How to Install a Door Lock

• Before you learn how to change door locks, measure the space where you'll install the replacement.
• Measure the diameter of the holes currently cut out of your door so you can select a new door lock that fits those dimensions. Take care to measure carefully as matching the size can be especially problematic in older homes.
• If you need to create new holes or enlarge existing holes, you can purchase a hole saw set that includes
  hole saws and a guide for making new holes. The guide will support the hole saw and prevent it from walking. You can also make your own guide by cutting a hole in a piece of scrap wood and clamping it over the hole.
• Your current doorknobs are connected through a hole in your door that is under the plate around the knob itself. A typical diameter for this hole is 2 1/8 inches, but it's wise to remove the existing lock set and check. Checking this will make how to install a lockset easier.
• Measure the distance from the edge of the door to the center of the hole. This measurement is called the setback and it’s typically either 2 3/8 inches or 2 3/4 inches.
• On some older doors, thickness might be an issue. Some doors are less than 1 3/8 inches thick, which is the minimum size modern locksets will accommodate. To fix this, add a custom cut plate or a door reinforcer.
• Select a lock with the same setback. Many new lock sets allow you to adjust the latch to either distance. And if you want extra added security, consider electronic door locks, such as fingerprint door locks or smart locks.

Tip: The handedness of most locksets can be changed by using an included tool. This tool is also used to remove a handle if needed to access difficult to reach screws.

• If you want the key for your new lock to match your other locks, make a note of the current brands installed on your doors and order a similar key from us. Or call a store associate to help you select a lock that is compatible with the existing key.
• If you are installing all new locksets, the keys can be matched using the key code on the back of the package.

• Begin by removing the screws from the door knob on the interior side of your door. This allows you to pull the door knobs off the door from both sides.
• Remove the two screws from the latch plate on the edge of the door and remove the latch from the opening.
• In some cases, door latch plate mortises might need to be cut or enlarged.
• Insert the new latch into the opening with the tapered side facing the direction you will push the door to close it.
• Check that the new latch plate fits the recessed area and is flush with the surface of the door.

• Remove the existing deadbolt following the steps used for the door knob removal.
• Remove the screws holding the deadbolt together from the interior side, then take out the two screws on the edge of the door and remove the bolt.

• The long metal piece sticking out of the exterior knob is called the spindle. The spindle turns with the knob and causes the springs within the latch to slide the bolt into the door so it opens.
• Install both knobs by sliding the spindle through the slot in the latch.
• Align the two long screws from the inside knob into the cylinders on the exterior door knob and tighten the screws.
• Remove the two screws holding the strike plate in place on the door jamb and install the new one in the same position.
• Open and close the door several times to check that the latch aligns properly with the strike plate and that the knob turns smoothly.

Now, it's time to insert the new deadbolt.

• Insert the new bolt into the opening on the edge of the door and fasten it to the door with the provided screws.
• Insert the exterior part of the lock into the door by feeding the long metal piece through the opening in the center of the bolt.
• If the deadbolt comes with an interior plate and a decorative outer plate with a recessed screw, just place the interior plate over the hole from the inside.
• Attach the interior part of the deadbolt lock by inserting the two provided long screws through the interior plate, the two screw holes in the bolt and into the exterior side of the lock.
• Hand-thread the screws, then tighten them using a screwdriver or power drill.
• Snap on the decorative outer plate.
• If your new deadbolt has a concealed screw for the interior door knob, consult the installation instructions for your specific lock.

Tip: If you're in a situation where you cannot or do not want to use a drill to install your lock, there are a couple ways of installing an interior door lock without a drill. Look into keyed-entry door knobs, also called privacy knobs, portable door locks or top-of-door locks.