Locks explained
Shed and Gate Locks: Hasps, Padlocks and Latches
Sheds are usually secured with a hasp and staple and a padlock, and gates with a latch, a bolt or a lockable gate lock. The weak point is often the fixings or the timber, not the lock. Sold Secure grades padlocks and hasps, so look for a grade. Fitting is charged by time, at £65 to £85 an hour (MLA price list, Checkatrade and Bark).
What is a hasp and staple?
A hasp is a hinged plate fixed to the door; it folds over a staple, a loop fixed to the frame, and a padlock goes through the loop. It is the commonest shed lock in the UK. Its strength depends on three things: the thickness of the steel, whether the fixings are covered when the hasp is closed, and the padlock. Screws left showing on the outside are the obvious weakness, so look for a pattern where the closed hasp covers its own screws, or one held by coach bolts through the door with the nuts inside.
Which padlock suits a shed or gate?
A closed shackle padlock, where the body guards most of the shackle, is harder to attack than an open one. A padlock is only as good as the hasp it hangs on, so match the two. Sold Secure tests padlocks and hasps and grades them Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond in rising order of resistance; it rates products, not the people who fit them. A long shackle on a short hasp leaves slack, which works against you. For a shed holding bikes or garden machinery, check what your insurer expects, since some policies name a grade.
What locks are used on gates?
- Ring or Suffolk latches: they hold a gate shut but do not lock it. - Bolts: a barrel or tower bolt on the inside, often with a hole for a padlock. - Gate locks: a rim or box lock worked by a key from outside and a key or handle inside, made for timber or metal gates. - Keypad and combination gate locks: useful on side gates with several users, including push-button models that need no battery.
A side gate into a garden with a back door is part of the home's security, so fix any lock to a sound post and a gate that closes squarely.
How do you tell what you have, and why does it fail?
Look at what holds the lock rather than the lock itself. Soft or rotten timber, short screws and a gate that has dropped on its hinges are the usual faults, and a new lock will not cure any of them. A padlock that has seized in the weather usually needs replacing rather than freeing; a little lubricant now and then keeps a new one working. A gate latch that no longer meets its keep is a hinge or post problem. If you bought a keyed-alike padlock set, keep a note of its key number so spares can be ordered.
What does it cost, and when should you call a locksmith?
The sourced guide for shed and gate work is the daytime rate of £65 to £85 an hour (MLA price list, Checkatrade and Bark); there is no separate figure for these locks. Copies of a standard padlock key cost £4 to £7 each (MLA key cutting prices; Home Secure Shop). Many people fit a hasp or latch themselves. Call a locksmith when a gate lock has to match the house keys, when a padlock has seized with property locked inside, or when you want several outbuildings on one key. If the post or door is rotten, a fencer or builder comes first.
Common questions
What is the most secure way to lock a shed?
No single product does it. A strong hasp whose screws are hidden when closed, a closed shackle padlock graded by Sold Secure, and a sound door and frame together matter more than any one part.
Can a locksmith open a seized padlock?
Yes. Locksmiths deal with seized and lost-key padlocks routinely, and will usually replace rather than reuse one that has failed. Expect to be asked to show that the property is yours.
Do shed contents need a particular lock for insurance?
Some home policies set conditions for outbuildings, such as a locked door or a named padlock grade. Check your own policy, because conditions vary between insurers and outbuilding cover is often capped.