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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Home and Garden
Home Maintenance
Doors and Windows
Door Security
How to Lock a Door Without a Lock Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Use a doorstop. 2 Wedge a chair under the door knob. 3 Bend a fork into the door latch. 4 Place furniture in front of the door. 5 Tighten a belt around the door hinge. 6 Remove the door knob. 7 Purchase a portable door lock. 8 Try a door security bar. 9 Invest in a door barricade bar. 10 Install a floor barricade. + Show 7 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Barry Zakar and Aly Rusciano
Last Updated: December 1, 2025 Fact Checked
Download Article X
This article was co-authored by Barry Zakar and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 218,666 times.
Looking for simple ways to secure a door without a lock? Whether you’re hoping to lock your house, apartment, or office door, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we'll cover the best ways to temporarily lock your door when you're in a pinch, as well as more permanent store-bought options you can try, so you can feel safe and rest well.
Best Ways to Jam a Door Closed
Close your door and kick a wooden, plastic, or rubber wedge under it until the door is immovable. You can also build a barricade with nearby furniture, position a chair under the doorknob, or tighten a belt around the metal automatic hinge at the top if the door is on a commercial building.
Steps
1
Use a doorstop.
Download Article
Jam the door shut with a wooden, plastic, or rubber wedge. Door wedges or stops are often used to keep doors open, but they can also keep doors shut. Close your door and stick the pointy end of the wedge in the gap between the floor and the door. Kick it in until it’s immovable.[1]XResearch source
Alternatively, make a doorstop out of household items like a shoe or cardboard box.
This method is a temporary fix for inward-swinging doors with a gap between the door and the floor.
Advertisement 2
Wedge a chair under the door knob.
Download Article
Barricading the door with a chair can keep it closed. Take a chair that’s a little higher than your door knob and position it under the knob at a 45-degree angle. Wedge the backrest underneath the knob—the front legs will be off the ground because of this.[2]XResearch source
This locking method works on inward-swinging doors and is a temporary fix as the chair could slide out from under the handle.
3
Bend a fork into the door latch.
Download Article
Make your own lock out of a fork for a temporary fix. Use pliers to bend ¼ of a fork’s prongs up at a 90-degree angle. Cut the fork's handle off with wire cutters, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) on the prong end. Open the door and put the bent prongs in the door latch. Close the door on the fork with the end sticking out. Insert the fork’s handle through the prongs horizontally, with half of it across the door and the other half over the door frame.[3]XResearch source
Place a piece of cardboard or a towel on the side of the handle across the door frame to keep the door from wiggling.[4]XResearch source
This locking method is portable, easily made, and works on inward- and outward-swinging doors with a latch.
Advertisement 4
Place furniture in front of the door.
Download Article
Build a barricade out of nearby furniture to keep someone out. Place chairs, desks, beds, cabinets, or bookshelves in front of an inward-swinging door. This will ensure that the door can’t swing open.[5]XResearch source
Use whatever is around that’s heavy to block the door. The best items are those that take up half of the door.
This locking method is temporary and not foolproof.
5
Tighten a belt around the door hinge.
Download Article
Use a belt or rope to lock a commercial building door. Many office, hotel, and school doors have an automatic hinge at the top. Barricade one of these doors by wrapping and tying a belt around it. Guide the end of the belt through the hinge arm bolted to the door frame. Then, tightly wrap the belt around the rest of the hinge. Weave the belt through the center of the loop to keep it in place.[6]XResearch source [7]XResearch source
Ropes and purse straps can also be effective.[8]XResearch source
This solution is temporary and only works on inward-swinging doors with a hinge.
Advertisement 6
Remove the door knob.
Download Article
Take the knob or handle off the door from the outside. If you have no other way to lock your door, consider removing the door knob entirely. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the plate of the knob, and then pull the knob off the door.[9]XResearch source
This works on inward- and outward-swinging doors but isn’t a permanent solution.
Although this method prevents people from getting into the room, it also prevents you from getting out.
Some door knobs and handles have hidden screws attaching them to the door that may be harder to remove in a pinch.
7
Purchase a portable door lock.
Download Article
Buy a lock that you can bring and use anywhere. There are many types of portable door locks on the market, but the majority consist of a metal plate and chain with a locking mechanism. Generally, the metal plate is placed in the door’s latch, and the locking mechanism is inserted in a grove on the plate.[10]XResearch source
Follow the product’s instructions for proper installation.
This solution can be temporary or permanent for inward- and outward-swinging doors, depending on your situation. For example, use it for security while traveling or at home as a second barrier on top of a lockable door.[11]XResearch source
Advertisement 8
Try a door security bar.
Download Article
Wedge a sturdy pole under the knob to secure the door closed. Door jammers or portable security bars are a one-time cost for your peace of mind.[12]XResearch source These devices can be found at some convenience stores or online. All you have to do to install these is slide the handle slot under the door knob at a 45-degree angle. Adjust the pole until the base is resting flat on the floor. Push the base toward the door until the pole is standing on its own.[13]XResearch source
This portable lock device can be used on inward-swinging and sliding glass doors.
For a sliding glass door, remove the door handle slot and wedge the bar between the door frame.[14]XResearch source
9
Invest in a door barricade bar.
Download Article
A wooden or metal barricade bar is a great option if you feel unsafe. These permanent locking devices are easy to install and provide extreme security. Screw the lock anchors on either side of the door frame above the door handle. Make sure these pieces are parallel and level with each other. Slip the metal barricade piece into the anchor slots to lock the door.[15]XResearch source
Make your own security bar by screwing brackets on either side of the door frame and setting a 2x4 across them.[16]XResearch source
This works best on inward-swinging doors and will prevent a door from being knocked down.
Advertisement 10
Install a floor barricade.
Download Article
Secure your door with a permanent door stopper. Floor barricades or braces are sturdy metal devices that you attach to the floor on the inside of a door. The metal plate screws into the floor beneath the door, and a block-like door stopper fits inside it. When it comes time to lock your door, close it and place the block stopper inside the plate.[17]XResearch source
Professional installation is required for this lock if you have cement, tile, or stone flooring or are inexperienced with a drill.[18]XResearch source
This permanent locking device works best on inward-swinging doors as you want to be the one removing and placing the block.
Most floor barricade owners use this device as a secondary lock for additional security on top of a regular lock.
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You can also install a flip-action door lock.
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Co-authored by: Barry Zakar Handyman This article was co-authored by Barry Zakar and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University. This article has been viewed 218,666 times. 312 votes - 52% Co-authors: 6Updated: December 1, 2025 Views: 218,666 Categories: Door Security In other languages Portuguese Indonesian Spanish French Dutch German Czech Japanese
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Reader Success Stories
Anonymous
Oct 11, 2023
"My dad is annoying and will come into my room without asking or even knocking. When he comes in he scares away my cat and I don't like it. Since we are renting and can't install a lock this is very helpful."..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Did this article help you?
Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Barry Zakar Handyman 312 votes - 52% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 6Updated: December 1, 2025 Views: 218,666
Anonymous
Oct 11, 2023
"My dad is annoying and will come into my room without asking or even knocking. When he comes in he scares away my cat and I don't like it. Since we are renting and can't install a lock this is very helpful."..." more
Katie H.
Mar 30, 2024
"My cousins are staying for a few weeks and the youngest one keeps trying to come in. I don't want him snooping around, so this was helpful!"..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Use a doorstop. 2 Wedge a chair under the door knob. 3 Bend a fork into the door latch. 4 Place furniture in front of the door. 5 Tighten a belt around the door hinge. 6 Remove the door knob. 7 Purchase a portable door lock. 8 Try a door security bar. 9 Invest in a door barricade bar. 10 Install a floor barricade. + Show 7 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Barry Zakar and Aly Rusciano 
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Co-authored by: Barry Zakar Handyman This article was co-authored by Barry Zakar and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University. This article has been viewed 218,666 times. 312 votes - 52% Co-authors: 6 Updated: December 1, 2025 Views: 218,666 Categories: Door Security In other languages Portuguese Indonesian Spanish French Dutch German Czech Japanese 
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Jam the door shut with a wooden, plastic, or rubber wedge. Door wedges or stops are often used to keep doors open, but they can also keep doors shut. Close your door and stick the pointy end of the wedge in the gap between the floor and the door. Kick it in until it’s immovable.[1] 
Barricading the door with a chair can keep it closed. Take a chair that’s a little higher than your door knob and position it under the knob at a 45-degree angle. Wedge the backrest underneath the knob—the front legs will be off the ground because of this.[2] 
Make your own lock out of a fork for a temporary fix. Use pliers to bend ¼ of a fork’s prongs up at a 90-degree angle. Cut the fork's handle off with wire cutters, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) on the prong end. Open the door and put the bent prongs in the door latch. Close the door on the fork with the end sticking out. Insert the fork’s handle through the prongs horizontally, with half of it across the door and the other half over the door frame.[3] 
Build a barricade out of nearby furniture to keep someone out. Place chairs, desks, beds, cabinets, or bookshelves in front of an inward-swinging door. This will ensure that the door can’t swing open.[5] 
Use a belt or rope to lock a commercial building door. Many office, hotel, and school doors have an automatic hinge at the top. Barricade one of these doors by wrapping and tying a belt around it. Guide the end of the belt through the hinge arm bolted to the door frame. Then, tightly wrap the belt around the rest of the hinge. Weave the belt through the center of the loop to keep it in place.[6] [7] 
Take the knob or handle off the door from the outside. If you have no other way to lock your door, consider removing the door knob entirely. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the plate of the knob, and then pull the knob off the door.[9] 
Buy a lock that you can bring and use anywhere. There are many types of portable door locks on the market, but the majority consist of a metal plate and chain with a locking mechanism. Generally, the metal plate is placed in the door’s latch, and the locking mechanism is inserted in a grove on the plate.[10] 
Wedge a sturdy pole under the knob to secure the door closed. Door jammers or portable security bars are a one-time cost for your peace of mind.[12] These devices can be found at some convenience stores or online. All you have to do to install these is slide the handle slot under the door knob at a 45-degree angle. Adjust the pole until the base is resting flat on the floor. Push the base toward the door until the pole is standing on its own.[13] 
A wooden or metal barricade bar is a great option if you feel unsafe. These permanent locking devices are easy to install and provide extreme security. Screw the lock anchors on either side of the door frame above the door handle. Make sure these pieces are parallel and level with each other. Slip the metal barricade piece into the anchor slots to lock the door.[15] 
Secure your door with a permanent door stopper. Floor barricades or braces are sturdy metal devices that you attach to the floor on the inside of a door. The metal plate screws into the floor beneath the door, and a block-like door stopper fits inside it. When it comes time to lock your door, close it and place the block stopper inside the plate.[17] 
