Q: What padlock is best for outdoor use in the UK?

For outdoor use in the UK, choose a padlock with a stainless steel or nickel-plated shackle and a hardened steel body — bare steel will rust and seize within months in wet conditions. ABUS and BURG-WÄCHTER both produce weather-rated outdoor padlocks with explicit corrosion protection. Look for a product description that specifies the shackle and body material rather than just saying 'weather resistant'. For coastal or permanently exposed locations, marine-grade stainless steel (316 grade) is the only reliable choice.

Q: Is it worth paying more for an ABUS padlock over a budget brand?

For anything beyond a locker or low-risk shed, yes. ABUS padlocks consistently offer hardened steel shackles, anti-pick pin designs and EN 12320 certification that budget alternatives simply don't match. The price difference between a basic lock and a mid-range ABUS is modest — typically within the 10 £ to 13 £ bracket — but the security gap is substantial. Where ABUS isn't necessary is for genuinely low-risk, low-value applications: a luggage lock or a gym locker doesn't need a Grade 4 certified mechanism.

Question 1

What padlock is best for outdoor use in the UK?

Accepted Answer

For outdoor use in the UK, choose a padlock with a stainless steel or nickel-plated shackle and a hardened steel body — bare steel will rust and seize within months in wet conditions. ABUS and BURG-WÄCHTER both produce weather-rated outdoor padlocks with explicit corrosion protection. Look for a product description that specifies the shackle and body material rather than just saying 'weather resistant'. For coastal or permanently exposed locations, marine-grade stainless steel (316 grade) is the only reliable choice.

Question 2

What does EN 12320 mean on a padlock?

Accepted Answer

EN 12320 is the European standard for padlock security, graded from 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). Grade 3 is the minimum most UK insurers accept for domestic security applications; Grade 4 and above is typically required for commercial premises. The grade reflects tested resistance to cutting, picking, drilling and pulling attacks. A padlock without any certification grade is not necessarily weak, but you have no independent benchmark to rely on — which is a risk worth avoiding if the lock is protecting anything of value.

Question 3

Are keyed-alike padlock sets worth buying?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for anyone managing more than two or three locks, keyed-alike sets are absolutely worth it. A single key opening all your locks eliminates the frustration of a bulging keyring and reduces the risk of being locked out. Draper Tools offers multi-pack keyed-alike sets at a reasonable price point. The trade-off is that if one key is lost or copied, all locks in the set are potentially compromised — so pair them with a restricted keyway if key control matters.

Question 4

Can a cheap padlock actually be cut in seconds?

Accepted Answer

Yes — a standard bolt cutter will snap a mild steel shackle under 6mm in diameter in under five seconds. Budget padlocks from 4 £ to 10 £ typically use mild steel shackles that offer almost no resistance to a determined attacker with basic tools. This doesn't mean they're useless — they deter opportunistic theft effectively — but they should not be used to secure anything genuinely valuable or in an unsupervised location. A hardened steel shackle of 8mm or above is a meaningful upgrade.

Question 5

What's the difference between a close-shackle and a standard padlock?

Accepted Answer

A close-shackle padlock has a much shorter exposed shackle, leaving very little metal accessible for a bolt cutter or pry bar to grip. Close-shackle designs are significantly harder to attack physically and are recommended for high-risk locations such as external gates, roller shutters and storage containers. The trade-off is reduced clearance — they won't fit all hasps and chains, so check compatibility before buying. Standard shackle padlocks offer more flexibility in application but are easier to attack.

Question 6

Is it worth paying more for an ABUS padlock over a budget brand?

Accepted Answer

For anything beyond a locker or low-risk shed, yes. ABUS padlocks consistently offer hardened steel shackles, anti-pick pin designs and EN 12320 certification that budget alternatives simply don't match. The price difference between a basic lock and a mid-range ABUS is modest — typically within the 10 £ to 13 £ bracket — but the security gap is substantial. Where ABUS isn't necessary is for genuinely low-risk, low-value applications: a luggage lock or a gym locker doesn't need a Grade 4 certified mechanism.

Question 7

What mistakes should I avoid when buying a padlock?

Accepted Answer

The most common mistake is buying a high-quality padlock and fitting it to a flimsy hasp — the weakest point in the system determines your actual security level, not the lock alone. Other frequent errors: choosing insufficient shackle clearance (the lock won't fit the hasp), ignoring corrosion protection for outdoor use, and assuming identical-looking locks offer equivalent security internally. Also worth noting: a master key system sounds appealing but requires careful planning — buying into one without understanding the key hierarchy and replacement costs can create more problems than it solves.

Padlocks Price Comparison

Draper Tools 64164 padlock 1 pc(s)

Draper Tools 64165 padlock 1 pc(s)

Draper Tools 64181 padlock 1 pc(s)

Draper Tools 64166 padlock 1 pc(s)

Draper Tools 64183 padlock 1 pc(s)

Draper Tools 64182 padlock 1 pc(s)

Draper Tools 64179 padlock 1 pc(s)

Draper Tools 64180 padlock 1 pc(s)

Padlocks Price Comparison