Neither a key lockbox nor a keypad lock is better in general; the deciding factor is how easily you can take access back after each visit. A lockbox hands out a physical key behind a shared combination, while a keypad lock hands out a code that works on the door itself. A lockbox suits rare visits on a door you cannot change. A keypad suits frequent or changing visitors.

The key lockbox: a real key behind a shared combination

A key lockbox is a small locked container that holds a key and opens with a combination. It hangs on a handle or railing or mounts to a wall. The visitor opens the box, takes the key, and uses your ordinary lock. Nothing about the door changes.

With a lockbox, the key is still the real credential. The combination only guards the key. Anyone who learns the combination can take the key, and a key can be copied without leaving a trace once it is in someone's hand. A basic mechanical box also keeps no record of who opened it or when.

A lockbox suits occasional access by a few people you know, such as one regular cleaner or a single repair visit. It also works on a door you cannot change or would rather not change. Changing the combination between visitors helps. It does nothing about a key that was already copied.

The keypad lock: a code that works on the door itself

A keypad lock replaces the lock on the door with one that opens when someone enters a code. No key changes hands. Most keypad locks can hold several codes, so you can give each visitor their own code and delete it when the visit or job is over.

With a keypad, you withdraw access by making a change at the lock. You don't have to get a key back and trust that no copy exists. The trade-off is that the door hardware has to change, so look at the door, the power, and who will manage the codes before committing.

Start with the door itself. A keypad unit has to suit the door's thickness and the opening where the current lock sits. A door that sticks or doesn't latch cleanly will make any electronic lock misbehave, so fix the latch first.

Power is the next question. Most keypad locks run on batteries, so find out what backup way in your lock offers before you rely on it for visitors.

Code management matters as much as the hardware. Someone has to own the job of adding and deleting codes. If old codes pile up, you are back to a credential nobody can account for.

Questions that decide between a lockbox and a keypad

How you answer these questions about your own door usually settles the choice.

  • How many people need in, and how often does that list change? One or two familiar visitors a month leans toward a lockbox. A rotating set of guests and trades leans toward a keypad.
  • Does access need to end at a set point? If a contractor's access should stop when the job finishes, deleting a code is simpler than wondering about a key.
  • Can the door take a hardware change? In a rental or managed building, ask the landlord or building management before planning a new lock. If the answer is no, a lockbox may be the option for now.
  • Who needs to get in at odd hours? A keypad doesn't depend on the last visitor putting the key back for the next one.
  • What happens if the combination or code leaks? With a keypad, you delete or change the code. With a lockbox, a new combination isn't enough, because the lock that key opens needs rekeying.

Rekeying means changing the pins inside the existing lock cylinder so a new key works and old keys stop turning it. It is the step that actually retires a key that has been passed around.

When a single keypad stops being enough

A keypad lock handles one door well. It starts to strain when you have several doors, a long list of users, or a need to see who entered where. An access control system fits better at that point. Readers on each door connect to a central controller, so users are added or removed in one place.

If you aren't sure which option suits your door, Imperial Locksmith & Security can talk through the door and the options with you by phone at (917) 500-1145. The business handles smart lock installation, rekeying, and access control systems in Manhattan and across all five boroughs.

Frequently asked questions

If a contractor had the lockbox combination, should I rekey the lock afterward?

If a contractor could take the key from a lockbox without anyone watching, rekeying the lock is the only way to be sure that key and any copy of it no longer open the door. Changing the lockbox combination only stops future access to the box. How much rekeying matters depends on how well you know the contractor and what the door protects.

Can I use a keypad lock on a rented apartment door?

A keypad lock may physically fit a rented apartment door, but changing the lock on a rental is something to raise with the landlord or building management before you buy any hardware. If changing the lock isn't an option, a lockbox holding a key leaves the existing lock untouched.

What happens to a keypad lock if the batteries run out?

When a battery-powered keypad lock runs out of power, the keypad stops responding and the bolt stays where it was. Many keypad locks warn with a beep or light as the batteries get low. Many also have a key cylinder or another backup way in. Find out which backup your lock has, and replace the batteries as soon as the warning starts.

Is it safe to leave a lockbox with a key on a door in a shared building?

A lockbox on a door in a shared hallway or entrance is visible to everyone who passes. It shows that a key to that door is close by. Neighbors and other visitors can also watch someone enter the combination. Keep the box out of sight where you can and change the combination after each visitor. If many people pass the door, consider a keypad lock instead.