How to Understand Electric Strike vs Magnetic Lock
Choosing between an electric strike and a magnetic lock is one of the most consequential decisions in any access control installation, and getting it wrong can compromise both security and life-safety compliance. These two electronic door locking systems operate on fundamentally different principles, suit different door types, and carry different failure-mode risks. Understanding how each device functions — and where each belongs — helps building owners, facility managers, and tenants make informed decisions before a locksmith ever arrives on site.
How to Understand Electric Strike vs Magnetic Lock Overview
An electric strike replaces the fixed strike plate in a standard door frame. When the door is closed, the latch or bolt from the lock engages the strike as it normally would. The electric component is the strike itself: it contains a pivoting or releasing keeper that, when energized or de-energized (depending on configuration), allows the latch to pass through and the door to open — without turning the knob or lever from the outside. The door hardware on the door leaf itself remains entirely mechanical.
A magnetic lock, often called a mag lock, works on an entirely different principle. An electromagnetic coil is mounted on the door frame, and a matching armature plate is mounted on the door leaf. When current flows through the coil, the magnetic field bonds the two surfaces together with holding forces that typically range from 600 to 1,200 pounds. There is no latch, no bolt, and no mechanical engagement — only the electromagnetic bond. Cutting power breaks that bond instantly and the door swings free.
Both devices fall under the broader category of electronic door locking systems, but they integrate into a building’s access control infrastructure differently. Electric strikes work with existing lock hardware; magnetic locks replace the latching function entirely. That distinction drives nearly every downstream decision about door prep, power supply, egress hardware, and code compliance.
Key Factors
Door type and frame material are the starting point for any electric strike comparison. Electric strikes require a hollow metal or wood frame with enough depth to house the strike body and its wiring. They work naturally with doors that already carry a cylindrical or mortise lock because the existing latch engages the new strike. Aluminum storefront frames, glass doors, and frameless glass typically cannot accept an electric strike without significant modification — if at all. Magnetic locks, by contrast, mount on the surface of the frame and door, making them suitable for aluminum storefront, hollow metal, and many non-standard door assemblies.
Fail-safe versus fail-secure is the most critical functional distinction. Magnetic locks are inherently fail-safe: power loss releases the door. This makes them appropriate on egress doors where building codes require free exit at all times, but it also means a power outage — or a deliberate power cut — unlocks the door immediately. Electric strikes can be ordered in either configuration. A fail-safe electric strike releases on power loss; a fail-secure strike locks down on power loss, which is acceptable on interior security doors but prohibited on most egress paths unless paired with a proper request-to-exit (REX) device and a compliant door coordinator.
Holding force and attack resistance differ meaningfully between the two types. A properly installed magnetic lock with 1,200-pound holding force resists a great deal of physical force, but only as long as power is maintained. An electric strike, especially when paired with a deadbolt, can offer strong mechanical resistance even during a power disruption if configured fail-secure. For high-security applications, the question becomes: which threat model matters more — physical attack or power interruption?
Power consumption is a practical operational factor. Magnetic locks draw continuous current while locked, typically 250–500 milliamps at 12 or 24 VDC. Over a fleet of doors, this adds up and increases the load on the access control power supply and battery backup. Electric strikes draw current only momentarily during the unlock cycle, making them more energy-efficient in applications where doors remain locked most of the time.
Costs and Risks
Hardware costs vary by application complexity. A quality electric strike suitable for a commercial hollow metal frame typically runs in the $80–$250 range for the device itself; a commercial-grade magnetic lock ranges from $100–$350. Those figures do not include the access control reader, power supply, REX sensor, door contacts, or labor. A complete single-door mag lock installation with all components installed by a licensed locksmith or access control technician usually falls in the $400–$900 range depending on door conditions and wire run length. Electric strike installations on doors with existing locks can be slightly less, since the mechanical lock hardware is already in place.
Average: $600 · Range: $400–$900 · Travel: free in service area. These figures represent a standard single-door commercial installation; multi-door systems, conduit requirements, or fire-rated door assemblies will affect final cost.
The risks of improper installation are significant. Magnetic locks mounted on fire-rated doors must be connected to the building’s fire alarm system so they release automatically during an alarm — a requirement under NFPA 101 and most local fire codes. Failing to make that connection is a code violation that can result in failed inspections, liability exposure, and genuine life-safety hazard. Similarly, electric strikes installed in a fail-secure configuration on an egress door without proper REX devices and AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) approval can trap occupants.
Electrical risks are also real. Both device types require low-voltage wiring, but magnetic locks draw continuous current and generate heat at the coil. Poor connections, undersized wire, or an inadequately rated power supply can cause intermittent failures, false unlocks, or — in worst cases — component damage. Attempting a DIY installation without understanding the power supply’s output capacity and the total amperage draw of all connected devices on the same circuit is a common source of field failures that require a return service call.
Compatibility errors between the lock device and the access control panel are another risk. Not all panels handle fail-safe and fail-secure outputs the same way. Some output a continuous voltage to hold a mag lock; others pulse to release an electric strike. Installing the wrong lock type on the wrong output can result in a door that is permanently unlocked or permanently locked — neither of which is acceptable.
When to Call a Locksmith
Any new access control installation on a commercial door should involve a licensed locksmith or access control integrator. The combination of electrical work, door prep, code compliance, and security function is not well-suited to general contractors or building maintenance staff without specific training. A qualified locksmith can assess the door type, frame construction, and egress requirements before specifying hardware — preventing costly re-work after the wrong device is ordered.
Existing electric strike or magnetic lock failures are another clear call-a-locksmith scenario. Symptoms such as a door that will not release with a valid credential, a door that never latches properly after an electric strike installation, or a mag lock that releases unpredictably often trace back to power supply issues, wiring faults, or hardware misalignment. A locksmith with access control experience can test the circuit, check voltage under load, and identify whether the problem is in the lock device, the power supply, the access control panel, or the wiring between them.
Lock upgrades on fire-rated doors always require professional involvement. Fire-rated assemblies have specific hardware requirements, and any modification — including adding an electric strike or mag lock — must maintain the door’s listing. A locksmith familiar with door hardware standards can verify that the chosen device is compatible with the existing fire label and can document the installation for the building’s records.
Tenant turnover in commercial buildings is a common trigger for access control changes. When a new tenant requires a different credential system, rekeying alone may not be sufficient if the existing access control infrastructure uses proprietary readers or panels. A locksmith can evaluate whether the existing electric strike or mag lock hardware is compatible with the new system or whether new hardware is needed.
Recommended Next Steps
Before contacting a locksmith or integrator, gather basic information about the door in question: frame material (hollow metal, aluminum storefront, wood), door width and thickness, whether the door is fire-rated, and whether it serves as a required egress path. This information allows a technician to give an accurate quote and specify the correct hardware without an unnecessary preliminary site visit.
Determine the failure mode requirement early. Ask whether the door needs to fail-safe (open on power loss) or fail-secure (locked on power loss), and verify that requirement against local fire and building codes before purchasing any hardware. For egress doors, the answer is almost always fail-safe, and a magnetic lock is often the simpler and more code-compliant path. For interior security doors — server rooms, pharmacies, evidence rooms — fail-secure electric strikes may be appropriate.
Request that the installing technician provide documentation of the installation, including the make and model of all hardware, the power supply specifications, and any fire alarm integration wiring. This documentation is valuable for future service calls, inspections, and insurance purposes. A professional locksmith will have no objection to providing it.
If there is any uncertainty about code compliance, contact the local Authority Having Jurisdiction — typically the fire marshal’s office or the building department — before installation. Retrofitting a non-compliant installation is almost always more expensive than doing it correctly the first time. A knowledgeable locksmith can assist with pre-installation code questions and in some jurisdictions can pull the necessary permits.
Finally, consider the full system, not just the lock device. An electric strike or magnetic lock is only as reliable as the access control panel, power supply, and credential readers connected to it. Specifying a quality lock device and pairing it with an undersized power supply or an incompatible panel is a common planning error. A complete system review — hardware, power, access control, and egress — at the planning stage prevents the majority of field problems that result in after-hours service calls.
Call Low Rate Locksmith
Low Rate Locksmith provides 24/7 mobile locksmith service across the US and Canada for electric strike installations, magnetic lock service, access control troubleshooting, and all commercial door hardware needs. Whether the job involves a single door upgrade or a multi-door access control system, the team can assess door conditions, specify code-compliant hardware, and complete the installation correctly the first time. Call (833) 439-8636 any time to speak with a technician or schedule a site visit — travel is included within the service area.