Updated June 2026 · CW Doors & Windows
The best back doors for security: what to look for
The most secure back doors combine a PAS 24 tested doorset, a TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder, multi-point locking and a reinforced frame fitted properly into the opening. The door material matters less than the locking, the cylinder and the fitting. Most domestic break-ins go through the back door — not the front. After 40 years fitting back doors across Leicester this is what we tell customers to look for, in priority order. The slab material matters, but the cylinder and the hinges matter more.
The four things that actually stop a break-in
1) A 3-star TS007 anti-snap cylinder. Cylinder snapping is still the single most common method of forced entry on UK back doors. Without a 3-star cylinder the rest of the door is academic.
2) A multi-point locking mechanism with hooks and bolts (not just deadbolts). Secured by Design is the standard to look for.
3) Secure hinges with hinge bolts — particularly on outward-opening back doors where the hinge pin is exposed.
4) Laminated glass in any glazed panel, especially side panels and low-level glazing. Laminated glass holds together when smashed; toughened glass shatters cleanly and falls out.
Which type of back door is the most secure?
Composite back doors are the most secure as standard — a 44mm slab with a steel reinforcement does not flex or split under a kick. Fully fitted from £1,099 in Leicester.
uPVC back doors are perfectly secure when specified with a 3-star cylinder, hinge bolts and laminated glazing. Fully fitted from £799.
Aluminium back doors are physically the strongest but expensive (from £1,800+) and overkill for most domestic settings.
French and patio back doors can be secured to the same standard but require attention to the central meeting stile — that's the weak point on a double-leaf door.
What we always specify on a back door in Leicester
3-star anti-snap, anti-bump, anti-drill cylinder. Brisant Ultion or equivalent.
Hook-and-bolt multi-point lock, minimum 5 locking points.
Hinge bolts (or fixed dog bolts on French doors) on the hinge side.
Laminated 6.8mm inner pane in all glazed panels.
Secured by Design accredited frame and reinforcement.
Common mistakes we still see on Leicester back doors
Leaving the original 1-star cylinder. Even on a brand new composite door this is a £40 fix that prevents the most common break-in method.
Glazed side panels in toughened glass instead of laminated. The intruder breaks the side panel, reaches in, and turns the handle.
Cat flaps within reach of the lock. Don't.
Spare key under a plant pot. Yes, still.
Why back doors need extra attention
Back doors are often out of sight from the street and many older ones still have basic cylinders. That combination makes them a more common entry point than front doors. Upgrading the cylinder alone can make a big difference, but a door with worn locking or a weak frame needs replacing.
A quick back door security check
Look at your current back door for these:
A cylinder marked with TS007 3-star or equivalent anti-snap rating
Several locking points engaging along the edge when you lift the handle
A frame that is firmly fixed, with no movement when the door is pushed
Glazing that is internally beaded or securely fixed
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