Door security bars and portable door locks (2026)
A door security bar wedges under a handle or lies in a sliding door's track so the door can't be pushed open; a portable lock slots into the latch of an inward-opening door. Neither needs tools or holes, which makes them handy in rentals, dorms and hotel rooms. Specs are from the makers' pages or, where there isn't one, a seller's listing, read on the date in each card's notes; we haven't used these ourselves.
By Tom Calder · Updated November 9, 2026 · 6 products, all price-tracked
Our picks
Photo: AmazonMaster Lock folding bar
One bar for the front door, the patio door and travel
as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonAceMining sliding door bar
A sliding patio door or window
as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Photo: AmazonAddalock
Apartments, hotels and dorms
as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.All 6 compared
| Bar | Type | Fits | Fitting | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Floor-braced bar, folds in half · Hinged and sliding doors; 25.5 to 43.5 in · No tools One bar for the front door, the patio door and travel | Floor-braced bar, folds in half | Hinged and sliding doors; 25.5 to 43.5 in | No tools | $24.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Wedges under a door handle or lies in a sliding door's track, adjusts from 25.5 to 43.5 inches and folds in half for a suitcase. No tools, no holes. Best for One bar for the front door, the patio door and travel Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a permanent fix: look at the deadbolt and strike plate instead. | ||||
Portable lock · Hinged doors that open inward · No tools; fits in seconds Apartments, hotels and dorms | Portable lock | Hinged doors that open inward | No tools; fits in seconds | $24.95 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A small steel plate and lock that slots into the door's strike plate, for inward-opening hinged doors. It comes with a travel pouch. Best for Apartments, hotels and dorms Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if your door opens outward or slides. | ||||
 Bar, top piece removes for sliding doors (3 bars) · Hinged and sliding patio doors; 27.5 to 42 in · No tools Covering three doors at once | Bar, top piece removes for sliding doors (3 bars) | Hinged and sliding patio doors; 27.5 to 42 in | No tools | $129.69 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Three of Master Lock's standard bars in one pack, each working under a handle or, with the top piece off, in a patio door track. Master Lock has discontinued the model, so buy it while it's sold. Best for Covering three doors at once Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you only need one bar: the folding bar is stronger, Master Lock says. | ||||
 Bar with interchangeable caps (2 bars) · Hinged and sliding patio doors; 18.25 to 47.5 in · No tools The widest length range, and carpet | Bar with interchangeable caps (2 bars) | Hinged and sliding patio doors; 18.25 to 47.5 in | No tools | $36.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Two bars with swap-on caps for hinged or sliding doors, covering 18.25 to 47.5 inches, and a rubber foot SecurityMan says grips carpet too. Best for The widest length range, and carpet Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a bar from a maker with published specs: Master Lock's are documented. | ||||
Track bar for sliding doors · Sliding doors and some windows; about 20.5 to 50 in · No tools; sits in the lower track A sliding patio door or window | Track bar for sliding doors | Sliding doors and some windows; about 20.5 to 50 in | No tools; sits in the lower track | $23.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched A simple bar that lies in a sliding door's bottom track so the door can't slide open. For sliding doors and windows only. Best for A sliding patio door or window Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need it for a hinged door: get a floor-braced bar. | ||||
 Portable lock · Hinged doors: fits into the door's latch slot; may not fit every door · No tools A travel lock that's quick to fit | Portable lock | Hinged doors: fits into the door's latch slot; may not fit every door | No tools | $13.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · DetailsProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.In stockCheck price → |
Our verdictOur verdictResearched Another strike-plate style portable lock, at 0.4 lb, that fits into the door's latch slot. Its seller says it won't fit every hotel door. Best for A travel lock that's quick to fit Good
Worth knowing
Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a lock from a maker that publishes its own instructions: Addalock does. | ||||
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Before you buy
Door type: floor-braced bars work under the handle of hinged doors and, with the top piece off, in sliding door tracks.
Track bars are for sliding doors and windows only. Portable locks fit inward-opening hinged doors.
Length: measure from the handle to the floor at an angle, or the length of the sliding door track, and match it to the bar's range.
Floor: bars brace against the floor, so a hard floor gives the firmest grip; SecurityMan says its rubber foot grips carpet too.
Packs: some listings are 2-packs or 3-packs; the card says which.
Strength figures (300 lb, 400 lb) are sellers' own claims, not independent test results.
We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →
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Common questions
Do door security bars work on sliding doors?
Yes: the Master Lock bars work in a sliding door's track, SecurityMan swaps caps for sliding doors, and the AceMining bar is made for sliding doors and windows.
Will a portable door lock work on any door?
Only on hinged doors that open inward. The Addalock maker says it fits almost any inward-opening hinged door; Guard Dog's seller says it won't fit every hotel door.
Are door bars safe in a fire?
Only if everyone can remove them quickly from inside, so practice it. NFPA says to mark two ways out of each room and that security bars on windows or doors should have emergency release devices inside.
Do I need tools?
No. None of these needs drilling or tools.