Schlage VS Kwikset
If you are reading this article, chances are you trying to decide what type of locks to purchase for your home. Schlage or Kwikset? That seems to be the question on every new homeowner’s mind. While they are certainly not the only two lock options, they are known as the top sellers, controlling over 95% of the market for residential locks. They’re found in just about every hardware store from The Home Depot, Menard’s, to Ace Hardware, and of course your local locksmith shops. So, which one is better you may be asking? To get straight to the point, I will compare between the standard deadbolt of each company as it is the most common lock being sold by both Kwikset and Schlage. The rest of the locks both brands sell do go through similar manufacturing processes, contain many of the same parts, and are also of very high quality standards. So, by comparing their most basic lock, the deadbolt, we can easily determine which one is superior.
Security pins
Think of a security pin as the modified version of a key in a deadbolt, or what is known as a pin-tumbler mechanism, that makes the lock harder to pick. The general consensus is the more security pins a lock is equipped with, the more difficult it is to compromise the lock without destruction involved. Schlage uses 4 security pins or “spool pins”, while Kwikset has chosen to use 2 for their deadbolts.
Drill Resistant Plate
Located at the front side of the lock, is a thin metal plate known as a drill resistant plate. It is what covers and protects the lock, with screws holding it in place. The plate may look like it is there for vanity purposes, but it is actually used to protect the screws that hold the lock in place from any attempts of picking/drilling. This is important because a drill resistant plate should be basically just it sounds, impossible to drill. While there is never a 100% guarantee that the lock or plate cannot be compromised, a drill resistant plate is a great safety measures because it just makes it that much harder to compromise, keeping burglars away. Let’s compare the two brands and see where each brand stands in this category.
The housing in the
Schlage deadbolt is completely resistant to drilling. Not only is it nearly impossible to expose the screws, but a drill resistant plate also guards the face of the cylinder itself, which makes the Schlage lock incredibly difficult to drill through. However, the Kwikset lock is not built with drill resistant plates which makes it very easy to compromise both by picking it open and drilling the cylinder.
Price
Despite the fact that this characteristic does not pertain to the features of the lock, it is still important to view the quality in comparison to the the retail price.
Because Schlage locks are made of stronger materials, are superior in their mechanism, and provide far greater security than Kwikset locks, it should be mentioned that they are more expensive compared to Kwikset. For example, let’s look at the retail price for a deadbolt from both Kwikset and Schlage. Kwikset’s brass deadbolt retails $14 while Schlage’s brass deadbolt retails for $30. Only you can put a price on the security of your property, but I do think the price difference is truly worth it.
Verdict:
In conclusion, the winner here is Schlage. As we can see from the comparisons above, Schlage wins in each category. Due to the excellent protection against against common forced entry methods, stronger drill resistant plates, and overall, affordability. Kwikset, while not a terrible option, it does lack all of these features when compares to Schlage which is a cause for concern when one is looking for optimal safety and security of a home. All in all, Schlage locks are good not only in comparison to Kwikset, but also in general they provide a wide variety of locks that all are created with such great security and are available at a very affordable price.
June 27, 2023
If you compare the 2 lock sets you will find that the backsets are the weakest points on all lock sets, they both give a kick.rating on their sets and they are both identical,. You do not get any more security from spending more money, this is a lie and they know it because most people don’t take the time to investigate, they have been trained all of their lives to believe higher cost/ better product. READ THE BACK OF THE PACKAGE
July 6, 2023
I’m an installer of handle sets and I beg to differ as an installer the slag locks seem very cheaply made versus the smart key Kwikset.
September 4, 2023
The info I provide is base on experience and Kwikset fail much more then Schlage. the security is way lower then Schlage. even that kwikset looks to the eye better 10 years later you find out which one is better.
August 8, 2023
After 44 years of doing all kinds of lock installation and repair work I would like to add that I agree when it comes to this comparison at the commercial level. However at the residential lever Kwikset is much better . I have seen Schlage change the way they engineer their products with much more nylon and plastic pieces that just do not hold up. Kwikset is not perfect
but overall much better quality. I have seen Schlage deadbolts go through many revisions. Thus meaning many more sku’s to be able to repair them. The Kwikset deadbolt has been the same solid quality for many years. I work on many more older homes that have Kwikset products still working well than Schlage. They have been replaced with a newer model. They have had some good products over the years. There two piece knobs were very good. they had to change and go with a one piece knob that I feel was very unnecessary. They have some very good commercial products that are very well made and have been for years. Expensive but very good. This is just my opinion. Forty years ago they were both very good. Pretty equal, however the last twenty years I have to go with Kwikset. thanks and have a good day.
September 4, 2023
The info I provide is base on experience and Kwikset fail much more often then Schlage for my experience Schlage design their locks much better for my opinion. I like the Schlage better because they last in a perfect working condition for many years kwikset does not last as long as Schlage not the smoothness and not the finish.