Last Updated on June 11, 2026
BHMA lock grades rate a residential lock in three areas: Security, Durability, and Finish. Each gets an A, B, or C, where A is best, so AAA is the top BHMA grade. Unlike ANSI, which gives one number to the whole lock or a single component, BHMA grades the entire finished product. For a home, buy at least ANSI Grade 2, or BHMA AAA when no ANSI grade is shown.
ANSI is the American National Standards Institute, which oversees product standards across many industries. BHMA, the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association, writes the door-hardware testing standards that ANSI adopts. The BHMA rating is a residential grading system built to make lock grades easier for shoppers to understand.
BHMA grades the whole lock with three letters
The BHMA system assigns an A, B, or C grade to three separate parts of a lock. C is good, B is better, A is the best. So a BHMA AAA lock earns the top mark for security, durability, and finish all at once. The grade covers the entire pre-packaged product designed for sale, not just one piece of it.
Why BHMA exists: packaging can mislead
Some packaging is sneaky. A box might read ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt rating. That is only the deadbolt’s rating, not the lock body. Most buyers would never catch the difference. BHMA aims to fix that on packaging by grading the complete lock.
BHMA Security rating measures attack resistance
This grade measures the strength of a lock against sledgehammer blows, attempts to pull it from the door, and weight tests such as a child hanging off a lever. There is no single fixed test, like there is for ANSI ratings, just a class confirmation: best in class earns A, the next B, and so on.
BHMA Durability rating measures wear and function
Durability covers how the lockset functions over long use, how temperature swings affect it, smooth operation, and resistance to dents. If you have kids running in and out all day, durability may matter most to you.
BHMA Finish rating measures the elements
Finish grades the lockset against scratches from keys and exposure to salt, humidity, and UV. If you live near the ocean, the finish grade deserves your attention.
BHMA AAA vs ANSI Grade 1: not a direct match
There is no exact conversion between BHMA and ANSI. The first BHMA letter, security, lines up most closely with the ANSI grade and uses similar tests. But we have seen ANSI Grade 2 locks carry a BHMA “A” security mark. Because ANSI has clearly defined, published test procedures, ACME Locksmith of Phoenix recommends leaning on the ANSI grade. S
