The 9 Best Padlocks of 2024

Best Overall

Master Lock ProSeries Combination Lock

$23 At Amazon $36 At Walmart $28 At Lowe's

Peoples recommends a brass lock with a steel shackle. The solid brass protects against corrosion and rust in outdoor environments year-round. And the shackle on the Master Lock ProSeries is almost half an inch in diameter to protect against prying, cutting, and rap attacks (repeated hitting to break open a lock).

This padlock allows you to set your own four-digit access code, with 10,000 possible combinations to choose from. You can change the combination at any time without needing any tools.

The large ergonomic dials make it easy to feel the numbers and unlock it in low-light settings or even complete darkness. However, they're a little hard to see in low light. This could be a nuisance for you, but on the other hand, it may also help prevent tampering. We wouldn't say this is a budget-friendly lock, but for under $40, you'll definitely get your money's worth.

_{Type: Combination | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Brass, steel | Shackle Size: 0.4 inches}

Best Keyed

Puroma Keyed Solid Brass Padlock

$7 At Amazon

Do you prefer keys over combinations? Puroma might be the way to go. Per Peoples's recommendation, this padlock has a corrosion-resistant solid brass body, and a hardened steel shackle designed to stand up to prying and cutting.

While this padlock is designed for indoor and outdoor use, the shackle diameter is likely a bit too thin for securing large vehicles that could be towed away such as boats and trailers. However, you could use it for a garage door, storage unit, shed, or gate.

_{Type: Keyed | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Brass, steel | Shackle Size: 0.25 inches}

Best Combination

Master Lock Set Your Own Combination Lock

$19 At Amazon $23 At Walmart

We also like the Master Lock 178D. This padlock allows you to set your own four-digit combination, with thousands of possible codes to choose from, and easily reset it using the included change tool. (If you lose or misplace the key, you also can change the combination, with difficulty, using a small screwdriver or a paper clip.)

It's made of solid zinc for exceptional strength and features a 5/16-inch thick, hardened steel shackle for resistance to cutting. While this lock is weatherproof in most climates, it's not ideal for freezing temps, as the combination dials are harder to move once frozen. And for under $15, it's a steal.

_{Type: Combination | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Zinc, alloy steel | Shackle Size: 0.3 inches}

Best Brass

Brinks Solid Brass Keyed Padlock

$13 At Amazon $24 At Home Depot $5 At Walmart

If you have your sights set on a brass lock—and you should, if you're intending the lock for outdoor use, since brass can never rust—Brinks is an excellent choice. In addition to a weather-resistant solid brass body, this padlock has a chrome-plated, hardened steel shackle with a diameter of over half an inch.

The double-bolt locking mechanism is designed to resist picking and prying (although every lock can be picked), while the extra-thick shackle, with a cut strength resistance of 2,400 pounds of force, makes cutting through the steel nearly impossible.

One potential drawback of this lock is it only comes with two keys, but you can make copies at your local hardware store.

_{Type: Keyed | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Brass, steel | Shackle Size: 0.6 inches}

Best Steel

Kawaha Stainless Steel Shrouded Padlock

$55 At Amazon

Generally, we recommend that you avoid steel locks for outdoor use, because untreated steel can rust and make the lock difficult to open. However, stainless steel contains non-corrosive materials which can resist rusting. The Kawaha 21/60-2P padlock is made of 100 percent stainless steel. The heavy-duty material resists rust, corrosion, and extreme temperatures in outdoor environments.

Thanks to the double-ball locking mechanism, the thick shackle stands up to over 4 tons of pulling pressure. You can purchase this lock with shackles of 7 millimeters (about a quarter inch), 10 millimeters (2/5 inch), and 12 millimeters (just under a half inch).

Just a heads up: You can only remove the key when it's fully locked, which may not be an issue, but there are some situations where it might be inconvenient. The manufacturer does not supply spare keys over the included single key.

At more than $50 apiece, this product is undoubtedly expensive compared to most padlocks, but it's among the most durable options we found.

_{Type: Keyed | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Stainless steel | Shackle Size: 0.3–0.5 inches}

Best Disc

Abus Diskus Steel Padlock

$40 At Amazon $55 At Walmart View On Abuslocks.com

We strongly recommend disc locks for securing items in you-store facilities. Disc locks shield most of the shackle, which makes it far more difficult to cut through. Many self-storage facilities recommend them as well. We have found the Abus Diskus the best lock of this type.

Made of hardened stainless steel, this round disc lock, with 3/8-inch-diameter shackle, is designed to stand up to cutting, pulling, prying, drilling, rap attacks, and other forms of tampering. While the shackle should fit most self-storage lockers, as well as rental trailers and trucks, it is probably too wide for gym or school lockers.

The only downside to this product, besides its steep price (upwards of $40), is that only two keys are included.

_{Type: Keyed | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Stainless steel | Shackle Size: 0.4 inches}

Best for Lockers

FortLocks Gym Locker Lock

$11 At Amazon $25 At Walmart

FortLocks makes some of the best locksets for lockers at the gym, spa, pool, or work. The distinctive design, shape, and color of this compact and portable padlock makes it easy to spot. It has a zinc alloy body with a thermoplastic cover, and a 1/4-inch hardened steel shackle that resists cutting and rap attacks.

You can set the combination to one of 10,000 possible four-digit codes and easily change it whenever you want. One thing to note is that it may not always recognize the combination on the first try, but considering the under $15, budget-friendly price and lifetime warranty, it's still a pretty great product.

_{Type: Combination | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Thermoplastic, zinc, steel | Shackle Size: 0.25 inches}

Best Basic

Master Lock Combination Locker Lock

$6 At Amazon $14 At Home Depot View On Lowe's

This is the classic combination lock that's been protecting school and gym lockers for over a century. The highly recognizable, straightforward product is made of ultra-durable anodized aluminum and features a stainless steel 9/32-inch shackle (7 mm) with an anti-shim locking mechanism.

The three-digit combination and round dial are easy to use—a perfect choice for school, gym, pool, or spa lockers. But since the code is preset, you can't change it. That means if you forget the combination, there's no way to open the lock again.

This product once was sold only in silver, with a black dial. Master now sells it in four colors, including blue, red, and purple. But ordering online is like the prize in Cracker Jack: You never know which color you're going to get.

_{Type: Combination | Use: Indoor | Material: Anodized aluminum, steel | Shackle Size: 0.3 inches}

Best Fingerprint

Megafeis Bluetooth Fingerprint Padlock

$38 At Amazon

You can secure your phone with a fingerprint; now, you can secure your securables with a fingerprint lock! Instead of having to fiddle with a combination or carry a key around, you can unlock it in a split second by pressing your finger on the face.

We like this stainless steel product from Megafeis, which can recognize up to 100 sets of fingerprints. This way, you can assign more than one finger to open your lock, so you don't have to contort your hand if the lock is hanging in some odd way. You also can allow access for multiple people. You accomplish this by registering fingerprints on the smartphone Bluetooth app, which you use to authorize users, and check the last 1,000 lock activities.

This lock operates on a 150MAH lithium-ion battery, which requires charging via a USB connection. The manufacturer says the battery can support 2,500 unlocks. A depleted battery requires charging before you can open the lock again.

High tech for a padlock requires some concessions: If you use an Android phone, you must permit it to access your location, although you can disable this after the lock and app are paired. We've noted that the lock doesn't read sweaty fingers just off a gym workout, and while it's designed for indoor and outdoor use, it's not ideal for rainy or snowy climates.

_{Type: Fingerprint | Use: Indoor/outdoor | Material: Stainless steel | Shackle Size: 0.3 inches}