Child-proofing your home can be a stressful undertaking, especially given all of the products out there that claim to be “the perfect solution” for every home. Choosing the right products for your cabinets and drawers can be especially stressful as these are often some of the first places curious toddlers attempt to get into.
We reviewed dozens of child-proof cabinet locks to find the best of the best. We looked at overall safety, quality of construction, ease of installation, potential to damage your cabinets (or your landlord’s cabinets), and of course price to find the best options available.
During our testing, we found that the Secure Home Baby Safety Locks were a clear step above the rest of the competition. These locking straps can be applied to cabinets, drawers, refrigerators, toilets, and more thanks to their 3M adhesive, and they can be repositioned as needed making them very versatile. Oh, and there’s no drilling required.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Cabinet Locks
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Cabinet Lock | Secure Home Baby Safety Locks | 4.8 |
| Runner Up Cabinet Lock | The Good Stuff Safety Latches | 4.1 |
| Best Budget Buy Cabinet Lock | Kiscords Baby Safety Cabinet Locks | 4.3 |
| Best Dual-Purpose Cabinet Lock | Eco-Baby Child Safety Magnetic Cabinet and Drawer Locks | 4.7 |
| Best Magnetic Cabinet Lock | Safety 1ˢᵗ Adhesive Magnetic Lock System 8-Pack | 4.7 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Cabinet Lock Overall: Secure Home Baby Safety Locks
The Secure Home Baby Safety Locks are an excellent choice for anyone with multiple items to baby-proof. These strap-style latches can adhere to just about anything that you need to be kept closed, and they don’t require any drilling. The adhesive is also a standard 3M adhesive that shouldn’t pull paint off most surfaces either, making these a great option for renters with children. Just heat the patented 3M foam tape with a hairdryer and it will peel away without pulling away paint or leaving behind a sticky residue.
What’s even better is that installation only takes a few seconds, and the straps are strong enough to keep even the most determined of toddlers from opening your cabinets or other such things. These are particularly great because you won’t have to buy multiple products to handle other things you need to baby proof as they can be used for basically anything you don’t want your child to be able to open.
Finally, the strap-style lock means that you can usually position the safety lock in a way that doesn’t allow your cabinet, drawer, or what have you to open up far enough that a curious toddler could accidentally close a finger in them. Some cabinet locks will let your little ones open a door just far enough to get a finger inside, which could potentially hurt them. You don’t have to worry about that with this one.
Secure Home Baby Safety Locks Key Features:
- Non-destructive so it won’t damage your cabinets
- Can be used to child-proof a variety of areas in your home
- Easy to reposition or remove
- 6-8 inch usable length
Best Hidden Cabinet Locks: The Good Stuff Safety Latches
If you’re looking for a child-proof cabinet latch that isn’t visible and won’t mess up the aesthetics of your kitchen or bathroom, then The Good Stuff Cabinet Locks are a great option. These latches are completely hidden from view until you pull the door open slightly and reach in to disengage them. This lets you keep your child out of any cabinets or drawers they shouldn’t be in, without you having to put something on the outside of the cabinet itself.
These are pretty typical of most spring-powered baby-proof latches you’re probably familiar with, but with a few key advantages over the standard ones. First, they use a 3M adhesive like the Secure Home model above so you don’t have to worry about them messing up your cabinets or needing screws to install them. This also makes installation a breeze as it only takes a few seconds to attach them.
Lastly, the latches themselves are adjustable so you can fine-tune them for your particular cabinets or drawers so you can be sure they’ll work almost anywhere. Some other options can be too short to reach and won’t engage properly, which isn’t ever a problem with these.
The Good Stuff Safety Latches Key Features:
- Hidden from the outside
- Harder for a child to reach than a strap-style lock
- Won’t damage your cabinets
- Installs in just seconds
- Adjustable latch length for thicker cabinetry
Best Budget Cabinet Locks: Kiscords Baby Safety Cabinet Locks
If you’re looking for a cheap, easy-to-travel-with solution for baby proofing then you may want to try the Kiscords Baby Safety Cabinet Locks. These locks are very simple but are effective for keeping any cabinets that have handles or knobs safely closed. If these work for your cabinets, then you’ll have a simple and affordable way to keep your kids safely locked out of them. They’re also great or travel as they’ll work on most hotel cabinets and such so you won’t have to worry about protecting your little ones on the go.
These are also great for parents and grandparents that may have arthritis or other mobility issues that could make other, fiddlier cabinet locks difficult to disengage. These locks simply require you to squeeze and pull and can be deactivated with just one hand. The downside is that older toddlers may be able to figure these locks out, but children under three or four should be fine. If you’re worried about older kiddos, you can sub in one of the other options as your children grow and become more dextrous and mischievous.
Kiscords Baby Safety Cabinet Locks Key Features:
- Great for travel
- Easy for an adult to activate one-handed
- Extremely affordable
- Perfect for short-term baby proofing when you have a little one visiting
Best Dual-Purpose Cabinet Locks: Eco-Baby Child Safety Magnetic Cabinet and Drawer Locks
The Eco-Baby Child Safety Magnetic Cabinet and Drawer Locks are a great option for child-proofing your entire kitchen or bedroom all at once. These magnetic latches require no screws and come with two keys which allows you to keep your cabinets and drawers safe from even older toddlers. Just don’t lose the key or you’ll need to either buy a replacement or find a very strong fridge magnet.
The latches themself attach to the inside of the cabinet or drawer and are deactivated when you slide the magnetic key over them from the outside. This disengages the latch and allows the cabinet or drawer to be opened. This innovative design makes for a very safe baby-proof cabinet that can’t be opened by anyone that doesn’t have the key. The magnet works through up to two inches of wood and the latch can be locked into the open position to temporarily disengage it or to just disable it once you no longer need child-proofing like after your child grows up. And then of course if you have another little one running around and getting into things, you can always turn them back on.
You also don’t have to worry about these messing up your drawers and cabinets because no screws are necessary, just the same 3M tape we’ve discussed before, making these great for renters or even landlords who want to promote apartments that are already baby-proofed.
Eco-Baby Child Safety Magnetic Cabinet and Drawer Locks Key Features:
- Hidden from the outside
- Can’t be opened without the magnetic key
- Great for child-proofing with older kids
- No drilling required
Best Magnetic Cabinet Locks: Safety 1st Adhesive Magnetic Lock System 8-Pack
The Safety 1st Adhesive Magnetic Lock System 8-Pack are another great magnetic option that is ideal for baby proofing when you have older kids, or even curious cats and dogs that like opening cabinets. These can’t be opened without a special magnetic key, and are very strong so you won’t have to worry about even the most inquisitive of toddlers (or cats). These also install very quickly and easily so you won’t have to worry about struggling to put them in either. You can, however, use screws for lighter materials if you want even more security.
Like the above options (which works for cabinets and drawers) you can disable the lock as well when you want and it includes a plastic template to make installation that much easier. You can also simply disengage this one during long periods if you don’t have kids in the house or only have kids visiting occasionally. *
Safety 1st Adhesive Magnetic Lock System 8-Pack Key Features:
- Locks and unlocks easily from the outside
- Can’t be opened without special key
- Doesn’t require drilling
- Installs in minutes
Who Should Buy a Cabinet Lock
At the end of the day, if you have a young child at home you are obligated to keep cabinets and drawers locked in a way that they can’t get them open and access the content. Children are incredibly inquisitive and can get into almost anything so it’s always important to be one step ahead of them when it comes to child-proofing.
As parents, our number one job is to keep our little ones safe and cabinet locks are a key part of that. We definitely don’t want our kids getting into anything that could hurt them, and we of course need a safe place to store sharp objects, household cleaners, and other such things.
And of course, we want to protect them from the simple danger of getting trapped in a cabinet, refrigerator, or other such things which could prove fatal. A good child-proof cabinet lock prevents this and keeps our kids safe, without being inconvenient to us adults.
If you’re looking for other ways to make sure your home is safe for your baby, then you may want to check out How To Prepare For Your Baby or Newborn Living: 6 Ways To Prepare Your Apartment For A New Baby.
Important Features to Consider
A good cabinet lock should have a few key things going for it. Here’s what to consider when selecting cabinet locks to child-proof your home:
- Safety. First and foremost, it’s important to find locks that will keep your children safe and perfected within your home.
- Strength. A cabinet lock that can be easily forced open isn’t very safe. Make sure your cabinet locks are strong enough to resist inquisitive prying.
- Potential to Damage Cabinets. If you rent or just don’t want to damage your cabinets, make sure your cabinet locks don’t require screws to go into the cabinet or drawer.
- Ease of Installation. On a similar note, some cabinet locks are fiddly and hard to install properly and should be avoided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What style of cabinet locks is the best?
It really depends on your specific needs. All four main styles of cabinet locks (magnet, spring, knob/handle, and strap) all have their advantages and disadvantages. You’ll have to decide for yourself which one best fits your own needs and home life.
When do I need to start child-proofing my home?
We generally recommend starting the baby-proofing process well before your little bundle of joy comes home from the hospital. This will give you lots of time to get the project done, as well as plenty of time to figure out if you missed a cabinet or drawer somewhere.
Do I need a professional to install my cabinet locks?
Nope! All of these products are quick and easy to install even by the least-handy parents out there. Most just require you to peel the backing off some adhesive and then stick them in place.
Will cabinet locks damage my cabinets?
Some do require that the latch be screwed into the cabinet, but most modern ones you a simple adhesive that you can clean off with a bit of heat and rubbing alcohol so there will be absolutely no damage to your cabinet.
Other Cabinet Locks We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other cabinet locks. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best cabinet locks list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your family. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Non-Damaging Cabinet Locks
If you’re looking for a spring latch that is totally hidden from the outside, this is a great option.
Key Features:
- Spring-activated
- No Tools Needed
- Hidden from view
Cost: $10
Munchkin Xtraguard Dual Action Multi Use Latches
The extra-strong plastic used here is great for older toddlers, or houses with multiple kids running around.
Key Features:
- Extra-strong strap
- Dual-button operation
- Won’t damage furniture
Cost: $9
Nobranded Child Safety Cabinet Latches
These strap locks can be used to child-proof an entire room with ease.
Key Features:
- Good for drawers, cabinets, toilets, ovens, and refrigerators
- 3″-7″ length
- Excellent adhesive
Cost: $16
Secure Home Sliding Cabinet Locks
Key Features:
- U-shaped lock is perfect for cabinets with knobs or handles
- Plastic won’t scratch furniture finish
- Easy to take on and off quickly
Cost: $10
This simple strap lock won’t hurt your cabinets and installs in seconds.
Key Features:
- Installs in seconds
- Non-marring adhesive
- Good for a variety of scenarios
Hidden Cabinet Locks
CalMyotis Child Proof Cabinet Locks
These locks are completely hidden from view and very secure.
Key Features:
- Very strong plastic
- Can be installed with screw for extra strength
- Adhesive installation won’t damage your cabinets
Cost: $21
Daily Best Cabinet Child Locks
If you’re looking for a hidden latch that won’t damage your cabinetry, this is an excellent option.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-activate button (for adults)
- Dual latch won’t hurt wood underneath countertops
- Installs in minutes
Cost: $24
Vmaisi Spring-Assisted Cabinet Locks
These spring latches won’t mess up your kitchen’s aesthetics and will keep your little ones out of your cabinets or drawers.
Key Features:
- Latch clips into hasp on the inside of the drawer for extra security
- Extra-durable spring
- Very affordable
Magnetic Cabinet Locks
Enovoe Magnetic Baby Safety Cabinet Locks
The Enovoe Magnetic Cabinet Locks are great options for keeping even the most inquisitive hands out of your cabinets or drawers.
Key Features:
- Can only be opened with special magnetic keys
- Works through up to 2″ of wood
- Simple to install
Cost: $20
If you need to childproof multiple rooms with the same system, this Hurrise kit may be the one for you.
Key Features:
- Installs in seconds
- Can easily be disabled as needed
- 16 locks and 3 keys included
Cost: $24
Jambini Magnetic Cabinet Locks
These magnetic locks are easy to disengage with the key, impossible to disengage without them.
Key Features:
- Sets up in seconds
- Multiple keys included
- Hidden from the outside
Cost: $15
KinderGard Baby Safety Magnetic Lock
KinderGard has been making excellent child-proofing products for decades and these magnetic latches are no exception.
Key Features:
- Tool-free install
- Works through thick cabinets
- Option to leave unlocked
Cost: $20
Safety 1st Magnetic Locks – 16 Pack
This lock kit from one of our top 5 manufacturers can handle 16 drawers or cabinets.
Key Features:
- 16 locks can cover most of your house, if not all of it
- Simple to install
- Comes with spare keys
Cost: $74
Safety 1st Magnetic Locks 2-Pack
Need an extra lock or two? This is a great option especially if you’re already going with Safety 1st products.
Key Features:
- Great trial size
- Key included
- Sets up in seconds
Cabinet Knob/Handle Locks
These U-lock style cabinet locks are simple and straightforward but work well on any cabinet with handles or knobs.
Key Features:
- Easy to take on and off
- Available in multiple sizes
- Won’t mar furniture
Cost: $9
Jool Baby Child Safety Cabinet Locks
This extra-strong cabinet lock is good for older kids or even pets
Key Features:
- Can’t be undone by small children
- Extra-strong polymer construction
- Very affordable
Cost: $9
Safety 1st 6 Pack Side by Side Cabinet Lock
These cable-style locks are great for traveling.
Key Features:
- Easy to use on the go
- Won’t hurt any furniture or finishes
- Indicator clearly shows when lock is engaged properly
Cost: $17
Skyla Homes Sliding Cabinet Locks
Our final entry is extra robust and comes in a variety of different amounts to cover any size home.
Key Features:
- Heavy-duty latch
- Won’t scratch cabinets
- Easy to take on and off
Cost: $10
