Stand in the lock aisle and you will see the same word on nearly every package: secure. Deadbolt security grades are the closest thing to an objective measure behind that word, and once you know what the grades represent, choosing hardware gets much simpler.
Where the Grades Come From
Locks sold in the United States are commonly rated under a standard maintained by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association alongside ANSI. Hardware is put through repeated cycles of operation and a series of physical tests, then assigned Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3 based on how it holds up. Grade 1 is the highest.
What the grade measures is durability and physical resistance: how many times the bolt can operate and how much force the assembly takes. It is a useful signal, but it is not a complete picture of security on its own.
How the Three Deadbolt Security Grades Compare
Grade 3 is entry-level residential hardware. It is what comes preinstalled on a lot of new construction and what sits at the inexpensive end of the aisle. It meets a basic standard and not much more.
Grade 2 is the practical sweet spot for most homes, noticeably more robust than Grade 3 without commercial-duty bulk. If you are replacing a builder’s deadbolt, this is usually where to land.
Grade 1 is commercial-duty hardware. It is heavier, cycles far more, and takes more abuse. Homeowners sometimes choose it for a main entry or a door that gets very heavy use, and it is the right call for a business.
What the Grade Does Not Tell You
Two things fall outside the grade and both matter. The first is the cylinder. How resistant it is to picking or to unauthorized key duplication is a separate question from how much force the bolt survives. If controlling key copies matters to you, ask about restricted keyways rather than reading the grade.
The second is installation. A Grade 1 deadbolt in a soft pine jamb held by three-quarter-inch screws is not a Grade 1 door. Bolt throw depth, strike plate quality, and screw length into the framing behind the jamb determine what actually happens when force is applied. This is the part people underspend on and it is the cheapest thing to fix.
Choosing for an Indiana Door
Our weather swings hard and hardware feels it. Exterior finishes take salt, humidity, and freeze-thaw cycles, so look for finish ratings as well as a security grade on any door that faces the elements. Homes near the lake in Chesterton tend to see finish wear faster than inland properties, and a better-finished lock lasts noticeably longer there.
Also skip double-cylinder deadbolts that need a key on the inside unless you have a specific reason. They complicate getting out in an emergency, and there are better ways to protect glass near a door.
Not Sure What You Have?
Jacob’s Lock and Key is a licensed mobile locksmith covering Gary and Northwest Indiana, including Hammond, Merrillville, Crown Point, Griffith, Dyer, Munster, Schererville, Hobart, Portage, Saint John, Whiting, Lake Station, and Chesterton. Open 7 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week. Call (219) 342-5595 and we will tell you what is on your door and whether it is worth upgrading.
Last updated: 09/02/2026