Electric Strike vs Maglock: Which Is Right for Your Door?

When designing an access control system, one of the most important decisions is how the door will actually be locked.

Two of the most common options are an electric strike and a maglock, also known as a magnetic lock or electromagnetic door lock.

Both can be operated by access control keypads, fob readers, intercoms and door controllers, but they work in very different ways. The right choice depends on the door construction, existing hardware, security requirements, means of escape and how you want the finished installation to look.

In this guide, we compare electric strikes vs maglocks, explain the advantages of each and look at the situations where one may be more suitable than the other.

You can also browse our complete range of access control products⁠, including locking equipment, readers, power supplies and door-release accessories.

What is a maglock?

A maglock, or electromagnetic lock, uses an electromagnet mounted to the door frame and a metal armature plate fitted to the door.

When power is supplied to the magnet, it creates a strong magnetic force that holds the armature plate against it and keeps the door locked.

Remove the electrical power and the magnetic force disappears, allowing the door to open.

This means a conventional maglock is fail-safe: if electrical power to the lock is removed, the lock releases.

Maglocks are commonly used on:

• Commercial entrance doors
• Office doors
• Communal entrances
• Internal security doors
• Aluminium doors
• Double doors
• Access-controlled gates
• Staff-only areas

Browse our full range of maglocks and magnetic door locks⁠.

What is an electric strike?

An electric strike, sometimes called an electric door release, works alongside a mechanical latch or deadlatch.

Instead of replacing the mechanical locking arrangement, the strike is normally installed into the door frame where the conventional keep would usually sit.

When the door closes, the latch enters the electric strike and secures the door.

When access is authorised, the strike releases and allows the latch to pass through, so the user can open the door.

This makes electric strikes particularly useful where you want to retain an existing mechanical latch while adding electronic access control.

You can view our range of electric strikes and door releases⁠, including models for timber, metal and narrow-stile aluminium door applications.

Electric Strike vs Maglock: What’s the Difference?

Although both devices can perform the same basic job — controlling access through a door — they achieve it in completely different ways. Neither is automatically better. The correct solution depends on the door and how the overall access control system needs to operate. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see our comparison table.

Fail-Safe vs Fail-Secure

This is one of the biggest differences to understand when comparing an electric strike with a maglock.

Maglocks

A standard electromagnetic lock requires power to remain locked.

If its electrical supply is interrupted, the magnet releases.

This fail-safe behaviour is one of the reasons maglocks are widely used within access control installations, although the complete door arrangement must still be designed correctly around emergency egress and the building’s fire strategy.

Electric strikes

Electric strikes can be available as either fail-safe or fail-secure.

A fail-safe electric strike releases when power is removed.

A fail-secure electric strike remains secure against entry when power is removed and requires electrical power to release.

One advantage of certain fail-secure strike arrangements is that mechanical hardware on the secure side of the door can potentially remain independent of the access control locking function.

However, the correct arrangement depends on the individual door and its means-of-escape requirements.

Never select a locking device based solely on whether it is described as fail-safe or fail-secure. The entire doorset and escape strategy need to be considered.

Which is easier to install?

For a straightforward access control installation, a maglock can often require less modification to the door itself.

The magnet is generally mounted to the frame, with the armature plate attached to the door.

However, the mounting arrangement is important.

An inward-opening door, outward-opening door, narrow frame or unusual door construction may require additional mounting hardware to position the lock correctly.

Door Access Supplies stocks a wide range of maglock brackets and accessories⁠, including Z&L brackets, L brackets, armature plates and other mounting solutions.

Electric strikes usually require more precise preparation of the door frame.

The strike needs to line up correctly with the latch, and installers need to consider factors including the available frame depth, latch projection, faceplate dimensions and door alignment.

On an existing compatible door, however, an electric strike can produce an extremely neat finished installation.

Which looks better?

If appearance is particularly important, an electric strike can have an advantage because most of the mechanism is recessed into the frame.

Once installed, relatively little hardware is visible.

A conventional surface-mounted maglock is much more noticeable.

That does not necessarily make a maglock unattractive, particularly on commercial doors where access control hardware is expected, but it can influence the choice on high-end office entrances, reception areas or architectural aluminium doors.

For darker door systems, we also offer access control hardware designed to complement black frames and ironmongery within our matt black access control collection⁠.

Which is stronger: an electric strike or a maglock?

Holding force should not be the only factor used to choose an electronic lock.

Maglocks are available with substantial rated holding forces, while good-quality electric strikes can also provide extremely strong mechanical retention when matched with the correct latch and door.

In practice, the performance of either system depends heavily on the installation.

A powerful maglock with a badly aligned armature plate will not perform as intended.

Likewise, a high-quality electric strike will not solve problems caused by a poorly aligned door, excessive pressure against the latch or unsuitable frame preparation.

Always look at the complete doorset rather than simply comparing holding-force figures.

When should you choose a maglock?

A maglock can be a practical choice where:

• The door does not have a suitable mechanical latch for an electric strike.
• Straightforward electronic locking is required.
• Surface-mounted hardware is acceptable.
• A fail-safe locking arrangement is appropriate.
• The frame provides enough room for the magnet and required brackets.
• A single or double-door access control system is being installed.

Maglocks are also straightforward to combine with other access control components.

A typical system might use a keypad or proximity reader⁠, maglock, access control power supply⁠, exit button and emergency door release.

When should you choose an electric strike?

An electric strike may be the better fit where:

• The door already has a compatible mechanical latch or deadlatch.
• You want to retain the existing mechanical locking arrangement.
• A more discreet installation is preferred.
• A fail-secure configuration is required and appropriate.
• The door frame can accommodate the strike.
• You are working with a suitable timber, metal or narrow-stile aluminium door.

Electric strikes are particularly common on doors where electronic access is being added without completely changing how the existing door hardware operates.

What about aluminium doors?

Aluminium doors need careful consideration because frame and stile dimensions can limit the amount of space available for electronic locking equipment.

A maglock can often be installed using appropriate mounting brackets, while an electric strike may provide a more integrated solution if the door already incorporates a compatible deadlatch.

Specialist electric strikes, including options designed for narrow-stile aluminium door systems, can be found in our electric strike collection⁠.

Always confirm the lock, latch, frame dimensions and electrical requirements before ordering.

Don’t forget the rest of the access control system

Choosing between an electric strike and maglock is only one part of designing an access-controlled door.

Depending on the installation, you may also require an access control reader or keypad, suitable power supply, exit device, emergency release, controller, door loop, relay or standby battery.

If you are starting a system from scratch, read our guide: Access Control System: What Parts Do You Need?⁠.

Alternatively, our pre-made access control and door entry kits⁠ combine compatible components for common access control applications.

Electric Strike vs Maglock: Which Should I Choose?

There is no universal winner between an electric strike and a maglock.

For a straightforward electronically locked door where surface mounting is acceptable, a maglock can provide a simple and reliable solution.

Where the door already has a suitable mechanical latch and you want to retain that hardware or create a more discreet finished installation, an electric strike may be more suitable.

Before choosing, consider the door material, opening direction, frame dimensions, existing lock or latch, available voltage, access control equipment, fire strategy and means-of-escape requirements.

The locking device should be selected as part of the complete doorset rather than in isolation.

Shop Electric Strikes, Maglocks & Access Control Equipment

Door Access Supplies stocks access control equipment for professional installers, electricians, security engineers, facilities teams and businesses across the UK.

Browse our electric strikes⁠ or compare our full range of maglocks and magnetic door locks⁠.

For everything else required to complete the system, visit our main Access Control collection⁠.

Need help choosing between an electric strike and a maglock? Get in touch with Door Access Supplies with details of the door, frame, existing locking hardware and access requirements, and we can help you identify the most suitable products for the installation.

Important: Access-controlled doors, particularly doors forming part of an escape route or fire strategy, must be designed and installed in accordance with the requirements applicable to the individual building and installation. Product selection should not replace a suitable site-specific assessment.