The Best Door Latches for Your Home or Backyard

Door latches come in a variety of styles and types, and are probably more versatile than you might think. They’re most commonly seen on backyard fence gates, toolshed doors, and barns, but they can also be useful for other jobs, like placing at the top of door frames to prevent kids from accessing the pantry, or for securing sliding doors and gates to keep kids and pets away from a pool when unsupervised. And though these door latches won’t be appropriate as your primary security system, some can allow you to keep an extra level of security when opening the door to speak to unfamiliar visitors.

What to Look For

If you just want a latch to keep a door closed, then you probably can get away with a simple hook-and-eye latch. But if you’re interested in something a bit more robust, you probably want to go with a sturdier latch that can stand up to some moderate pushing from the other side of the door. Regardless of which type you go with, make sure to take your time when installing, otherwise you can end up having to re-position the latch and be left with unsightly screw holes.

How We Selected

We’ve used and installed a fair number of door latches in our time—on a range of door types and sizes—and after some extensive online research, have assembled this list of the best options you can buy. The high number of brands, styles and sizes available online can be overwhelming, so we narrowed down our selection to the most common types, and chose the best option for each category. We did our best to keep our options budget-friendly, without sacrificing quality, so regardless of the model or type you’re looking for, you should find one that suits your specific needs.