"Door lock" covers at least four distinct mechanisms, each specified differently depending on door type, traffic, and code requirement. Here is how to tell them apart before writing an RFQ.
A single line item labeled "door lock" can refer to a knob-in-lock set, a cylindrical lever lockset, a mortise lock case, or an electronic lockset with a credential reader — and each of these is built, installed, and graded differently. Specifying by mechanism type rather than by the generic term avoids a round of back-and-forth once an RFQ reaches a factory, since backset, door prep, and certification requirements all follow directly from which mechanism is being quoted.
The distinctions below group door locks by their operating mechanism first, then by the grade and certification typically paired with each, so a buyer can map a project's door schedule to the right mechanism category before requesting pricing.
Mechanical locks cover a broad share of residential and light-commercial door hardware. A cylindrical lockset is installed through two bored holes — one through the door face for the lock body, one through the door edge for the latch — and typically combines a latch function with a key or privacy function in one unit. A separate deadbolt is often specified alongside a cylindrical lockset on entry doors for an additional, independently operated locking point.
Knob-in-lock sets follow the same bored installation but use a rotating knob rather than a lever as the operating trim. Across all three mechanical formats, the lock function — passage, privacy, entry, or classroom — determines whether the mechanism locks from one side, both sides, or not at all, and this function must be specified alongside the mechanism type itself.
A mortise lock case sits inside a rectangular pocket mortised into the door edge, rather than through two bored holes. This gives the lock body room to combine a latch, a deadbolt, and in many cases a lever or pull trim into a single mechanism, which is why mortise locks remain common on commercial entrances, hotel corridor doors, and heavier-duty applications where a cylindrical lockset's combined functions would not be sufficient.
Because mortise installation requires more precise door edge preparation than a bored cylindrical lockset, mortise locks are typically specified at the design stage of a project rather than retrofitted, and door prep drawings should be confirmed against the specific mortise lock case dimensions before ordering doors and hardware together.
Electronic locksets replace or supplement the key cylinder with a credential reader — keypad, card, fob, or app-based — but the underlying latch and bolt mechanism is still mechanical in nearly all cases. What changes is the addition of a power source (battery or wired), a control board, and in many models a mechanical key override for power failure or electronic fault.
Electronic locks are typically specified by credential type, power source, and whether they need to integrate with an access control system, in addition to the mechanical grade that still applies to the underlying lock body. Electronic components on these locks commonly carry RoHS compliance for the markets that require it, which is separate from the mechanical grade of the lock body itself.
Mechanism type and durability grade are independent specifications that both need to be confirmed. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 is specified for heavy commercial traffic and is the only grade generally accepted as part of a tested fire door assembly; Grade 2 covers standard commercial use such as offices and hotels; Grade 3 covers residential and light-duty applications. A mortise lock can be built to any of these grades, just as a cylindrical lockset can — the mechanism type and the grade are chosen together based on the door's traffic level and code requirement.
| Lock Type | Installation | Typical Application | Common Grade Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cylindrical / knob-in-lock | Two bored holes (face + edge) | Residential interior and entry doors | ANSI/BHMA Grade 2/3 |
| Mortise lock | Mortised pocket in door edge | Commercial entrances, corridor and hotel doors | ANSI/BHMA Grade 1/2 |
| Lever lockset | Bored or mortise, lever trim | Offices, schools, accessible-route doors | ANSI/BHMA Grade 1/2, EN 12209 |
| Electronic lockset | Bored or mortise + credential reader | Access-controlled entries, rental and multi-tenant doors | Mechanical grade per body + RoHS (electronics) |
Figures above are typical references confirmed per SKU; exact grade, backset and certification are stated on the quotation for the specific model.
As a sourcing desk organizing door lock production across verified partner factories rather than a single lock manufacturer, LatchHub's role at RFQ stage is to take the door type, traffic level, and any code requirement stated by the buyer and match it to the correct mechanism category and grade before a factory is engaged. This avoids quoting the wrong mechanism type against a door schedule that calls for something else.
Typical pilot sampling for a confirmed lock model runs 50–200 pieces with a 10–15 working day sampling cycle; standard production MOQ runs 500–3,000 pieces per model with a 25–40 day ex-factory lead time once specifications are confirmed. Both figures are confirmed per order during the RFQ stage, since mechanism type, grade, finish and certification all affect tooling and production scheduling.
A mortise lock sits inside a rectangular pocket cut into the door edge and combines latch, deadbolt and sometimes a lever function in a single case. A cylindrical lock is installed through two round bores — one through the door face, one through the edge — and is faster to install but generally offers fewer combined functions than a mortise case. Commercial entrance doors more often specify mortise locks; residential and light-commercial doors more often use cylindrical or knob-in-lock hardware.
Most electronic locksets sold into commercial and residential markets include a mechanical key cylinder or a manual override as a backup for power loss or electronic failure. Whether an override is required, and what type, depends on the target market's building code and the buyer's own specification — confirm this requirement at RFQ stage rather than assuming it is included.
Yes. Many lever lock sets separate the lever (or knob) trim from the lock body or cylinder, which lets a buyer standardize on one lever design across multiple lock functions and grades. Confirm backset and spindle compatibility between the lever trim and the lock body when sourcing them as separate line items.
Fire-rated door assemblies require hardware tested and listed as part of a complete fire door assembly, typically to ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 combined with a UL fire listing such as UL10C, or to EN 1634 in European markets. The lock function (latching, self-closing compatibility) must match the fire door assembly's tested configuration — this is confirmed against the specific door and market at RFQ stage, not assumed from the lock type alone.
Send your door type, traffic level and any code requirement — we match it to the right mechanism, grade and certification before quoting.
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