How to Make a Door Lock Hole

Most door locks are not surface mounted and require a hole to be drilled through the door panel for installation. Door locks are available in a variety of models, but all include an interior mechanism requiring a round hole for mounting. A bi-metal hole saw blade attached to an electric drill creates a perfectly round hole in wood or metal doors, though metal entry doors are usually drilled for locks during manufacture. Locks are packaged with a template that shows where and what size hole to drill.

Measuring tape
Tape
Electric drill
Bi-metal hole saw blade
Drill bit
Utility knife
Chisel

Instructions

- 1
  Measure and mark the door for the lock template according to the package directions. The instructions will specify the recommended height for the lock type.
- 2
  Tape the lock template to the door and frame.
- 3
  Fit an electric drill with a bi-metal hole saw bit the size of the lock mechanism, and place the blade against the lock template guide.
- 4
  Drill straight through the template and door, and discard the circular piece of wood.
- 5
  Fit the drill with a drill bit the size of the lock bolt, and drill into the edge of the door along the lines of the template until the bit reaches the hole drilled through the door panel.
- 6
  Mark the strike plate outline, and bolt the entry point with a utility knife. Remove the template from the door and frame.
- 7
  Drill a hole 3/4 inch into the bolt entry point. Chisel the wood between the plate outline and the bolt entry point to the depth specified in the lock installation instructions. The door is now ready for lock installation.

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