Smart Lock Ready Doors: How to Ensure Compatibility in 2026

You have decided to upgrade your front door to a smart lock, or you are replacing your door and want it smart-lock-ready from day one. Either way, compatibility is not something you want to discover is a problem after the door is installed and the installer has left.

The good news: smart lock compatibility is straightforward once you know the three dimensions that matter. This guide walks you through every spec, every material consideration, and every brand decision so your new smart entry works flawlessly from the first tap.

What Makes a Door Smart Lock Ready

A "smart lock ready" door meets three physical requirements: the correct bore hole diameter, the correct backset distance, and the correct door thickness. If your door meets all three, any major-brand smart lock will install without modification.

The vast majority of residential entry doors manufactured in the last 30 years meet these standards. The exceptions are typically pre-1970 doors with non-standard hardware preparations, very old solid wood doors with mortise locks instead of cylindrical bore locks, and some European-style doors with multipoint locking systems.

If you are buying a new door for your front door replacement project, simply specify "smart lock prep" or "standard bore preparation" when ordering. Every major door manufacturer offers this as a standard option at no additional cost.

Door Thickness and Bore Requirements

The Three Critical Measurements

Bore hole diameter: 2-1/8 inches (54mm). This is the large circular hole drilled through the face of the door for the lock body. It is the industry standard for residential cylindrical locks and has been since the 1950s. If your door has an existing deadbolt, the bore hole is almost certainly the correct size.

Cross bore diameter: 1 inch (25mm). This is the smaller hole drilled through the edge of the door for the latch bolt mechanism. Also a universal standard.

Backset: 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches. The backset is the distance from the door edge to the center of the bore hole. Residential doors use one of these two standard measurements. Nearly all smart locks include adapter plates for both backsets, so this is rarely a compatibility concern.

Door Thickness

Smart locks are engineered for a specific range of door thickness. The standard residential entry door is 1-3/4 inches (44mm) thick, and every smart lock on the market works at this thickness.

Here is where thickness varies and what to do about it:

1-3/8 inches (35mm): Common in older Utah homes and some interior-to-garage doors. Most smart locks will work, but the fit may be tight. Check the specific model's specs. August and Yale explicitly support this thickness.

1-3/4 inches (44mm): The universal standard. No concerns.

2 inches (51mm): Found on some high-end fiberglass and wood doors. Most smart locks include extension kits or longer tailpieces for this thickness. Schlage and Yale include them in the box. August sells them separately for about $10.

Over 2 inches: Custom wood doors can exceed 2 inches. At this thickness, you need to verify compatibility model by model. Some locks simply will not accommodate it. A locksmith can often modify the lock or door to make it work, but plan to spend an extra $50 to $100 for this service.

Material Compatibility: Steel, Fiberglass, and Wood

Steel Doors

Steel doors are fully compatible with all smart locks. The metal skin is pre-drilled at the factory with precise bore holes, and the lock mounts securely against the rigid surface. The only consideration is magnetic interference: some very thick steel skins can slightly reduce Bluetooth range. In practice, this is rarely noticeable since you are typically within a few feet of the door when unlocking.

Fiberglass Doors

Fiberglass is equally compatible and arguably the easiest material to work with. The composite material drills cleanly, holds screws securely, and does not conduct temperature to the lock body (which can affect battery performance in extreme cold). For Utah's winter conditions, fiberglass is the ideal smart lock host material.

Wood Doors

Wood doors work well with smart locks but introduce two considerations. First, wood moves with humidity and temperature changes. In Utah's dry climate, wood doors can shrink enough to slightly shift the lock alignment over time. This may require occasional adjustment of the strike plate. Second, very hard hardwoods like oak or walnut require pre-drilling for the lock's mounting screws to prevent splitting.

Metal-Clad Wood Doors

Some premium doors feature a wood core with a metal exterior cladding. These work fine with smart locks but verify the total thickness at the bore hole location, as the metal cladding adds to the overall dimension.

Top Smart Lock Models for 2026

The smart lock market has matured significantly. Here are the models that lead in reliability, security, and compatibility.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Generation) — Best for Retrofit

August's signature feature is that it retrofits over your existing deadbolt. You keep your physical keys as backup, and the August motor simply turns the lock from the inside. Installation takes about 10 minutes and requires no drilling or modification.

The 4th generation model includes built-in Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for the separate Connect bridge that earlier models required. Battery life is approximately 6 months. It works with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and supports Matter.

Price: $230. Security grade: Not independently ANSI-rated (uses your existing deadbolt's rating). Best for: Homeowners who want to keep their existing keys and deadbolt.

Yale Assure Lock 2 — Best All-Around

Yale's Assure Lock 2 comes in more configurations than any other smart lock. You can choose keyed or key-free entry, touchscreen or keypad interface, and multiple radio options including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and Zigbee. It is available in multiple finishes to match your door hardware.

The key-free version is particularly popular because it eliminates the risk of lock picking entirely. Access is exclusively through codes, the app, or smart home voice commands.

Price: $200 to $280 depending on configuration. Security grade: ANSI/BHMA Grade 2. Best for: Homeowners who want maximum configuration options.

Schlage Encode Plus — Best for Apple Homes

The Encode Plus is the first residential lock to support Apple Home Key, which lets you unlock your door by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch against the lock, just like using Apple Pay. It also works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa.

Built-in Wi-Fi means no hub required. The Grade 1 ANSI/BHMA rating makes it the most secure smart lock available for residential use. Battery life is approximately 12 months.

Price: $300 to $350. Security grade: ANSI/BHMA Grade 1. Best for: Apple ecosystem households who want top-tier security.

Level Lock+ — Best for HOA Restrictions

Level Lock hides all smart technology inside the door. From the outside, it looks like a completely traditional deadbolt. There is no keypad, no touchscreen, and no visible electronic components. You unlock with your phone, an NFC key card, or a traditional key.

This invisible design is perfect for Utah's many HOA-governed communities where visible smart lock hardware may violate architectural guidelines. The trade-off is that without a keypad, you cannot easily share codes with guests or delivery drivers.

Price: $330. Security grade: ANSI/BHMA Grade 2. Best for: HOA neighborhoods with appearance restrictions.

Connectivity Protocols: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Matter

The protocol your smart lock uses determines how it communicates with your phone and smart home system. This choice has daily usability implications.

Wi-Fi

Connects directly to your home router. Enables remote lock and unlock from anywhere. No hub needed. The downside is higher battery consumption; expect 6 to 12 months between battery changes. Wi-Fi locks can also be affected by router outages or weak signal at the front door.

Bluetooth

Short-range connection to your phone. Very battery-efficient (12 to 24 months). No remote access unless paired with a Wi-Fi bridge. Best for homeowners who primarily unlock by phone when arriving home and do not need remote access.

Z-Wave and Zigbee

Mesh networking protocols that require a compatible hub (SmartThings, Hubitat, etc.). Very battery-efficient and reliable. Best for homeowners who already have a smart home hub and want the lock integrated into automation routines.

Matter

The industry-standard protocol that all major platforms (Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung) have agreed to support. Matter-enabled locks work across all platforms without platform-specific adapters. If you are choosing a lock today, prioritizing Matter support ensures the broadest compatibility for years to come.

Common Compatibility Problems and How to Fix Them

Problem: Non-Standard Bore Hole

Symptom: Your existing bore hole is too small, too large, or offset from standard.

Fix: A locksmith can drill a new bore or enlarge an existing one for $75 to $150. If your door has a mortise lock (a rectangular pocket cut into the door edge instead of a round bore), you will need a mortise-to-cylindrical conversion kit, which costs $50 to $100 plus installation.

Problem: Door Too Thick or Too Thin

Symptom: The smart lock's interior and exterior assemblies do not reach each other through the door, or the mounting screws are too long.

Fix: For thick doors, most manufacturers sell extension kits ($10 to $30). For thin doors, shorter mounting screws may be needed, available from the manufacturer or a hardware store.

Problem: Misaligned Strike Plate

Symptom: The door locks and unlocks with the smart lock motor, but the deadbolt does not fully extend into the strike plate, causing the lock to report "jammed."

Fix: Adjust or reposition the strike plate. This is the most common issue with smart locks on older Utah homes where the frame has shifted slightly. A chisel and 15 minutes of work usually resolves it, or a locksmith can handle it for $50 to $75.

Problem: Weak Wi-Fi at the Front Door

Symptom: The lock frequently shows as "offline" in the app, or remote commands fail.

Fix: Add a Wi-Fi mesh node or range extender near the front entry. Many Utah homes, particularly two-story designs with the router upstairs in a back bedroom, have weak signal at the front door. A mesh node costs $80 to $150 and resolves the issue completely.

Future-Proofing Your Smart Entry

Smart home technology evolves quickly, but a few principles will keep your investment relevant for years.

Choose locks with firmware update capability. All top-tier brands push over-the-air updates that add features and fix security vulnerabilities. A lock you buy today will gain capabilities over its lifetime.

Prioritize Matter protocol support. The industry has converged on Matter as the universal standard, and locks that support it will work with whatever platform dominates in the future.

Prepare your door for the next generation. When installing a new door, ensure the bore preparation is standard, the frame is solid, and the wiring for a video doorbell is in place. These physical preparations last decades, even as the electronic components change.

Finally, keep your door frame reinforced and secure. The smartest lock in the world is only as strong as the frame it is mounted in. Invest in the physical security of your entry, and the smart technology becomes a powerful enhancement rather than a false sense of security.

Whether you are upgrading an existing door or planning a complete front door replacement, getting the compatibility right from the start saves time, money, and frustration. Measure twice, order once, and enjoy the convenience of a truly smart entry.