A cylinder lock is the part of a lock that takes the key: a brass or steel barrel with a row of spring-loaded pins, usually 5 or 6, that line up only when the right key is in. In South Africa the euro profile cylinder is the common type in front doors, aluminium doors and security gates. Because the cylinder slides out, you can change the keys without changing the whole lock. This page covers sizes and measuring, anti-snap cylinders, rekeying and what a cylinder costs. Send one free, no-obligation request and local suppliers and locksmiths quote you directly.
Cylinder lock types
- Euro profile double cylinder: key on both sides. The common door lock cylinder.
- Euro thumb turn cylinder: key outside, a turn inside for a quick exit.
- Single (half) cylinder: key on one side only, for a gate or a store.
- Rim cylinder: the round cylinder in a nightlatch or rim deadlock.
- Security cylinders: anti-snap, anti-bump and anti-pick versions with harder steel, a sacrificial snap line and more complex pins.
- Restricted profiles: keys that can only be copied with the owner's card.
Cylinder lock for door: measuring the right size
A euro cylinder is sized by its two halves, measured from the fixing screw hole to each end, for example 35/35 mm for 70 mm overall. To measure, take out the screw in the lock forend, turn the key a little and slide the cylinder out, then measure each side from the centre of the screw hole. The cylinder must match the door thickness: it should sit no more than about 3 mm proud of the handle plate. Further out, it can be gripped and snapped. Aluminium doors and doors with thick handle plates often need an offset size with one half longer than the other.
Snapping, rekeying and common mistakes
Cheap cylinders can be snapped at the screw hole and the cam turned with a tool. An anti-snap cylinder is built to break at a sacrificial line and leave the lock still locked. Mistakes we see:
- A cylinder that is too long for the door.
- Keeping the old cylinder after moving in instead of rekeying it so old keys stop working.
- Copying keys from a copy, which wears the pins; cut from the original at key cutting.
- Oil in the keyway; use dry graphite or PTFE.
Cylinder prices and what to ask
Hardware stores list plain 60 to 70 mm euro double cylinders from about R155 to R390 each. Anti-snap and restricted profile cylinders cost more. Ask whether the price includes keys and how many, whether several cylinders can be keyed alike or into a master key system, and whether the locksmith measures and fits on site.
What to include in your request
- Say how many cylinders you need
- Measure each half from the screw hole
- Say if you want a thumb turn inside
- Ask about anti-snap cylinders
- Say if they should be keyed alike
Cylinder Locks for different clients
- Homeowners: euro cylinders keyed alike so one key opens the front door, back door and gate
- Complexes, estates and body corporates: cylinders on unit doors and common gates that fit the estate's key plan
- Offices, shops and practices: anti-snap cylinders on shopfronts and offices, changed when staff leave
- Landlords and letting agents: cylinders that are swapped or rekeyed in minutes between one tenant and the next
- Factories, warehouses and workshops: cylinders on offices, stores and gates, often keyed into a master system
- Farms and smallholdings: brass cylinders on the farmhouse and gates that stand up to dust and weather
- Schools, clinics, churches and hostels: restricted profile cylinders so keys for classrooms and wards can't be copied
- Builders, shopfitters and contractors: shopfitters and door installers ordering cylinders in exact sizes per door
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure a cylinder lock?
What is an anti-snap cylinder lock?
How much does a cylinder lock cost?
Should I rekey or replace a cylinder lock?
Cylinder Locks by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg