Types of Door Locks in India: Best Locks, Prices & Buying Guide (2026)
That Hardware Store · Buying guide · 8 min read · Updated 25 Oct 2026
A door lock is not one product. It is a type, and the type decides how the lock is fitted, how strong it is, and how hard it is to replace later. Many buyers pick a finish first and find out afterwards that the lock does not suit their door.
This guide covers the different types of door locks in India, which door each one suits, and what each costs. Prices are live from our store as on 25 Oct 2026 and can change.
Which door lock is best for your door? Try the finder
1. Which door is it for?
The 4 types of door locks at a glance
Mortise lockInside the door. Best for bedrooms.
Rim lockOn the door. Best for a kothi main door.
Digital lockKeyless. Best for a flat main door.
Cylindrical lockThrough the door face. We avoid it.
| Type | How it is fitted | Best for | Price in our range | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortise (on-rose) | Body sits inside a pocket cut in the door edge | Bedroom and interior doors | ₹2,080 to ₹6,707 | Our pick for indoor doors |
| Rim lock | Fixed on the inside face of the door | Main door of a kothi or independent house | ₹1,899 to ₹3,750 | Our pick for a house main door |
| Digital lock | Mortise-style or rim-style body with keypad or fingerprint | Main door of a flat in a society | From ₹6,499 | Our pick for a flat |
| Cylindrical lock | Through a hole bored in the face of the door | Light-use interior doors | From ₹749 | We avoid it |
Best lock for each door in India
| Door | Best lock | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Main door of a flat in a society | Digital lock | Keyless entry and auto-locking. Yale is the brand most buyers choose. |
| Main door of a kothi or independent house | Rim lock | Strong bolts, no pocket cut in the door edge, easy to replace later. |
| Double door | Rim lock or digital lock | Both are reliable options today. |
| Bedroom door | On-rose mortise lock | Clean look, strong body, handle and lock in one matched set. |
| Other interior doors | On-rose mortise lock | Same reasons as the bedroom door. |
Double doors. Both options work well now. A rim lock such as the Europa Parma V321 (₹3,750) suits a standard budget. For keyless entry we stock two digital locks made for double and sliding doors: the Häken HDLE Coupe (₹19,999) and the Yale YDR 41A (₹28,999). The traditional trade method, a mortise lock with a double-door patti, is explained in our main door vs double door guide.
1. Mortise locks: the best choice for bedroom doors
A mortise lock is a lock whose body sits inside the door. A carpenter cuts a pocket (the mortise) into the door edge, slides the lock in, and fits the handles on both faces.
ON-ROSE MORTISEDorset Kaira Mortise Lock, SS Finish (On-rose)From ₹2,395Buy now →
ON-ROSE MORTISEDorset Atelier Mortise Lock, Gun Metal BlackFrom ₹2,268Buy now →
ON-ROSE MORTISEDorset Optio Mortise Lock, SilverFrom ₹2,288Buy now →
ON-ROSE MORTISEDorset Torsa Mortise Lock, Patina AntiqueFrom ₹3,365Buy now →
PLATE MORTISEDorset Kaira Mortise Lock, 8 Inch Plate, SSFrom ₹1,917Buy now →
PLATE MORTISEQuba Q451 Mortise Lock Set, 8 Inch Plate, SS₹2,150Buy now →See all on-rose mortise locks and plate mortise locks. For sizes, finishes and brands, read our mortise lock buying guide.
2. Rim locks: the best choice for a kothi main door
A rim lock is a surface-mounted lock. The lock box is fixed to the inside face of the door, the key works from outside through a cylinder, and a strike plate on the frame takes the bolts.
RIM LOCKGodrej Twinbolt XL Main Door Lock, Inside Opening, Matt₹1,899Buy now →
RIM LOCKEuropa 8023 Main Door Lock, Matt SS₹3,099Buy now →
RIM LOCKGodrej Tribolt Main Door Lock, Inside Opening, Matt₹3,399Buy now →RIM LOCKEuropa Parma V321 Main Door Lock, SS Matt₹3,750Buy now →See all main door locks. Choosing between the two brands? Read Godrej vs Europa main door locks.
Mortise lock vs rim lock: what is the difference?
A mortise lock is built into the door. A carpenter cuts a pocket in the door edge and the lock slides in, so the body is hidden.
| Mortise lock | Rim lock | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Inside the door edge | On the inside face of the door |
| Cutting the door | A pocket in the edge | Holes for the key cylinder and screws |
| Look | Clean, with the body hidden | Lock box visible on the inside |
| Best for | Bedroom and interior doors | Main door of a kothi, double doors |
| Fitting | Needs an accurate carpenter | Simpler and usually quicker |
| Replacing later | Harder, the door edge is cut to fit | Easier |
| Our price range | ₹2,080 to ₹6,707 (on-rose) | ₹1,899 to ₹3,750 |
In short: a mortise lock is built into the door, and a rim lock is fixed on it.
3. Digital locks: the best choice for a flat in a society
A digital lock replaces the key with a fingerprint, PIN code, RFID card or phone app. Most keep a mechanical key as a backup. Digital locks come in two body styles: mortise-style, like the Yale YDME Nxt series, and rim-style, like the Yale YDR 414A.
DIGITALGodrej Catus Touch Digital Lock (PIN and Key)₹6,499Buy now →
DIGITALYale YDME 50 Nxt Digital Smart Lock₹8,299Buy now →
DIGITALGodrej Neo Advantage Digital Smart Lock₹8,999Buy now →DIGITALYale YDME 100 Nxt Digital Smart Lock₹10,499Buy now →
DIGITALHafele 5-in-1 Digital Lock with Bluetooth₹11,499Buy now →
DIGITALYale YDME 200 Nxt Digital Smart Lock₹11,999Buy now →Digital locks for double doors
DIGITAL · DOUBLE DOORHäken HDLE Coupe Smart Lock for Double Door₹19,999Buy now →
DIGITAL · DOUBLE DOORYale YDR 41A Smart Lock for Double and Sliding Door₹28,999Buy now →
DIGITAL RIMYale YDR 414A Digital Rim Lock for Wooden Door₹29,999Buy now →See all smart locks, or read our digital door lock guide.
4. Cylindrical locks: why we avoid them
A cylindrical lock is the knob or lever lock many people know from older flats. It is fitted through a hole bored in the face of the door, and the latch comes out of the door edge.
They are cheap and quick to fit. We still avoid them. A cylindrical lock depends on the holes being drilled exactly. If the carpenter is a little off, the lock loosens, the latch stops lining up with the frame, and it can break within a few years. An on-rose mortise lock gives the same clean look with a sturdier body.
If budget forces the choice, we stock Dorset cylindrical sets from ₹749. Use them only on doors with light use, and get a careful carpenter to fit them. For how the three fitting methods differ, Dorset India has a good explainer.
More types of door locks
Door lock price in India (live prices)
Tap a type to filter. Prices are live from our store as on 25 Oct 2026 and can change.
Dorset Cylindrical Door Lock, 60 mm, SSCylindricalFrom ₹749Buy →Godrej Twinbolt XL Main Door Lock, Inside Opening, MattRim₹1,899Buy →Dorset Kaira Mortise Lock, 8 Inch Plate, SSMortiseFrom ₹1,917Buy →Quba Q451 Mortise Lock Set, 8 Inch Plate, SSMortise₹2,150Buy →Dorset Atelier Mortise Lock, Gun Metal BlackMortiseFrom ₹2,268Buy →Dorset Optio Mortise Lock, SilverMortiseFrom ₹2,288Buy →Dorset Kaira Mortise Lock, SS Finish (On-rose)MortiseFrom ₹2,395Buy →Europa 8023 Main Door Lock, Matt SSRim₹3,099Buy →Dorset Torsa Mortise Lock, Patina AntiqueMortiseFrom ₹3,365Buy →Godrej Tribolt Main Door Lock, Inside Opening, MattRim₹3,399Buy →Europa Parma V321 Main Door Lock, SS MattRim₹3,750Buy →Godrej Catus Touch Digital Lock (PIN and Key)Digital₹6,499Buy →Yale YDME 50 Nxt Digital Smart LockDigital₹8,299Buy →Godrej Neo Advantage Digital Smart LockDigital₹8,999Buy →Yale YDME 100 Nxt Digital Smart LockDigital₹10,499Buy →Hafele 5-in-1 Digital Lock with BluetoothDigital₹11,499Buy →Yale YDME 200 Nxt Digital Smart LockDigital₹11,999Buy →Häken HDLE Coupe Smart Lock for Double DoorDigital₹19,999Buy →Yale YDR 41A Smart Lock for Double and Sliding DoorDigital₹28,999Buy →Yale YDR 414A Digital Rim Lock for Wooden DoorDigital₹29,999Buy →Common mistakes when choosing a door lock
- Fitting a cylindrical lock on a main door or bedroom door.
- Putting a mortise lock on a thin or hollow door. Choose a rim lock there.
- Ordering a rim lock without checking which way the door opens.
- Buying a digital lock without checking door thickness, or without a backup key.
- Choosing by finish alone. Decide the type first, then the finish.
The bottom line
For most Indian homes: a digital lock for a flat’s main door, a rim lock for the main door of a kothi, and an on-rose mortise lock for bedrooms and other inside doors. For a double door, pick a rim lock for value or a digital lock for keyless entry. Skip cylindrical locks unless the door is rarely used. Fitting a new lock? Add a tower bolt inside as a second layer.
Not sure which lock your door needs?
Send us a photo of the door, its thickness, and which way it opens. We will tell you the type and the model.
FAQs
What are the main types of door locks in India?
The main types are mortise, rim, cylindrical and digital (smart) locks. A mortise lock sits inside the door, a rim lock is fixed on the inner face, a cylindrical lock goes through a hole in the door face, and a digital lock adds fingerprint, PIN or card access. Deadbolts, sliding door locks and tower bolts are common add-ons.
Which type of door lock is best in India?
It depends on the door. A digital lock suits a flat's main door, a rim lock suits the main door of a kothi, and an on-rose mortise lock suits bedrooms and interior doors.
Which type of lock is best for a main door?
A rim lock or a digital lock. In a society, most people choose a digital lock, and Yale is the usual pick. In a standalone house, a rim lock from Godrej or Europa is a strong and simple choice.
Which lock is best for a bedroom door?
An on-rose mortise lock. It gives a clean look, the body is protected inside the door, and the lock and handle come as one set. It must be fitted by a careful carpenter.
What is the difference between a mortise lock and a rim lock?
A mortise lock is fitted inside a pocket cut in the door edge. A rim lock is fixed on the inside face of the door. Mortise locks look cleaner and suit indoor doors. Rim locks are easier to fit and replace and suit main doors.
Which lock is best for a double door?
Both rim locks and digital locks are reliable for double doors now. A rim lock such as the Europa Parma V321 costs ₹3,750. Digital locks made for double doors start at ₹19,999.
What is an on-rose mortise lock?
It is a mortise lock whose handle sits on a small round plate (the rose) instead of a long backplate. The look is clean and modern, and it is the style most buyers ask for today.
Are cylindrical locks good?
They are cheap, but they depend on exact drilling. If the holes are slightly off, the lock loosens and can break in a few years. We prefer on-rose mortise locks for bedroom doors and rim or digital locks for main doors.
How much does a door lock cost in India?
On our store, rim locks cost ₹1,899 to ₹3,750, on-rose mortise locks ₹2,080 to ₹6,707, and digital locks start at ₹6,499. Cylindrical locks start at ₹749.
Keep reading
Sources and image credits
Mortise vs rim vs cylindrical locks, Dorset India · Mortise lock, Wikipedia · Rim lock, Wikipedia. Product photos and prices: That Hardware Store, as on 25 Oct 2026. Swing diagram: original illustration, not to scale.
