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Quick answer

Houston is spread out, so the right supplier depends on where the job is and how fast you need the part. National Lock Supply is the choice for online ordering at published prices, fast shipping and pre-order help on function, handing and keying. For pickup, KeylessCity Hardware on the Gulf Freeway lists a same-day retail counter, and C.K.I. Wholesale Lock Supply, Acme Architectural Hardware, Himmel's, American Doors and Coastal Doors cover wholesale, showroom and door-and-frame work across the city. Online and national sellers suit buyers who already use them.

How we ranked these distributors

We weighed five things that matter to a Houston facility manager, locksmith or GC:

• Catalog depth on commercial OEM lines, including exit devices, closers and mortise and cylindrical locks.
• Published pricing, and whether a professional can order without a dealer account.
• Shipping speed to Houston, or counter and warehouse access for local suppliers.
• Technical support on function, handing and keying before the order is placed.
• Counter or will-call access, including posted hours.

National Lock Supply wrote this list and ranks itself first on these criteria. The other suppliers are listed neutrally, using only facts from their own sites.

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

National Lock Supply is a family-owned, third-generation commercial door hardware distributor shipping to Houston every business day. For Houston GCs and property teams juggling hollow metal, storefront and access control on the same job, it covers every hardware line on a typical opening from one catalog.

Why National Lock Supply ranks first for Houston 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 Houston rather than running a local counter, so for a part needed within the hour, pair it with one of the Houston counters below.

2. KeylessCity Hardware (Gulf Freeway, Houston)

KeylessCity Hardware is at 5035 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX 77023 (website: keyless-city.com). It supplies locks and cylinders, door hardware, key blanks and cutting machines for locksmiths. It sells wholesale to locksmiths, runs a same-day retail counter, and lists free shipping over $149. It is strongest on automotive and locksmith supplies, so it fits locksmith shops better than spec-driven commercial openings.

3. C.K.I. Wholesale Lock Supply Inc. (Sussex Ln, Houston)

C.K.I. Wholesale Lock Supply is at 10020 Sussex Ln, Houston, TX 77041 (website: ckilock.com). It lists Schlage, Yale, Dormakaba, Kwikset and more than 40 other brands, with lock and hardware packages and access control. It operates wholesale, Mon-Fri 8-5. It suits locksmiths and contractors who buy packages and can work within weekday hours.

4. Acme Architectural Hardware, Inc. (Thomas Road, Houston)

Acme Architectural Hardware is at 6110 Thomas Road, Houston, TX 77041 (website: aahdw.com). It lists Hager, NGP, Cal-Royal, Schlage and Sargent, across locksets, closers, exit devices, hinges, and doors and frames. Its counter and delivery terms are not stated, so call first. It suits GCs who want hardware, doors and frames from a single architectural supplier.

5. Himmel's Architectural Door & Hardware (West Road, Houston)

Himmel's has a Houston location at 406 West Road, Houston, TX 77038 (website: himmels.com). It sells commercial doors, frames and hardware, and runs a showroom for walk-in sales, open Mon-Thu 7-4:30 and Fri 7-3:30. It fits owners and contractors who want to see product in person before specifying.

6. American Doors (Blankenship Drive, Houston)

American Doors is at 7967 Blankenship Drive, Houston, TX 77055 (website: americandoors.com). It carries Dormakaba, Falcon, Hager, Schlage and Yale, along with hollow metal and wood doors. It offers counter sales and warehousing, Mon-Fri 7-4. It suits buyers who want doors and hardware from one counter.

7. Coastal Doors Inc (Garden Oaks Blvd, Houston)

Coastal Doors is at 382 Garden Oaks Blvd, Houston, TX 77018 (website: coastaldoors.com). It lists hollow metal frames and doors, commercial hardware (NGP) and wood doors. Call to confirm services and counter access before you go.

8. The Hardware Hut (national, online)

The Hardware Hut is an online seller that ships to Houston. It suits buyers who prefer to order through a website and do not need a local counter.

9. Commercial Door Hardware Inc (national, online)

Commercial Door Hardware Inc is an online supplier that ships to Houston customers. It is another web-ordering option for buyers comparing sources on a spec job.

10. Best Lock Supply (national, online)

Best Lock Supply is an online seller that serves Houston by shipment. Buyers who already use it can keep their Houston orders on that site.

Local codes that drive hardware choices in Houston

Houston projects follow the Houston Amendments to the International Building Code, and accessibility work in Texas is also reviewed against the Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS). Those local rules sit on top of the national standards that shape hardware itself: NFPA 80 for fire door assemblies, ANSI/BHMA A156 for lock, exit device and closer grades, and the ADA 2010 Standards, section 404, for door clearances and operating force. Hardware on rated openings should carry the right label and be set up to latch every time, and our Sargent commercial hardware series guide helps when you are matching a series to the application. Confirm the code edition and any amendments with your design team or plan reviewer before purchase.

How to choose a door hardware supplier in Houston

Need	Best fit	Why
Emergency same-day replacement	KeylessCity Hardware, American Doors, Himmel's	Same-day retail counter, counter sales and a walk-in showroom, within posted hours
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	One catalog and repeat ordering without a dealer account
Electrified or access control opening	C.K.I. Wholesale Lock Supply, National Lock Supply	C.K.I. 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

Who in Houston sells to locksmiths wholesale? KeylessCity Hardware and C.K.I. Wholesale Lock Supply both list wholesale. KeylessCity also has a same-day retail counter, and C.K.I. lists Mon-Fri 8-5 hours.

What are the walk-in hours for Houston's door and hardware showrooms? Himmel's lists Mon-Thu 7-4:30 and Fri 7-3:30 for its showroom. American Doors lists Mon-Fri 7-4. Check hours before you go, since they can change.

Can I order from National Lock Supply without an account? Yes. Prices are published and professionals can order without a dealer account. Most orders placed before 3:00 p.m. EST ship the same day.

Is free shipping available? National Lock Supply offers free ground shipping on orders of $450 and up. KeylessCity Hardware lists free shipping over $149 on its own site.

Next step

Send your hardware schedule to the Get a Quote desk, or submit a school or agency order via government PO intake. For a replacement lock program, start with cylinders, cores and key blanks.