9 Best Door Lock Installation Kit | DIY Lock Fit, Zero Guesswork

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This budget kit’s adjustable jig and bi-metal saws make clean holes easy for first-timers.

This kit solves the biggest fear for homeowners: ruining a door with a crooked hole. The U-type adjustable template jig keeps the drill bit aligned while you cut the 1-inch (25 mm) and 2-1/8-inch (54 mm) bi-metal holes. The added 3/32-inch HSS pilot drill bit pre-drills guide holes that stop the latch panel from splitting.

Functionality is what owners praise most — the kit works well and is easy to use, even for someone who has never touched a drill. As one older-house owner put it, “This guide template worked great. I was easily able to upgrade our door hardware.” The jig works with standard drills, including a Ryobi, and the whole job takes one afternoon.

The catch is durability. The drill bit can break on first use if you push too hard, and the ABS plastic guide is not built for daily pro abuse. This is a few-doors-a-year tool, not a contractor’s workhorse. It handles wood, plywood, pipe, soft plaster, and thin metal — but skip it for glass, ceramic, concrete, or thick metal.

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For Schlage owners who want pin-by-pin precision without paying brand-name prices.

This kit is built specifically for the Schlage keyway (the slot where the key goes in) — and its compatible cousins like Baldwin, Dexter, Emtek, and Pegasus. You get 50 of each bottom pin from #0 through #9, with exact millimeter sizes printed (pin #0 is 4.191 mm, pin #9 is 7.62 mm), plus 25 top pins and the removal tool, follower, and gauge decoder you need to do the swap.

Owners who rekeyed their whole house to one key found it “as good as the original Schlage kit” at a fraction of the price. The whole process, once you get the hang of it, takes under 30 minutes per lock — even the complicated jobs where handles and locks are different models just need patience and attention to detail.

The honest fit notes matter here. The removal tool fits Kwikset locks, not Schlage, and top pins come in only one size when Schlage usually needs three. The plastic follower that holds top pins in place could be sturdier — owners warn not to let the pins fall out. This is a capable kit, but it expects you to know what you are doing.

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Its self-centering jig and bi-metal saws handle metal doors that defeat cheaper kits.

This kit answers the toughest question in lock installation: what about metal doors? The self-centering jig fits all common door widths and adjusts for both 2-3/8-inch and 2-3/4-inch backsets. The included 1-inch bi-metal hole saw and 2-1/8-inch double-sided door jig, plus the bolt plate template and custom router bit, cover the full install from face hole to strike plate.

Owners who tackled a legit metal door — not sheet metal over wood — were thrilled with the results. The included jig and router bit also handle strike plate chiseling, which many kits skip entirely. For a single front door or a handful of doors, this gets the job done under an hour each.

The trade-off is the price you pay for that metal capability. The positioning bracket gets pretty destroyed after one use, and cutting metal requires heavy pressure and slow speeds. One owner flagged that the hole saw snags on metal and can smoke insulation — work carefully. The recurring advice: mask both sides of the door and remove the guide once you have penetrated the surface.

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The auto-centering guide and sharp thin saw cut clean deadbolt holes in solid core doors.

Milwaukee’s 16-ounce polycarbonate kit is built around one strength: making the drill bit sit exactly where it should. The auto-centering guide and non-slip clamp handle doors from 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inches thick, and the 1-inch and 2-1/8-inch hole saws swap easily. That sharp, thin saw cuts solid core doors cleanly — exactly where cheaper kits struggle.

Quality is what owners rave about, and ease of use follows right behind. The kit produces accurate results with simple hardware installation, and DIYers found the hole saws cut through solid core doors without binding. You will need a wrench to remove the saw from the pilot bit, but the 1-inch and 2-1/8-inch swap is straightforward.

The durability picture is mixed, which matters if you are a handyman. The jig can shift during drilling if the clamp is not level, and the guide edges chew up over time. It also will not fit glass doors with moulding — some owners had to trim a plastic strip to make it work. For a handful of deadbolts on standard doors, this is a top-tier choice.

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Self-clamps without screws, leaving no surface damage while drilling accurate holes.

This kit fixes the most annoying part of lock installation: mounting the jig. The Lock Mate PLUS self-clamps to the door with zero screws and zero surface damage, and the deadbolt locator piece spaces handles and deadbolts perfectly. The metal-lined stepped drill guide bushings prevent damage and extend the life of the jig, which is exactly what owners who drilled eight doors appreciated.

It adjusts for both 1-3/8-inch and 1-3/4-inch door thicknesses and both standard backsets (2-3/8 and 2-3/4 inches). The included 2-1/8-inch and 1-inch bi-metal, cobalt alloy hole saws cut wood and metal, solid or hollow core. The 1/4-inch pilot bit with mandrel fits both saws, and the firm clamp means no paint damage — a detail owners of finished doors care about.

The hole saws are the weak link here. Owners call them “a little underwhelming” — they work fine for one or two doors, but the quality is not impressive, and they can be hard to remove from the adapter. The jig itself, however, is well thought out and durable. One owner who replaced a worn Kwikset kit called it “compact, non-plastic, well-made.”

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A zero-flex aluminum jig that delivers straight, precise holes on 30 doors without a single waver.

This is the kit that separates the weekend DIYer from the serious installer. The jig is precision CNC-machined from solid 6061 aluminum — hardened and anodized for zero flex — and the maker says the solid aluminum jig keeps drill pressure in the cut. What that means in practice: every bit of drill pressure goes into the cut, not into bending the guide, so holes come out straight and perpendicular.

The tool-free clamping mechanism is fast and surface-safe, and the integrated alignment system with guide holes and a window ensures accurate height. Reinforced backing plates prevent warping. One professional owner used it on 30 doors and called it “accurate, solid,” praising the clear registration mark. Another used it on 1-3/4-inch commercial solid core doors and found it very stable.

The main caveat is that the included drill bits are specific to this tool — one owner expects they are not replaceable with standard bits. The kit covers wood doors from 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inches thick and backsets of 2-3/8 and 2-3/4 inches, which handles the vast majority of household doors. It also includes a 2-1/8-inch and a 1-inch drill bit with an upgraded wood chip clearance hole to prevent clogging. This is a premium pick for anyone who values precision over price.

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A modular Schlage pin set with master pins, built for commercial properties that rekey often.

This kit is aimed at the business end of rekeying — commercial properties, retail establishments, and property managers who need a sturdy security framework. The breakdown matters: 50 precision bottom pins (0-9), 50 master pins for versatile keying configurations, 50 top pins, and 50 springs. The modular design means you can replenish individual components separately instead of buying a whole new kit.

Customers note saving hundreds of dollars rekeying Schlage smart locks and deadbolts themselves, completing two locks in under an hour. The kit works great for those Schlage applications, and the seal-tight plastic box keeps everything organized and protected between jobs.

The fit details are where the kit earns its mixed reputation. The follower does not fit lever cylinders without modification (some owners use tape or a screwdriver shaft instead), the tweezers are misaligned, and the clip removal tool’s ears are too short to grab clips easily. A few owners found pins poorly machined. This is a capable kit, but it works best for someone who has watched a YouTube tutorial or two and knows the Schlage system.

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The OEM-grade Schlage kit that pays for itself the moment you rekey your first deadbolt.

This is the brand-name benchmark against which all other Schlage rekey kits are measured. The 5-pound kit includes everything needed to rekey retail Schlage locks — knobs, deadbolts, and even electronic lock systems — all organized in the signature seal-tight metal box that keeps tiny pins in place. If you have fat fingers, the advice from owners is simple: “Get yourself a set of tweezers for handling pins.”

Owners are emphatic about the value. One who rekeyed their house in a few hours saved versus calling a locksmith. Another compared it directly to cheaper substitutes: “Don’t waste your time on cheaper substitute options. This works as advertised, includes everything you need for Schlage locks.” The quality is the highest of any kit here — this is the one pros and serious DIYers buy when they want zero guesswork.

The trade-off is simple: it is the most expensive kit in this lineup, and it is overkill if you only need to rekey a single lock. Some owners note it is missing pin tweezers and detailed instructions for spool and T-pins, so plan to watch a Schlage rekeying video first. But if you have multiple locksets or rental properties, this kit is the definitive choice.