Best door locks for apartments and renters

The small and discreet –but effective –Defender works much like a door blocker. When it’s in the locked position, it rests in a slot and can withstand up to 360kg of force. To unlock it, you slide it up and swing it out.

There are no keyholes that can be picked, and unlike a swing latch or chain, it doesn’t allow your door to open even a crack, so it can’t be tampered with. At under $30, it’s also easy on your wallet.

It fits most exterior doors, but it’s probably not a great choice if your apartment door fits snugly in its frame, as you might have to chisel out a chunk of the frame to get the security lock to fit. Our research showed that some of these locks come with rough, sharp edges that might require some filing down.

The iFJF Travel Door Lock is the easiest, lowest impact item on our list. It works like a door blocker, but it’s held in place at the existing strike plate on your door, so there’s no drilling or changing out hardware.

Like the Defender Security Lock, you’ll need to make sure there’s enough room between the strike plate on the door frame and the edge of the door itself for this lock to slide through.

Most complaints from customers were about this lock not fitting their entrance doors, so it’s worth the extra time to ensure a good fit.

If you're looking to secure your home but keep the installation easy and cost low, its worth looking into whether or not a door sensor might work for you.

If you like the idea of a hands-free, keyless door lock for your apartment, then the feature-packed Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro (which is also our pick for the best smart lock). A total of 148 Amazon reviews mention its easy installation.

If you have a single-cylinder deadbolt on your door (keyhole on just one side, not two), you simply upgrade it with the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro by replacing your standard thumbturn with the battery-operated smart device.

What we love best about this lock is how many different unlocking methods you can use. You can unlock it with your fingerprint, a numeric code, the smartphone app, or a good old-fashioned mechanical key.

The Schlage Door Bolt has a thumbturn on the inside for you, and a solid blank plate for everyone on the other side of the door. It sends a clear signal to intruders that there’s no picking your lock, since there’s no keyhole to pick.

It’s designed to work with most standard strike plates and is an ideal choice for that added bit of security when you're home. On the downside, it won't add any extra security if you decide to go on a road trip or holiday, since it can't be locked from the outside.

If you want to secure your home and lock up your belongings when you’re away from your apartment, the Kwikset Single Cylinder Deadbolt lock is sturdy, easy to install, and has a nice, simple design.

The SmartKey feature lets you rekey your own lock if a key goes missing, and it makes the lock resistant to bumping and picking. It’s a little pricier than standard deadbolts, but we think it’s worth the investment.