Top 10 Best Locks for Storage Units (TEST DON’T LIE) in 2023

Top 10 Best Locks for Storage Units in 2022

Your storage locker might be holding items that you highly value, such as merchandise, jewelry, and even cash.

Their loss would set you back several years of hard work but with a good lock, this shouldn’t happen.

The best padlocks for storage units are largely contextual, as it will depend on the value of your items, whether the storage is indoor or outdoor, your budget, and so on.

This article is a culmination of extensive research and testing and it will help you find the best padlock that will let you rest easy.

Without further ado, here’s our review of the best lock for storage unit in 2022.

 
Coming up after the review is a buyer’s guide for these types of padlocks.

Best Padlock for Storage Unit in 2022

1.  Medeco M3 5/16″ Shrouded Boron Padlock

Medeco M3 Shrouded Boron Padlock, best lock for storage unit

Medeco is a premium high-security padlock that means business when it comes to securing your valuables whether indoors or outdoors.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Heavy duty and pick proof material
  • Concealed shackle
  • Pick-proof pin tumbler system
  • Weather resistant
  • Best public storage facility lock
What they Don’t Like

  • Relatively small shackle clearance

If you are a gym enthusiast, this range of padlocks may be too high security and high budget for gym lockers. Click here to see our review of the best locks for gym lockers.

2. ABUS 37/80 Granit Alloy Steel Padlock Keyed Different

ABUS 37- 80 Granit Alloy Steel Lock Keyed Differently Padlock -Rekeyable, best padlock for storage unit

The German made ABUS Granit™ padlocks meet the highest padlock security standards and these locks are one of the most secure locks that you can get.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Full release shackle
  • Thick, heavy duty and shrouded shackle
  • Key-retaining
  • High tensile strength
  • Corrosion resistive coating
What they Don’t Like

  • The small shackle clearance may not fit some hasps

3. Abloy Protec2 PL 362 Shrouded Hardened Steel Padlock

Abloy Protec2 PL 362 Shrouded Hardened Steel Padlock, disc locks for storage units

Abloy Protec2 PL 362 high security lock is a CEN Grade 6 maximum security padlock, one of the most secure locks for commercial use.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • CEN Grade 6 max security level
  • Shrouded shackles but with good center clearance
  • Rotating disc mechanism
  • Weather resistant finish
What they Don’t Like

  • Chrome finish wears easily

Verdict: Abloy Protec2 is an anti-drill, and anti-cut weather proof padlock that you can bequeath to your children. It is the number one choice for high security gun safes and ammunition storage.

4. Master Lock 6271KA-3- Hidden Shackle Locks Keyed Alike

Master Lock - Hidden Shackle Locks Keyed Alike 6271KA-3, best storage unit padlock with hidden shackle

Hasps and shackles are the first targets for vandal attack but Master Lock hidden shackle locks resolve this by entirely hiding the two parts.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Hides the hasp and shackle
  • Heavy duty body and shackle
  • Best padlock for outdoor use
  • Features Bump Stop Technology
What they Don’t Like

  • Most cargo storage unit hasps may require machining in order for the lock to fit

5. LoboJack HS-21 Hidden Shackle High Security Padlock

LoboJack HS-21 Hidden Shackle High Security Padlock, storage unit lock out, also best padlock for gates, warehouses and cargo

Lobojack is a cheaper option for a storage unit lock out that lets you hide the shackle and the hasp, such that the whole thing appears like a part of the door once you lock it.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • An intimidating solid box structure
  • Completely hides the hasp and shackle
  • Weatherproof material
  • Price friendly
What they Don’t Like

  • Some customers have found it difficult to use the key

6. Mul-T-lock MT5+ #13 C-Series Padlock with Protector

Mul-t-lock MT5+ 13 C-Series lock with Protector - best lock for self storage unit, best lock for uhaul truck

If you have been struggling with cheap locks that intruders constantly get by, then Mul-T-lock MT5+ is what you need to keep kleptomaniacs off your valuables for good.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Double pin locking mechanism
  • High precision telescopic pin tumbler system
  • Limited lifetime warranty
What they Don’t Like

  • The body and the shoulders are not a continuous run of metal

7. The Sargent and Greenleaf 951 C High-Security Padlock

Sargent & Greenleaf 951C High Security Padlock, Military grade lock for storage unit

Sargent & Greenleaf is not your ordinary brand of padlocks and the 951C series provides the most advanced security features that you can find in a lock. It is a padlock trusted by the US government for decades.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Maximum security
  • Fully shrouded shackle
  • Anti-drill reinforcement
  • Ability to change key pins if the key is lost
What they Don’t Like

  • Premium price
  • Small shackle clearance

8. American Lock A700D Steel Padlock

American Lock A700D Steel Lock, 2 and half inch, disc lock for storage unit

Though this medium size padlock is not something we would recommend for high security storage lockers and gun safes, the American Lock A700D is highly rated by customers for medium security.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Best padlock for medium security
  • Hardened steel shackle
  • Price friendly
What they Don’t Like

  • Open shackle design
  • May easily rust if not oiled

9. Stanley Shrouded Hardened Steel Padlock

Stanley Hardware S828-160 CD8820 Shrouded Hardened Steel Storage Lock, best type of lock for storage unit

Stanley is a Level 5 ASTM security grade that lets you outsmart burglars with 6 anti-pick pins and a replaceable core.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Best for medium security
  • Replaceable core
  • Dual ball bearing system
  • Affordable price
What they Don’t Like

  • Poor weather resistance
  • Some users have found it difficult to rekey

10. Master Lock Padlock, Bluetooth Lock

Master Lock Bluetooth PadLock

A padlock doesn’t have to be a lifeless gadget that you can’t tell whatever is going on with it while you are away. The Master Lock Bluetooth Smart Padlock lets you remotely monitor any activity and choose who to give access.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Flexibility, remote monitoring, and control
  • Boron carbide material
  • All weather lock
What they Don’t Like

  • Some customers have complained that the Bluetooth app is frustrating to use

A buyer’s guide for the best lock for storage unit

Security of your valuables is the most important concern when you are stashing them into a storage locker and finding a reliable padlock.

But the bitter truth is that the wrong choice of padlock will fail you in your mission. That’s why in this guide we want to give you an idea of what to look out for when searching for the best locks for storage units.

(i) Material

High prices valuables that you hold dear deserve a strong and solid lock that will deteeth a saw and break a bolt cutter before they get by.

There are even cheap plastic and brass padlocks but they are not worth your time since anyone can pull it by hand. Unless you are covering garbage.

In our review, we found boron hardened steel alloy to be the strongest against bolt cutting, sawing, and prying, while still having a reasonable price of $100 and below.

(ii) Design

There are those padlocks with long shackles that would encourage a robber to hook in a monster claw bar and within no time the lock is pried open. Since your storage unit will most likely be outdoors, you need to avoid such padlocks like plague.

The best type of lock for storage unit has its shackle fully concealed by raised shoulders or the body, such that the shackle disappears in the hasp leaving no space for burglar tools.

The keyway mechanics is also an important design factor. We found that locks with rotating pins with angle cuts such as Medeco are impossible to unlock with foreign keys.

Loss of padlock keys is an everyday occurrence and the sad fact is that someone might be watching as you misplace the keys and hide it to rob you later. Luckily, we have some padlocks with replaceable pins such that you can get a new set of keys and make the old key irrelevant altogether.

(iii) Hasp size

The padlock’s shackle goes through the locker’s hasp and this brings about a trade-off. You need to have the shackle clearance as tiny as possible to discourage burglar tools but then it means that the hasp must have a corresponding design in order to fit.

The shackle must be able to slip through the hole in the hasp and reach the locking latch on the other side.

However, the custom fit design should not compromise the hasp strength, since a feeble structure will just be pulled out together with the padlock.

(iv) Indoor vs outdoor

Indoor storage might require a less strong and reliable padlock since you have already secured the building. You also don’t have to worry about rusting.

However for outdoor storage, your padlock can be tampered with even when you are around, and that calls for a higher security padlock. This might call for a higher budget, but it is worth it, depending on what you are intending to secure.

The best padlock for outdoor use is also weather resistant to prevent for instance the keyway becoming clogged with rust when it rains or the body becoming defaced a few days after purchase.

(v) Budget

Padlocks prices range from under $10 to over $5k but such a high extreme finds economic use in nuclear, military and such highly sensitive industries.

Most cheap padlocks are poor quality and low security, but you can still find a very reliable padlock with any budget. Especially if what you are securing is not highly sensitive.

Recap

Loss of valuables in storage lockers can roll back your several years of sweat. The best lock for storage unit should be made of strong burglar proof material that is hard to cut or pick. Get one of the most secure locks for commercial use from our review.

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