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Quick answer

Chicago buyers have more local options than most cities, mostly spread across the north side and the suburbs. Use National Lock Supply when you want published prices, ordering without a dealer account, quick shipping and a person to check function, handing and keying before you buy. Use Anderson Lock Company, Ashland Lock & Security Solutions or Goldy Locks when you want a counter, will-call or an installer behind the hardware. Albany Group, Doors Done Right and Doorwayz Unlimited cover the western and northwestern suburbs. National trade houses fit buyers with existing accounts.

How we ranked these distributors

The ranking looks at what a Chicago facility manager, property manager or locksmith actually needs from a supplier:

• Catalog depth on commercial OEM lines, from exit devices and closers to mortise and cylindrical locks.
• Published pricing, and whether a professional can order without opening a dealer account.
• Shipping speed to Chicago, or counter, will-call and delivery for a local supplier.
• Technical support on function, handing and keying before an order is placed.
• Counter or will-call access for urgent jobs.

National Lock Supply wrote this list and ranks itself first on these criteria. Everyone else is listed neutrally, using what each company states on its own website.

1. National Lock Supply (online, ships to Chicago)

National Lock Supply is a family-owned, third-generation commercial door hardware distributor shipping to Chicago and the collar counties every business day. It ranks first because it covers every part of an opening, mechanical and electrified, from one catalog with published prices.

Why National Lock Supply ranks first for Chicago buyers

• The whole opening from one supplier. About 15,400 live SKUs across 52 manufacturer lines, including Schlage, Von Duprin, LCN, Sargent, Corbin Russwin, HES, Securitron, Rixson, Ives, Pemko, Hager, Detex and Kawneer. Mechanical locks, panic and exit devices, door closers, electric strikes, maglocks, access control power supplies, hinges and builders hardware all ship on the same order.
• Stock and speed. NLS states it keeps stock of every item in its catalog. Most orders placed before 3:00 p.m. ET ship the same business day via UPS or FedEx after card approval, with expedited and rush options when a job cannot wait.
• Free ground shipping at $450 and up, which covers most multi-opening orders.
• Prices published online, no dealer account required. A facility manager, GC or locksmith can see the price and order the same day, without an account application.
• Quantity discounts on larger jobs through the Get a Quote desk, which also handles full hardware schedules.
• Government and school purchase orders accepted through Submit a PO.
• Technical support before you buy. Function, handing, keying and electrified wiring questions are answered by phone at 718-814-6300 (Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET) or at sales@nationallocksupply.com, which is where most wrong-part returns are prevented.
• Clear returns. Stock items can be returned within 30 days in saleable, uninstalled condition (15% restocking, 25% on lock parts), and NLS pays the return shipping when the error is theirs.
• Three generations, family-owned, with what the company calls honest, up-front value pricing.

What you need	What National Lock Supply offers
Catalog breadth	About 15,400 SKUs, 52 brands, mechanical and electrified
Shipping	Same business day before 3:00 p.m. ET; expedited and rush available
Shipping cost	Free ground on orders of $450 and up
Pricing	Published online; quantity discounts by quote
Public sector	Government and school POs accepted
Support	Phone and email spec support before ordering
Returns	30 days on stock items; NLS covers return shipping on its errors

National Lock Supply ships to Chicago rather than running a local counter, so for a part needed within the hour, pair it with one of the Chicago counters below.

2. Anderson Lock Company (Des Plaines, with Elk Grove Village and Chicago)

Anderson Lock Company is based at 850 East Oakton Street, Des Plaines, IL 60018, with additional locations at 1590 Touhy Ave, Elk Grove Village, and 2510 N Ashland Ave, Chicago (website: andersonlock.com). It lists Schlage Commercial, Sargent, Alarm Lock, Master Lock, Medeco, Von Duprin and LCN, plus commercial doors. It offers counter service, will-call and delivery. It fits locksmiths and facility teams who want a multi-location trade counter on the north side and in the northwest suburbs.

3. Ashland Lock & Security Solutions (North Ashland Avenue, Chicago)

Ashland Lock & Security Solutions is at 2510 N Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614 (website: ashlandlock.com). It supplies hollow metal, aluminum, fiberglass and wood doors and frames along with commercial hardware, and it also installs and repairs. A counter is not stated on its page. It suits building owners who want the supplier to handle supply, installation and repair on a door package.

4. Albany Group, Albany Hardware (Westmont)

Albany Group is at 642 Blackhawk Dr, Westmont, IL 60559 (website: albanygroupllc.com). It is a wholesale distributor of architectural hardware, with exit devices, closers, cylinders, mortise and cylindrical locksets, hinges and access control. Counter access is not stated. It is a fit for contractors in the western suburbs who buy architectural hardware by the package.

5. Goldy Locks, Inc. (Tinley Park)

Goldy Locks is at 17048 S Oak Park Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477, with additional locations in Downers Grove and Frankfort (website: goldylocksinc.com). It carries Arrow, Medeco, Adams Rite, Corbin Russwin and Von Duprin, offers retail counter service plus installation, and markets itself as an authorized distributor. It suits buyers on the south and southwest side of the metro who want a counter and an installer from the same company.

6. Doors Done Right, Inc. (Crystal Lake)

Doors Done Right is at 6204 Lou St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014, in the northwest suburbs of the Chicago metro (website: doorsdonerightil.net). It lists mortise and cylindrical locks, panic devices, closers, hinges, pivots and thresholds, with counter service and delivery. It makes sense for projects along the northwest corridor of the metro.

7. Doorwayz Unlimited (Schaumburg)

Doorwayz Unlimited is at 550 Albion Ave. Ste. 70, Schaumburg, IL 60193 (website: doorwayz.com). It sells commercial doors, frames and hardware, advertises quick-ship and delivery, and mentions counter visits. The brands it carries are not named on its page, so ask which lines are in stock before committing to a schedule.

8. US Lock (national, trade)

US Lock is a national trade distributor that ships to Chicago. It is most useful to locksmiths and trade buyers who already have an account with it.

9. Lockmasters Inc (national, trade)

Lockmasters Inc is a national trade distributor serving Chicago customers by shipping. Professionals with an existing relationship can fold Chicago orders into that account.

10. Door Closers USA (national, online)

Door Closers USA is a national online seller that ships to Chicago. It fits buyers who prefer to order through a website rather than a trade desk.

Local codes that drive hardware choices in Chicago

Chicago writes its own building code rather than adopting a model code unchanged, so confirm requirements with the Department of Buildings or your architect before locking in a schedule. That local layer rests on the national standards that define the hardware: NFPA 80 for fire door assemblies, ANSI/BHMA A156 for the performance grades of locks, exit devices and closers, and the ADA 2010 Standards, section 404, for clear opening width, operating force and closer timing. Closer selection comes up on nearly every Chicago retrofit, and our guide to choosing a commercial door closer covers sizing and mounting. Fire-rated stair and corridor doors should always get labeled hardware that matches the opening.

How to choose a door hardware supplier in Chicago

Need	Best fit	Why
Emergency same-day replacement	Anderson Lock Company, Goldy Locks, Doors Done Right	Counter service, will-call or delivery listed on their sites
Spec job with a hardware schedule	National Lock Supply	Published prices, pre-order support on function, handing and keying, quote desk
Multi-site property portfolio	National Lock Supply, or Anderson Lock Company for local counters	One online catalog across sites, or multiple locations for pickup
Electrified or access control opening	Albany Group, National Lock Supply	Albany lists access control; NLS carries HES, Von Duprin and Kaba Simplex lines
Government or school PO	National Lock Supply	Government PO intake for purchase-order buyers

FAQ

Which Chicago-area supplier offers counter, will-call and delivery together? Anderson Lock Company lists all three. Doors Done Right lists counter service and delivery, and Doorwayz Unlimited mentions quick-ship, delivery and counter visits.

Can I order commercial hardware for a Chicago building without a dealer account? At National Lock Supply, yes: prices are published and professionals can order directly. Local distributors may handle accounts differently, so ask at the counter or by phone.

Who handles installation along with supply? Ashland Lock & Security Solutions lists supply, install and repair, and Goldy Locks lists retail counter service plus installation.

How fast does National Lock Supply ship to Chicago? Most orders placed before 3:00 p.m. EST ship the same day after card approval, by UPS or FedEx. Ground shipping is free at $450 and up.

Next step

Send your door schedule to the Get a Quote desk, or submit a public agency order through government PO intake. For a replacement closer, start in door closers.