Lock grades explained: ANSI/BHMA Grade 1, 2 and 3 and the Secure Home label
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
Who grades locks?
The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association, known as BHMA, the trade association of hardware makers, writes performance standards for locks and other door hardware that are approved by the American National Standards Institute. That is why you see them written as ANSI/BHMA standards. Certification is voluntary: BHMA says a manufacturer submits a product to independent laboratory testing to confirm it meets the relevant standard, and does not have to be a BHMA member to do so.
There are two systems you are likely to meet on residential locks, numbered grades and lettered ratings.
What do Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 mean?
Many ANSI/BHMA standards define three product grades, with Grade 1 the highest. BHMA says the grades are defined by progressive levels of performance benchmarks in each standard, and that grading criteria are product-specific, set out in the standard that covers that type of hardware. So a Grade 2 deadbolt and a Grade 2 door closer are not tested the same way; each is measured against its own standard.
BHMA says you can find an item's grade from its BHMA product number, and that complete listings of certified products are in its Certified Products Directory, whose standards include cycle, operational, strength, security and finish tests.
What are the A, B and C ratings?
They come from BHMA's two residential standards, written for homes. According to an account by BHMA's standards director published on the ANSI blog, ANSI/BHMA A156.39 covers residential locksets and latches and ANSI/BHMA A156.40 covers residential deadbolts. Every certified product is rated Good (C), Better (B) or Best (A) in each of three categories:
| Category | What it measures, in BHMA's description |
|---|---|
| Security | How well the lock withstands impact, whether from an intruder or extreme weather |
| Durability | How well it works after repeated, long-term use |
| Finish | How well it holds up against sun, humidity, salt water and handling |
Certified products carry the BHMA Certified Secure Home label, on the packaging or in the product's online description, showing the letter for each category. A lock can be rated A in one category and C in another, because the deadbolt standard says each category must be met independently.
What do the ratings not tell you?
How the lock will perform on your door. The A156.40 standard says its tests are done under laboratory conditions and that in actual use results vary because of installation, door and frame construction, maintenance and environmental conditions. That is the standard's own caution, and it is a strong one: an A-rated deadbolt in a weak frame is still a weak door.
The ratings also do not tell you whether a lock suits a particular door. ALOA, the locksmiths' trade association, says the choice depends on the construction of the door and frame, the level of security you need and whether you need to limit key copying, and that there is no one-size-fits-all grade.
Do the ratings cover smart and keypad locks?
BHMA's public pages do not say. The A156.40 scope describes residential deadbolts and deadlatches in general terms and does not mention electronic locks either way. The practical test is the one the ANSI account gives: certified products show the Secure Home label on the packaging or in the online description. If an electronic lock you are offered has no label and no BHMA product number, you have no BHMA rating to go on, whatever the box says.
What grade do police recommend?
The King County Sheriff's Office in Washington State recommends Grade 1 or Grade 2 locks on exterior doors, together with a deadbolt whose bolt throws at least one inch and a heavy-duty four-screw strike plate with 3-inch screws. Radnor Township police in Delaware County give the same deadbolt and strike plate specifications in their burglary prevention tips, without naming a grade. No Pennsylvania source read for this guide sets a required grade for locks on a home.
How should you use grades when comparing quotes?
As a way to make two quotes comparable and to test a sales pitch.
- Ask for the product name and its grade or label ratings for any lock you are quoted. Two "deadbolts" at different prices may be different grades.
- Check the claim. The Better Business Bureau warns that some locksmith scammers sell "extra-secure" locks that are actually cheap. A claimed high-security lock should come with a product name you can look up in BHMA's directory or a label you can read.
- Compare like with like on price. Angi's national figures put a standard deadbolt at $30 to $70 and a high-security lock at $100 to $400 for the hardware alone. A higher grade is a fair reason for a higher price; an unnamed "upgrade" is not.
- Spend on the frame too. Given the standard's own caveat about installation and door construction, a better strike plate and longer screws may do more than a step up in grade.
Where next?
Rekey or replace covers when a lower-grade lock is worth replacing, questions to ask a locksmith turns grades into questions for a quote, and local businesses are on the locksmiths directory page.
Sources
- Product Grade Levels, Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association
- How can I determine the grade of a particular builders hardware product?, Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association
- ANSI/BHMA A156.40 Residential Deadbolts, Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association
- High Standards for Residential Door Hardware: BHMA Certified Secure Home Label, American National Standards Institute (The ANSI Blog)
- Doors and locks, King County Sheriff's Office
- Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House?, ALOA Security Professionals Association
- How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
- BBB Scam Alert: Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam, Better Business Bureau
- Burglary Prevention Tips, Radnor Township Police Department