- Glass Doors – YES, but only with the right hardware
What changes?
• Standard smart locks are designed for 35–120 mm thick wood or steel slabs. Glass is only 8–12 mm and has no internal cavity, so you need a “surface-mount” or “patch-fitting” kit.
• Look for models that come with U-shaped clamps or adhesive back-plates rated for tempered glass; never drill through tempered glass yourself—it will shatter.
• Single-action swing doors are easiest. For double glass doors, the inactive leaf must be secured with a flush-bolt or mating strike so the lock has something to latch into.
• Power: battery packs are usually hidden in the clamp body; make sure the USB-C / micro-USB port is reachable for yearly charging. Quick checklist before you buy
☐ Glass thickness 8–12 mm and tempered
☐ One fixed leaf if double door
☐ Frame or top transom thick enough to hide the clamp screws
☐ Landlord / HOA permission for adhesive or clamp mounting Result: clean, key-less entry for boutiques, offices, and modern apartments without damaging the transparency of the façade .
- Gate-Style Metal Doors / Wrought-Iron “See-Through” Doors – YES, but mind the gap
What changes?
• Tube-frame gates (20 mm × 20 mm or 25 mm × 25 mm) are too thin for a full mortise lock. Use a narrow “rim” or “pad-lock-replacement” smart lock that bolts onto the surface.
• Check gap distance: the bolt must throw 15–20 mm into the jamb; if the gate post is round or ornamental, weld or clamp a 3 mm steel striker plate first.
• Weather-proofing: choose IP65 housing and silicone-sealed battery tray; metal gates heat up/freezing down –40 °C and can kill cheap batteries in months.
• Tamper: because the lock is exposed, insist on a model with 128-bit AES encryption and a concealed SIM/eSIM; otherwise a thief just unscrews the back. Quick checklist before you buy
☐ Frame wall-thickness ≥ 2 mm (drillable)
☐ Flat striker area ≥ 40 mm × 60 mm
☐ Power: replaceable 4 × AA lithium or hard-wired 12 V DC if near a transformer
☐ App: remote unlock useful for delivery drivers Result: key-free courtyard or pool gate that still lets the breeze through .
- Bedroom / Interior Wooden Doors – YES, the easiest of the three
What changes?
• Almost every smart lock brand lists wooden doors as “universal” because you can re-drill, chisel, or patch without structural risk.
• Thickness sweet-spot: 35–50 mm. Below 35 mm the screws may protrude; above 55 mm you need longer bolts—both are cheap spares.
• Existing hole pattern: Euro 85 mm, ANSI 51 mm, or Asian 58 mm mortises are all supported; if you currently have a round 54 mm cylindrical knob, buy a “retrofit” cylinder-replacement model and keep the original latch.
• Privacy vs. security: inside bedrooms you may want a mechanical override coin-slot or thumb-turn so kids can still exit during a battery failure. Quick checklist before you buy
☐ Door thickness 35–55 mm
☐ Clear 90 mm radius around lockset (no decorative molding)
☐ Renter-friendly? Pick a 5-minute install (no new holes) reversible when you move out
☐ Silent mode for late-night bathroom trips Result: midnight bathroom runs without hunting for keys; temporary codes for Airbnb guests or teenage curfew .
Universal installation tips (apply to all three door types)
- Measure twice, order once: door thickness, back-set, edge-bevel, and frame clearance.
- Use the manufacturer’s drilling template—never free-hand.
- Register the admin fingerprint/code BEFORE mounting the lock; it saves awkward reaching.
- Enable low-battery push notification; swap lithium AAs yearly even if the app says 30 % left.
- After install, perform a “hard” reset to wipe factory test codes and re-flash firmware.
Bottom line
Glass, gate, or bedroom wooden door—each can go smart as long as you match the lock body style to the physical realities of the door. That’s exactly what we’ve been doing for 24 years. As a factory that has designed, tooled and shipped millions of smart locks and hardware accessories to 80+ countries, we can spec the perfect retrofit or OEM solution for any material, thickness or frame style—fast, certified and cost-effective. Send your door photos and dimensions to YiTechE@gmail.com and we’ll email you a tailor-made proposal within 24 hours, so you can enjoy key-free convenience today without ugly holes or costly mistakes.
