How to install a deadbolt lock

In addition to the deadbolt lock itself, you might need a couple of tools you don’t already have in your collection. If you’re installing a new deadbolt (rather than replacing an old one), you’ll need a 2 1/8" hole saw drill bit to cut the opening for the hardware. You’ll also need a 1" hole saw or spade bit and a chisel to cut the openings for the bolt to slide through the door and doorframe.

A standard deadbolt locks with a key. Some brands have programmable keys that you can adjust onsite so that you can use one key to open multiple exterior doors. Deadbolts with a keypad are handy for allowing guests and other visitors access without having to hand over a key.

Before you go deadbolt shopping, measure the thickness of your door and take note of the material it’s made from. For a wood door you’ll need a wood hole saw; steel-clad doors call for a hole saw designed to cut through metal.

The packaging should include a paper template you can use to mark where to cut the holes for the hardware to fit inside the door. Set the hole saw’s pilot bit on your mark and drill halfway into the door, keeping the drill as level as possible. Finish cutting through the hole by switching to the other side. This will prevent the opening from splintering.

Use a smaller hole saw or spade bit—generally 1" diameter—to bore out the hole from the edge of the door into your larger hole. This is where the bolt will sit.

Use a utility knife to score around the faceplate on the bolt, and then chisel out the material until your bolt sits flush in the frame. Make sure you’ve inserted the bolt in the proper orientation (most have the word “up” or an arrow pointing up on the side), and then screw the faceplate in place.

With the deadbolt in place, you can install the lock turning mechanism. With the key side on the exterior, line up to the two parts and use the long bolts included in the package to secure them together.

With your deadbolt secured, mark the end of it with chalk (or lipstick), close the door, and then turn the lock against the door jamb to mark where you’ll cut the hole for the strike plate. Use your spade bit and chisel to clear out the opening. When screwing the strike plate in place, use 2" or longer screws for added security.