What Is A 5 Lever Mortice Lock?
It is important to choose the correct door locks for your home to ensure your home is as secure as can be. We are focusing on the 5 lever mortice lock in our blog today, one of the most popular locks on the market for wooden door homeowners.
What Is a 5 Lever Mortice Lock?
Put simply, a 5 Lever Mortice Lock is a secure lock most commonly found on wooden doors. It is operated by a key, from both the inside and outside. It is imperative that when used on external doors, your 5 lever mortice locks conform to British Standards as these are highly tested against burglary methods.
Type of Front Door Lock and Back Door Lock
Put simply, a 5 Lever Mortice Lock is a secure lock most commonly found on wooden doors. It is operated by a key, from both the inside and outside. It is imperative that when used on external doors, your 5 lever mortice locks conform to British Standards as these are highly tested against burglary methods.
How Does 5 Lever Mortice Locks Work?
5 lever mortice locks are operated by turning a key from either the inside or outside of the door. When the key is turned, the 5 lever lock components shift into locked/unlocked positions which of course open or lock the door. As its name suggests, there are 5 parallel levers inside the mechanism, and they bolt across the top when locked.
How Secure are 5 Lever Mortice Locks?
A 5 lever mortice lock that conforms to British Standards (BS3621) is a highly secure lock. As there are 5 levers it makes it more difficult for key replication than a less-secure 3 lever mortice lock. Secure 5 lever locks usually come equipped with hard plates which prevents against a drilling, a known burglary tactic.
How To Tell If I Have a 5 Lever Mortice Lock
You can identify whether you have a 5 lever mortice lock, a 3 lever mortice lock and whether it conforms to British Standards from the following:
Fitted to a wooden door
- 5 lever mortice locks are most commonly fitted to wooden doors.
- 5 lever mortice locks are also mostly positioned below the door handle
Check for the British Standard Kite Mark
- Kite Mark Symbol– A 5 Lever British standard mortice lock will have a BS 3621 stamp and a kite mark symbol. This means the lock is insurance approved and has high security standards. Not all 5 lever locks are BS 3621 certified but all locks that ARE BS 3621 locks are 5 lever.
- Opens with a key – mortice locks are operable with a key, internally and externally.
- Lock situated inside the door – 5 lever mortice locks are fitted within the material of the door, not on the surface.
- Faceplate stamp –the faceplate will be stamped with the words 5 lever and if it is British Standard it will feature the British Standard logo or BS3621 as shown below.
How Much is a 5 Lever Mortice Lock?
A mortice lock ranges in price from £45+ depending on size, make and model. Check out our Locksmith Prices page for more information.
Keytek’s Guide to Locks
Find out more about the seven different types of locks and how they operate in Keytek’s Lock Guide!
Jim Lockwood
Jim Lockwood is a fully qualified locksmith with over 10 years of hands-on experience in domestic, commercial, and emergency locksmith services across the UK. Holding a Level 4 NCFE Locksmithing accreditation—Jim is a trusted authority in lock security, key systems, and burglary prevention.
As Keytek’s lead technical content specialist, Jim draws on real-world experience to create detailed, trustworthy resources that help homeowners, tenants, and professionals make informed decisions about their security. From guiding readers through emergency lockout procedures to explaining locksmith pricing, his content combines expert knowledge with practical, easy-to-follow advice.
Throughout his career, Jim has tackled a wide range of locksmithing scenarios—including uPVC door lock failures, snapped keys in locks, and high-security upgrades and remains actively engaged in the locksmith industry, staying up to date on emerging technologies, British Standards, and security legislation. This ensures that every guide, article, and tutorial he authors is not only accurate and actionable but also aligned with the latest best practices.
Kim Freeman
Kim is Keytek’s longest-serving security blogger, with nearly a decade of hands-on experience in the security industry. Over the past 9 years, she has built trusted relationships with locksmiths and security professionals across the UK, giving her exclusive insight into the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in home security.
From traditional burglary prevention methods to cutting-edge smart home solutions, Kim covers it all. As part of her role, she regularly reviews the newest home security gadgets on the market—including smart doorbells, security cameras, and more—bringing readers honest, practical advice on how to protect their homes.
Kim’s passion for security was sparked during her time at the University of Chester, where she learned first-hand how vulnerable student housing can be to break-ins. That early experience inspired a lifelong interest in home protection, eventually leading her to join the team at Keytek.
Today, Kim combines her deep industry knowledge with a love for writing to deliver helpful, accessible content for homeowners across the UK. You can read all of her expert advice and top security tips at Keytek.co.uk, where she shares everything from seasonal safety guides to reviews of the best security products on the market.
