Locks maintain privacy in shared homes and other accommodation. Not only that, they are one of the fundamental security measures alongside security cameras and alarms.
But sometimes hostels, room shares, Airbnbs, and other types of accommodation just don’t provide functioning locks, leaving occupants at risk of theft and other crimes.
Surprisingly, it’s possible to lock a door without a lock. If a bedroom door doesn’t have a lock, there are numerous temporary and permanent ways to reinforce it and increase security.
Here’s how to lock a door without a lock.
Table of Contents
1. Use a Door Jammer Pole
A door jammer is a portable door lock for temporarily locking a door without a lock or reinforcing a door with sliding locks. Door jammers have a long pole, a sturdy floor plate, and an upper prong that wraps around the door handle.
Fit door jammers at an angle, with the prongs around the door handle and the base plate securely on the floor. The base plate is designed to resist sliding when pressure is applied, preventing inward doors from swinging open.
When fitted around a doorknob, the poles prevent the handle from turning. They are adjustable in height, enabling them to fit any door with handles, making door jammers the most useful temporary door locks.
Locks are just one part of the security puzzle.
Security cameras are key to safety in spaces of all kinds, not least of all when your door doesn’t have a lock.. Even the best temporary locks aren’t a truly reliable fix, after all.
AlfredCamera turns old phones, tablets, and even webcams into full fledged security cameras, meaning reliable surveillance is available at a moment’s notice, wherever you are.
Get notified on your phone if there’s any suspicious movement, and trigger the built in siren to get attention or ward off threats. Need security ASAP because your bedroom door doesn’t lock? Start now.
2. Remove the Door Handle
Removing the door handle is the fastest way to lock a door without a lock in a dangerous situation, or when you need a temporary door lock without drilling.
When handles are removed and the door is closed, it’s difficult to open without specialist tools or the door handle itself.
Remove the handle on both sides, or else someone can wedge the handle into the door to open it again from the outside. This method is suitable for doors that open inwards and outwards.
Depending on the door, you’ll likely need a screwdriver and/or a flathead. Remove the handle on both sides, or else it won’t work as a temporary door lock from outside. This method is suitable for doors that open inwards and outwards.
Is there a way to lock a door from the outside?
Most ways to lock a door without a lock require the door to swing inwards rather than out. Lock a door from the outside by:
· Removing the door handle. Most doors become nonfunctional when the handle’s removed.
· Installing a deadbolt on the outside of the door. This enables it to be locked outside.
· Force a very sturdy wedge under the door. While doorstops aren’t nearly as effective as on the inside of a door, it still hinders a door’s movement from the outside if pushed in deep enough.
3. Bend a Fork Into the Latch
Another temporary door lock involves a fork. This DIY door lock is quick to make and easily transportable. Pliers or wire cutters make it easier to shape into a portable door lock.
First, use pliers to bend a quarter of the fork’s prongs inwards to a 90-degree angle. Then, cut half of the fork handle off using wire cutters. Fit the bent prongs into the door latch, close the door, and slide the handle between the prongs to secure it in place.
If tools aren’t available, build this temporary lock without tools by bending the fork prongs within the door latch itself.
4. Wedge a Doorstop
If the room has a doorstop, place it firmly under the door so it is as tight as possible. A heavy-duty doorstop prevents the door from opening fully, but it’s unlikely to withstand brute force.
At the very least, a doorstep is a great alternative to making a homemade lock for your bedroom door.
Did you know that AlfredCamera has a live siren feature?
Whether using a phone, tablet, or the dedicated AlfredCam indoor security camera, AlfredCamera users can activate a loud siren sound.
If you’re away from the home and spot an intruder on a home security camera, trigger the siren via the camera’s live feed, which is easily accessed in the AlfredCamera app. The loud noise is a great way to scare off intruders and attract attention.
Download AlfredCamera for free on iOS and Android devices to get started.
5. Secure the Back of a Chair
If you’re in a dangerous situation, a standard wooden or metal dining room chair provides a fast way to lock a door without a lock.To barricade a door with a chair, simply turn it so the seat is facing away from the door and angle the top underneath the door handle.
If the height is right, this prevents lever door handles from being pulled downwards. It creates pressure that prevents or delays the door from opening, but won’t necessarily withstand brute force.
This option is only suitable if the door opens inwards. Tie the handle to the back of the chair with rope or string to.
In risky situations, get additional security.
Sometimes, the places we end up staying feel… weird. Or even completely unsafe.
AlfredCircle is a free location tracking app that enhances your safety when you’re staying somewhere unfamiliar.
Add family members or friends to your Circle to share your location information with them, so they know where you are at all times. Add your location as a Place, and they’ll get notified as soon as you enter or leave it.
That way, they can keep an eye on you the next time you’re somewhere strange, helping you feel safer.
6. Tie Rope Around the Handle
For lever door handles or doors that open outwards, tie a strong rope or metal chain around the handle to lock it.
To lock the door, tie one end of the rope to the handle and the other to a heavy object in the room. Suitable options include a refrigerator, a bed, or a couch. Make sure the rope or chain is pulled taut, with no slack.
This way of locking a door prevents the lever from being pulled downwards and opened. It also stops outward-opening doors from being opened, as the resistance from the rope tied to the heavy object keeps it closed when pulled.
How to lock a door with a belt
From the inside of the door, tightly tie one end of the belt to the door handle. Tie the other end to a heavy object positioned near the door; the heavier the better, so a nearby bed would make sense if it reaches.
This effectively ‘locks’ doors that swing outwards, so if someone tries to open it from the outside, the door is held in place. Use AlfredCamera to get notified the second the door starts to move thanks to reliable motion detection.
While belts generally aren’t as strong as rope, a good quality leather belt effectively prevents a door without a lock from being opened. Pleather or fabric belts are more likely to tear under the pressure.
7. Install a Security Bar
For a longer-term solution, fit a security bar over the inside of the door. Security bars only work on doors that open inwards, not outwards.
A custom-built security bar is made from thick metal or steel, meaning it’s an expensive investment. Fit brackets on either side of the door and position the bar in place. Make sure long, thick screws are used to secure the brackets.
Security bars prevent doors from being kicked in. They also prevent intruders from picking the lock and entering the room. It’s possible to make a DIY security bar for an unlocked door using wood.
DIY security bar for locking a door with no lock
It’s possible to make a DIY security bar for an unlocked door using wood.Simply nail or screw a strong wooden block to either side of the door. To remove these DIY security bars, the nails or screws need to be taken out.
For this reason, DIY security bars are best fitted to doors not in use in buildings with another entrance, like a side door in a barn, garage, shed, or outhouse.
8. Fit a Floor Barricade
Floor barricades are permanently installed to a door without a lock. A panel is initially screwed onto the floor. When only the panel is installed, doors can still be opened and closed like normal when only the panel is installed.
The barricade itself slots securely into the floor panel when the door is closed. This effectively prevents forced entry.
Because these contraptions block doors from opening from the inside, they can only be installed on doors that open inwards. They are best installed as extra security for back doors, bedroom doors, or side doors in the home since the base plate cannot be easily removed.
How secure is your garage?
Bedroom doors are a top concern for people, but garage doors are more likely to be targeted in burglaries.
Too many additional locks on a garage door can make it look like there’s something valuable inside, attracting unwanted attention. That’s why securing a garage or outbuilding with home security cameras is the best way to keep out intruders and prevent break-ins.
Learn more about the best ways to secure a garage, and how AlfredCam Plus makes the perfect surveillance solution inside garages.
9. Use a Portable Temporary Door Lock
A portable door lock is a universal solution to locking a door without a lock. It’s temporary and easy to install on any door. It doesn’t require any drilling or screwing to install. They are particularly effective in bedrooms or shared bathrooms.
Temporary locks usually have a long, curved middle section that slots into the door latch when open. Behind the spout are two metal side plates that fall between the door and the frame when the door is closed.
This prevents the door from being opened more than an inch when someone outside attempts to open it. Because they stop doors from swinging inwards, these portable locks are not suitable for doors that open outwards.
Staying in temporary accommodation?
Don’t forget to check for listening bugs and hidden cameras using your smartphone.
Need a quick surveillance solution to keep an eye on your room while you’re out and about?
Use the AlfredCamera app to set up a home security camera in minutes, and it’ll keep an eye on things so that you don’t have to. Download AlfredCamera FREE on iOS and Android devices to get started.
10. Move Furniture in Front of the Door
To barricade a door quickly in an emergency, move heavy furniture in front of the door. Blocking enough furniture in front of it can prevent the door from being pushed open.
It is not foolproof, but furniture in front of the door buys time and enables an escape during a particularly dangerous situation.
When locking a door without a lock using furniture, only use heavy items. Ideally, these should block the entire width of the door. Beds, couches, bookshelves, refrigerators, washing machines, and heavy cabinets are good choices. Piling lots of furniture up decreases the likelihood of the door being forced open.
FAQ
How do you lock a door outside without drilling?
Lock a door outside without drilling by installing a hook and eye latch. While these aren’t as secure as conventional locks, they are easily installed with command strips rather than drilling. This maintains the structural integrity of the door, which is useful if you’re renting.
How do you lock an outward door without a key?
Lock an outward door without a key using a key blank, which is filed down to match the shape. The best long term solution is to call a locksmith and have the lock and key replaced for maximum security, especially if you have misplaced the key.
How to lock a door with a sock?
- Find a thick, clean sock. A rough material (e.g. wool) provides more resistance than synthetic fabrics.
- Open the door and place the sock over the top or bottom edge of the door so that it’s hanging off.
- Carefully close the door (pull the sock taut if it moves). The friction will make it harder to open the door.
How to lock a door with a knob?
Temporarily lock a door with a knob by tying something strong to the knob, like rope or a sturdy leather belt. Tighten the other end to a heavy object (the heavier the better). Door stop wedges are also useful for ‘locking’ a door with a knob closure.
How to make a makeshift lock for a door?
Easy makeshift locks include:
· Placing a chair under the door handle if the door opens outwards, so it’s wedged against it.
· Pressing a door stop underneath the door so it’s wedged firmly in place.
· Placing heavy furniture directly against the door if it opens inwards. Pile heavy objects for greater security.
How to lock a door with a hanger?
Find a wire hanger and bend the wire straight.
If the door has a latch, hook one end of the wire and insert the hook into the latch, pulling it into place to prevent the door from opening.
If the door opens inwards, place the wire between the frame and handle, then bend it around the handle. Twist the ends together to make a temporary lock.
Plastic hangers aren’t especially useful as temporary door locks since they can’t bend, nor do they withstand much pressure.
Conclusion
There are many ways to lock a door without a lock. Most of these solutions are temporary, while others are long-term.
In the home and elsewhere, locks are among the most essential of security measures, so temporary solutions aren’t the most secure. Get instant surveillance on a phone, tablet, or computer with AlfredCamera to significantly reduce vulnerability when your security is compromised.
Forced entry is deterred simply at the sight of a home security camera, while the built-in siren is a great way to frighten off would-be intruders and draw attention to the space.