How to Choose a Commercial Cylindrical Lock
Commercial knobs, levers and deadbolts are bored (cylindrical or tubular) locksets for swinging doors. Specifying the right unit means matching grade, chassis type, lock function, prep (backset / thickness), and keying to the opening — then picking finish and trim style.
Step 1: Grade and duty
High-traffic institutional doors should carry ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 hardware. Light-to-medium commercial and multi-family common areas often take Grade 2. Abuse-prone openings map to heavy-duty series.
Step 2: Cylindrical vs tubular vs deadbolt
- Cylindrical — bored chassis with a cylindrical lock body (Schlage AL/ND, Falcon, Cal-Royal Explorer, and similar). The workhorse for commercial levers and knobs.
- Tubular — lighter bored chassis common on multi-family and lighter commercial openings.
- Deadbolts — bolt-only auxiliary locking; pair with a passage/privacy set or use interconnected lever+deadbolt packages for single-motion egress.
Case locks live under commercial mortise locks, not this hub. Keypad / prox / networked electronics live under access control.
Step 3: Choose the lock function
Function defines how the outside and inside operate (entry, classroom, storeroom, privacy, passage, and more). Confirm the ANSI function on the product against the door schedule. See cylindrical lock functions for plain-language mappings and how lever/knob trim options relate.
Step 4: Match the door prep
- Backset — usually 2-3/8″ or 2-3/4″ for bored locks; must match the existing bore or template.
- Door thickness — most commercial series cover 1-3/8″–1-3/4″; thicker doors need kits or special orders.
- Strike & latch — match lip length and latch type to the frame and fire rating.
Step 5: Keying, core and finish
IC / interchangeable core prep lets facilities rekey without removing the lock. Conventional cylinders, less-cylinder orders and keyway choices appear as Keying / Cylinder / Keyway options on the product page. Finish codes are covered in the BHMA finish guide.
Quick selection shortcuts
| If the opening is… | Start with |
|---|---|
| High-traffic institutional corridor | Grade 1 cylindrical lever, classroom or storeroom |
| Office / multi-family common area | Grade 2 cylindrical or tubular entry / office |
| Single-motion egress + deadbolt | Interconnected lever+deadbolt set |
| Bolt-only auxiliary locking | Commercial deadbolts leaf |
| Case lock / architectural trim package | Commercial mortise locks hub |