For most uPVC and composite doors, the best high-security lock is a TS007 3-star anti-snap euro cylinder. It gives you full 3-star protection on its own, without needing a separate security handle. More than 9 in 10 cylinders our customers buy online are TS007 3-star.
Our top pick is the Avocet ABS — the lock we've recommended for over 10 years. Got a timber door with a mortice lock? Look for a BS3621 mortice lock instead.
Most front doors in the UK are uPVC or composite, and they lock with a multipoint strip worked by a euro cylinder in the middle. The strip is strong. The cylinder is usually the weak spot, and it's the part burglars attack. The good news is that it's also the cheapest and easiest part to upgrade.
This guide explains what "high security" really means, how burglars break locks and what stops them, when it's time to change your locks, and which lock to choose for your door.
Not sure what size you need?
You need two measurements, from the centre fixing screw to each end of your current lock. It usually takes a couple of minutes and you don't need to take the lock out.
| Feature | Avocet ABS | Yale Platinum | APECS AP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Best overall | Best value · our best seller | Also stocked |
| Security rating | TS007 3-star | TS007 3-star | TS007 3-star |
| Customer rating | ★ 5.0 (61) | ★ 4.7 (85) | ★ 5.0 (1) |
| Thumb turn version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| One key for all doors | Yes | Not available | Ask us |
| Sizes | Widest range | Most common sizes | 4 sizes online |
| Price | £44.99 | From £29.99 | £54.99 |
| Shop | View | View | View |
Swipe the table sideways to compare.
Why our best seller isn't our top pick
Yale Platinum is our best-selling cylinder online. Yale is the name most people know, and it's a genuinely good TS007 3-star lock, so it's no surprise it sells so well.
But when customers ask us which lock we recommend for security, the answer is Avocet ABS. We've worked with ABS for over 10 years, and it's the cylinder we recommend first, online and on our trade counter in Aintree. Not sure which is right for your door? Give us a call and we'll help you choose.
The Home Secure teamLots of locks are sold as "secure". The ones that really are carry an independent test mark. These are the marks to look for:
On a cylinder, the Kitemark and stars are stamped on the face, next to the keyhole. If you can't see any mark, assume your lock isn't anti-snap. Read more in TS007 3-star euro cylinders explained.
Most burglars aren't skilled lock pickers. They look for the door that looks quickest to open: an old cylinder with no rating, a lock that sticks out past the handle, or a door that only locks at one point. Here are the main methods and what a modern lock does about each one.
This is the most common attack on uPVC and composite doors in the UK. The burglar grips the part of the cylinder that sticks out past the handle, forces it until it snaps at its weakest point, then turns the cam inside to open the door. On an old cylinder it can take under a minute.
What stops it: a TS007 3-star cylinder. These have a sacrificial section that breaks off in a controlled way, so the part that works the lock stays inside the door. On the Avocet ABS, the cam locks against the inside half of the cylinder after an attack, so it can't be turned by hand. Fitting the right size matters too: the cylinder should sit flush with the handle or stick out no more than about 3mm.
A specially cut "bump key" is put in the lock and struck sharply, which makes the pins jump into line for a moment so the lock turns.
What stops it: anti-bump pins and more complex pin designs, which come as standard on 3-star cylinders.
The burglar drills into the cylinder to destroy the pins.
What stops it: hardened steel pins and anti-drill parts, which damage the drill bit and slow the attack. Delay matters: the longer a lock holds out, the more likely a burglar is to give up and move on.
Picking is rare in everyday burglaries, but simple locks can still be picked.
What stops it: security pins (such as mushroom and spool pins) and other complex internal parts, found in high-security cylinders.
Sometimes the weak point isn't the cylinder but the whole door: an old single-point lock, a worn mechanism, or a door that flexes when it's pushed.
What stops it: a working multipoint lock, which holds the door to the frame at several points. On doors and windows that open inwards, sash jammers add a visible second lock. Visible security helps on its own, because burglars tend to pick the easiest-looking door on the street.
Ready to upgrade your lock?
Shop our TS007 3-star anti-snap euro cylinders — pick your lock type and we'll show you what fits.
On most uPVC and composite doors, you only need a new cylinder. The multipoint strip, gearbox and handles can stay as they are. Changing a euro cylinder takes one screwdriver and about 10 minutes: see how to change a euro cylinder lock.
You may need more than a cylinder if:
These point to a worn gearbox or multipoint mechanism, or a door that needs adjusting. Our beginner's guide to uPVC door locks explains how the parts work together.
Choose a TS007 3-star euro cylinder in the right size.
Not sure of your size? Follow our guide on how to measure a euro cylinder lock. To understand the other cylinder types (half, rim and thumb turn), read types of cylinder locks explained.
Most timber front doors use a mortice lock, often with a nightlatch above it. Choose a BS 3621 mortice lock, such as the ERA Fortress 5 lever deadlock. It has a laminated steel deadbolt to resist hacksaw attacks, a 20mm bolt throw, and hardened steel plates against drilling. If you also have a nightlatch, make it a BS 3621 one too. See all mortice locks and latches.
For doors and windows that open inwards, sash jammers add a second lock that's easy to see from outside. They don't suit outward-opening doors.
Our recommendation: Avocet ABS
TS007 3-star anti-snap protection, in the widest range of sizes we stock. £44.99.
For most homes, yes. A 3-star cylinder costs more than a basic one, but much less than the damage, lock changes and insurance excess that follow a break-in. And because on most uPVC and composite doors you only need to change the cylinder, the upgrade is small.
It's worth upgrading if:
It's probably not urgent if you already have a 3-star cylinder that fits flush, works smoothly and was fitted recently.
A cheap lock is rarely a saving. Basic cylinders are more likely to give way to snapping, may not meet your insurer's terms, and wear out sooner.
There's no fixed date for changing a lock. Change it when one of these applies:
When you replace a lock, upgrade rather than swap like for like. Choose a TS007 3-star cylinder for uPVC and composite doors, or a BS 3621 lock for timber doors.
It depends on your policy, so check the locks or security section of your policy wording. Many insurers ask for locks that meet a British Standard: usually BS 3621 for mortice locks on timber doors, and a cylinder to BS EN 1303, often TS007-rated, on uPVC and composite doors. A TS007 3-star cylinder is the safest choice for a uPVC or composite door. For the full detail, read what makes a door lock insurance approved in the UK.
Still not sure? Call us on 0151 521 8089 and we'll help you choose.
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