Bike Locks Price Comparison 2026
Compare 294 bike locks from ABUS, Kryptonite and more. Find the best price from U-locks to chain locks, from 7 £ to 165 £.
Bike theft in the UK is relentless — over 300,000 bicycles are reported stolen every year, and the real figure is thought to be far higher. Choosing the right lock isn't just a matter of budget; it's about matching your security level to the value of your bike and the risk of where you park it. Our catalogue of 294 products spans everything from basic cable locks to serious hardened-steel U-locks and chain locks that would give a professional thief pause.
ABUS dominates this market with good reason. With over 100 products in the range and an average price well above the category median, they set the benchmark for security ratings and build quality. Kryptonite and Hiplok are the other names worth knowing — both command a premium, and both earn it. At the other end of the scale, brands like Dresco and BURG-WÄCHTER offer entry-level options from around 7 £, which are fine for low-risk situations but shouldn't be trusted with anything you'd be heartbroken to lose.
The type of lock matters as much as the brand. U-locks remain the gold standard for urban cycling: their rigid shackle geometry resists leverage attacks and their compact form makes them awkward to work with angle grinders. Chain locks offer more flexibility when securing to larger objects or locking two bikes together, though weight is the trade-off. Cable locks — widely available from 7 £ to 15 £ — are really only suitable as secondary locks or for very low-theft environments; a decent pair of bolt cutters will defeat most of them in seconds. If you're serious about security, look for a Sold Secure Gold rating, which is the UK's most recognised independent certification and is accepted by most cycle insurers.
One pattern we notice in the data: the sweet spot for most commuters sits between 31 £ and 78 £, where you find properly hardened shackles, disc detainer or pin tumbler mechanisms with genuine picking resistance, and mounting brackets that actually work. Spending less than 15 £ on a lock for a bike worth several hundred pounds is a false economy — and spending over 78 £ is only justified if you're leaving a high-value bike in a city centre overnight. For everything else, the mid-range delivers the best balance of security and portability.
Browse the full selection alongside bicycle spare parts and accessories, or check out bicycle holders if you're also looking for storage solutions. And if you're kitting out your bike from scratch, our bicycle repair and maintenance section covers everything else you might need.
How to Choose a Bike Lock That Actually Protects Your Bike
Most bike locks get tested by thieves, not laboratories — and the results are brutal. The difference between a lock that holds and one that doesn't often comes down to a handful of specific features. Here's what actually matters, based on the range of 294 locks we track.
Lock type: U-lock, chain, or cable?
This is the first decision, and it shapes everything else. U-locks are the most secure option for most cyclists: the rigid shackle resists leverage and prying, and the compact geometry makes angle grinder attacks slow and conspicuous. The trade-off is limited coverage — you need to position your bike carefully to lock both frame and wheel. Chain locks are more versatile and easier to thread around larger objects, but a quality chain heavy enough to resist bolt cutters will weigh over 1.5kg. Cable locks are lightweight and convenient, but we'd only recommend them as a secondary lock — any bolt cutters will cut through a standard cable in under 10 seconds. If you're buying just one lock, make it a U-lock or a quality folding lock.
Shackle diameter and hardness
The shackle is what a thief attacks first. Diameter matters: anything under 12mm can be cut with compact bolt cutters; 14mm hardened steel resists standard bolt cutters; 16mm boron or manganese steel will slow down even an angle grinder. Look for the words hardened steel or boron steel in the product description — bare steel or unspecified alloys offer significantly less resistance. The ABUS GRANIT range and Kryptonite New York series both use 16mm+ shackles for this reason. Don't be fooled by a thick-looking shackle that's hollow or made from soft steel.
Security rating: Sold Secure and ABUS levels
Sold Secure Gold is the rating to look for in the UK — it's independently tested, widely recognised by cycle insurers, and means the lock has resisted a sustained attack with real tools. Silver is acceptable for lower-risk situations; Bronze is barely worth the sticker. ABUS uses its own 1–15 scale: anything below 8 is entry-level, 10–12 covers most urban commuters, and 14–15 is reserved for their most serious hardware. If your insurer requires a specific rating, check before you buy — some policies specify Sold Secure Gold as a minimum condition for a payout.
Locking mechanism: keyed vs. combination
Keyed locks — particularly those with disc detainer or pin tumbler mechanisms with security pins — offer better picking resistance than combination dials. Combination locks are convenient (no key to lose), but the dials can be manipulated by feel, and cheap ones can be cracked in minutes. If you go keyed, check whether the lock comes with multiple keys (three is standard for quality locks) and whether replacement keys are available. Restricted keyways that prevent unauthorised key duplication are a genuine security upgrade on higher-end models.
Length and coverage
A lock that's too short forces you into bad habits — locking only the frame, or only the wheel, rather than both. For a U-lock, an internal width of at least 10cm and a shackle length of 20cm+ gives you enough room to secure frame and rear wheel to a standard Sheffield stand. Chain locks should be at least 100cm to reach around most street furniture. If you regularly lock to larger objects (railings, trees, van racks), a 120–150cm chain gives far more flexibility. Don't buy a compact lock and then wonder why you can't use it properly.
Weight vs. portability trade-off
Security and weight are directly correlated — there's no getting around it. A 500g cable lock offers minimal protection; a 2kg chain lock is genuinely difficult to cut but will make your commute miserable if you carry it daily. The practical sweet spot for most commuters is 700g–1.2kg: a quality U-lock with a hardened shackle in this weight range offers solid Sold Secure Silver or Gold protection without destroying your back. Hiplok's wearable locks are worth considering if carrying weight is a real concern — they're designed to be worn around the waist, which distributes the load more comfortably than a bag or pannier.
- Basic protection (From 7 £ to 15 £) : Cable locks, thin chain locks, and basic combination locks dominate this range. Brands like Dresco, VOREL, and entry-level AXA. Fine as a secondary lock or for a bike you'd replace without much grief. We'd strongly advise against relying on these alone for anything worth more than a few pounds.
- The commuter sweet spot (From 15 £ to 31 £) : Where the market gets genuinely useful. Mid-range U-locks from Master Lock and AXA, entry-level ABUS models with real hardened steel. Sold Secure Silver territory. Good enough for most suburban and low-to-medium risk urban environments. This is where most cyclists should start.
- Serious urban security (From 31 £ to 78 £) : ABUS GRANIT, Kryptonite New York, and Hiplok Gold all sit here. Hardened boron steel shackles, disc detainer mechanisms, Sold Secure Gold ratings. The right choice for city-centre parking, high-value bikes, or anywhere theft is a real daily risk. Insurers will be happy.
- Maximum resistance (Over 78 £) : ABUS's top-tier chain locks, wheel locks, and the OTTO DesignWorks range. Angle grinder-resistant materials, restricted keyways, and security ratings at the very top of the ABUS scale. Justified if you own a bike worth over £1,000 and park it in a high-risk location. Overkill for most people — but when you need it, nothing else will do.
Top products
- ABUS GRANIT XPlus 540/160HB230 Black U-lock (ABUS) : The benchmark mid-size U-lock for serious urban cyclists. The 16mm hardened steel shackle and XPlus disc detainer cylinder make this one of the most picking- and cutting-resistant locks at this price point. Our top recommendation for city commuters.
- Kryptonite NEW-U - NEW YORK FAHGETTABOUDIT MINI (Kryptonite) : Legendary name, and it earns it. The compact shackle limits coverage — you'll need to position your bike carefully — but the security level is exceptional. Best for high-value bikes in high-theft areas where you can plan your locking spot in advance.
- Kryptonite Keeper 585 Black 850 mm Folding lock (Kryptonite) : The best entry point into folding locks. Packs down neatly, mounts to the frame, and offers noticeably better security than any cable lock at a similar price. Not a replacement for a U-lock in high-risk areas, but excellent as a standalone lock for moderate-risk commuting.
- MASTER LOCK 8285EURDPRO Black 1200 mm U-lock (MASTER LOCK) : The most widely available U-lock in the mid-range. Solid hardened steel construction and a longer shackle than most, which makes it genuinely practical for locking frame and wheel together. A sensible choice if you want reliability without paying ABUS prices.
- Draper Tools 62952 bike lock Black, Blue U-lock (Draper Tools) : The most-listed product in the category and the cheapest U-lock in the top 15. The extra-long shackle is genuinely useful for awkward locking situations. Security level is basic — don't rely on it for a valuable bike — but it's a fair secondary lock or a decent option for a budget commuter.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most secure type of bike lock?
A high-quality U-lock with a hardened boron or manganese steel shackle of 14mm or more is the most secure option for most cyclists. The rigid geometry resists leverage and prying, the compact form makes angle grinder attacks slow and conspicuous, and top-rated models from ABUS and Kryptonite carry Sold Secure Gold certification. For maximum security, pairing a U-lock with a secondary chain lock — the so-called 'two-lock method' — is the approach recommended by most cycle security experts.
Is a Sold Secure Gold rating really necessary?
For city-centre parking or a bike worth more than a few hundred pounds, yes — Sold Secure Gold is worth prioritising. Many UK cycle insurance policies require it as a minimum condition for a theft claim to be valid, so check your policy wording before buying. For lower-risk environments (locked garage, quiet suburban street, short stops), a Silver-rated lock is a reasonable compromise. Bronze-rated locks offer minimal assurance and we'd only recommend them as secondary locks.
Are cable locks worth buying at all?
Cable locks are worth buying only as a secondary lock, never as your primary security. Even a thick-looking cable can be cut with compact bolt cutters in seconds — it's not a question of if, but how quickly. That said, a cable lock used alongside a U-lock is a sensible combination: the cable secures the front wheel or helmet whilst the U-lock handles the frame and rear wheel. On their own, cable locks from 7 £ to 15 £ are really only appropriate for very low-theft environments or cheap bikes.
How much should I spend on a bike lock relative to my bike's value?
A commonly cited rule of thumb is to spend roughly 10% of your bike's value on security — so a £500 bike warrants a £50 lock. We think that's a reasonable floor, not a ceiling. In high-theft urban areas, spending more is justified. What's never justified is spending 7 £ on a lock for a bike worth several hundred pounds — that's not a saving, it's a gamble. Factor in the cost of your insurance excess too: a better lock might be the difference between a successful claim and an out-of-pocket replacement.
What does the ABUS security level number mean?
ABUS rates its locks on a scale from 1 to 15, where higher numbers indicate greater resistance to attack. Levels 1–5 cover basic cable and combination locks; levels 6–9 are mid-range U-locks and chains suitable for moderate-risk environments; levels 10–12 represent serious urban security with hardened steel and disc detainer mechanisms; and levels 13–15 are ABUS's most formidable hardware, designed for high-value bikes in high-risk locations. As a rough guide, aim for level 10 or above for regular city use.
Can a bike lock be too heavy to carry daily?
Yes, and it's a real problem — a lock you leave at home because it's too heavy offers zero protection. The heaviest chain locks in this category exceed 2kg, which is genuinely burdensome on a daily commute. If weight is a concern, look at quality U-locks in the 700g–1kg range, or consider a folding lock like the Kryptonite Keeper series, which packs down compactly. Hiplok's wearable locks are specifically designed to be carried around the waist, which many cyclists find far more comfortable than stuffing a heavy lock into a bag.
Which bike lock brands should I avoid?
We'd be cautious about unbranded or very low-cost locks from unknown manufacturers, particularly those with no visible security rating. In our data, the cheapest products — some under 15 £ — come with no independent certification and are made from materials that offer little resistance to basic tools. VOREL locks, for instance, sit at the very bottom of the price range and should only be considered for the most casual, low-risk use. Stick to brands with verifiable Sold Secure or ABUS ratings, and treat any lock without a published security rating as a red flag.