Published 2026-03-25 · Lone Star Lock Co

ANSI Grade 1 vs Grade 2 Deadbolts: What the Numbers Mean

What ANSI/BHMA actually tests

The American National Standards Institute, in partnership with the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association, publishes hardware standards under ANSI A156.5 for cylindrical deadbolts. The standard runs through a battery of tests on each lock submitted for grading:

• Cycle life. How many open-close cycles the deadbolt survives without failure. Grade 1 must survive 250,000+. Grade 2: 150,000+. Grade 3: 100,000+.
• Strength under bolt impact. How many strikes of 75 foot-pounds (delivered to the bolt) the lock survives. Grade 1: 10+. Grade 2: 5+. Grade 3: 2+.
• Picking resistance (UL 437 supplement on some models). Resistance to lock picking by a skilled attacker.
• Drilling resistance. Resistance to a power drill at the cylinder face.
• Sawing resistance. Resistance to sawing at the bolt itself.
• Throw distance. How far the bolt extends from the door (1 inch full throw is the security standard).
• Cylinder pull and torque attack. Resistance to wrenching the cylinder out of the door.

Higher-grade locks survive more punishment in each category. A Grade 1 deadbolt is tested under standards that approximate commercial-duty use; a Grade 3 is tested under residential-use standards.

Grade comparison table

Spec	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3
Use case	Commercial / high-security residential	Medium residential / light commercial	Residential entry-level
Cycle life	250,000+	150,000+	100,000+
Bolt impact strikes (75 ft-lb)	10+	5+	2+
Bolt throw (typical)	1 inch	1 inch	3/4 to 1 inch
Cylinder torque resistance	225 in-lb	150 in-lb	100 in-lb
Typical Houston install cost	$160 to $350	$130 to $250	$110 to $180
Common brands	Schlage B660 / Kwikset 980 / Yale 8800 / Baldwin 8000	Schlage B62 / Kwikset 660 / Yale T1	Defiant / generic builder

Why "ANSI grade" matters more than brand

Brand name is a rough proxy for quality but not a precise one. Schlage makes both Grade 1 (B660) and Grade 2 (B62) deadbolts. Kwikset makes both Grade 1 (980) and Grade 3 (650) deadbolts. A Schlage Grade 2 is mechanically weaker than a Kwikset Grade 1, despite the brand reputation. Buy the grade, not the brand.

For Houston residential customers, the ANSI grade label is usually visible on the packaging or the product spec sheet. Look for "ANSI/BHMA Grade 1" or "ANSI/BHMA Grade 2" stamped on the box. The retailer's website spec sheet shows it. If the grade isn't listed at all, the lock is probably Grade 3 or unrated, and the marketing copy uses softer language like "residential security" or "trusted home protection" instead of citing the actual standard.

Real Houston upgrade scenarios

• New homeowner in Memorial, 1995 single-family with builder-grade Defiant deadbolts. Upgrade all 4 entry deadbolts to Schlage B660 Grade 1. $480 hardware plus $360 install. Total: $840. Improved cycle life, bolt impact resistance, and the cylinder torque resistance triples.
• Heights 1924 bungalow restoration. Original mortise lock body preserved with period brass trim. New ANSI Grade 1 mortise cylinder dropped into the original mortise body. $220 cylinder plus $180 install. Total: $400 per door. Keeps the historic look, adds modern security.
• Pearland new build, customer wants security upgrade above builder package. Builder used Kwikset 650 Grade 3 throughout. Swapped 5 entry deadbolts to Kwikset 980 Grade 1. $400 hardware plus $400 install. Total: $800 across 5 doors.
• Sugar Land premium home, owner wants high-security on prime entries only. Schlage B660 Grade 1 with Medeco BiLevel cylinder on front and back doors. Garage entry and side gate kept at Grade 2 standard. Total: $1,100 for the two prime doors, $400 for the other three. Combined: $1,500.
• Galleria-area townhome HOA spec upgrade. Whole-development upgrade from builder Grade 3 to Schlage B62 Grade 2 (HOA budget constraint). $180 install per door across 84 units. The HOA negotiated a wholesale rate on hardware.

When Grade 2 is fine

Grade 2 covers most residential use cases adequately. Houston customers who don't want to spend the extra $80 to $200 per door for Grade 1 can get a Schlage B62 or Kwikset 660 Grade 2 deadbolt for $130 to $250 installed and have meaningful mechanical security. The Grade 2 to Grade 1 jump is about 70 percent better on cycle life and about 100 percent better on bolt impact resistance, but Grade 2 is already 50 percent better than builder-grade Grade 3 on both axes.

Where to draw the line. Grade 1 on the primary entry door (front door for most Houston homes). Grade 2 acceptable on secondary entries (back door, garage entry, side gate). Grade 3 acceptable on interior doors that don't face the outside (basement walkout from the kitchen, master suite interior, etc.). This tiering keeps total cost reasonable while concentrating the security upgrade where the threat is.

The strike plate still matters more

One thing to keep in mind. Grade 1 deadbolts paired with a builder-grade strike plate and 3/4-inch screws are still vulnerable to the kick-in attack. The bolt itself can survive 10+ strikes of 75 foot-pounds, but if the strike plate pops free of the jamb under the same force, the door opens anyway.

The full security upgrade is Grade 1 deadbolt PLUS reinforced strike plate PLUS 3-inch screws anchored to the wall stud. The reinforced strike adds $25 to $50 and 10 minutes of install time. Without it, even the best deadbolt is doing 30 percent of the security job because the weak link is the jamb anchoring, not the bolt itself.

Frequently asked

Need a Houston deadbolt upgrade?

Call (346) 594-6316 for dispatch across Harris County. We can walk through which grade fits which door on the phone. See our residential locksmith page, our deadbolt vs smart lock guide, and the posted cost guide.

Last updated: 2026-03-25.