This is a compilation of reviews of the best commercial electronic door lock systems available for purchase in 2021. Use the below information to compare their features and choose the one best suited to the needs of your establishment.
Kwikset Electronic Deadbolt Door Lock
The Kwikset Electronic Deadbolt Door Lock can be locked and unlocked from a smartphone from anywhere. This deadbolt door lock integrates with security and other automated systems, including fire and surveillance. There are 30 programmable access codes and notifications that remind users to lock up. The Kwikset Electronic Deadbolt Door Lock is perfect for commercial offices and homes with a lifetime mechanical and finishes warranty and a one-year electronics warranty.
Pros
- Security integration
- 250 customizable access codes
- Lifetime mechanical warranty
Cons
- No battery life indicator
ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro Smart Lock + Deadbolt Lock
The Ultraloq smart lock can be opened from anywhere with smartphone integration. It connects with Alexa or Google Assistant and has auto lock and unlock features. Remote access is useful for letting in visitors and service workers. The smart lock comes with 6-in-1 unlock options, including fingerprint access, auto-unlock, shake to open, mechanical keys, smartphone access, and anti-peep keypads. EKey access technology offers permanent access codes, as well as customizable entry restrictions.+
Pros
- 6-in-1 keyless entry smart lock
- Remote access through smartphone
- Alexa voice control
- Customizable eKey settings
Cons
- Wi-Fi bridge is temperamental
eufy Security Smart Lock Touch Keyless Entry Door Lock
Eufy’s keyless entry door lock can identify a fingerprint in a third of a second. Its biometrics unlock the door in a second or less. There are three other ways to unlock it, including the EUFY security app connected to Bluetooth, a conventional key, or an electronic keypad. A built-in sensor locks the door automatically when it closes. Eufy’s keyless door lock is also rated for weatherproof protection, as well as cold, heat, and rain resistance. Fingerprint data storage is personal and secure.
For a limited time, you can take advantage of this Amazon Limited Time Deal on a similar model.
Pros
- Automatic locking
- Fingerprint activation
- Weatherproof protection
- Private data storage
Cons
- No Wi-Fi support
UHPPOTE Electromagnetic Lock & Remote Control Kit
The RF remote control receiver of the UHPPOTE electromagnetic remote control kit has a range of 100 feet. The magnetic lock has a fail-safe that unlocks when the power is removed from the door. The locking delay is time adjustable, and the magnetic lock system allows you to exit from the inside. Up to 20 remotes can be programmed from one receiver. The stainless-steel door has 600 pounds of force resistance.
Pros
- 100-foot range
- Power loss fail-safe
- 600 pounds of force resistance
- Up to 20 remotes from one receiver
Cons
- Customers report confusing installation instructions
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt
The Schlage Home app by Amazon allows the user to store and manage up to 100 unique access codes which grant temporary or permanent access to employees or visitors. It integrates with other security systems and has a clear low battery warning. Not only is the Schlage Encode deadbolt equipped with fingerprint resistance, but it even has a capacitive touchscreen with one-touch locking. Optional voice control and built-in alarm technology integrate with security systems to sense potential breaches at the door. The Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt is easy to install and guaranteed to fit standard doors. A 3-year electronics warranty rounds out a convenient package.
Pros
- 100 unique access codes
- Security system integration
- Low battery warning
- Capacitive touchscreen
- 3-year electronics warranty
Cons
- Only one user per app
AGPtek Electric Magnetic Lock
AGPtek’s magnetic door lock ensures that the door frame stays closed and locked with 130 pounds of protective force. The electric magnetic lock has safety functionality, a voltage spike suppressor, and a user-friendly design. The AGPtek magnetic door lock has diverse applications for different material doors, including metal, wooden, glass, and fire-proof materials. It has a power-off unlocking fail-safe and an LED status indicator that shows when the battery is low.
Pros
- Magnetic door lock with 130 pounds of force
- Safety functionality
- Works on different materials
- Battery indicator
- Low price
Cons
- The magnet can get warm
Prodigy SmartLock MaxSecure Commercial Grade Lock
A deadbolt and dead-latch can be unlocked from inside or out with the 12-key illuminated keypad on the Prodigy SmartLock MaxSecure Commercial Grade Lock. It can be programmed with up to 400 unique user access codes and keycards and an option for a manual key override. The Prodigy lock has commercial-grade security strength, with sturdy hardware that is extremely temperature-resistant, even in a fire. Its advanced, durable structure is equipped with anti-pry user code protection, immediate keypad response, low battery indication, weather resistance, and a secure cylinder locking mechanism.
For those that want stylish locks on a commercial establishment, the Prodigy SmartLock MaxSecure Commercial Grade Lock also comes in a choice of styles and premium finishes.
Pros
- Durable build
- High security
- 400 programmable access codes
- Weather protection
- Design customization
Cons
- The outside handle is a little loose to the touch
Hornbill Smart Door Auto-Lock
The Hornbill Smart Door Auto-Lock can be opened by voice control, smartphone, keypad, or mechanical key. The control access records who enters and leaves and tracks it to the owner’s phone. Knowing the status of the door of your business is a comfort that the latest smartphone integration can provide.
Control access can be granted for a set amount of time to visitors, and locking is automatic. Installation is simple, and tracking on the deadbolt door lock’s status is simple with Bluetooth compatibility and eKey systems.
Pros
- Remote locking technology
- Integration with security and Bluetooth activation
- Security tracking for smartphones
- Easy installation
Cons
- Wi-Fi Bridge that allows remote and voice control is sold separately
AKASO Smart Lock with Key Remote Keypad
The AKASO deadbolt lock is optimized for smartphones, keeps track of passwords, and has key backups. It offers real-time security monitoring protection with door entry and exit records sent directly via Wi-Fi to the owner’s phone. Automatic locking makes it unnecessary for users to lock the door behind them, a convenient feature for people that want to leave their office secure and not wonder if they are locked up.
A battery alarm and emergency power supply help you remember to recharge the door when needed.
Pros
- Smartphone optimization
- Password security
- Automatic locking mechanism
- Entry records
- Low battery alert
Cons
- Auto relocking feature requires the phone app to work
Kwikset Contemporary Single Cylinder Deadbolt
The Kwikset Contemporary Single Cylinder Deadbolt has motorized locking at one touch, a low battery indicator, and simple installation. This motorized driven deadbolt lock adds security to outside doors and can be customized for automatic locking after a set amount of time. It can store 6 customizable user codes, temporary and permanent, for employees, cleaning staff, or visitors. This is fewer than some other brands – the Kwikset makes up for it with a low price.
The single-cylinder electronic deadbolt operates using a keypad and is fitted with an alarm when 5 incorrect passwords are entered. Its latch is adjustable.
Pros
- Customizable access codes
- Motorized deadbolt
- Low price
- Alarm system
Cons
- Not as many options for access codes as other models
The Takeaway
Commercial door lock systems have many benefits over conventional locking mechanisms. Integrating security, fire alarm, and surveillance systems can give a home or business owner peace of mind. With automatic, one-touch, wave-to-open, and even voice-activated options, they can also add convenience to a modern work or living space. Businesses that receive a lot of foot traffic need a door that can take it and one made of weather-resistant materials. The above options include custom access codes, smartphone integration, and other modern conveniences. Compare the needs of your home or business to the options above to find the best commercial door lock system for you.