Best Cam Locks for Cabinet

Cam locks do a fantastic job of keeping your cabinet secure. They are not bulky like other types of locks, and they are very easy to use as well. That makes it a perfect cabinet locking mechanism for daily use.

There are many options available on the market when you search for a decent cam lock. But choosing the best cam locks can really make a huge difference as it can provide the ultimate convenience of use while not compromising the safety of the cabinet interior. 

To help you pick the perfect cam lock for your cabinet, we’ll review 5 of the best options available on the market. We’ll also cover a few key things you need to consider before buying it to get the best value for your money.

Comparison Chart Of Cam Locks

Below is the comparison chart that you can use to quickly take a glance and compare 5 of the locks all at once.

What is Cam Lock?

Cam locks are used on cabinets, and they are not bulky like other types of locks. The small profile helps to maintain the sleek appearance of your place, which is great.

While they are not as secure as fully metal locks, they are quite reliable. If you want to add basic security to your cabinet and make it so no one can open it without the keys, then it’s a perfect solution for you.

Cam locks are perfect for daily use as well. In most cases, you’ll have a key to open the lock, which is very convenient. It’s such a simple yet effective mechanism. And installing these onto a cabinet is quite easy and takes only a few minutes.

Also, most cam locks come in a basic design that blends in with any cabinet surface. There’s no wonder why these are getting popular, and you can see them in most modern cabinets nowadays.

How Does a Cam Lock Work?

A cam lock is typically a key-based lock, and it’s perfect for basic level security. They are quite small and take a little time to install in place.

The shape of a cam lock is generally cylindrical, which allows for easy installation. The end of the cam lock contains a locking mechanism that secures the door in place once you lock it. 

One of the unique things about the cam lock is that most of it are hidden inside the cabinet. The design allows the lock to almost become invisible from the outside.

Also, as it requires a key to open, you can hand over spare keys to other people if you want to give them access. As the main purpose of a cam lock is to provide privacy, this is a great thing for everyday users. From the assembly to the daily use, no other lock can beat the level of convenience it gives.

Top 5 Picks for the Cam Locks

You learned about what a cabinet cam lock is and how it operates. Now, let’s go over an in-depth review of 5 of the best cam locks available on the market so that you can easily pick from them.

1. Defender Security U 9945 Cam Lock for Cabinet

Defender security is one of the most renowned companies that produce top-class security products. This cabinet cam lock is one of the best ones available in the market. It does everything well, and it’s the best overall lock for your money.

Built with stainless steel, this lock has a decent safety level. While it’s not the most heavy-duty lock for maximum security, it’s perfect for a basic level of safety. 

This cam lock is super easy to install into cabinets. You can literally install it in place within minutes. As it’s a complete package, you won’t need to get other parts from elsewhere. Not to mention, it’s super easy to use as well, and you’ll find it amazing to use every day.

You can use this cam lock on your drawers as well. It’ll provide a decent level of security and the best convenience of use to you.

Key Features

Pros

1. Easy to install
2. Convenience of using
3. Basic and minimalistic design
4. Best value for your money

Cons

1. Not the sturdiest lock

2. Corgre Cylinder Cam Lock

This simple yet effective lock coming from CORGRE can be of great use for locking cabinets, drawers, toolboxes, and, many more. It is made of Zinc alloy which will provide a smooth operation regardless of where you use it.

The pack contains two locks of the same size. It has two variations in size. One has a cylinder length of 16mm and the other is 20mm. Installation hole will be the same for both sizes.

It is a key type lock and each lock comes with two keys, in case you lose one. You can install the lock into your cabinets without any fuss. As the lock is made of zinc with a stainless steel finish, it won’t rust over time.

As a result, you won’t have trouble in locking or unlocking your cabinets. The lock fits inside the cabinet, so it’s difficult to pry open it from outside.

Key Features:

Pros:

1. Rust-proof construction with zinc
2. Easy to install
3. Suitable for a bunch of purposes
4. Provides great safety

Cons:

• It became runner up in the fight of locks

3. FJM Security Combi-Cam 7850R-S-Black Combination Cam Lock

Let’s introduce you to the best keyless cam lock that will provide ample security to your belongings. Go keyless with this durable cam lock while not ignoring safety. It has three dials with a thousand possible combinations.

So, cracking the lock is quite difficult for any unwanted person. It has a cylinder length of 5/8 inches. The lock is built with a combination of zinc and chromium, so it is very durable.

Due to the chrome finish of this lock, it won’t rust easily. Installing this lock is super easy. If you are using a traditional key type cam lock, you can easily replace that with this keyless lock. It will fit the same holes.

Besides setting your own code, you can even eliminate the chances of resetting the lock. This lock will be suitable for places you use frequently, so that you don’t need to worry about the keys.

Key Features:

Pros:

1. Set your own code
2. Keyless security with added convenience
3. One thousand combinations
4. Weather and rust resistant

Cons:

1. No bypass for resetting after installation

4. Camco Thumb Operated Offset Cam Lock

This thumb operated style cam lock is free from the hassle of carrying keys. After installing, you can simply operate the lock with your thumbs. It is a very convenient way to secure your cabinets, drawers, or toolboxes.

It has a cylinder length of 7/8 inches, so installing a new lock in the place of your old lock is quite easy. You get an offset cam along with a straight cam in this lock. It’s made of zinc alloy with a chrome finished outer surface.

The surface is quite shiny, but unfortunately it scratches over time. You will be satisfied with the overall build quality though; the lock has a certain charm to it. The cam can be turned easily, there is no jamming issue. It seemed to be rust resistant in our short use. But we found the price a bit high.

Key Features:

Pros:

1. Thumb operated, so no keys required
2. Easy to install or replace old locks
3. Rust-resistant build
4. Two cams included

Cons:

• A bit pricey

5. Combi-Cam 7432L-Black and Keys Ultra Combination Cam Lock

The last lock here is a ultra combination cam lock from a renowned brand called Combi-Cam. You will get four dials along with one key insert in this lock. With these four dials, the lock can be set to ten thousand combinations which is really difficult to crack.

It has a cylinder length of 1-1/8 inches. You can install the lock in both vertical and horizontal directions according to your convenience. Opening and closing the lock with key has been made easy with indicators on the lock.

The lock will fit any standard cam hole, including ones you currently have in your cabinets or drawers. It comes with all necessary accessories. If you forget the combination, you can unlock it with the master key which is also provided with the package.

This exceptional cam lock will meet all your safety needs without causing any issues.

Key Features:

Pros:

1. Combination lock with dials and keys
2. Ten thousand combinations with four dials
3. Indicators to use keys easily
4. Fits any standard cam holes

Cons:

1. A lot expensive

Buying Guide – What You Need to Know About Cam Locks

Now that you have the list of 8 different cam locks, you can pick either one of them, and they’ll give you the best value for your money. However, it’s a good idea to consider a few key things to get the best possible fit for your cabinet. Let’s go over everything you need to know before putting your money on the table for a cabinet cam lock.

Types of Cabinet cam Lock

There are different types of cabinet cam locks available out there. These are nothing but the different key types and the locking mechanism. Below are some of the most common ones that you should know about.

• Keyless cam lock
• Keyed cam lock
• Thumb operated cam lock
• Combination cam lock

Keyed cam locks are the most common type out there. Installing and operating them is very easy. But if you don’t want to take the hassle of managing keys, you can go for keyless cam locks.

They have dials to set a combination for opening the lock. Some locks even have a combination of keys and dials so that you can operate them both ways. Thumb operated cam locks don’t have keys or dials. They can be opened or closed by twisting a knob on the outer part.

Material 

Cam locks are made of a lot of materials these days. Among them, the locks made of Alloy Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze material provide the best durability and security. So, you should check the label of your cam lock and see whether it uses any of the mentioned materials.

However, as the main purpose of cam locks is not security, you don’t have to think too much about heavy-duty stuff. Rather, you should pick something that’ll last you a long time without any issue. 

It’s a good idea to go for a lock that comes with waterproof and dust-proof features. That’ll protect the lock from these obvious attacks and make it last longer for you.

Extra Features

You need to look at other stuff about a cam lock before picking it. As installing a cam lock is easy, the lock you buy should have easy installation. The type of key used in the lock can also be something you should check as well.

Also, you should always go for renowned brands. That’s the best way almost to guarantee better locks for your money. Most of the well-known brands don’t manufacture bad products. So, you are more likely to get a good cam lock compared to getting a random cam lock from Amazon.

FAQ

Let’s go over the answers to a few commonly asked questions about cam locks to extend your understanding.

Are cam locks all the same size?

Cam locks come in different types, sizes, and thicknesses. You need to check it before you buy it. Check the labels as they contain all the information you need to know about the size of the cam lock. Then simply pick the right size according to the cabinet door’s hole size.

How to measure cam lock cylinder length?

Having the proper measurement of the lock cylinder is the most important thing you need to consider before picking a cam lock for your cabinet. A loose fighting cam lock will compromise the safety of the lock, which is not good.

You can simply measure from the center of the keyhole to the end of the cam lock, and that’ll give you the most accurate cam lock cylinder length.

Are cabinet cam locks secure?

Cam locks are not typically focused on heavy security. The main purpose of cam locks is to provide privacy to your cabinet. Often if you don’t want others to go over your stuff inside your cabinet, a cam lock can help you with that. Cam locks provide the perfect privacy solution to your cabinet.

Conclusion

A good quality cam lock can keep your cabinet secure. So, you can prevent everyone from going through your stuff, which is a very handy thing. We reviewed 5 of the best cam locks for cabinets that you can get for your money. 

These are all perfect for quality and convenience, and they give you plenty of options to choose from as well. That way, you can pick according to your favorite features and budget level. If you’re confused, you can simply use the comparison chart to figure out things easily.

Hopefully, you’ll find the reviews and additional information helpful in picking the perfect cam lock for your cabinet.