# Entry Door Security: Lock Grades & Features Explained | RYH > ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 locks pass 1,000,000 test cycles vs. 250,000 for Grade 3. Here is what the grading system means and which features are worth paying for. ![Door Replacement project photo](/images/doors/adobestock_321124838.jpg) ## Entry Door Security: What Lock Grades and Features Actually Matter RemodelYourHome Editorial Team · August 2026 · 7 min read ![Remy](/images/remy/pose-82176a85.png) Residential entry door hardware is rated under the ANSI/BHMA A156.2 standard on a three-tier grading system, with Grade 1 the most durable and secure. Most builder-grade doors ship with Grade 3 hardware. Understanding what separates the grades — and which additional features (multi-point locks, strike plate reinforcement, door construction) actually improve security — helps you spend on the upgrades that matter and skip the ones that don't. ## What Do ANSI/BHMA Grades 1, 2, and 3 Actually Mean? The ANSI/BHMA A156.2 standard tests bored and preassembled locksets across operational cycles, strength, and security categories. The grade reflects how much abuse the hardware is certified to withstand before failing: | Grade | Cycle Test | Strength Test | Typical Use | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Grade 1 | 1,000,000 cycles | Withstands blows up to 120 ft-lbf | Commercial-grade, premium residential | | Grade 2 | 400,000 cycles | Withstands 5 blows of 75 ft-lbf | Mid-tier residential | | Grade 3 | 250,000 cycles | Lower force threshold, 3/8″ latch bolt projection | Builder-grade residential | Most new-construction and entry-level replacement doors ship with Grade 3 locksets by default — adequate for normal use, but the least resistant to forced entry. Upgrading to Grade 2 or Grade 1 hardware is a relatively small line-item cost at the time of a full door replacement, and far cheaper than swapping hardware again later. **Bottom line:** When you're already replacing the door, ask specifically for Grade 1 or Grade 2 hardware. The incremental cost at install time is minor compared to buying and installing upgraded hardware as a standalone project later. ## Does a Multi-Point Lock Actually Add Security? Yes, meaningfully. A standard single-point lock secures the door at one location — the strike plate near the handle. A multi-point locking system engages at two or three points along the door edge (typically top, middle, and bottom) when the handle is turned or the key is thrown. This distributes force across multiple anchor points instead of concentrating it at one, making the door significantly more resistant to kick-in attempts. Multi-point systems are standard on many European-style entry and patio doors and increasingly offered as an upgrade on North American steel and fiberglass doors. ## Does the Strike Plate Matter as Much as the Lock? Often more. A high-grade deadbolt installed into a standard, short-screwed strike plate can still fail under a kick because the door jamb itself splits. A reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws that reach into the wall framing (not just the door jamb) is one of the least expensive, highest-impact upgrades available — often under $30 in hardware. Many security-focused door installations pair Grade 1 or 2 hardware with a reinforced strike plate as a standard combination specifically because the weak point in a poorly secured door is frequently the jamb, not the lock mechanism itself. ## How Does Door Material and Construction Affect Security? Solid-core steel and fiberglass doors resist forced entry far better than hollow-core or thin wood-composite doors. A steel door's skin over a rigid foam or wood-composite core provides meaningful resistance to kicking or shoulder-ramming that a hollow door simply cannot match. If security is a stated priority alongside the standard considerations of cost and energy performance, solid-core steel or a reinforced fiberglass door is the better starting point than a lightweight wood door, independent of what lock grade goes on it. ## What About Glass Panels in or Near the Door? A door with a large glass lite, or a sidelight window next to the door, introduces a different vulnerability: someone can break the glass and reach the interior lock or deadbolt without ever forcing the door itself. Laminated or tempered security glass reduces this risk. If your entry door design includes glass near the lock, that glass upgrade is arguably as important as the lock grade itself. ## What Should You Actually Prioritize on a Budget? In order of cost-to-security value: reinforce the strike plate with long screws into the framing first (lowest cost, meaningful impact), upgrade to at least Grade 2 hardware when replacing the door (modest incremental cost at install time), add a multi-point lock if the door and budget allow it, and choose solid-core steel or fiberglass over hollow or lightweight wood construction. Security window film or laminated glass near the lock is the next priority if your door design includes glass. Ready to get free door replacement quotes? Ranked contractors near you · Free · No obligation ![Remy](/images/remy/face-6aa3719e.png) Remy's Take If you do only one thing on this list, reinforce the strike plate with long screws into the framing. It costs under $30 and the door jamb, not the lock, is usually the weak point that actually fails under force. ## Frequently Asked Questions These are the questions homeowners ask most often before starting this project - what it costs, how long it takes, what a fair quote looks like and which details change the price. Each answer below is written to stand on its own, so you can read just the one you need. ### What is the strongest ANSI door lock grade? Grade 1 is the strongest and most secure rating under the ANSI/BHMA A156.2 standard, certified to withstand 1,000,000 operational cycles and forced-entry blows up to 120 ft-lbf. Grade 3, the most common on builder-grade doors, is tested to a lower 250,000-cycle and force threshold. ### Is a multi-point lock worth it on an entry door? Yes, for most homeowners prioritizing security. A multi-point lock engages the door frame at two or three points instead of one, distributing force and making kick-in attempts significantly harder than with a standard single-point deadbolt. ### Does the strike plate matter for door security? Often more than the lock itself. A standard strike plate with short screws can allow the door jamb to split under force even with a high-grade deadbolt installed. A reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws into the wall framing is one of the cheapest, highest-impact security upgrades available. ### Is a steel door more secure than a wood door? Generally yes. Solid-core steel and reinforced fiberglass doors resist kicking and forced entry better than hollow-core or lightweight wood-composite doors, independent of the lock hardware installed on them. ### What lock grade comes standard on most new doors? Most builder-grade and entry-level replacement doors ship with Grade 3 hardware by default. Grade 1 or Grade 2 is typically an upgrade you have to request, but the incremental cost at the time of a full door replacement is modest. ### Related Articles [![Doors project photo](/images/doors/adobestock_321124838.jpg) Doors How to Negotiate Door Replacement Pricing (Without Overpaying or Underbuying) ](/articles/negotiate-door-replacement-price/index.md)[![Doors project photo](/images/doors/adobestock_321124838.jpg) Doors Full-Frame vs. Insert Door Replacement Compared ](/articles/full-frame-vs-insert-door-replacement/index.md)[![Doors project photo](/images/doors/adobestock_321124838.jpg) Doors How to File an Insurance Claim for Door Damage From Storms or Break-Ins ](/articles/door-damage-insurance-claim/index.md)[![Doors project photo](/images/doors/adobestock_321124838.jpg) Doors Best Entry Door Brands: Material, Warranty and Glass Compared ](/articles/best-entry-door-brands/index.md)[![Doors project photo](/images/doors/adobestock_321124838.jpg) Doors Energy-Efficient Entry Doors: What Actually Cuts Your Energy Bills ](/articles/energy-efficient-entry-doors/index.md) --- Source: https://remodelyourhome.com/articles/entry-door-security-features/