Introduction
Imagine this. You get home, arms full of groceries, and your smart lock won’t open. The reason. Dead batteries. Talk about a buzzkill.
The bright side is that smart lock battery life has gotten much better in 2025. Many locks can now last most of the year on a single set of batteries if you pick wisely. In this guide, we’ll walk through the best options, compare brands, explain what affects battery life, and share tips to stretch every bit of power.
How long do smart lock batteries last in 2025
Battery life depends on two things. The tech inside the lock and how often you use it.
- Average range: 3 months on power-hungry WiFi locks, up to 12 months on energy-efficient designs.
- Biggest drains: Always-on WiFi, stiff deadbolts, extreme cold, and heavy auto-lock use.
- Rule of thumb: Bluetooth and Thread locks last longer than WiFi-only locks.
The 2025 battery life leaderboard
Best overall
- Yale Smart Lock with Matter over Thread
Runs up to 12 months on four AA batteries. Works with all the big smart home platforms. Balanced, reliable, efficient. - Level Lock Pro
A sleek lock with the battery hidden in the bolt. One CR2 battery lasts 9–12 months. Thread support makes it even more efficient.
Best value
- TP-Link Tapo DL100
WiFi lasts about 7 months. Bluetooth mode stretches it to 10 months. - Eufy Smart Lock C220
Good for 8 months on AAs if you keep WiFi off. - SwitchBot Lock Pro
Around 6–9 months on AAs, or up to a year with its dual rechargeable pack. - Aqara U100
Zigbee-based, 8 months average. IP65 weatherproof for outdoor use.
Popular but shorter life
- Schlage Encode: About 6 months (built-in WiFi).
- Kwikset Halo: Around 6 months, better with Thread on newer models.
- August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: Easy retrofit, but only 2–3 months with WiFi.
Rechargeable vs replaceable batteries
- Replaceable AAs or CR2s: Still the norm. Use high-quality alkaline, not cheap off-brand ones.
- Rechargeable packs: Offered by some brands like SwitchBot. Great if you prefer charging over buying batteries, but only use packs made for your lock.
Bluetooth vs WiFi vs Thread
- Bluetooth: Sips power, long-lasting.
- Thread: Built for low-energy smart homes, often even better than Bluetooth.
- WiFi: Handy for remote access, but drains batteries faster.
Pro tip: If you want remote control, use a WiFi bridge. That way your lock runs on Bluetooth or Thread and saves juice.
Battery life by brand
- Yale: Thread model hits 12 months. WiFi version drops to 3 months.
- Level: Level Lock Pro lasts 9–12 months.
- Schlage: Encode series averages 6 months.
- Kwikset: Halo sits around 6 months, Select model with Thread does better.
- August: Wi-Fi Smart Lock only 2–3 months.
Features that help batteries last longer
- Set up on Bluetooth or Thread first.
- Keep your deadbolt aligned so the motor doesn’t strain.
- Adjust auto-lock to avoid constant relocking.
- Cut back on app status checks and extra notifications.
- Use quality name-brand batteries.
Smart locks for different needs
- Apartments: Level Bolt or August (retrofit, long life with Bluetooth + bridge).
- Airbnb hosts: Yale Smart Lock with Thread for a year of use, or Schlage Encode Plus for Apple Home Key and guest codes.
- Outdoor use: Aqara U100, built to handle weather.
Buying guide: 2025
- Pick the right radio: Thread or Bluetooth first.
- Choose the right power: AAs are cheapest, rechargeables only if official.
- Check your door alignment: A sticky bolt kills batteries fast.
- Plan your budget: Value picks last long enough, premium adds polish.
- Look for alerts: Low-battery and jam alerts save headaches.
Maintenance and troubleshooting
- Replacing batteries: Pop off the cover, swap in new AAs (or the right type), and check the app.
- Warning signs: Slow motor, dim keypad, jumpy battery levels.
- Costs: AAs are cheap. CR2/CR123As cost more. Rechargeable packs save money long-term.
Real-life stories
- Ali, an apartment renter, chose a Level Bolt with a bridge. Changes batteries once a year.
- Sara, an Airbnb host, swapped to Yale with Thread. Now she replaces batteries once each spring.
- Imran, a parent, loves Apple Home Key on Schlage Encode Plus. He just sets a reminder to swap AAs every six months.
Conclusion
If you want the best battery life in 2025, start with Yale Smart Lock with Matter or Level Lock Pro. Need value. Go for Tapo DL100, Eufy C220, or SwitchBot Lock Pro. Want Apple-friendly features. Schlage Encode Plus is the one, just expect more frequent swaps.