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Quick answer

San Diego buyers have a handful of local sources and one naming trap: Philadelphia Hardware Group (PHG) is based in San Diego despite its name. For same-day pickup, PHG and Grah Safe & Lock run counters; Doortek International and General Millwork Supply serve project and quote-driven work. National Lock Supply (NLS) is the option for ordering online from published prices, shipping to San Diego and getting function, handing and keying questions answered before checkout. National trade houses and online sellers are listed last for buyers who already work with them. A common arrangement is local counter for emergencies, NLS for planned orders.

How we ranked these distributors

We weighed what facility managers, GCs, locksmiths and integrators in San Diego ask of a supplier:

• Catalog depth on commercial OEM lines.
• Published pricing, with the option to order without opening an account.
• Shipping speed to San Diego, or local pickup.
• Technical support on function, handing and keying.
• Counter or will-call access for jobs that cannot wait.

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

1. National Lock Supply (online, ships to San Diego)

National Lock Supply is a family-owned, third-generation commercial door hardware distributor shipping to San Diego County every business day. It ranks first for buyers who need the full opening, mechanical and electrified, from one supplier with published prices.

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

2. Philadelphia Hardware Group (PHG) (Top Gun Street, San Diego)

Despite the name, PHG is a San Diego company at 6590 Top Gun Street, San Diego, CA 92121. It lists Citiloc and Advantage locks, mortise locks, exit devices, door closers and builders hardware, with counter and will-call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. Its range of locks, exit devices and closers makes it a practical walk-in stop for contractors outfitting a commercial opening (website: philadelphiahardware.com).

3. Grah Safe & Lock (University Ave, San Diego)

Grah Safe & Lock is at 939 University Ave, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92103. Its product pages list Medeco, Schlage, Master Lock, Arrow, Adams Rite, HES and Securitron. It operates a storefront counter and offers wholesale parts. The counter and wholesale parts suit locksmiths and integrators who need parts in hand (website: grahsecurity.com).

4. Doortek International (33rd Street, San Diego)

Doortek International is at 663 33rd Street Suite D, San Diego, CA 92102. It supplies commercial doors, frames and hardware and presents itself as project-focused; its page does not name brands, and it does not state counter hours or delivery terms. Contact them to learn what they stock. It suits GCs sourcing door openings for a construction project (website: doortek.us).

5. General Millwork Supply, Inc. (San Marcos)

General Millwork Supply is at 1249 Linda Vista Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078, in North San Diego County rather than the city itself. It lists Emtek and Schlage, along with panic hardware, hinges, storefront hardware, closers and commercial locksets. The showroom is by appointment and quotes are given by phone. It fits North County builders and property owners who want to book a visit or request a quote (website: gmswindowsanddoors.com).

National distributors that ship to San Diego

• Lockmasters Inc: a national trade distributor that ships to San Diego. Confirm eligibility and availability with them.
• Door Closers USA: an online seller shipping to San Diego. Check its listings for current items.
• The Hardware Hut: an online seller that ships to San Diego. Verify the product range on its site.
• Commercial Door Hardware Inc: an online seller serving San Diego buyers by shipment. Review its catalog for fit.
• Best Lock Supply: an online seller that ships to San Diego. Compare listings against your spec.

Local codes that drive hardware choices in San Diego

California projects are governed by the California Building Code, Title 24. For hardware, the part that most affects San Diego specs is Chapter 11B on accessibility, which addresses doors, clearances and operable hardware in public-use and commercial buildings. Your architect or plan checker should confirm the edition in force and any city requirements for your project.

National standards sit underneath. NFPA 80 applies to fire door assemblies, so closers, hinges and latches on rated doors need to be compatible with the listing and maintained; the NLS blog has an NFPA 80 annual inspection guide. ANSI/BHMA A156 defines the performance grades cited for locks, closers and exit devices. The ADA 2010 Standards, Section 404, cover door openings, operable hardware and opening force.

How to choose a door hardware supplier in San Diego

Need	Best fit	Why
Emergency same-day replacement	PHG or Grah Safe & Lock	Both state a counter, so you can collect parts in person.
Spec job with a hardware schedule	Doortek International, General Millwork Supply or the NLS Get a Quote desk	Project and quote-driven suppliers fit schedules; NLS verifies function and keying questions.
Multi-site property portfolio	NLS	Published prices and no dealer account make multi-location reorders straightforward.
Electrified or access control opening	Grah Safe & Lock for Securitron and HES; NLS for strikes and keypad or prox locks	Pair the strike or lock to the power and access system before ordering.
Government or school PO	NLS government PO intake	A dedicated intake page is set up to receive purchase orders.

Whichever source you use in San Diego, gather the same details first: door handing, the function required, the keyway or system already installed, door thickness and whether the opening is rated. Philadelphia Hardware Group and Grah Safe & Lock can match parts across the counter more quickly with those facts, and NLS technical support uses them to confirm a function before an order leaves the shelf. For a project quote from Doortek International or General Millwork Supply, a door schedule with locations and hardware sets gives them what they need to respond.

FAQ

Is Philadelphia Hardware Group in Philadelphia? No. PHG is in San Diego, at 6590 Top Gun Street. Counter and will-call hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.

Which San Diego suppliers carry Securitron or HES? Grah Safe & Lock lists both, along with Medeco, Schlage, Master Lock, Arrow and Adams Rite. NLS also stocks HES among its brands.

Can I visit General Millwork Supply without an appointment? Its showroom is listed as by appointment, and quotes are given by phone. It is in San Marcos, in North County.

Do I need an account to buy from NLS in San Diego? No. Prices are published and professionals can order without a dealer account.

Next step

Send your door list through the Get a Quote desk, or file a purchase order at the government PO page. To browse by category first, start with cylinders, cores and key blanks.