6 Best Locks for Airbnb and Vacation Rentals

Ensuring the safety and security of your property and guests is essential. A good lock should be your first line of defense, providing peace of mind by protecting against unauthorized access and theft. It also instills a sense of safety in guests during their stay, and investing in a reliable lock is a fundamental step towards creating a more secure and enjoyable vacation for them.

The best Airbnb locks include:

1. Lockly Vision Elite: Best Overall Lock
2. Kwikset Pismo Front Entry Locking Door Knob: Best for Hosts on a Budget
3. Level Lock+: Best Deadbolt
4. Schlage Single Cylinder Deadbolt: Best Heavy-Duty Lock
5. Kwikset SmartCode Smart Lock: Best Keypad Lock
6. August Home WiFi Smart Lock: Best Smart Upgrade

How We Selected the Best Airbnb Locks

Selecting the right lock for your Airbnb is a critical decision you can’t put off. Here's how we assessed and chose the best locks tailored for Airbnb properties like yours.

We evaluated these locks based on:

• Host Recommendations: We interviewed seasoned Airbnb hosts for invaluable insights into the locks that have proven effective and reliable in real-world scenarios.
• Online Reviews: Looking at online reviews helped us gauge user satisfaction and performance, providing a broader perspective on the locks' functionality and ease of use.
• Security Features: We analyzed the lock's security features, and looked at—among other details—durability, resistance to tampering, and overall reliability to ensure the highest level of protection for the property.
• Ease of Use: We evaluated the locks for their user-friendliness, setup process, and day-to-day operation to ensure hosts and guests can navigate them effortlessly.
• Price: We took a look at price in relation to its features and quality to provide hosts with a top selection of locks.
• Build Quality: Finally, assessing the durability and build quality was crucial, and we made sure the locks are built to last and can withstand the demands of a high turnover rate.

According to our criteria, the best smart lock for Airbnb hosts is the Lockly Vision Elite. This smart lock offers a wealth of security features for the protection of your property and your guests. It’s also extremely durable, and comes with nifty features so you can monitor and manage your property without the need for extra devices.

1. Lockly Vision Elite: Best Overall Lock

Looking for cutting-edge security for your property? Look no further than the Lockly Vision Elite. This lock debuted in 2022, and is a direct upgrade of the Lockly Vision thousands of customers know and love.

You can get the lock on Amazon for $499.99, or you can purchase it on the Lockly website for the same price but with an added 30-day moneyback guarantee. The price is the biggest downside to this lock, but once we dive into its amazing features you’ll see why we believe it’s justified.

Its sleek design combines biometric, PIN code, mobile app, voice control, QR code, and physical entry, ensuring utmost security while granting seamless access to all authorized individuals. With built-in WiFi, you can manage access codes (one-time, scheduled, and recurring) from anywhere in the world.

But what sets the Lockly Vision Elite apart from other smart locks is the depth of features it has: more than just a lock, the Vision Elite has a built-in HD video camera, night vision, and motion sensing so you can see who’s at the door through your smartphone. You can also communicate with them via two-way audio. This makes guest turnovers seamless, and means you can forgo a doorbell camera or other security devices around your front door.

2. Kwikset Pismo Front Entry Locking Door Knob: Best for Hosts on a Budget

Spending nearly $500 on a lock may be unattainable for many, but don’t worry—you don’t need to spend close to that much to get good protection. Introducing the Kwikset Pismo Front Entry Locking Door Knob, the best lock for hosts on a tight budget.

At just $35.05 on Amazon, this unobtrusive door knob-and-lock in one was first seen in 2019 and fits most standard doors without the need for professional installation. You can also view this model on Kwikset to see the four different finishes, so you can select a lock that matches your front door.

It may sound like a very standard lock, but there’s one feature that makes this just a little more special: Kwikset’s unique SmartKey Security that’s pick-resistant and bump-proof, and lets you re-key the lock yourself in just seconds. With over 100,000 different key combinations, this means you can rotate your keys after guests have stayed to prevent unwanted visitors on your property. 

However, aside from the SmartKey technology, there’s nothing much to write home about. This is a great, basic lock if you’re looking for something budget-friendly and secure, but hosts looking for more features may want to spend a little bit more for another option.

3. Level Lock+: Best Deadbolt

The Level Lock+ is one of our favorite discreet smart locks. This smart lock seamlessly replaces your existing deadbolt, so it won’t look out of place on your front door. That’s why this highly-rated lock is our top recommendation for a deadbolt.

This lock is available on Amazon for $329 or the Level website, where you can choose from four different finishes.

On the physical side, this lock is tested to ANSI 156.40 residential deadbolt standards and can withstand extreme weather and temperature changes.

It doesn’t even look “smart”, but that’s the beauty of it. This very unobtrusive lock integrates seamlessly with various home platforms—like Alexa, Google, and Apple—and the NFC technology lets you unlock the door using your phone or a provided key fob. The app is pretty great as well: you can create and manage scheduled codes, and view the lock’s log.

If you don’t want to trouble your guests by having them download the app, you can purchase the separate keypad for $79. And that brings us to the lock’s major downside: its price. This is one of the most expensive locks on our list, but if you want a tiny smart lock that does the job, then this might just be a wise investment.

4. Schlage Single Cylinder Deadbolt: Best Heavy-Duty Lock

For hosts who want to go back to basics, you can’t go wrong with Schlage’s offerings. As one of the most trusted lock brands in the world, they have everything from smart locks to sturdy traditional locks like the Schlage Single Cylinder Deadbolt—our best heavy-duty lock that was first seen in 2015.

Starting at $40.90 on Amazon, this lock doesn’t have any tech features, but that’s what makes it so great. It’s a traditional deadbolt made from heavyweight materials like brass, which makes it around 2 lbs. (give or take, depending on the model you choose). View it on the Schlage site for more retail options.

Whichever model you pick will meet the highest industry standards and ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 Security. The lock is pick- and bump-resistant, ensuring unparalleled protection for your property and guests.

While this lock is simple and comes with no other “cool” features, we think that’s what makes this stand out. It’s simple to install and use, and it’s a robust choice for hosts going for a no-frills approach to security.

5. Kwikset SmartCode Smart Lock: Best Keypad Lock

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For a more modern and convenient approach to protecting your property, we suggest investing in a keypad lock like the Kwikset SmartCode Smart Lock, a 2019 Kwikset offering that retails starting at $76.10 on Amazon. Alternatively, you can view more options on the Kwikset website.

The Kwikset SmartCode 955 is the best keypad lock around, and here’s why. First, we like its relatively sleek design that integrates a user-friendly keypad. You can choose from four different finishes to get the style you want.

The keypad allows keyless entry with up to 30 programmable codes, making access hassle-free for your guests. Additionally, it offers the option to use a traditional key for more versatility.

This lock also comes with Kwikset's SmartKey tech, which prevents advanced break-in techniques and allows hosts to re-key the lock by themselves quickly.

However, don’t mistake this lock for a smart one: the Kwikset 955 has no connectivity features, so you won’t be able to manage your Airbnb without a physical presence. Still, this can be a plus for non-tech-savvy hosts (and guests) who just want a durable lock with commercial-grade hardware and the highest residential security rating possible.

6. August Home WiFi Smart Lock: Best Smart Upgrade

To upgrade your existing traditional lock, there’s no better option than the August Home WiFi Smart Lock (4th Generation).

This 2020 lock is a tiny device measuring ‎2.8 x 2.8 x 2.75 inches that retrofits over your existing deadbolt, giving it smart capabilities.

Get it for $169.99 on Amazon, where you can choose from two finishes (black or silver). You can also view it on August’s website where it’s available for $199.99.

This lock seamlessly connects to your WiFi network, allowing you to control and monitor your door from anywhere using the user-friendly August app. This means you can create and manage codes no matter where you’re located.

This works well with major home systems and voice assistants, like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. But, so that your guests won’t have to download the app, you’ll want to purchase the separate keypad which retails for $53.80 on Amazon (though August sells both the lock and the keypad as a bundle, too).

This makes August a poor choice for hosts on a tight budget. Despite this, the August Smart Lock shines as the best choice for upgrading your home's lock with its modern security features and unmatched convenience for guests.

Key Takeaway

Security starts with the right lock, and selecting the perfect one for your property is a vital decision that impacts both security and convenience. Needless to say, you can’t take this decision lightly. There are so many great locks out there, from advanced smart locks to heavy-duty deadbolts, and we’ve narrowed them down to six. Prioritize what matters most to you, and invest in a lock that guarantees the peace of mind you, and your guests, deserve.

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