Deadlatch vs deadlock vs deadbolt: which lock is on your front door?

What is a deadlock on a door in Australia?

A deadlock on a door is a lock that stays locked until a key or an inside knob releases it. The Australian Security Industry Association (ASIAL) names two types for the timber front and back doors of a house: the deadlatch and the deadbolt. So in ASIAL's terms, a front-door deadlock is one or the other.

ASIAL is an Australian security industry body, and its consumer fact sheet on locking devices keeps the wording short. Talking about the timber front and back doors of an average house, it says: "There are two types of deadlocks that can be used in this situation, the deadlatch and the deadbolt."

That clears up most of the confusion. Deadlock is the group. Deadlatch and deadbolt are the two members. So when you read the word deadlock, it pays to know which of the two is on your own door.

If the lock on your door needs work, that's covered by our residential locksmith services.

What is a deadlatch and how does it work?

A deadlatch is a door lock that latches itself when the door closes. ASIAL calls it "a self-latching device". As the door shuts, a trigger on the lock sets the latch in a fixed position. The latch stays there until a key, or the turn knob on the inside, releases it.

The fixed latch is the whole point of a deadlatch. ASIAL says the deadlatch's fixed latch "prevents an intruder slipping a credit card or similar object between the door and the jamb to push the latch back and gain access".

There's a catch. A door that locks itself will lock behind you too. Step outside to grab the bins without your keys and you're on the wrong side of it.

What does the trigger on a deadlatch do?

ASIAL describes it in one sentence: "As the lock is closed a deadlatching trigger is activated allowing the lock to engage its deadlocking function." In plain words, shutting the door sets off the trigger, and the trigger is what holds the latch firm.

What is the automatic release on a unit door?

ASIAL says home units must use a deadlatch where the inside knob is released automatically when the door is opened by key from the outside. So when you come home and use your key, the inside knob is free to turn again.

Deadbolt or deadlock on a door: what's the difference?

A deadbolt is one kind of deadlock on a door. The deadlatch is the other kind. ASIAL says deadbolts have a similar deadlocking feature to deadlatches, with one difference: a deadbolt doesn't latch itself. You throw the bolt yourself, with the key or the inside turn, each time you want the door locked.

Swapping a worn lock for a new one is a lock replacement and rekeying job.

What is a double-keyed deadlock on a door?

This guide uses double keyed to mean a lock with a keyhole on the inside as well as the outside. ASIAL's line on it is that both styles of lock "can be key operated from the inside or operated by a turn knob or snib". So a deadlatch or a deadbolt can be built that way. ASIAL's sheet also uses the phrase double-sided key locks.

With a keyhole on the inside, a locked door needs a key to get out as well as in. Read the fire safety section below before you pick one.

How do I tell which lock my front door has?

Pull your front door shut without touching the lock. A door that locks itself matches ASIAL's deadlatch, a self-latching device. A door that needs the key or the inside turn to lock matches ASIAL's deadbolt. Then look inside. A keyhole there means it's key operated from the inside. A turn knob or snib means it's worked by hand.

1. 1Step 1: Stand outside with your keys in your pocket. Pull the door shut and leave the lock alone.
2. 2Step 2: Try the handle. Locked already? That matches a deadlatch. ASIAL calls it a self-latching device.
3. 3Step 3: Still opens until you use the key or the inside turn? That matches a deadbolt. ASIAL says it needs the key or the turn to throw it.
4. 4Step 4: Go inside and look at the back of the lock. A keyhole means it's key operated from the inside. A turn knob or snib means it's worked by hand.

If the door has more than one lock, run the same check on each.

You might also hear the words rim and mortice. We've left those out of this guide. If someone uses them about your door and you're not sure what they mean, ask at the counter.

Deadlock fire safety: can everyone get out?

A locked front-door deadlock can slow your way out in a fire. The Queensland Government says security devices such as deadlocks and window grills can stop you and your family from getting out of the house in a fire. Queensland's fire service says to install deadlocks that can be opened from the inside without keys.

The Queensland Government's home fire safety page puts it this way: "Finding the balance between securing your home from others and ensuring easy escape in an emergency is important." Queensland's fire service gives four pieces of advice across its escape plan and winter fire safety sheets:

• Install deadlocks that can be opened from the inside without keys.
• If keys are needed, leave them in a safe spot near the door or window but out of reach of potential intruders.
• If you use deadlocks, keep the keys in a location known to all occupants.
• Limit the number of keys needed to open doors by having locks keyed alike.

Home units

Units get their own lines in the ASIAL fact sheet. It says home units must use a deadlatch with an inside knob that releases automatically, and that deadbolts "cannot be used on home units" in accordance with Australian standards. The sheet has no date, so check before you change the lock on a unit door.

What door locks do Queensland Police recommend?

The Queensland Police Home Security Audit says "Dead locks are the best type of lock to use on entry/exit doors". The same checklist says solid doors are preferred and the door should be as strong as the lock. A May 2026 myPolice Moreton post adds: fit deadlocks on all external doors.

The audit is a tick-box sheet you can run through at home. It asks about your security doors, your main entry and exit doors, and whether your locks are keyed alike.

The myPolice Moreton post, dated 20 May 2026, adds two habits that cost nothing. Always take your door key with you and avoid hiding it outside. And if you've recently moved, consider changing the locks on your entrance doors. Our guide to rekeying after you move in covers that job.

Do you need deadlocks for home insurance in Queensland?

The answer is in your own policy. Read your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or ask your insurer. As one example, Allianz's home security guide says to make sure all external doors have deadlocks fitted. That's one insurer's guide. Your policy wording decides what applies to you.

Allianz's guide, last updated on 24 March 2026, says: "Make sure all external doors have deadlocks fitted and, where possible, tamper-proof door frames." It also says that when you take out home insurance, you're responsible for taking reasonable steps to prevent theft. For the detail, Allianz points its own customers to the PDS.

ASIAL sums up the tension like this: "Insurance companies often insist on double-sided key locks and window locks before they will insure a property. However, Fire Departments, Councils and the Building Code of Australia requires us to allow emergency egress with a single handed pushing action or a downward motion with a lever handle."

That's ASIAL's summary from an undated fact sheet. It isn't a legal ruling, and your own policy wording decides. The same goes for whether house insurance covers the locks themselves: check your PDS.

When does a front-door deadlock need a locksmith?

Call a locksmith when a front-door deadlock stops doing the job described above. ASIAL describes a deadlatch as self-latching, and a deadbolt as thrown with the key or the inside turn. Moving house is another reason, because a Queensland Police post says to consider changing the locks on your entrance doors after a move.

• The deadlatch has stopped locking itself when the door closes.
• The deadbolt won't throw, or won't pull back, with the key or the inside turn.
• The door your household would use in a fire needs a key from the inside.
• You've just moved in and don't know who else holds a key.

You can have a locksmith check whether your deadlock operates correctly. For $199 we will come to your property, inspect and report on the state of functioning of the current lock installation.

We also do lock replacement and rekeying, and you can get spare keys cut at our Brendale counter so everyone in the house has one.

Next step: call the Brendale shop on 07 3205 4925. You'll find us at Unit 19, 193-203 South Pine Road, Brendale QLD 4500. Open Mon to Thu 8am to 4:45pm, Fri to 4:30pm.