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Buying a smart lock? Measure your door first
Smart lock listings talk about apps and fingerprints. They say much less about the thing that sends locks back: fit. Your door has a thickness, a backset and a hole size. If any of them is off, the lock will not go on, or the bolt will drag and eat batteries. Take three measurements first. It takes five minutes.
Will a smart deadbolt fit my door?
A general check against common US door sizes and the thickness ranges on the listings we read. It is not a promise of fit. Confirm every number on the listing and in the maker's manual before you order.
Check your door See the 5 locks we'd shortlist
Guides
- The 5 best smart door locks in 2026
Five smart deadbolts for 2026, with the door sizes each listing states, what owners like, and what they complain about.
- Will a smart lock fit my door?
Measure door thickness, backset and bore hole, then check them against common sizes and the ranges smart lock listings state.
- Battery claims, WiFi, and what owners really report
Makers claim six to eight months of battery. Owners often report weeks. Why built-in WiFi drains batteries and how to plan for it.
- Smart locks for renters
How renters can add a smart lock without changing the outside of the door, what to ask the landlord, and what to keep for move-out.