Best Door Security Bars of 2022

Table of Content

• Master Lock 20 Gauge Dual Function Door Security Bar
• Ideal Security Patio Door Bar with Anti-Lift Lock
• Q. Can I use door security bars to secure my doors when I’m not home?
• Q. How can I make my front door more secure?
• Installation
• Sabre Door Stop Alarm
• Nightlock Original Door Brace Lock
• The Best Door Security Bars Tested in 2022

Doors with higher clearance may not engage the pressure plate to trigger the alarm and may not be stopped as easily by the 1.5-inch-tall wedge. When set up for use on a hinged door, the pivoting ball joint provides complete contact with the floor, and the padded foot ensures a secure grip without scratching. Made of 20-gauge steel, this portable and compact bar is ideal for home or travel. Depending on the type of door security bar chosen, installation can involve fasteners or simply pressure.

They go around or clip to the current door lock and protect against tampering, force, and lock pickers. While they are great for traveling, keep in mind that compatibility with smart or horizontal locks is questionable. Shoppers should read the product details closely to ensure it will work with their lock. Door jammers “jam” the door to prevent intruders from getting inside.

Master Lock 20 Gauge Dual Function Door Security Bar

Once the bar is moved out of place, an intruder might gain access. A bracket is drilled into the wall door frame and another bracket is drilled into the door. The bar is then placed inside both brackets, preventing the door from being opened. For testing, we installed the Nightlock on a laminate floor with a wood subfloor in less than 5 minutes.

We liked that the Master Lock door security bar is convertible for either sliding or hinged doors. The rubber pad on the bottom of the foot didn’t budge when we attempted to force open the door. The only questionable aspect of this device was the increasing amount of wobble between the two telescoping shaft segments with increased height. It felt most secure up to about three-quarters of its maximum height. This device, placed behind a door, adds extra reinforcement to any locks and deadbolt by strengthening the complete door frame. There are permanent models available that resist a lot of pressure as well as removable ones that are portable for traveling.

Ideal Security Patio Door Bar with Anti-Lift Lock

Doing so places unnecessary, potentially damaging stress on the hinge and screws. For testing, both of our exterior doors fit too tightly at the floor to put the DoorJammer through its paces. The device required a little more clearance beneath the door than our weather stripping and door sweep would permit.

Place the wedge on the side of the door that opens, near the handle. Tamperproof from the outside, this door bar is 38 inches long and fits standard 36-inch-wide doors. This horizontal security bar from Doorricade provides a high-strength barrier to home invasion, without introducing a potential trip hazard into the room. Instead of propping a removable brace diagonally between the doorknob and the floor, this system mounts flush against the entire width of the door.

Q. Can I use door security bars to secure my doors when I’m not home?

Door jammers and door wedges are somewhat different devices with the same security goals. The best of these products properly fit the door, hold up to force, prevent break-ins, and provide home security for peace of mind. We tested SecurityMan door bars on both a sliding door and a hinged door, and it worked fairly well but not perfectly for both. The telescoping adjustment clicks into place with spring-button notches spaced about 3.25 cm apart.

Others have a base and a screw that tightens to set the jammer in place with pressure. They make an ideal choice for traveling, and some have a quick-release option that lifts them with an upward motion, so users can escape the room in seconds. A security bar that uses pressure or a door jammer can be added on an apartment door. Finding one of these that includes an alarm would also bolster security, as it would deter the intruder as well as alert you and even neighbors in the event of an attempted break-in. However, we didn’t like that it requires a permanently installed base plate in the middle of the walkway, which seemed like it may be a trip hazard.

We tried it on our bedroom and bathroom doors with 0.25 to 0.5 inch of clearance, and it worked perfectly. When we attempted to open the secured door, the door flexed due to the leverage, but the device held without slipping. It takes a minute to install and adjust the DoorJammer, but the unit is surprisingly strong, easy to pack, and inexpensive. Choosing a security bar that adjusts can be helpful, as not all doors fit standard measurements. Perhaps a doorknob is placed higher than average, the door gap is higher off the floor, or the size of the sliding door isn’t compatible with the security bar a buyer wants. When it comes to home security, the material of a security bar plays a crucial role in its durability and strength.

Most bars can adjust anywhere between 22.25 inches up to 51 inches for hinged doors and 22.25 inches up to 47.5 inches for sliding doors. Most come with hole notches for adjusting the bar, and adjusting usually means pushing down on a button, sliding the bar, and letting the button pop up in the next hole. There also are door jammers that allow users to add height when the bottom of the door has a larger than typical gap. For a reliable security option, the MSIC Global door security bar is our Best Overall pick for door security. It works with any floor covering and includes height adjustments to fit any hinged door.

Installation

For those with windows on either side of the door, the bar comes with cable locks that tie it in place. The tie locks ensure that intruders cannot break the window and remove the bar to gain entry. The solid-aluminum bar also comes with a spacer that fills the gap between the bar and the door.

The bar adjusts between 25.75 and 47.5 inches, and it installs with screws in the middle of the door instead of at the bottom. Because the bar is mounted to the door frame with screws, it cannot be jarred out of place. The childproof lock prevents the bar from being lifted without first releasing the lock. The bar itself was easy to secure in place, remove, and store out of the way when not in use. It would make an excellent option for a garage or workshop walk-through door that may otherwise be susceptible to intrusion.