About 1 in 5 home burglaries occur through the back door, making it one of the most vulnerable entry points. Burglars prefer it because it’s out of sight from the street, giving them more time to work. And if your door has a glass panel or a standard handle lock, your risk is even higher.
Whether you’re a renter or homeowner, this guide covers how to secure a back door against forced entry using practical, budget-friendly methods. Including the latest smart deadbolt locks, security screen doors, and AI-powered home security cameras.
💡 Most burglars spend less than 60 seconds attempting entry before giving up. Even one or two of these upgrades can make your house a non-target.
Table of Contents
10 Ways to Secure a Back Door from Break-Ins
Homeowners looking to keep their home and lower the risk of home break-ins should consider the following ten tips.
1. Install a Smart Deadbolt Lock (Best Overall Upgrade)
A smart deadbolt lock is the single most effective upgrade you can make, without costing homeowners a small fortune. Standard handle locks are easy to bypass; deadbolts, by contrast, have longer bolts that extend deep into the door frame, making them highly resistant to forced entry.
Pick an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt lock for outstanding burglary resistance. For maximum protection, choose a smart or keypad version that includes:
- Auto-lock after a set time
- Temporary access codes for guests or cleaners
- Keyless entry no physical key to lose or copy
- Remote lock/unlock via smartphone app
- Tamper alerts and activity logs
Models like the Schlage Encode and Philips WiFi Smart Door are consistently top-rated and integrate with Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. They’re especially valuable if you also use a home security system.
2. Reinforce the Door Frame and Strike Plate
A strong lock is only as good as the frame it’s attached to. Most kicked-in doors fail at the frame, not the lock itself. Replacing the standard strike plate with a heavy-duty security strike plate, one that uses 3-inch screws anchored into the stud, can increase kick resistance dramatically.
Also consider a door frame reinforcement kit (such as Door Armor or StrikeMaster II). These kits wrap steel around the most vulnerable areas of the frame and can make a door kick-proof for under $100.
3. Add a Security Screen Door or Steel Security Gate
A security screen door adds a secondary physical barrier. Google Trends shows it’s the most searched security door term, peaking every summer. When paired with an exterior steel gate, you effectively create three separate barriers before anyone reaches your main door. The best options use stainless steel mesh with a reinforced aluminum or steel frame.
Look for steel door options rated to resist axes, bolt cutters, and kick attacks. This is especially valuable for back doors that open onto a garden or alley.
4. Use Security Window Film on Glass Panels
Glass panels on back doors are a major vulnerability; they can be shattered quietly to reach the handle or deadbolt inside. Like tempered glass for smartphones, a security window film offers additional protection for glass doors. A security window film holds broken glass together, forcing a burglar to keep hitting it, creating noise and taking time.
Look for films rated at 4 mil or higher (e.g., BDF S4MC). They won’t make the glass unbreakable, but they will significantly slow entry. This is one of the most affordable upgrades on this list (typically under $30.) Simply apply the product on the glass door panel’s inside surface.
5. Apply Privacy Window Film to Prevent Scoping
Some people think a privacy window film and a security window film are the same. They aren’t. Although they have a similar installation method, the purpose is different. This is especially important for back doors with large glass panels facing a yard. It adds security without sacrificing natural light.
Burglars often scope a home before attempting entry, looking through windows to assess valuables and whether anyone is home. A privacy window film (frosted or one-way mirror style) blocks the view from outside while allowing you to see out normally. It’s the perfect solution for a security door with glass because burglars can’t assess the location for items to loot.
6. Install a Security Camera with AI Motion Detection
A home security camera at the back of your property deters potential intruders and provides crucial evidence if an incident occurs. Studies suggest security cameras reduce burglary risk by at least 50%.
The most effective camera setups include:
- Motion-triggered alerts sent directly to your phone
- Two-way audio — lets you challenge anyone approaching
- Night vision or low-light mode for after-dark coverage
- Siren’s capability to deter intruders in real time
Want to try out using a security camera to monitor the back door? Hold your purse! Download AlfredCamera and convert an old phone into a fully functioning security camera for free. Check out our indoor & outdoor security cameras to enjoy additional features, for even a better home monitoring.
7. Mount Motion-Activated Smart Lighting
Smart lighting with motion detection is one of the easiest and most affordable deterrents available. When the lights snap on as someone approaches your door, it removes the cover of darkness and draws attention. Smart lighting fixtures can enhance home security because it mimics an occupied house, and there’s generally an anecdotal understanding that it might help.
The key is placement: aim lights toward the house, not out into the yard. Intruders will be right next to the building, so that’s where illumination matters. Many smart lights also connect to your home security system to trigger cameras and alerts simultaneously.
8. Use a Door Security Bar or Barricade
If your back door is a sliding glass door, a door security bar (also called a blocking bar or door barricade) is essential. These devices sit in the bottom track and prevent the door from being forced open, even if the lock is bypassed.
For inward-swinging doors, a floor-braced door barricade bar can stop virtually any forced entry short of power tools. They’re inexpensive (often under $40), require no installation, and can be removed in seconds from the inside.
💡 Pair a door security bar with a secondary pin lock at the top of the sliding door frame for layered protection.
Got a sliding door and not sure how to keep it secure? Leave it to us, check out our article on different types of sliding door lock and find out how to properly protect it..
The Layered Security Approach
Professional security consultants use a ‘layers of defense’ model. The idea that each obstacle you add increases the time and noise required for a break-in. A burglar who encounters a security screen door, a deadbolt, a security bar, and a camera-and-alarm combination is very likely to give up and move on.
A practical security stack for most homes:
- Layer 1 – Physical barrier: Steel security screen door or gate
- Layer 2 – Primary lock: ANSI Grade 1 smart deadbolt
- Layer 3 – Frame reinforcement: Heavy-duty strike plate with 3″ screws
- Layer 4 – Glass protection: Security + privacy window film
- Layer 5 – Detection: AI-powered security camera with motion alerts
- Layer 6 – Deterrence: Motion-activated lighting + audible alarm
FAQ
How do I secure a back door on a budget?
Start with a heavy-duty deadbolt ($30–$80), a reinforced strike plate ($20–$40), and a door security bar ($20–$40). Together, these provide strong physical protection for under $150. Add a free app-based security camera (like AlfredCamera) using a spare phone, and you have a solid layered system at minimal cost.
What is the most secure type of door?
A steel door with a solid core, paired with an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt and a reinforced door frame, offers the highest level of security. Steel is extremely difficult to cut or kick through, and the reinforced frame prevents the lock from being defeated by force.
Are glass doors safe?
Standard glass doors are a security risk. Burglars can break the glass to reach the handle or deadbolt. You can significantly reduce this risk by applying security window film (holds broken glass together), using privacy film (blocks sightlines), or replacing the glass with laminated security glass.
How do you stop a door from being kicked in?
Reinforce the door frame with a steel strike plate using 3-inch screws, install an ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt, and consider a door reinforcement kit. A solid-core or steel door combined with these measures is extremely resistant to kick-in attacks.
What type of door is strongest?
Steel doors are the strongest. Although hardwood doors are sturdy, they are easier to break into than steel units, which do not warp or crack. Realistically, the only damage a steel door might suffer is a dent, perhaps a few scratches. It would take an acetylene blow torch or an angle grinder with a metal-cutting disc to cut through steel, which would be highly impractical, time-consuming, expensive, and super risky for a criminal to attempt.
How do you burglar-proof a front door?
Burglar-proofing a front door requires replacing it with a more robust unit, preferably with a solid core or steel reinforcement. Strengthening the door frame by adding thick steel plates should also make the front door impenetrable even to the most cunning of burglars. Multiple security locks, deadbolts, a security gate, and other security measures can transform a front door into a Fort Knox-like entrance.
Which is more secure, steel or fiberglass door?
Steel doors are more secure than fiberglass options. This material is nearly impossible to damage or cut without specialty tools that are super expensive, super loud, and difficult to use. Although steel can get dents and scratches, these are largely aesthetic issues and easy to fix. On the other hand, fiberglass doors are excellent for homes in humid climates and harsh weather.
Conclusion
Although burglars can enter a house through any opening, securing the back door reduces the risk of break-ins. The tricks presented here aren’t only applicable to these doors. Homeowners can also observe them at other entrances. Implementing multiple techniques can boost home security against burglaries and other crimes.
Whatever back door security improvement methodology you choose, we recommend complementing them with a reliable security camera system such as AlfredCamera.
Recommended reading:
7 Signs Your House is the Next Burglary Target and What to Do About It
How To Prevent Home Invasion: 5 Essential Ways
What to Do If Someone is in Your House When Home Alone
Porch Pirates: 5 Ways to Stop It From Happening to You
How to Lock a Door Without a Lock: 10 Secure Methods