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Quick answer

For commercial door hardware in Philadelphia, split the work by urgency. National Lock Supply (NLS) fits buyers who want to order online from published prices, ship to a job site or shop, and get a technical answer on function, handing or keying before the order goes out. Woodland Building Supply in West Philadelphia and Delaware County Supply in Boothwyn cover the counter side, which matters when a door has to be fixed before the building closes. Trans-Atlantic Co. in Pennsauken is a wholesale option on the New Jersey side of the metro. Account-based buyers also have the national trade houses listed at the end.

How we ranked these distributors

We scored each supplier on five criteria that matter to facility managers, GCs, locksmiths and integrators working in Philadelphia:

• Catalog depth on commercial OEM lines (exit devices, closers, mortise and cylindrical locks, strikes, cylinders).
• Published pricing, and whether a professional can order without opening an account first.
• Shipping speed to Philadelphia, or the ability to pick up locally.
• Technical support on function, handing and keying.
• Counter or will-call access for urgent jobs.

NLS wrote this list and ranks itself first on these criteria. The remaining suppliers are listed neutrally, using only what each one publishes.

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

National Lock Supply is a family-owned, third-generation commercial door hardware distributor a short haul from Philadelphia, shipping every business day. It ranks first because one order covers the whole opening, with published prices and spec support before you buy.

Why National Lock Supply ranks first for Philadelphia 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.

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

2. Woodland Building Supply (Woodland Ave, Philadelphia)

Woodland Building Supply is at 4701 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143, with a second address listed at 264 W. Sedgley Ave. Its door hardware page lists Accentra, Norton Rixson, H.E.S. Assa Abloy, McKinney, Pemko, Rockwood and Cal-Royal. Hours are Monday to Friday 7 to 4 and Saturday 7 to 2, and quotes are handled by phone. It suits contractors and maintenance crews in the city who want one of those lines from a local counter (website: woodlandbuildingsupply.com).

3. Delaware County Supply (Boothwyn)

Delaware County Supply sits at 1000 Randall Avenue, Boothwyn, PA 19061, in suburban Delaware County rather than inside the city limits. It sells hollow metal frames and doors, wood doors and commercial door hardware, with counter and will-call service plus delivery. Hours are Monday to Friday 7:30 to 5 and Saturday 7:30 to 12. It suits GCs buying doors, frames and hardware together for a project in the Philadelphia suburbs or the southwest corridor (website: delawarecountysupply.com).

4. Trans-Atlantic Co. (Pennsauken, NJ)

Trans-Atlantic Co. is at 8400 A Remington Ave, Pennsauken, NJ 08110, on the New Jersey side of the Philadelphia metro. It describes itself as a manufacturer and sells wholesale: locks, closers, hinges and exit devices for hollow metal, wood and storefront doors. Its site offers online ordering with on-hand quantities shown. It suits trade buyers who want to check stock before committing to an order across the river (website: transatlanticco.com).

National distributors that ship to Philadelphia

• IDN Incorporated: a national trade distributor that serves Philadelphia buyers by shipping.
• Banner Solutions: a national trade distributor serving Philadelphia projects remotely.
• Top Notch Distributors: a national trade distributor that ships to Philadelphia.
• Cook & Boardman: a national trade distributor reaching Philadelphia by shipment.
• ADI Global Distribution: a national trade distributor that supplies Philadelphia customers through shipping.
• US Lock: a national trade distributor that ships to Philadelphia.

Local codes that drive hardware choices in Philadelphia

Hardware on a Philadelphia job is judged against the Philadelphia Building Code, which is the International Building Code with local amendments, enforced by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I). Always confirm the current edition and amendments with L&I or your design professional before you finalize a schedule.

Three national standards sit under that code. NFPA 80 governs fire door assemblies, so closers, hinges and latching hardware on rated doors must be listed and kept in working order; the NFPA 80 annual fire door inspection guide covers what inspectors look for. ANSI/BHMA A156 sets the grade and performance requirements that specifiers cite for locks, closers and exit devices. The ADA 2010 Standards, Section 404, address door openings, operable hardware and opening force, so lever trim and properly adjusted closers belong in the hardware schedule. Philadelphia renovation projects that touch an existing opening should check clear width and opening force before choosing replacement hardware, because a closer that is too strong for the door fails the test even when the lockset is fine.

How to choose a door hardware supplier in Philadelphia

FAQ

Can I order commercial hardware in Philadelphia without a trade account? Yes at NLS, where prices are published and professionals can order without a dealer account. Local counters and national trade houses may handle accounts differently, so ask when you call.

Is Trans-Atlantic Co. in Philadelphia? No. It is in Pennsauken, NJ, on the New Jersey side of the metro. It sells wholesale and lists on-hand quantities online.

Who should I call for a quote on a multi-door schedule? Send the schedule to the NLS Get a Quote desk, or phone Woodland Building Supply, which handles quotes by phone. Include door handing, function and keying so the quote is complete.

What should I check before buying closers for rated doors in Philadelphia? Confirm the opening's fire rating and the closer size against the door width and exposure. The commercial door closer selection guide on the NLS blog walks through the sizing steps.

Next step

Send your door list through the Get a Quote desk, or submit a purchase order on the government PO page. If you already know the product, start with mortise locks.