Electric strikes and magnetic locks are the two most common ways to electrify a commercial door for access control, and they work on fundamentally different principles — which affects cost, fire code compliance, and how the door behaves during a power outage. Choosing between them isn’t a style preference; it’s a decision that should be made alongside your door hardware and life-safety requirements.
On this page: How each one works · Side-by-side comparison · Fail-safe vs. fail-secure · Fire code & life-safety · Which fits which door · DFW & Allen specifics · Common mistakes · How to decide · Glossary · FAQ
How Each One Works
Quick answer: An electric strike replaces the door frame's strike plate and releases the latch electrically; a magnetic lock uses an electromagnet and armature plate to hold the door shut, with no moving parts in the lock itself.
An electric strike works with the door’s existing latch or lock, releasing it electrically to let the door open — the door can still be locked and unlocked mechanically with a key as a backup. A magnetic lock holds the door shut purely through magnetic force between an electromagnet on the frame and an armature plate on the door; removing power releases the door.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Electric Strike | Magnetic Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Generally lower | Generally moderate to higher |
| Mechanical key backup | Yes, works with existing lock | No, purely electromagnetic |
| Holding force | Moderate | Very high (rated in pounds of force) |
| Power failure behavior | Configurable fail-safe or fail-secure | Always fail-safe (releases on power loss) |
| Best for | Standard commercial doors with existing hardware | High-security doors, glass doors without a frame for a strike |
Fail-Safe vs. Fail-Secure
Quick answer: Fail-safe hardware unlocks when power is lost; fail-secure hardware stays locked when power is lost. Magnetic locks are always fail-safe by design; electric strikes can be configured either way.
This distinction matters most on egress doors: fail-safe hardware is generally required so a power outage doesn’t trap people inside during an emergency. This is one reason magnetic locks on egress doors are typically paired with a required-exit device or motion sensor to ensure free exit at all times, regardless of the access control system's state.
Fire Code and Life-Safety
Quick answer: Magnetic locks on egress doors typically require a paired request-to-exit sensor or panic hardware to guarantee free exit, per fire code. This coordination is a code requirement, not optional.
Because a magnetic lock has no mechanical override, fire and life-safety codes generally require a magnetically locked egress door to also have a way to guarantee exit — commonly a request-to-exit motion sensor, a push-button release, or panic hardware. See our push bar installation page and our commercial door locks page for how these pair together. Installers in Texas are licensed through the TDLR — ours is License #B31188501.
Which Fits Which Door
Standard commercial doors with existing mechanical locks are usually the best fit for an electric strike, since it works with hardware that's already there. See our electric strike installation page.
Glass storefront doors without a substantial frame, or doors requiring very high holding force, often favor a magnetic lock instead. See our magnetic lock installation page.
Doors on a required egress path need careful hardware selection either way, coordinated with fire code — this is where commercial access control planning matters most.
Door Hardware Across Dallas, Fort Worth and Allen
We install both electric strikes and magnetic locks across Dallas, Allen, Plano and Frisco, and always coordinate the choice with local fire code requirements during the project design phase.
Common Mistakes
- Installing a magnetic lock on an egress door without a paired request-to-exit device, creating a code violation.
- Choosing a magnetic lock for a door frame that could have used a lower-cost electric strike instead.
- Not confirming fail-safe vs. fail-secure behavior matches the door's life-safety requirements.
How to Decide
- Is this an egress door? If so, hardware and fail-safe behavior must meet fire code requirements.
- Does the door have a substantial frame? If not, a magnetic lock may be the more practical option.
- Do you need a mechanical key backup? An electric strike supports this; a magnetic lock does not.
- How much holding force does the door need? High-security doors often favor a magnetic lock's higher rated force.
Glossary: Terms Worth Knowing
| Fail-Safe | Hardware that unlocks when power is lost. |
| Fail-Secure | Hardware that stays locked when power is lost. |
| Request-to-Exit (REX) | A sensor or button that signals a locked door to release for someone exiting. |
| Armature Plate | The metal plate on a door that a magnetic lock's electromagnet holds against. |
Choosing the Right Door Hardware
We’ll evaluate your door, frame and life-safety requirements to recommend the right hardware. Call 682-516-9940 or request a free estimate below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an electric strike or magnetic lock more secure?
Magnetic locks generally offer higher rated holding force, but security also depends on correct installation and fire code coordination for either type.
Which is cheaper, an electric strike or a magnetic lock?
Electric strikes are generally less expensive, especially when they can use a door's existing mechanical lock.
Can a magnetic lock be used on a fire exit door?
Yes, but it typically requires a paired request-to-exit sensor or panic hardware to guarantee free exit, per fire code.
Does an electric strike work with my existing door lock?
Yes, an electric strike is designed to work with the door's existing latch or lock hardware.
What happens to a magnetic lock during a power outage?
Magnetic locks are fail-safe by design, meaning they release and unlock when power is lost.
Can an electric strike be fail-secure?
Yes, electric strikes can be configured as either fail-safe or fail-secure, unlike magnetic locks which are always fail-safe.
Do glass storefront doors need a magnetic lock?
Often yes, since glass doors may lack a substantial frame for an electric strike, making a magnetic lock the more practical choice.
Do you install both electric strikes and magnetic locks?
Yes, we install and service both, and help determine the right choice for your specific door and code requirements.
What is a request-to-exit device?
A sensor or button that detects someone approaching from inside and releases a locked door to allow exit, commonly paired with magnetic locks.
Do you serve Allen and the greater DFW area?
Yes, we install electric strikes and magnetic locks across Dallas, Fort Worth, Allen, Plano, Frisco, McKinney and the surrounding North Texas area.