Are you ready to beef up your shed security to stop intruders dead in their tracks? Welcome to our guide to choosing the best padlocks for sheds. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about securing your outdoor shed with the right padlock. Also, you’ll find a good range of options to suit every budget.
If you’re unfamiliar with securing a shed door, the first step is to pair your existing (or new) hasp with your new padlock. By choosing the correct hasp & padlock combo, you ensure no compatibility issues. Once you pair your hasp and padlock, you get the peace of mind of knowing your shed is ultra-secure.
Before we get started, let’s go over several types of common attacks that the locks in this guide help to prevent:
- Cutting and sawing, e.g. using bolt cutters
- Prying
- Grinding
- Drilling
- Picking
- Hammer blows and other physical attacks
In addition to preventing theft, all of the locks in this guide are weather-resistant to prevent annoying rust issues. So with that out of the way, let’s check out an overview of the five locks with all the key specs to consider.
Top 5 Shed Locks
| Lock | Description |
| #1) ABLOY PROTEC2 Shrouded Hardened Steel Padlock
|
|
| #2) ABUS 37RK/80 GRANIT Alloy Steel Rekeyable Padlock
|
|
| #3) Squire SS65CS Stronghold Ultra High-Security Padlock
|
|
| #4) Commando Lock Total Guard Shrouded Military-Grade Laminated Padlock
|
|
| #5) Trimax Hockey-Puck Internal Shackle Shed Lock
|
|
Reviews of the Best Padlocks for Sheds
Before making your final decision, it’s important to get a rough estimate of the value of the items stored inside your shed. If you’re storing thousands of bucks worth of equipment, it’s wise to choose one of the most secure padlocks in this guide. If you’re storing some basic shovels and gardening equipment, the final two locks in this guide will get the job done.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the five locks in the reviews below. There, you’ll find additional features to consider along with the pros & cons of owning each lock.
#1) ABLOY PL362 PROTEC2 Shrouded Hardened Steel Padlock
Of the five locks in this guide, the ABLOY PL362 gives you the highest level of overall protection. For starters, the PROTEC2 11-disc cylinder is virtually unpickable (in theory, there are nearly 2 billion possible key combinations), and it’s 100% bump-resistant. Plus, it won’t prematurely rust like inferior padlocks, meaning you get reliable butter-smooth operation with little to no maintenance.
After the cylinder comes the impressive hardened-steel lock body with a shrouded boron steel shackle. Of the five locks, the shackle on this lock is the beefiest, so be sure to keep that in mind when pairing it with a hasp to ensure it fits. With the shroud, you get better protection against cutting and saw attacks since there’s significantly less exposed shackle compared to a traditional padlock.
One final highlight to consider is the hardened, free-spinning protection plate that blocks drill attacks like a boss. All in all, if you want ultimate shed security, start with the PL362.
Pros
- ABLOY’s PROTEC2 rotating disc cylinder is virtually pick-proof
- The thickest shackle in this guide
- Anti-drill plate
- Maximum Security CEN Grade 6 Padlock
- The largest padlock offered by ABLOY
- The trademark anti-wear system makes it an excellent weatherproof padlock to withstand harsh environments
- Key multiple locks alike
- An excellent budget alternative to the almighty Sargent & Greenleaf 951 padlock
Cons
- Additional keys are pricey
- Not compatible with all hasps
#2) ABUS 37RK/80 GRANIT Alloy Steel Rekeyable Padlock
Now, the ABLOY PL362 is awesome, but for less than half the price (at the time of this writing), the ABUS 37RK/80 is no slouch. Similar to the ABLOY PROTEC2 cylinder, the ABUS-Plus disc cylinder provides ultimate protection against picking attacks. Only the most skilled lockpickers with enough time on their hands have a chance of picking this behemoth padlock.
Outside of security, another reason this lock is perfect for outdoor sheds is the weatherproof Black GRANIT coating. With this lock, you get the highest level of corrosion resistance, so if you live in a humid environment, be sure to give this lock a long look.
One cool feature you might like is the fully removable shackle. Unlike a swinging shackle, the 37RK/80 shackle requires two cuts to break the lock, and with the double ball locking mechanism, pulling the shackle out of the lock requires Herculean strength.
Pros
- Includes an LED light key for clear nighttime access to an outdoor shed
- The included security card ensures no one can duplicate your key
- Ultimate corrosion resistance in harsh environments that typically cause rust issues with cheap locks
- Maximum 10/10 ABUS security score
- Removable shackle
- 100% made in Germany
- Rekeyable to key alike
- The highest level of security for the money
Cons
- The shackle is too large for some uses (be sure you have enough clearance as well)
- You might not like the removable shackle since you can’t hang the lock in one piece while it’s unlocked
#3) Squire SS65CS Stronghold Ultra High-Security Padlock
Next up is one of Britain’s best padlocks built by a company that’s been around since 1780. The Squire Stronghold scores a perfect 10/10 on Squire’s security scale, and it holds a CEN Grade 5 score, which is just one step below ABLOY’s PL362 model.
Security features that are worth noting include the 12.7 mm hardened boron alloy steel shackle and 6-pin tumbler with more than 250,000 possible key combinations. While that is impressive, it also shows how truly impressive the ABLOY PROTEC2 cylinder is with its nearly 2 billion possible combos.
A couple of final features that make the Stronghold one of the best padlocks for outdoor sheds are the covered keyhole design and fully-protected lock body. Like ABUS GRANIT, the Squire Stronghold lock is perfect for use in areas with harsh weather conditions. Just think, if it’s built to withstand humid London weather, it’ll perform quite well in humid cities like Seattle as well.
Pros
- CEN Grade 5/6 security
- Ideal for use in humid environments
- The electrophoretic anti-corrosion finish is built to withstand salt exposure both inside and outside the lock
- 10-year personal satisfaction guarantee
- Protected covered keyhole
- 100% made in Britain
- The option to key alike
Cons
- The cylinder isn’t on par with ABLOY’s PROTEC2
- Not as beefy as the first two locks for the money
#4) Commando Lock Total Guard Shrouded Military-Grade Laminated Padlock
Currently, the shrouded Commando Padlock is the best budget padlock for an outdoor shed. Compared to a Master Lock or Stanley padlock, you get more bang for your buck with this bad boy. One of the first features that jump out is the tall shroud height. Compared to most shrouded padlocks, the shroud comes up higher on this lock, making it virtually cut-proof (according to Commando, it’s “Bolt Cutter Proof”).
Next, the fact that the cylinder features 10 pins at this price point is another big reason this lock is a bonafide winner. For weather resistance, the zinc-plated carbon steel body holds up well in most environments. Plus, the dual-hardened stainless steel is nice to see at this price point.
A couple of final highlights are the cut-resistant steel-alloy shackle, the military-grade design that meets US Military standards, and Commando Locks are made in the USA. What’s not to like?
Pros
- Unbeatable value for the money
- High-security 10-pin cylinder
- Military-Grade Design
- Made in the USA
- A versatile interchangeable shackle design
- Tall shroud to completely block bolt cutters
- Available in multiple size packs to use the same key for multiple locks
Cons
- Operating the lock takes some getting used to
- No anti-drill plate
- The instructions could be clearer
#5) Trimax THPXL Hockey-Puck Internal Shackle Shed Lock
The final lock is known as a “Hockey Puck” type lock, and this type of lock is a perfect fit for outdoor shed doors. If you don’t have an existing hasp or plan to replace your current one, there’s a special type of hasp that fits this lock like a glove (Click Here #ad to check the current price of the Trimax THSP2C hasp at Amazon).
The beauty of a hockey puck lock is the internal shackle that leaves no exposed shackle for a thief to cut. Clearly, there’s no way a pair of bolt cutters can angle its way into the opening to attempt to cut the shackle. Along with resistance to cutting, the solid steel body ensures no thief is easily breaking through this lock with force alone.
The one drawback to this lock that’s worth noting for folks living in moist environments is that it is prone to rust issues. The good news is the lock still functions smoothly, however, it’s a good idea to maintain it with oil or other lock care products to prevent rust from interfering with the lock’s functionality.
Pros
- Unbeatable value for the money
- The best budget hockey puck padlock
- The inaccessible internal shackle design
- Heavier duty than it appears
- Pairs perfectly with the Trimax hockey puck hasp
- Rekeyable
Cons
- Prone to rusting in moist environments
- Easier to pick than the other locks in this guide
- Requires more care than the other locks
Bottom Line
As a reminder, when choosing the best padlock for your outdoor shed, always consider the value of the items you’re storing. The peace of mind you get by choosing one of the high-security locks in this guide as opposed to a cheap Master Lock is worth the extra dough. Though, if you’re only storing low-value items in a small shed, the Commando and Trimax locks are both excellent choices.
Lastly, once you make your final decision, always double-check the lock’s dimensions to ensure you don’t run into any compatibility issues with your current or new hasp. Also, if you plan to purchase multiple locks to use around your home, there’s the option to key these locks alike for the sake of convenience.
