Door Locks & Lock Components
How to Choose the Right Lock for Your Door
Shop Locks by Category
Locks and latches
- Mortice Locks: lock bodies fitted into a pocket in the door edge, with only the faceplate, cylinder and handles visible. Used on entry, commercial and architectural doors.
- Roller Mortice Locks: a spring-loaded roller holds the door closed, so it opens with a push or pull and no handle to turn. Ideal for entry doors with pull handles, pantries and double doors.
- Sliding Door Mortice Locks: hook-bolt mortice locks that latch into the frame, for timber and aluminium sliding doors.
- Deadbolts: a solid bolt that throws into the frame and can't be pushed back, adding a second point of security to entry doors.
- Tube Latches: the spring latch behind most lever handles on internal doors, available in 60mm and 70mm backsets.
- Padlocks: for gates, sheds, storage and equipment.
- Cabinet and Cupboard Locks: keyed locks for cabinets, cupboards and drawers.
Cylinders
- Euro Cylinders: European-profile cylinders in key/key, key/turn and single configurations, sized to suit your door thickness.
- Oval Cylinders: the oval profile widely used on Australian mortice locks, including many commercial locks.
Privacy hardware
- Privacy Bolts: a separate bolt for bathroom, toilet and ensuite doors, fitted alongside a tube latch and passage levers.
- Privacy Turns: the inside thumb turn and outside emergency release that operate a privacy bolt.
Fitting and finishing
- Escutcheons: cover plates that frame the cylinder and give a finished look matched to your handles.
- Rebate Kits: adapt a mortice lock to suit double doors with rebated meeting stiles.
- Adaptor Plates: help new hardware fit an existing door or lock preparation, covering old cutouts where needed.
What Parts Does Each Door Need?
Architectural door hardware is usually bought as separate components rather than one boxed set. That lets you choose the exact function, finish and handle style for every door. These are the most common combinations.
| Door | Components you need |
|---|---|
| Front door | Mortice lock, euro or oval cylinder, lever or pull handles, escutcheons. Add a deadbolt for extra security. |
| Entry door with pull handles | Roller mortice lock, cylinder, pull handles, escutcheons. |
| Bathroom or toilet | Tube latch, passage levers, privacy bolt, privacy turn. |
| Internal door | Tube latch, passage levers. |
| Sliding door | Sliding door mortice lock, cylinder or privacy turn, flush pulls. |
| Rebated double doors | Mortice lock, rebate kit, cylinder, handles. |
How to Choose the Right Lock
Match the backset
The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the handle or cylinder. 60mm is the most common backset on Australian residential doors, and 70mm is also widely used. Narrow-stile aluminium doors often need a much shorter backset, such as 23mm. If you're replacing a lock, match the existing backset to avoid re-drilling. Our Backset Guide shows how to measure yours.
Choose the right cylinder profile
Euro cylinders fit euro-profile mortice locks, and oval cylinders fit oval-profile locks. The two aren't interchangeable, so check which profile your lock body takes before ordering a cylinder.
Size your euro cylinder correctly
Euro cylinders are measured from the centre of the cam to each end. Choose a length that suits your door thickness plus any escutcheon or handle plate, so the cylinder sits close to flush on both sides.
Think about how people get out
A key/turn cylinder lets you unlock from inside with a thumb turn, which matters on exit doors. A key/key cylinder needs a key on both sides. On commercial and multi-residential exit doors, confirm egress and fire-door requirements with your builder or certifier.
Plan your keying
If you're fitting several external doors, keyed-alike cylinders let one key open every lock. Plan this before you order, because it's simplest when all cylinders come from the same brand and range.
Match finishes across the door
Choose escutcheons, privacy turns and lock faceplates in the same finish as your handles for a consistent look. See every option on our Door Hardware Finishes page.
Lock Brands We Stock
Prime Hardware stocks locks and lock components from Lockwood, Yale, Zanda, Tradco, Gainsborough, Superior Brass, Iver and Austyle. Keeping each door within one brand makes it easier to match finishes, backsets and cylinder profiles.
Trade and Project Supply
Builders, designers and trade customers can contact our team for project quotes, help specifying lock functions door by door, and matching cylinders and finishes across a whole build.
Buy Locks Online or Visit Our Showroom
Order online with Australia-wide delivery and same-day dispatch on in-store stock. If you'd like to see locks and finishes in person, visit the Prime Hardware showroom at 2/249 Annangrove Road, Annangrove NSW 2156, in Sydney's Hills District.
Not sure which parts your door needs? Call 1800 329 028 or contact our team and we'll help you put together the right lock for your door.
Door Lock FAQs
What's the difference between a euro cylinder and an oval cylinder?
Euro and oval cylinders are two different cylinder profiles, and they aren't interchangeable. A euro cylinder has a pear-shaped profile used on European-style and architectural mortice locks. An oval cylinder has an oval profile widely used on Australian mortice locks, including many commercial locks. Always match the cylinder to the profile of your lock body.
How do I measure a euro cylinder?
Measure a euro cylinder from the centre of the cam (the small rotating lever in the middle) to each end. The total length should suit your door thickness plus any escutcheon or handle plate, so the cylinder finishes close to flush on both sides. When replacing a cylinder, measure the old one or check the lock's specifications.
What is a backset on a door lock?
The backset is the distance from the edge of the door to the centre of the handle, keyhole or cylinder. On Australian residential doors, 60mm is the most common backset and 70mm is also widely used. Narrow-stile aluminium doors often use much shorter backsets, such as 23mm. When replacing a lock, match the existing backset to avoid re-drilling the door.
What is a roller mortice lock?
A roller mortice lock uses a spring-loaded roller instead of a standard latch to hold a door closed. The door opens with a push or pull, with no handle to turn. Roller mortice locks are commonly used on entry doors fitted with pull handles, and on pantry and double doors. Most also include a deadbolt operated by a cylinder or turn.
What parts do I need to lock a bathroom door?
You have two options for a bathroom door. The first is a privacy set, where the locking function is built into the lever handle. The second is a tube latch, passage levers, a privacy bolt and a privacy turn. The second option lets you use the same levers on every door in the home and add privacy only where it's needed. Both include an emergency release on the outside.
What is a tube latch?
A tube latch is the spring latch fitted inside the door edge that a lever handle operates. It holds internal doors closed and is sold separately from the levers in most architectural hardware ranges. Tube latches come in 60mm and 70mm backsets to suit different doors.
What is a rebate kit for a mortice lock?
A rebate kit adapts a mortice lock to fit double doors with rebated (stepped) meeting edges. It lets the lock's faceplate and strike sit correctly on the rebated door stiles so the doors close and lock properly.
Should I use a key/key or key/turn cylinder?
A key/turn cylinder has a key on the outside and a thumb turn on the inside, so you can unlock the door quickly without finding a key. A key/key cylinder needs a key on both sides. For exit doors, a key/turn cylinder is usually the safer choice because it allows a fast exit in an emergency.
Can I have one key for all my door locks?
Yes. Keyed-alike cylinders let one key operate several locks, such as the front door, back door and garage entry. Keying works best when all cylinders come from the same brand and range, so plan it before you order.
Where can I buy door locks in Sydney?
Prime Hardware has a door hardware showroom at 2/249 Annangrove Road, Annangrove NSW 2156, in Sydney's Hills District, with over 6,000 products on display. You can compare locks, cylinders and finishes in person, or order online with Australia-wide delivery. Call 1800 329 028 for help choosing the right lock.