Deadbolt Buying Guide: Grade 1 vs Grade 2 vs Grade 3
Walk into any Home Depot lock aisle and you'll see 40 deadbolts ranging from $20 to $200. Most of them look similar. The differences matter a lot — but only on two specific dimensions.
Here's how to actually pick one.
The two things that matter
- ANSI/BHMA Grade — physical security rating (Grade 1 best, Grade 3 worst)
- Bump and pick resistance — vendor-specific anti-tampering features
Everything else (smart features, finish, brand name) is preference, not security.
ANSI/BHMA Grades explained
The American National Standards Institute rates door hardware on a scale of 1 to 3. The test simulates real-world attacks:
| Grade | Knob locks tested | Deadbolts tested | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | 800,000 cycles, 360-lb hammer strikes | 250,000 cycles, hammer-resistant strike plate | Commercial / high-security residential |
| Grade 2 | 400,000 cycles, 250-lb strikes | 150,000 cycles | Most homes — this is the sweet spot |
| Grade 3 | 200,000 cycles, 150-lb strikes | 100,000 cycles | Interior doors only — NOT for exterior |
Important: most "builder-grade" deadbolts that come pre-installed on new construction homes are Grade 3. Yes, on the front door.
If your front door deadbolt is Grade 3 — and you can usually tell from the packaging or the manufacturer's site — replacing it with a Grade 2 is the single biggest hardware-only security upgrade you can make.
How to check what grade you have
Two ways:
- Look up the model online. Search "[brand] [model number] ANSI grade." Brand and model are usually stamped or printed on the lock.
- Look on the packaging if you still have it. Often labeled "ANSI Grade 1," "Grade 2," etc.
If you can't tell, we can identify it on a service call in 30 seconds.
The honest brand ranking
Locks I'd actually put on my own house (and have):
Tier 1 — best residential
- Schlage B-series (B60, B62) — Grade 2 standard, excellent. Schlage Plymouth, Camelot, Andover all use B-series internals. ~$50–$80.
- Yale 250 / 360 series — Grade 2, smart options available. ~$60–$100.
- Kwikset SmartKey 985 / 980 — Grade 2. SmartKey re-keyable. ~$60–$80. Note: SmartKey has been picked open in public demonstrations. Better than nothing, but pure Schlage B is more pick-resistant.
Tier 2 — smart lock options
- Schlage Encode — Grade 2, Wi-Fi built-in. Best all-around smart lock. ~$280.
- Yale Assure 2 — Grade 2, HomeKit native. ~$200–$280.
- August Wi-Fi 4th gen — retrofit only, attaches to your existing deadbolt. Good for renters.
Tier 3 — high security (overkill for most homes)
- Medeco Maxum — Grade 1, basically unpickable, $200–$300. For high-value targets.
- Mul-T-Lock MT5+ — similar tier.
- Abloy Protec2 — used in commercial / government. Hardest lock to defeat. $300+.
Avoid
- Any deadbolt under $30. They're virtually always Grade 3 and frequently easy to pick.
- Off-brand smart locks from Amazon with unverifiable security claims.
- "Tactical" locks marketed with military-style branding — usually marketing, not security.
Bump-resistance — the underrated feature
"Lock bumping" is a real attack where a specially-cut "bump key" can open many standard pin-tumbler locks in seconds. Cheap deadbolts are bump-vulnerable.
Anti-bump features to look for:
- Spool pins — most modern Schlage B-series have these
- Security pins / mushroom pins
- Restricted keyway — only the manufacturer can cut keys for it
Schlage Primus, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy are all bump-resistant by design.
Installation matters as much as the lock
A Grade 1 lock on a soft pine door with a basic strike plate isn't secure. Three install upgrades that work with any deadbolt:
- Use 3-inch screws in the strike plate (most ship with 1-inch screws — change them out)
- Reinforced strike plate (Don-Jo, StrikeMaster — $15–$25) — distributes kick force across the door frame studs
- Door frame reinforcement for older homes with weak frames
Adding these to a Grade 2 deadbolt makes it more secure than a Grade 1 deadbolt installed poorly.
Bottom line for most homes
If you live in Charlotte / Lake Norman and want better security without overspending:
- Front door: Schlage B62 (Grade 2) or Schlage Encode (Grade 2 smart) + 3-inch strike screws
- Other exterior doors: Match the front door brand for one-key convenience
- Add reinforced strike plates if your home is older than ~2000
Total hardware cost: $150–$350. Total install: 30–60 minutes for 3–4 doors.
We can supply or install
We supply Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, and select smart lock models at near-retail prices. Installation is $85 per deadbolt (less for multiple at the same trip).
If you've already bought the locks, we install at $65 per deadbolt.
Call (336) 790-2233 for a quote or see lock installation service.