Door Entry Tools
- Open latched and locked doors without keys or damage
- Used by locksmiths, property managers, first responders, and EDC carriers
- Organised by the type of door problem: latched, locked, or defective
- Tools from $11.99. Free US shipping over $49. Lock-picking eBook with every order.
Door entry tools, organised by the problem
At a glance
Which door entry tool for which problem?
Door entry tools fall into four problem types. For a latched door (closed but unlocked), the Shove-It ($19.99) opens inward doors and the Dangerfield Shrum Tool ($11.99) opens outward doors. For a locked door with a thumb turn on the inside, the Dangerfield J-Tool ($28.99) reaches through letterboxes or door gaps to turn the thumb knob and unlock. For cylinder picking, pair the J-Tool with a quality pick set. For destructive entry when bypass fails, the Lokko Bell Lock Plug Puller ($149.99, the locksmith standard) handles cylinder removal (currently sold out, back-in-stock alerts available). Every order ships with a free lock-picking eBook.
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Door entry tools by category
Tools grouped by the problem they solve, mirroring the locksmith industry convention (and Multipick's category structure). Click any name to jump to the full review.
| Tool | Category | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shove-It Lock Bypass Tool | Opening latched doors (inward) | $19.99 | Apartment, hotel, and office doors with a slammed latch |
| Dangerfield Shrum Tool | Opening latched doors (outward) | $11.99 | Commercial entries with exposed latch from outside |
| Lokko Credit Card Door Latch Shim | Opening latched doors (wallet EDC) | $11.99 | Wallet-flat shim for concealed EDC carry |
| Mini Slim Jim / Pocket Shove-It | Opening latched doors (smaller EDC) | $11.99 | More discreet pocket-carry version of the Shove-It |
| Dangerfield J-Tool | Locked door, non-destructive (thumb turn reach) | $28.99 | UK/EU doors with letterbox + interior thumb turn |
| Lishi 2-in-1 picks (specific keyways) | Locked door, non-destructive (pick + decode) | $52-90 | Locksmith pick-and-decode for Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, etc. Mostly restocking. |
| Dangerfield Praxis Lock Pick Set | Locked door, non-destructive (manual pick) | $89.99 | Manual cylinder picking (pair with bypass for full coverage) |
| Lokko Bell Lock Plug Puller Set | Locked door, destructive (cylinder pull) | $149.99 | Pro destructive entry when bypass and picking fail |
| Inflatable Air-Jack Wedge | Door gap / pry door jamb apart | $15-24 | Pries door jambs open for reach tools, latch access, car door entry, windows. Restocking. |
Every order ships with a free lock-picking eBook. For cylinder picking, pair with a quality pick set from our best lock pick sets guide.
Opening Closed (Latched) Doors
The door is closed but not locked. Only the spring latch is engaged. These are the fastest, cheapest, and least invasive door entry scenarios. Two essential tools cover most cases: one for inward-opening doors, one for outward-opening doors. Add a wallet-carry shim for true EDC.
Shove-It Lock Bypass Tool
The fastest way past a slammed-shut, inward-opening door. Slides between the door and frame, depresses the spring latch, and pops the door open in seconds. No keys, no picks, no damage.
- Works on most apartment, hotel, and office doors with a standard mortise latch
- Pocket-sized, no training required, EDC-friendly
- Doesn't work on deadbolts or doors with anti-shim plates
Free US shipping over $49 • Ships in 1 business day
Dangerfield Universal Latch Bypass (Shrum Tool)
The Shrum tool's hooked profile catches and retracts spring latches on outward-opening doors. Commercial entries, fire-exit-style doors, and older interior doors where the latch is reachable from outside.
- 75mm hooked tip designed for spring latches on outward-opening doors
- Hardened steel, slim profile fits in a wallet
- Complements the Shove-It (the two together cover most latched-door scenarios)
Free US shipping over $49 • Ships in 1 business day
Lokko Credit Card Door Latch Shim
Credit-card-sized flexible shim that lives in a wallet card slot. Slides between door and frame to shim spring latches. The most concealed EDC bypass option we sell.
- Wallet-flat profile, indistinguishable from a credit card
- For inward-opening latched doors with a standard mortise latch
- Pairs with the Shove-It for a full pocket+wallet kit
Mini Slim Jim / Pocket Shove-It Tool
A shorter, more discreet version of the Shove-It. Compact enough for a pocket or coin purse while still working the same latched-door scenarios. Half the size, same function.
- Pocket / coin-purse carry, smaller than a standard pen
- Same inward-opening latched door application as the Shove-It
- For EDC carriers who prioritise concealment over reach
Opening Locked Doors — Non-Destructive
The door is fully locked: deadbolt thrown, cylinder engaged, or thumb turn rotated. Non-destructive entry means opening it without damaging the lock or door. Two approaches: reach the interior thumb turn from outside, or pick the cylinder itself.
Dangerfield J-Tool Reach-Through Thumbturn Opener
For doors that are locked from inside via a thumb turn but accessible from outside via a letterbox or under-door gap. The J-shaped reach-through engages the thumb turn and rotates it to unlock.
- Steel construction, J-profile engineered for standard thumb-turn rotation
- Used by locksmiths and emergency entry pros for non-destructive entry
- Effective on most letterbox-equipped UK and EU residential doors
Free US shipping over $49 • Ships in 1 business day
Opening Locked Doors — Destructive
When non-destructive bypass and picking won't work (damaged cylinder, time pressure, or the customer has authorised lock replacement), the locksmith reaches for cylinder pulling. These tools destroy the lock cylinder; the door and frame survive.
Lokko Bell Lock Plug Puller Complete Professional Set
Locksmith-standard destructive entry tool. Self-tapping screws bite into the cylinder face; the bell pulls the plug out of the housing, defeating the lock. Used worldwide by emergency locksmiths when bypass and picking aren't an option.
- Complete set: bell, spanner, double-sided plate, and a full range of self-tapping extraction screws
- Pulls Euro cylinders, oval cylinders, and rim cylinders
- Replacement screws available separately: Lokko Self-Tapping Screws (3 sizes, $17.99)
See the Lokko Bell Plug Puller in action
Locksmith-grade destructive cylinder removal demonstrated.
Door Gap Tools (Inflatable Air Wedges, Hooks & Reach-Through)
The inflatable air-jack wedge is the locksmith essential for this category. Pump it between the door and the frame, and the bladder pries the door jamb apart with controlled, even pressure. Use the gap to depress a spring latch directly, insert a hook to grab the interior thumb turn, or reach a snare past the weatherstripping. The same wedges work on car doors and window frames where rigid plastic or steel wedges would scratch paint or deform trim.
Common use cases for the inflatable:
- Prying apart door jambs to insert reach tools (the most common entry workflow)
- Creating space to slip a card shim or Shove-It past the weatherstripping on a tight-fitting door
- Car door entry: gap creation between the door and the B-pillar without paint damage
- Window opening: lifting sash windows or popping casement windows without breaking the seal
- Furniture and cabinet work: separating glued joints without splintering the wood
- Lokkolabs Inflatable Air-Jack Wedge Set (3 sizes: small, medium, large) — $23.91 (was
$45.99, save 48%). The primary kit for door jamb prying: 3 bladder sizes cover narrow residential doors through wider commercial frames. - Large Inflatable Pump Wedge — $15.99. Single heavy-duty bladder for wider frames.
- KLOM U-Shaped Inflatable Wedge — $17.99. U-profile bladder for awkward frame shapes where a flat wedge won't seat.
Complete Door Entry Kits
For locksmiths, property managers, building superintendents, and EDC carriers who want one-purchase coverage. A complete kit pairs the latched-door tools (Shove-It + Shrum) with the non-destructive locked-door tool (J-Tool reach-through), a quality pick set for cylinder work, and the Lokko Bell Lock Plug Puller Set as the destructive fallback.
Door entry tools FAQ
Is it legal to own door entry and bypass tools?
Is it legal to own door entry and bypass tools?
In most US states and EU countries, ownership of bypass and door entry tools is legal for locksmiths, EDC carriers, hobbyists, property managers, and homeowners. Use is restricted: you can use them on your own property, on property you have the owner's permission to access, or as part of professional locksmith or emergency response work. Check your local laws before carrying. We ship worldwide; the customer is responsible for local compliance.
What's the difference between a latched door and a locked door?
What's the difference between a latched door and a locked door?
A latched door is closed but not locked. Only the spring latch is engaged. The Shove-It ($19.99) or Shrum tool ($11.99) opens these in seconds without damage. A locked door has the deadbolt or main cylinder engaged. Locked doors need either a thumb-turn reach tool (J-Tool), lock picking, or destructive entry. Identifying which problem you have is the first decision before choosing a tool.
What's a non-destructive door entry?
What's a non-destructive door entry?
Non-destructive entry opens the lock without damaging it. For a latched door, that means shimming the spring latch (Shove-It, Shrum, mica shims). For a locked door, that means reaching the thumb turn from outside (J-Tool), picking the cylinder (Lishi or manual pick set), or bypassing the cylinder mechanism. Multipick, Lokko, Dangerfield, and the rest of the bypass industry exist because non-destructive entry is faster, cheaper, and preferable for both customers and the locksmith.
What should a locksmith's basic door entry kit contain?
What should a locksmith's basic door entry kit contain?
Cover the four problem types. Latched doors: Shove-It plus Shrum tool ($31.98 together). Locked doors with interior thumb turn: J-Tool (the reach-through tool). Cylinder picking: a quality manual pick set (Dangerfield Praxis or Multipick Elite) and Lishi tools for keyways you service most. Destructive fallback: the Lokko Bell Lock Plug Puller Set ($149.99, currently sold out). Entry-level professional kit from in-stock items: roughly $200.
What's the best door entry tool for EDC (everyday carry)?
What's the best door entry tool for EDC (everyday carry)?
The Shove-It ($19.99) is the most-carried bypass tool in the LockPickWorld customer base. Pocket-sized, no training needed, works on the most common slammed-door scenario. For pure wallet carry, the mica latch shims (when in stock) are even more compact. For a more capable pocket kit, pair the Shove-It with the Shrum tool ($11.99) for outward-opening doors. Total EDC bypass loadout: $31.98.
When do you need destructive entry instead of bypass?
When do you need destructive entry instead of bypass?
Non-destructive bypass should always be the first choice. Destructive entry (cylinder pulling, drilling, snapping) is used when: the lock is damaged or broken, the bypass tools don't fit the lock profile, you need entry in under a minute and bypass isn't fast enough, or the customer has authorised lock replacement anyway. The Lokko Bell Lock Plug Puller covers the destructive option when it's needed (currently sold out, back-in-stock alerts available on the product page).