10 Budget-Friendly Home Security Improvements You Can Make Yourself

Deadbolt locks ensure that your primary entryways are not a weak spot. The Kwikset 660 deadbolt lock was featured as the best bang for the buck in our door locks review because it packs a lot of benefits at a reasonable price. This complete, inexpensive kit is pick-resistant, and it meets the BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) Grade 3 standard for protection from brute-force attacks.

The BN-Link 7-Day Digital Timer allows you to set natural patterns for lighting that make it look like someone’s at home when you’re away. It has two outlets and a battery backup that will remember its settings if there’s a power outage.

When storing tools in sheds, shackling the door with a padlock will make most would-be thieves rethink a break-in. In our tested guide to the best padlocks, we selected Desired Tools’ 4-Digit Combination Lock as the top value. It’s made from tough weatherproof zinc alloy, providing easy-to-use keyless security for under $10.

Outdoor lighting that’s always off or always on can be another clear sign of an unoccupied property. Motion sensor spotlights are relatively low-cost solutions. This budget-friendly 4-pack of Urpower motion sensor flood lights offers enough lights to cover the front and back of your property. They’re solar-powered, too, so no wiring is necessary.

While you may regard them as mostly decorative, blinds and shades also improve home security by making it difficult for passersby to see what’s inside—or determine whether anyone is home. Changeshade’s cordless cellular shades are made of thick fabric lined with an eco-friendly, aluminum foil-like material, which block light and sound—and keep prying eyes out.

Think about the plants in your yard or garden. Are there overgrown shrubs that provide concealment for burglars while they try to break in through doors or windows? Taking a few minutes to trim them down with a good pair of shears—like these top-value Colwelt hedge clippers we’ve tested—can leave thieves with one less hiding place. You could also plant thorny shrubs such as firethorn, barberry, or hawthorn under windows to create a decorative yet nearly impenetrable barrier.

This 4-pack of BNT dummy security cameras gives burglars the impression that your property is surveilled to the hilt—all for under $25. These realistic, battery-operated units don’t need any wiring; simply attach them to an outside wall with the screws provided. Each has a photoelectric sensor that illuminates a red LED at nightfall so anyone casing your home will think someone is on guard.

How many of us have put a spare key under a mat, in a flowerpot, or above the doorframe? The more secure way to stash keys for your guests is to install a lock box. We reveal plenty of good options in our researched guide to the best lock boxes; one of our favorites is the Rudy Run Wall Mount Lock Box. It is weatherproof, heat-resistant, and can withstand prying, sawing, and hammering. It also offers 9,999 possible combinations, so it’s unlikely a thief will ever guess your secret code.

Another low-cost way to stop opportunistic criminals from wandering onto your property is to prominently display “Beware of Dog” signs. The threat of a dangerous animal (even if you don’t own one) can be enough to deter many a criminal. The two-pack Hisvision Beware of Dog signs are aluminum, so they won’t rust. They also feature UV lamination to prevent fading, scuffing, and scratching.

If your budget stretches further, you may want to consider adding a barking dog alarm. The STI Rex Plus Electronic Watchdog was our top pick in our review of barking dog alarms. It increases the barking sound the closer an intruder gets to a home and decreases it as an intruder backs off.

Driveway alarms are a relatively low-cost way to deter thieves, and they can also warn of intruders approaching the house. The eMACROS driveway alarm is weatherproof, solar-powered, and can transmit a signal up to 1,500 feet.