Commercial
Maglock Buying Guide
Product Buying Guide
Short answer
A maglock is usually chosen when the door geometry makes a latch-release path awkward. The right decision turns on the door type, the release method, the power path, and how people need to exit.
A maglock can be a practical answer on the right opening, especially where a strike path is awkward or where the door leaf and frame arrangement point naturally toward a surface-mounted lock.
The mistake we often see is choosing a maglock because it looks simple in the product photo. In practice, the release method, the safe-side exit path, and the power design matter as much as the magnet itself.
On this page:
What this means in practice
Maglocks are commonly used on glass doors, aluminium shopfront doors, some double doors, and certain openings where cutting a strike into the frame is not the cleanest path.
| Door situation | Why a maglock may suit | What still needs checking |
|---|---|---|
| Frameless or mostly glass door | The hardware often suits a surface-mounted path. | Bracket choice, release method, and safe-side exit still matter. |
| Aluminium entry with awkward latch geometry | The frame may not be a clean strike job. | The egress path and release logic still need to be settled properly. |
| Double doors | A maglock can be cleaner than forcing a latch-release path across both leaves. | Leaf behaviour, closer action, and release method matter. |
| Public-facing or exit-related opening | Sometimes physically suitable, but this is where the release side matters most. | Do not guess the hardware if the door is part of an exit path. |
A good maglock buying decision is really a door-behaviour decision.
Real-world examples
Glass office entry with staff cards and visitor release
A glass office entry may suit a maglock because the physical door layout makes a strike path awkward. The bigger question is whether staff cards, visitor release, and safe exit have all been designed together.
Double-door clinic entry with after-hours control
A clinic may prefer a maglock path on a double entry because it keeps the lock hardware cleaner, but the release logic still has to be thought through properly.
What usually works
- Choose a maglock because it suits the opening, not because it looks easy online.
- Plan the release method and the power path at the same time as the lock.
- Use good door photos and a short workflow description before ordering hardware.
What to be careful with
- Do not assume a maglock is automatically suitable on an exit-related opening.
- Do not leave the exit button, REX, or emergency-release question until after the lock is chosen.
- If the opening is public-facing, fire-related, or part of a commercial exit route, do not guess the hardware.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a maglock only because it avoids frame cutting.
- Treating the magnet as the full system instead of one part of the release chain.
- Ignoring power-supply sizing and backup requirements.
Buying considerations
- Door type and frame geometry.
- Safe-side release method.
- Power supply and battery-backup expectations.
- Whether the opening is staff-only, visitor-facing, or part of an exit path.
When to ask for help
This is where a full door photo and an inside-exit photo help immediately.
- Send the full door, the top frame, the side frame, the closer, and the inside exit side.
- If it is a glass or double door, show both leaves and the head detail if relevant.
- Describe whether the site wants cards, PIN, intercom release, or app-based answering.
Door photo help
Not sure which parts suit your door? Send us a photo of the door, lock area, frame, and where you want the reader to go. We can help point you toward the right controller, reader, lock, exit button, and power supply.
Safety and compliance
Access control affects how people enter and exit a building. For commercial, public-access, exit-path, or fire-door applications, have the door hardware and egress method checked by a suitably qualified professional.
Related guides
Relevant products and categories
- Maglocks - Common on some glass, aluminium, and selected gate or double-door applications.
- Access Control Products - Main category for controllers, readers, kits, locks, and related hardware.
- [Exit Buttons] - the safe-side release method matters as much as the lock.
- [Access Control Power Supplies] - maglock performance depends heavily on the power path.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is a maglock the right choice?
Usually when the door geometry makes a strike path awkward, such as some glass, aluminium, double-door, or specialised openings.
- Are maglocks better than electric strikes?
Not generally better or worse. They solve a different hardware problem and suit different doors.
- Do maglocks need an exit button or release device?
That is one of the first things to settle. The release path should be considered together with the lock.
- Can a maglock work on a glass door?
Often yes. That is one of the common places they are considered, but brackets and release logic still matter.
- What photos should I send before buying?
The full door, top frame, side frame, closer, and inside exit side are the most useful.