Electric strike vs maglock is one of the most common access control decisions for commercial doors because each option handles security, power loss, and emergency egress differently. The right choice depends on the opening, the door hardware, the access control design, and what must happen during an alarm or outage.
At Benson Systems, we design, install, service, and maintain integrated security, fire, and life safety systems. That includes commercial access control systems that work with credential readers, door contacts, request-to-exit devices, monitoring, and existing door hardware.
You do not need a universal "best" lock. You need the right lock for that door.
Quick answer: Electric strike vs maglock
For many commercial doors, an electric strike often fits when the door already has compatible latch hardware and you want controlled entry while preserving normal mechanical egress from the inside. It is common on office suite doors, employee entrances, and other openings where door hardware compatibility is strong.
A maglock, also called a magnetic lock or mag lock, often fits glass doors, storefront entrances, and surface-mount situations where installing a frame-side strike is difficult or impractical. It uses electromagnetic holding force, so the full opening needs careful review.
A quick starting point:
- Choose an electric strike lock when the latch, frame, and egress path support it.
- Consider a maglock when the opening favors surface mounting and code-compliant release devices can be installed.
- Use expert review for stairwells, fire-rated openings, schools, healthcare spaces, mission-critical rooms, and high-traffic entrances.
If you are comparing maglock vs electric strike for a live facility, start with the door, not the device.
Side-by-side comparison table
| Factor | Electric strike | Maglock |
|---|---|---|
| How it locks | Releases or holds the latch at the frame | Electromagnet holds an armature plate |
| Typical power-loss behavior | Often fail-secure or configurable, depending on the model | Typically fail-safe and unlocks when power drops |
| Egress | Usually preserves mechanical egress from inside when paired correctly | Requires code-compliant release methods |
| Door compatibility | Cylindrical locks, mortise locks, rim exits, and compatible frames | Glass, storefront, outswing, and surface-mount situations |
| Retrofit complexity | Frame cutting and preparation may be required | Door or header mounting and cable routing are common |
| Security considerations | Latch engagement, frame condition, strike rating, and installation quality matter | Holding force, mounting, release controls, door status, and power design matter |
| Maintenance | Alignment, latch wear, preload, and wiring checks | Sensor, release device, alignment, power, and relay checks |
This table gives you the first screen. The real decision needs an opening-by-opening review, especially where fire and life safety requirements affect egress.
How electric strikes work
An electric strike replaces or modifies the frame-side strike plate. Instead of changing how the whole lockset works, the strike controls whether the latchbolt can be released at the frame when a valid credential is presented.
That distinction matters. An electric lock is a broad category of powered locking hardware. An electric strike is one type of electric lock, and it works with the latch on the door. Other electric locks include electrified locksets, electrified exit hardware, and electromagnetic locks.
Electric strikes can be fail-secure or fail-safe, depending on the model and configuration. In a fail-secure setup, the secure side typically stays locked when power is lost. In a fail-safe setup, the strike unlocks when power is removed.
The hardware must match the opening. Latch type, frame material, fire rating, handing, deadlatch function, reader location, and egress requirements all affect the selection. This is where security system design becomes more than a product choice.
How maglocks work
A maglock uses an electromagnet mounted to the frame or header and an armature plate mounted to the door. When power is applied, the magnet holds the plate. When power is removed, the magnetic lock typically releases.
That sounds simple. The surrounding system is where the design work begins.
Maglocks generally need request-to-exit devices, such as motion sensors or push buttons, along with proper access control relays. Depending on the door and jurisdiction, the system may also require fire alarm release, emergency release hardware, door position monitoring, and signage. Requirements vary by application and local authority having jurisdiction, often called the AHJ.
Maglocks can be practical. They can also create egress and inspection issues when they are applied without a complete life-safety review.
Fail-safe vs fail-secure: What happens during a power outage?
Power-loss behavior is one of the biggest differences between these two options.
Fail-secure means the door remains locked from the secure side when power is lost. People must still be able to exit where egress is required, so the inside hardware and door path need proper review.
Fail-safe means the door unlocks when power is lost. Maglocks are typically fail-safe because they need power to maintain magnetic holding force. Electric strikes may be fail-secure or fail-safe, depending on the model, voltage, and field configuration.
Security teams often prefer fail-secure behavior for exterior doors because it can help maintain controlled entry during an outage. Fire and life safety teams focus on safe egress, alarm release, and code-required unlocking behavior. Operations teams care about uptime, business continuity, and whether backup power or a UPS is part of the access control system.
No single setting solves every problem.
A practical design may include backup power, fire alarm interface, door position switches, forced-door alarms, and monitored release devices. Final selection should be reviewed against local code, the AHJ's expectations, and the building's emergency procedures.
Which one fits your door? Use-case decision matrix
| Door or use case | Usually consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior employee entrance | Electric strike or electrified exit hardware | Controlled entry can pair with mechanical egress when the opening supports it. |
| Interior office suite | Electric strike | Often works with existing latch hardware and a credential reader. |
| Glass storefront or aluminum frame | Maglock or specialized strike, depending on hardware | Mounting space, frame depth, and door prep can limit options. |
| Server room or IT room | Electric strike or electrified lockset | Audit trail, tighter latch control, door status monitoring, and service access matter. |
| Stairwell or fire-rated egress path | Expert review required | Re-entry rules, fire rating, and egress requirements can affect the hardware choice. |
| School entrance | Integrated access control, hardware depends on the opening | According to NCES safety and security practices data, 97 percent of public schools reported using controlled access to buildings during school hours in 2019 to 2020. |
| High-traffic entrance | Durable commercial hardware with monitoring | Door sag, latch wear, alignment, and serviceability become bigger factors. |
| Multifamily or common entry | Depends on reader, intercom, door hardware, and egress | Convenience matters, but the door still has to release correctly. |
Different industries bring different pressures. A healthcare facility may focus on controlled access, staff movement, and alarm response. A school may prioritize visitor flow, lockdown procedures, and monitored entry points. A hospitality property may need access control that works cleanly for staff areas without disrupting guests. Industrial and mission-critical facilities often need stronger monitoring, service response, and system integration.
For new construction, renovation, or retrofit work, Benson Systems can review the opening early through new construction and retrofit services. That can reduce rework later, especially when access control, door hardware, and fire alarm release need to work together.
Security trade-offs beyond holding force
How secure is an electric strike? The honest answer is that it depends.
Electric strike security depends on the strike rating, latch engagement, frame condition, deadlatch function, door alignment, fasteners, installation quality, and whether the door is monitored. A strong strike installed in a weak frame is still limited by the frame. A compatible strike with poor latch engagement can cause nuisance failures or leave the door vulnerable to manipulation.
Maglock security depends on holding force rating, mounting quality, door and frame condition, power reliability, release controls, and monitoring. A maglock also needs proper door position feedback because the magnet can be powered while the door is not fully closed.
For both options, monitoring contacts matter. Door position switches, request-to-exit signals, forced-door alarms, and held-open alerts give your team better visibility than the lock alone.
Installation, retrofit, and total cost of ownership
The cheapest device is rarely the lowest-cost system over time.
Electric strikes may require frame cutting, keeper alignment, latch compatibility checks, power transfer planning, and field testing. They can be efficient when the existing lockset and frame are good candidates. They can become more involved when the frame is narrow, damaged, fire-rated, or incompatible with the existing latch.
Maglocks often reduce frame cutting, but they add other cost drivers. You may need mounting brackets, cable routing, a power supply, relays, request-to-exit devices, fire alarm integration, emergency release devices, door status monitoring, and inspection coordination.
Maintenance matters too. High-use doors move, sag, and wear. Relays fail. Readers lose communication. Power supplies age. If the door protects a critical area, plan for testing and service access from the beginning.
Benson Systems supports access-controlled openings through repair and maintenance service, including troubleshooting for locks, readers, controllers, relays, and related field devices.
Code, egress, and accessibility considerations
Access control should never be designed as a hardware-only decision. Egress comes first.
Some openings may require fire alarm release. Maglock applications may require request-to-exit devices, emergency release buttons, motion sensors, signage, or specific unlocking sequences. Delayed egress hardware has its own rules and should be reviewed carefully before selection.
Accessibility can affect the hardware choice as well. According to the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, accessible doors and operable parts are subject to requirements that can affect clear width, reach range, hardware operation, and opening force. According to OSHA exit route regulations, exit routes must meet minimum width and height requirements and must remain unobstructed.
Local code and AHJ review still matter. Benson Systems can help coordinate access control design with fire and life safety requirements, but final approval rests with the applicable authority.
For facilities that need alarm release or event response, monitoring services may also be part of the larger system plan.
Common problems and maintenance considerations
Common electric strike problems include misalignment, latch preload, door sag, worn hinges, damaged frames, power supply issues, failed relays, reader problems, and controller communication faults. A door can look like an access control problem when the real issue is mechanical.
Maglocks have their own service points. Release devices can fail, sensors can drift, mounting can loosen, and power interruptions can cause unexpected unlocking. Regular testing helps catch small issues before they affect security, uptime, or egress.
So, which door lock should you choose?
Choose based on the door type, egress path, power-loss behavior, threat model, fire and life safety requirements, and maintenance plan.
An electric strike is often preferred when preserving normal door hardware and mechanical egress is a priority. A maglock may be practical for glass storefronts, aluminum frames, and other surface-mount openings where the release devices and fire alarm interface can be designed correctly.
The best next step is a door-by-door review. Benson Systems can evaluate your opening, confirm door hardware compatibility, and design an integrated access control door lock solution that fits your facility's security and life-safety needs.
Ready to review a door or plan a retrofit? Request an access control consultation with Benson Systems.
FAQs
How secure is an electric strike?
An electric strike can be secure when it is properly rated, installed, aligned, and matched to the door hardware. Security depends on latch engagement, frame condition, strike quality, fasteners, monitoring, and the surrounding access control system.
Are electric lock and electric strike the same thing?
No. An electric lock is a broad category of powered locking hardware. An electric strike is a frame-side component that controls the latch.
What door locks do police recommend?
Recommendations depend on the facility risk, door type, egress path, local requirements, and threat model. Consult a qualified security professional and local code officials before choosing hardware.
What are common problems with electric strikes?
Common issues include misalignment, latch preload, wiring faults, power supply problems, worn hinges, damaged door hardware, and controller or relay failures. Regular inspection can help catch these issues early.
