Home Security Devices UK: 15 Types Compared for Every Budget

Good security for your home starts with the doors and windows, then adds devices that warn you, deter burglars or record what happens. You do not need everything on this list: most UK homes are well covered by strong locks, one or two physical door devices, a sensible alarm and decent lighting. Below are 15 home security devices, grouped from physical protection to electronics, with what each one actually does, who it suits and what it costs to run.

Police crime prevention advice is clear on the order of work. Avon and Somerset Police put it simply: “Sort out your physical security first and put the alarm in afterwards.” So that is where this list starts.

Quick comparison: 15 home security devices

Prices vary a lot between brands and retailers, so the table uses rough budget levels rather than figures. Always check what ongoing subscriptions a device needs before you buy.

Physical door and window security

Most break-ins involve getting through a door or window, so this is where your money goes furthest. If you are not sure where your door is weakest, read our guide to the top weak points of uPVC doors.

1. Door security bar or jammer

A door security bar braces the door against the floor from the inside, so it stays shut even if the lock itself is attacked. It is used while you are at home, typically on the back door overnight or on the front door once everyone is in.

The Door Jammer – HOLDOOR hooks under the inside handle of a uPVC door and braces it against the floor, so the door stays shut even if the lock is snapped, bumped or picked. It is Sold Secure Bronze rated and Secured by Design accredited (Police Preferred Specification), adjusts from 70cm to 120cm and fits most UK single-handle uPVC doors with the handle on the left or right. There is no drilling and no tools; it fits in about a minute and comes with a wall mount. It is not suitable for sliding, French/double or patio doors.

2. Door handle guard

Some attacks on uPVC doors target the handle rather than the lock, for example reaching the inside lever through a letterbox or a broken pane. A handle guard covers the inside lever so it cannot be pressed down. The Door Handle Guard – HOLDOOR is a lockable steel cover that drops over the inside lever handle of a single uPVC door, locates in a Secure Keeper screwed to the frame and is locked with a Secure Peg that takes a small padlock. It is currently on pre-order and is being submitted for independent testing, so it has no rating yet. Like the Door Jammer, it is not for patio, French or double doors.

In a fire: find the key, lift the Door Jammer off (or unlock and remove the Door Handle Guard), unlock the door and leave the building.

3. Anti-snap euro cylinder

Many uPVC and composite doors use a euro cylinder, and a weak one can be the easiest way in. West Yorkshire Police explain that cylinders are tested to TS 007 (1 or 3 stars) and the Sold Secure Diamond Standard (SS312), and recommend a 3-star solution as the minimum when upgrading. A 3-star cylinder on its own meets that, as does a 1-star cylinder paired with a 2-star security handle. Our guide to anti lock snapping explains the options in more detail.

4. Security handles and spindle

Handles matter as well as the cylinder. TS 007 2-star handles are built to protect the cylinder from attack. Inside the door, the spindle connects the two handles. The Security Spindle – HOLDOOR is an 8mm boxed steel spindle, 138mm long and trimmed to fit, with an anti-tamper security clip that resists handle manipulation.

5. Window locks and restrictors

Key-operated window handles, restrictors and secondary locks stop ground-floor and easily reached windows from being opened from outside. Check that any restrictor can be released quickly from inside, because windows can be escape routes in a fire.

6. Smart lock

Smart locks let you unlock with an app, code or fob and show a log of who came and went. Retrofit types fit over the inside thumb-turn; others replace the cylinder or whole lock. Before buying, check compatibility with your door and lock, and check that the cylinder it uses carries a recognised rating such as TS 007 3-star. Convenience is not the same as strength, so a smart lock should never mean a weaker cylinder.

Alarms and sensors

7. DIY wireless alarm

A wireless kit usually includes a hub, door and window contacts, motion sensors and a siren, with alerts sent to your phone. They are quick to fit and you can take them with you when you move, which suits renters. Many kits let you add sensors to garages and sheds. Remember that an unmonitored alarm depends on you or your neighbours reacting. Avon and Somerset Police note that police are less likely to respond to an unmonitored alarm, and advise not to programme 999 into an auto-dialler.

8. Professionally monitored alarm

A monitored system sends signals to an Alarm Receiving Centre, which checks the alert and contacts keyholders or, where the system qualifies, the police. Crimestoppers explains that police attend a monitored signal only if the system complies with the National Police Chiefs’ Council Security Systems Requirements; otherwise the keyholder is informed. Use an installer approved by one of the two inspectorates, NSI or SSAIB, and read the contract length and cancellation terms carefully. Our guide on how to secure your home covers how alarms fit into a wider plan.

Cameras and doorbells

9. Video doorbell

A video doorbell lets you see and talk to callers without opening the door, which is useful against doorstep scams. Battery models suit flats and rentals; wired models avoid recharging. Many need a subscription to save recordings, so check before buying.

10. Indoor cameras

Indoor cameras are cheap, easy to place and useful for checking the house when you are away. Use the privacy settings to switch them off or cover the lens while you are home.

11. Outdoor CCTV

Outdoor cameras deter and record around the drive, garden and back of the house. If your camera or doorbell records beyond your property boundary, the Information Commissioner’s Office says data protection law applies: position cameras to cover your own property where possible, put up a sign saying CCTV is in use, delete footage regularly and be ready to give people a copy of footage they appear in.

Deterrents and everyday protection

12. Security lighting

Good lighting removes the dark corners burglars rely on. Avon and Somerset Police suggest considering dusk-till-dawn lighting, which gives a constant low white light, because motion-sensor lights can be set off by animals and visitors. Keep plants trimmed so they do not block lights, and angle them so they do not annoy neighbours.

13. Timers and smart plugs

Timer switches and smart plugs turn lamps or a radio on and off so the house looks lived in while you are out. Use varied or random schedules rather than the same time every night.

14. Home safe

A safe protects passports, documents, jewellery and spare keys. Bolt it down where possible and keep it out of obvious places. If you want valuables covered by insurance while they are in the safe, ask your insurer what rating it requires before you buy.

15. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

They are not anti-burglar devices, but no home safety plan is complete without them. In England, landlords must fit at least one smoke alarm on each storey with living accommodation, and a carbon monoxide alarm in any living room with a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers). Homeowners should follow the same sensible standard and test alarms regularly.

How to choose for your budget

1. Tight budget: upgrade the cylinder to a 3-star solution, add a door security bar for nights, fit window locks, and use timers and lighting.
2. Mid budget: add a DIY wireless alarm with sensors on the main doors and a video doorbell.
3. Larger budget: consider a professionally installed, monitored alarm from an NSI or SSAIB approved company, plus outdoor CCTV set up with the ICO guidance in mind.

Whatever your budget, fit the physical protection first. Electronics tell you something has happened; locks and door devices help stop it happening.

FAQs

What is the most important security device for a home?

Strong doors and locks. A good-quality cylinder and a properly locked multi-point lock do more than any gadget. After that, an alarm and a device that physically holds the door shut when you are home add the most protection.

Are DIY alarms worth it?

They can be, especially for renters and smaller homes, as long as you understand that someone has to respond to the alert. If you want police response, you need a compliant monitored system from an approved installer.

Do I need permission to fit a video doorbell or CCTV?

On your own house you usually do not, though flats, rented homes and listed buildings may need landlord, management or council approval, so check first. If it records beyond your boundary, follow the ICO’s domestic CCTV rules.

Can I use a door security bar on any door?

Not every bar suits every door. The HOLDOOR Door Jammer is designed for single-handle uPVC doors. For sliding patio doors, a bar designed for the track is a better fit. See our FAQs for more.

Next steps

Start with the door you use least, often the back door, because it is usually out of sight. Check the cylinder rating, make sure you lift the handle and lock it with the key every time, and add a device that holds the door shut overnight. The Door Jammer – HOLDOOR is made in Britain from British steel, costs £90 with free UK delivery, and comes with 30-day returns and a 2-year warranty. It fits in about a minute with no drilling, so you can have the back door covered tonight.