Smart locks solve a very ordinary problem: the spare key under the pot plant, the kids getting home before you do, the cleaner who needs access every second Tuesday. Instead of cutting more keys, you hand out PINs, fingerprints or app access — and delete them the moment they are no longer needed.
The catch is that Australian doors are not all prepped the same way. Some have a single bore hole with a knob or lever, some have a separate deadbolt above the handle, and plenty of older entrances run a Trilock-style combined set. Buy the wrong format and you are up for extra drilling or a locksmith's invoice. This guide covers which retrofit suits which door, which entry method fits how your household actually lives, and what happens on the day the batteries give out.
How to choose a smart lock
Deadbolt or lever: match the lock to your door
Before you shop, take a photo of your door edge. If there is a separate deadbolt above the handle, a smart deadbolt is the cleanest swap — it replaces the bolt and leaves your existing handle untouched. If your door has a single knob or lever running through one bore hole, you want a smart leverset or knob lock that reuses that same hole. And if your front door has one of the tall combined entrance sets common on Australian homes from the 90s and 2000s, look for a Trilock-format smart lock so you are not patching holes.
Two measurements matter for any of them: the backset (distance from the door edge to the centre of the bore hole — typically 60mm or 70mm in Australia) and your door thickness. Check both against the product listing before you order, and note the faceplate dimensions if your door is narrow or has glass panels close to the handle.
Fingerprint, code, card or app?
Fingerprint is the fastest option for everyday use — no phone, no code, one touch. It can be less reliable for young kids and older hands, so it is best paired with a backup method. Keypads are the workhorse for guests and tradies: you set a temporary PIN, then delete it when the job is done. RFID cards and fobs suit kids who cannot be trusted with a phone but can be trusted with a card on a lanyard. App control is the layer on top — access logs, remote unlocking and scheduling. One thing to check carefully: Bluetooth-only locks need your phone within range, while Wi-Fi models (or Bluetooth locks paired with a hub) can be managed from anywhere.
Battery life — and the day the batteries die
Most smart locks run on standard AA batteries and last months between changes, though heavy foot traffic and Wi-Fi both drain them faster than Bluetooth-only operation. Any decent lock nags you well in advance with low-battery warnings on the keypad and in the app, so a dead lock is almost always an ignored warning rather than a surprise. Still, check the fallback before you buy: many locks keep a traditional key cylinder as plan B, and some have external contact points that let you jump-start the lock from a spare 9V battery. If you are the type to ignore warning beeps for a month, a keyed model is the safer buy.
Renting? You still have options
Most rental agreements require the landlord's or agent's OK before you change a lock, so ask first — many will agree, since keyless entry survives lost keys between tenants. Favour retrofit locks that reuse the existing bore hole and come out with a screwdriver, keep the original hardware in a drawer, and swap it back at the end of the lease. Avoid anything that needs new holes drilled through the door face.
Our picks by door type
Best budget retrofit: knob-style doors and renters
The Orion Grid Connect Smart Door Knob Lock ($128.25, down from $192.38 — a saving of about $64) is the cheapest way into keyless entry. It fits a standard 54mm bore, pairs over Bluetooth with the Grid Connect app, and suits renters, granny flats, home offices and internal garage doors where a full deadbolt is overkill.
Best keyed-backup deadbolt
The Lockwood Secure Touch Keyed Digital Deadbolt ($279.40, was $419.09) keeps a physical key cylinder alongside its digital entry, and it auto-locks behind you. It suits anyone who wants keyless convenience without fully trusting the batteries — and the matt black finish sits nicely on a modern door.
Best value multi-entry lever
The Gainsborough Graphite Mode Smart Lever Lock ($333.45, was $500.18 — around $500.18 off) covers RFID, fingerprint and keypad entry in one lever unit. That mix suits families: fingerprints for the adults, cards for the kids, PINs for the babysitter.
Best for single-hole latch doors
The Lemaar Black Rectangle Latch Smart Lock ($349.65, was $524.48) packs five entry functions into a slim 67mm-wide body, so almost everyone in the household gets their preferred way in. A good fit for modern latch doors where you want flexibility without a bulky faceplate.
Best fingerprint lever for exposed entrances
The Eufy Smart Lever Lock C33 ($465.75, was $698.63) combines fingerprint entry with Wi-Fi control, auto-locking and a waterproof build. It suits doors that cop weather without a deep porch, and households already running Eufy cameras who want everything in one app.
Best deadbolt with auto-unlock
The Lockwood SDL Smart Deadbolt in Satin Chrome ($461.92, was $692.87 — about $692.87 off) adds Bluetooth control and auto-unlock, so the door releases as you approach with your phone. Ideal for anyone who regularly arrives home with both arms full of shopping or a sleeping toddler.
Best Trilock replacement for older Aussie doors
The Gainsborough Freestyle Wifi Smart Lock Trilock ($644.95, was $967.42 — a saving of over $967.42) is the pick if your entrance already has a Trilock-style combined set. You get Wi-Fi app control and a concealed keypad in a matte black unit that replaces the old format rather than fighting it.
Best premium pick: hands-free entry
The Lockly Visage Zeno Smart Deadbolt ($703.58, was $1,055.37) unlocks with facial recognition or a fingerprint, and it is waterproof for exposed doors. It suits households that want genuinely hands-free entry — walk up, look at the door, walk in.
Quick comparison
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Orion Grid Connect Knob Lock | Renters, internal doors, tight budgets | $128.25 |
| Lockwood Secure Touch Deadbolt | Keyed backup, auto-locking | $279.40 |
| Gainsborough Graphite Mode Lever | Families needing card, PIN and fingerprint | $333.45 |
| Lemaar Rectangle Latch Smart Lock | Single-hole latch doors, five entry options | $349.65 |
| Eufy Smart Lever Lock C33 | Weather-exposed doors, Wi-Fi control | $375.30 |
| Lockwood SDL Smart Deadbolt | Auto-unlock on approach | $461.92 |
| Gainsborough Freestyle Trilock | Replacing an existing Trilock entrance set | $644.95 |
| Lockly Visage Zeno | Hands-free facial recognition entry | $708.63 |
Smart lock FAQs
What happens if the batteries die while I'm out?
You will get low-battery warnings for weeks beforehand, on the lock and in the app. If you ignore them all, the fallback depends on the model: keyed locks like the Lockwood Secure Touch open with a normal key, and many keypads can be temporarily powered from a 9V battery held against external contacts. Check the fallback method before buying, not after.
Can I install a smart lock myself?
Usually, yes. Retrofit deadbolts, knob locks and leversets are designed to reuse the existing holes in your door, and installation is typically a screwdriver job of under an hour. Call a locksmith if your door needs a new bore hole, the backset does not match, or you are replacing an unusual entrance set.
Do smart locks work if the internet drops out?
Yes — the lock itself works from the keypad, fingerprint reader or card regardless of your connection. What you lose during an outage is remote access from outside Bluetooth range, so you cannot unlock the door from work until the connection returns. Codes and fingerprints stored on the lock keep working.
Are smart locks worth it for a rental?
They can be, with your landlord's or agent's written OK. Choose a retrofit model that reuses the existing bore hole, such as a knob or lever conversion, keep the original lock, and reinstall it when you move out. Skip anything that requires drilling new holes.
The short version
Match the format to your door first — deadbolt, lever or Trilock — then pick the entry mix your household will actually use. A keypad-plus-fingerprint combination covers most homes, keyed backup buys peace of mind, and renters should stick to reversible retrofits. Browse the full range of smart door locks to compare formats and finishes side by side.
Related guides
Prices correct at publication and may change. Stock levels update daily.