How to Secure Your Front Door: Strike Plates, Screws, Deadbolts and More

To secure a front door, focus on the parts that actually give way when someone kicks or shoves it: the strike plate, the screws holding it, and the door frame. Install a reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws that reach the wall stud, make sure your deadbolt throws a full 1 inch, and add a door viewer and good lighting so you can see who is outside. Most of these upgrades are inexpensive, and many take less than an hour.

Below is what to check and fix, in the order that usually makes the biggest difference.

Why Front Doors Fail

When a door is kicked in, the lock itself rarely breaks. What breaks is the thin strip of wood in the door jamb where the deadbolt sits. Most builder-grade doors use a small strike plate held in by short screws, often only 3/4 inch long. Those screws only grip the soft trim wood of the jamb, not the framing behind it. One hard kick can split that wood and the door swings open with the deadbolt still extended.

So the goal is simple: tie the lock, the strike and the hinges into the solid framing of the house.

1. Upgrade the Strike Plate

The strike plate is the metal plate on the door frame that the deadbolt slides into. A reinforced strike plate is longer and heavier, and it has more screw holes. Some versions include a metal box that surrounds the bolt.

What to look for:

• A plate made of heavy-gauge steel, not thin stamped metal
• Four or more screw holes, spread over a longer area of the frame
• A deep box or pocket for the bolt, so it is fully enclosed

Longer “security strike” kits spread the force of a kick across more of the frame, which makes splitting much less likely.

2. Use Long Screws (This Is the Cheapest Fix)

If you do only one thing, do this. Remove the short screws in your strike plate and replace them with 3-inch screws. A 3-inch screw passes through the jamb and the gap behind it and bites into the wall stud.

Tips for doing it right:

• Use hardened steel screws, not soft brass ones.
• Drive them straight and snug. Overtightening can pull the jamb inward and make the deadbolt hard to throw.
• If the bolt starts binding after you tighten, back the screws out a quarter turn.
• Do the same on the hinges. Replace at least one screw in each hinge with a 3-inch screw into the frame.

Hinge screws matter because a kick puts force on both sides of the door. A strong strike with weak hinges just moves the failure point.

3. Reinforce the Door Frame

If your jamb is old, cracked, or has been forced before, a strike plate alone may not be enough. Door frame reinforcement kits use long metal plates that run along the jamb on the lock side, and sometimes the hinge side. They are screwed deep into the framing and cover the area where wood usually splits.

Also check:

• Gaps between the jamb and the framing. Large gaps let the jamb flex. Shims behind the strike area give the long screws something solid to press against.
• The door itself. A hollow-core door can be broken through no matter how good the frame is. Exterior doors should be solid wood, solid-core, steel or fiberglass.
• Rot or water damage. Soft wood will not hold screws. That part of the frame needs to be repaired or replaced first.

4. Check Your Deadbolt and Its Throw

The “throw” is how far the bolt extends out of the door. A good deadbolt throws a full 1 inch into the frame. A short throw can be pried or pushed out of a shallow strike.

How to check:

1. Open the door and turn the deadbolt to the locked position.
2. Measure how far the bolt sticks out from the edge of the door.
3. Close the door and lock it. If the key or thumb turn feels stiff, or the bolt does not fully extend, the bolt and strike are not lined up.

A misaligned deadbolt is common when houses settle. People stop locking it all the way because it sticks, which defeats the purpose. Adjusting or moving the strike usually fixes it.

Also consider the lock grade. Locks rated ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 or Grade 2 are built for heavier use and attack than Grade 3. If you want more resistance to picking, bumping and drilling, look at high-security locks with patented keys that cannot be copied at a hardware store.

A spring latch on a knob or lever is not a security lock. It can often be slipped with a card. Always use the deadbolt.

5. Add a Door Viewer or Camera

Many people open the door just to see who knocked. A door viewer (peephole) lets you check without unlocking anything.

• Choose a wide-angle viewer, 180 degrees or more, so you can see someone standing to the side.
• Mount it at a height everyone in the house can use.
• A video doorbell does the same job and lets you see and talk to visitors when you are not home.

If your door has glass in it or next to it, think about what someone could reach by breaking that glass. A double-cylinder deadbolt (key on both sides) can stop someone from reaching in and turning the thumb turn. But it can slow your exit in a fire, so check with your local building code office and think about your household before choosing one. Security film on the glass is another option.

6. Light the Entry

Lighting does not stop a determined person, but it removes cover and makes it easier for you, neighbors and cameras to see what is happening.

• Put a light on each side of the door or one overhead that lights the whole porch.
• Use motion-sensor or dusk-to-dawn fixtures so they are on when needed.
• Light the path from the driveway or street to the door.
• Trim shrubs near the door and windows so no one can stand there unseen.

This matters in many Charlotte-area neighborhoods where front doors sit behind deep porches or landscaping that blocks the view from the street.

7. Control Who Has Keys

A strong door does not help if someone else has a key. If you just moved in, you have no idea how many copies of the old keys exist. Previous owners, contractors, neighbors and dog walkers may all have one.

Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing locks so old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware. If your locks are worn, cheap or you want a different style, replacing them may make more sense. Our guide on whether to rekey or change your locks walks through how to decide.

Keypad locks are another way to control access. You can change codes when needed instead of tracking physical keys. If that appeals to you, see our page on keypad door lock installation.

A Quick Front Door Security Checklist

When to Call a Locksmith

Swapping screws is an easy DIY job. Other fixes are harder to get right: moving a strike so the bolt lines up, fitting a new deadbolt to a door drilled for a different size, or installing a high-security cylinder. If the bolt binds, the door sags, or you are not sure your hardware is up to the job, our technicians can come to your home and handle lock installation or rekeying on site. Cost depends on the hardware and the work involved; our locksmith pricing page explains what affects it.