Australian homes almost universally have a security screen in front of the main entry door — sliding, hinged, or fixed barrier. When you add a smart lock to that main door, the screen and the lock need to coexist. Usually they do. Sometimes they don’t.

The failure mode is always the same: the handle or body of the smart lock protrudes far enough from the door face that the security screen physically contacts it when it moves. The lock gets damaged. The screen gets damaged. And the installer goes back to the start.

This guide covers:

• Why clearance is the measurement that matters most on any security screen door
• How to measure it correctly before ordering anything
• Which smart locks are purpose-built for screen door installs

For a full walkthrough of how to measure your door before selecting a smart lock, see Chapter 02 — Measuring Your Door in the Smart Lock Buyer’s Guide. If you’re also deciding which lock type suits your screen door setup, Chapter 04 — Door Type Matching covers screen-specific options in detail.

The Mistake — Even Experienced Locksmiths Make It

The photo below was taken at a real job. A smart lock was installed on the main door without first measuring the gap between the door face and the rear of the security screen. The security screen makes direct contact with the smart lock’s handle every time it moves.

The locksmiths at Terry’s are switched on, but this one caught even them. It’s an easy mistake to make because the clearance gap is not always obvious at a glance — particularly when the security screen sits flush in its frame when closed and the conflict only becomes apparent when it moves.

The Measurement That Matters

Before ordering any smart lock for a door that has a security screen in front of it, you need one specific number: the distance from the face of the main door to the nearest point of the security screen as it moves. This applies regardless of screen type — sliding, hinged, or otherwise. All security screens pass close to the main door face at some point in their travel, and any one of them can foul a protruding lock handle.

Take the measurement at lock height, not just at the top or bottom of the door. The screen frame profile can vary along its height, and the handle is typically the widest-projecting part of the lock body.

Not sure about your measurement? Ask us before you order. This is exactly the kind of question our team fields daily, and it’s far easier to answer before purchase than after installation. For more on the dimensions that need to be right before committing to a lock, see our guide to the three most common DIY installation mistakes.

Smart Locks Purpose-Built for Security Screen Doors

In many cases, the most practical solution is not to work around the security screen — it’s to install a smart lock directly on it. Several locks are engineered specifically for security screen door profiles, with slim body dimensions and, in some cases, dual unlock functionality that lets a single credential release both the screen and the main door simultaneously.

Two options worth considering for security screen door installations:

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