Market guide
Start with the door and access plan
Choose the mechanism and fallback before the appA smart lock has to work as a lock first. Identify the existing deadbolt or lever, measure the prepared door and decide which people need keys, codes, phones or biometrics before choosing a platform.
01
Door
Identify the lock body
Separate replacement deadbolts, spring-latch levers and interior retrofits. Each uses a different template and provides a different physical-security function.
- Measure
- Record door thickness, bore, backset, handing, strike alignment, bolt travel and trim clearance.
- Permission
- Resolve landlord, HOA, rated-door, insurance and local code restrictions before altering hardware.
02
Access
Name every required way in
List household, guest, cleaner, caregiver, contractor and emergency access, then decide which method each person can actually use.
- Fallback
- Keep at least one proven path for a dead battery, failed phone, internet outage or account lockout.
- Revocation
- A code, key, biometric, app user and smart-home member can require separate removal.
03
Boundary
Treat ratings and automation narrowly
A BHMA result belongs to an exact lockset test. It does not grade the door, frame, strike, installation, network or household access policy.
- Egress
- Interior exit must remain obvious and compliant for the exact door and occupants.
- Outcome
- No smart lock guarantees authorized entry, prevents burglary or replaces a complete door-security plan.
Evidence used
First-party sources behind this guide
- 01Residential lockset and latch standardsBHMA · checked August 17, 2026Open source
- 02Residential building-planning and egress requirementsICC · checked August 17, 2026Open source
- 03Buying or selling a smart homeFTC · checked August 17, 2026Open source
- 04Current smart-lock supportSchlage · checked August 17, 2026Open source