Self-check-in is one of the most popular ways of setting up entry for an Airbnb listing. Privacy and convenience is a must for potential guests, which is where the trusty lock box comes in. But with so many to choose from, the question is what are the best lock boxes for Airbnb?

The best lock box for your Airbnb will depend on your listing and your setup. There is a perfect lock box for every type of property and situation, for example:

• Wall mountable
• Keyless/Bluetooth
• Smart lock
• Padlock Style

So which one is best? I will go through each category to see which lock box is best for your Airbnb. Every property is different, so I’ll show you which is the best one for each situation.

What is an Airbnb Lock Box?

First things first before we jump into which product is best for you, what is an Airbnb lock box and how do they work?

An Airbnb lock box is a secure container that is perfect for storing your house key in. You can attach the box to the wall or front door for easy convenience. An Airbnb guest may only open the lock box by manually entering in a code, so it is a safe way to handle guest check ins.

When you are setting up your Airbnb, you want your guests to be able to seamlessly enter your property. In other words, with the least amount of effort.

Can you imagine arriving at an Airbnb after a 7-hour flight only to have to wait for your Airbnb host to let you in? Not to mention having to find WiFi so you can contact them.

How much easier would it be to have a code sent to you ahead of time for a lock box located by the door? Then when you arrive you enter the code and voila, you’re in!

As a host without a lock box, you would arrange to meet your guests at a certain time so you can hand over the keys. Except, the guest’s car broke down or they spent a little longer at the zoo or their flight got delayed. Now you have wasted an entire afternoon waiting around when you could have been relaxing at home.

These situations are exactly why lock boxes are so essential. You just mount one on the wall, attach it to the door knob or even integrate it into the door lock and you’re done. Now your guest can let themselves in and you can enjoy that glass of wine by the fire.

How safe are key lock boxes

You’ve installed your lock box and everything is working great. Your guests can come and go and you don’t have to wait around constantly checking your watch. But exactly how safe are key lock boxes?

Lock boxes are one of the safest methods of self-check-in on Airbnb. They all have the ability to change the code after each guest or as frequently as you need. And the chances of an intruder guessing your code is slim to none.

So you can rest easy knowing that your keys are securely locked up in between bookings.

What is self check in with lock box?

I know what you’re thinking. These lock boxes sound kind of cool and would be great for my Airbnb. But what is self check in with a lock box?

Self check-in with a lockbox means guests can access your Airbnb via a secure container with a key inside. Lock boxes come in many shapes and sizes and are usually operated by a keypad or smart lock. A guest is able to access the key at the designated time of their check-in.

In my opinion, a lock box is easily the best method for a guest to check into your property. For example, all you need to do is give check in instructions, then they come and go as they please.

But what is the best Airbnb lock box? Keep reading as I review the bets types below.

So what are the best lock boxes?

Ok, you asked and we deliver. I have hand-selected our top picks for each type of lock box for every budget and situation.

Making an informed decision about what is the best lock box for Airbnb is tough. There are so many options to choose from, so I will guide you best I can.

I’ll provide with you pros and cons for each type of lock box below. As a result you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which lock box is best for your Airbnb.

So let’s get into it!

Best Lock Box (mountable)

The mountable lock box is for the Airbnb host that doesn’t want anything fancy. Just a simple set and forget solution for guests to collect their key. Once mounted on the wall, you set the code and you’re good to go. Then when its time for your guest to check-in, you just send them the code. Easy!

By Far the best company for mountable lockboxes is Master Lock. Their boxes are sturdy, reliable and easy to use. We call these the no brainers. Nothing much can go wrong on the guest’s end, they don’t need WiFi and they are by far the most economical.

Our pick of the master lock bunch is the box with light-up dials. Imagine your guests surprise when they arrive late at night and the can see without having to scramble for their phone.

Pros

• Simple to install with 2 or 4 screens
• Don’t require any ongoing maintenance
• Safe and secure

Cons

• Will damage the wall
• Can be fiddly for a guest to manage
• Requires installation

My Picks

Budget – Oria Mounted Lock Box $19.95

Our budget pick for the best mountable lock box for Airbnb is the Oria. Nice and simple, nothing too fancy or confusing for your guests. Best of all there is absolutely no ongoing maintenance, just install and away you go.

Mid-Range – Master Lock 5424D $40.95

Our pick of the mountable range is the Masterlock with light-up dials. Late-night guests will love lit up numbers and the big arrow on the door switch. As a result, it will make opening the box nice and easy. It ticks all of our boxes! (if you’d pardon the pun).

High-End – Master Lock Bluetooth Mountable – $117

The Master Lock with built-in Bluetooth is great for tech-savvy guests. It is also handy for hosts that come and go from their properties each day. Just set the Bluetooth entry code on your phone and the lock box will open at the push of a button. Plus it looks pretty sleek too!

Best Airbnb Lock Box (Padlock Style)

Are you renting your space or living in an apartment building? If so, the padlock style lock box is the perfect option for your Airbnb. For example, they won’t damage the wall like a mountable lock box. For this reason, I recommend a portable padlock style for you.

It operates in the same way as the mountable lock boxes with a dial or press button numbers that open a door. The bonus here though is that they are portable. Therefore, if you move or change apartments you can bring it along with you for the ride.

Pros

• Completely portable
• You can attach to pretty much anything
• Doesn’t leave any damage

Cons

• Aren’t as attractive as other locks
• Higher chance of theft
• Unusable if you don’t have anything to attach it to

My Picks

Budget – Champs Realtor Lock $14.99

For a host on a budget, you can’t go past the Champs padlock boxes. They are durable, sturdy and made to last. They also come with an 18-month warranty which is pretty generous given the price tag.

Mid Range – Vault Locks 5500 $26.99

The 5500 Vault padlock is spacious and reliable and looks like it belongs on a doorknob in Trump Towers! With all the dazzle of a disco ball, the Vault is a popular choice for Airbnb hosts that want their lock box to stand out. Be the envy of the street!

High End – Master Lock 5400D $38.11

Again Master Lock has come up in our top picks with the 5400D. This model can fit up to 5 large keys and will hook onto most door knob types with its larger padlock hook. You can’t go wrong with this brand for longevity and reliability.

00D. This model can fit up to 5 large keys and will hook onto most door knob types with its larger padlock hook. You can’t go wrong with this brand for longevity and reliability.

Best Airbnb Smart Lock

Smart locks for Airbnb’s are on a whole other level to the old lock box mounted on the wall. They may be a bit fiddly to install at the beginning, but once up and running you won’t know how you lived without one. So what is the best Airbnb smart lock?

There are a few different types of smart locks currently on the market. Our favourite by far is the nest locks. These sync to your phone giving you unparalleled control over who can come and go into your home. It keeps a log of the comings and goings of your guests and can even send a notification when your guest has checked in.

Another huge plus is that smart locks are key-less. So no more running around when a guest loses their set of keys. Hallelujah!

Installing a smart lock can be tricky if you’re not overly handy. If your door already has a spot for a deadbolt, it may just be a case of taking the existing one out and slotting the new smart lock mechanism in. Easy!

Pros

• Ability to change the code directly from your phone
• You can track when your guests check in and check out
• No need to worry about guests losing keys

Cons

• Quite expensive when compared to mountable lock boxes
• Requires installation from a handyman if you don’t have the tools
• Need to replace the battery every few months

My Picks

Budget – Kwikset 913 Smartcode $73.99

Taking out the top spot of the budget category is the Kwikset 913 Smartcode. A very popular choice for people with traditional homes that don’t want a futuristic-looking front door lock. It is easy to install and operate and is very well priced at just $73.99.

Mid Range – Yale Assure Touchscreen $199

The Yale Assure is easily the leader in the mid-range class. It looks smooth, sleek and doesn’t overpower the door with an oversized panel. This model is more suited to hosts as it has the added bonus of still being able to use a key. Just in case the unit loses power or short circuits. It has an excellent app with all the features you could ever want to need when it comes to Airbnb hosting.

High End – Samsung SHS-P718 Biometric $419

The Samsung SHS is for those hosts who want cutting edge technology with a sleek and modern design. In addition to keypad access, it also boats a nifty fingerprint scanner! This lock box also comes with a key tag plus a traditional key. The security on this is also out of the world with its own alarm system. You really can’t go wrong with this lock box for your Airbnb!

Best Keyless/Bluetooth Lock

The Bluetooth enabled locks to work the same way at a smart lock, except that you don’t need WiFi for it to function. A far cry from the old mountable Airbnb lock boxes hey!

Before your guest arrives, you send them a link to the lock makers app. Once they download this you send them a code which gives them the permission to enter your Airbnb.

All they need to do now is have their Bluetooth turned on and the lock will automatically open for them. No codes, no fiddling around for a key. Your guests will be very impressed.

Pros

• The door will unlock at the touch of a button – No keys here!
• Your guests don’t need to have WiFi enabled to get the lock to work
• No codes are needed, simply press the unlock button and you’re in

Cons

• Some guests may not want to download an app
• The older generation may not have a clue what Bluetooth is
• If their phone runs out of battery, they will have to use a key or code

My Picks

Budget – Hickory Securemote $109.30

The Hickory Securemote is jam packed full of features that are perfect for running an Airbnb. You can program the bolt to lock each time you open or close the door. Therefore no more unlocked doors when a guest checks out! Likewise, you can also program an unlimited amount of guests using Bluetooth. For this reason it is handy if you have a large team co-hosting with you.

Mid Range – Ultraloq U-Bolt Bluetooth $149

The Ultraloq U-Bolt is our top pick in this category for its simple design and its very cool features. The anti peep code being my favourite. For example. you can punch in as many random numbers as you like. But remember, as long as you embed the correct code into the random numbers, it will unlock! This is some pretty cool James Bond stuff!

High End – Lockly PIN Genie $279

If safety is your number one concern, the Lockly Pin Genie is the ultimate lock to keep your Airbnb secure. For instance, each time you enter in a number on the touchpad, the numbers shuffle around. As a result this makes it impossible for someone peering over your shoulder to guess your code. The lock will also disable upon 3 incorrect attempts at the code. So no unwanted guests won’t be getting in when you have this lock installed.

Airbnb Lock Box Instructions

Ok, so now you have chosen the best lock box for your Airbnb property. Therefore, the next mission is to make your check in experience as easy as possible for your guests. After all, guests rate you on your check in procedure so you need to get this right.

Airbnb allows you to select your check in method from your listing page. From here you can provide clear and precise instructions on how to operate your lock box. Your guests will see these instructions on the morning of their bookings making.

A nifty feature on Airbnb is the ability to upload your check-in guide via your smartphone. Some locks are a little more complicated than just turning a key, so you need to be clear.

To demonstrate, you can provide a series of photos with a step by step guide for your lock box or smart lock.

First, to access this feature you need to log onto Airbnb via their smartphone app. Second, click on your listing and scroll down to check-in instructions. Last, you upload photos and your step by step instructions to access your property.

Feel free to get creative and make your Airbnb lock box instructions as detailed as you can. I also recommend setting up an Airbnb message template so you can answer questions quickly.

4 Easy Steps

In Summary

As a host, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a lock box for your Airbnb. It really comes down to what you can afford and if you have any limitations put on your property.

If you are a tech-savvy host then smart locks are the way to go.

Maybe you are a host that wants to keep things simple and with little to no maintenance? In that case, the trusty mountable or padlock style lock boxes will serve you well.

On top of that, let’s not forget the Bluetooth lock boxes. They are great for Airbnb’s in remote areas that lack a WiFi connection.

Happy Airbnbing!

Further Reading