Best Padlocks for Sheds: A Complete Buying Guide
Your shed is more than just a wooden box at the end of the garden. It's where the good stuff lives: the lawnmower that cost a small fortune, unfinished DIY projects, the power tools you've built up over the years, maybe even a bike or two. Yet, for a lot of people, the only thing standing between a thief and all of that is a padlock that came free with the hasp.
Sound familiar? If you're looking for the best padlock for a shed, you've come to the right place. This guide covers everything from security ratings and shackle types to weatherproofing and insurance requirements, with our top product picks included.
According to research by Aviva, almost three in ten UK residents have experienced an actual or attempted break-in to their shed or outbuilding. These numbers are worth taking seriously, and so is the lock you choose.
Table of Contents
What Makes the Best Padlock for a Shed?
There are a few things worth understanding before you buy. Get these right and the rest is pretty straightforward.
Security Ratings: CEN Grades and Sold Secure
The CEN grade is a European standard that runs from 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest and is the most reliable measure of a padlock's security. For a shed, CEN Grade 3 or above is where you want to be. That's the point where a padlock has been independently tested against drilling, cutting and picking.
You might also see a Sold Secure rating, which uses Gold, Silver and Bronze. A Sold Secure Gold padlock is a strong choice for a shed, and some home insurance policies ask for it specifically when it comes to outbuildings.
Open Shackle vs Closed Shackle
Wondering what the difference is between open shackle and closed shackle? The shackle is the metal loop that passes through your hasp. An open shackle exposes more of that loop, which makes fitting easier but gives a thief more to work with if they have bolt cutters. A closed shackle sits mostly inside the padlock body, leaving very little exposed and making it far harder to cut through. If your shed is in a secluded spot or holds anything valuable, closed shackle is the better call.
Weatherproofing
Rain, frost, heavy wind, salt air - a poorly made padlock won't last long outside, and a seized padlock can actually be easier to break open than a well-maintained one. Look for an anti-corrosion finish or a stainless steel body. Abus padlocks with Nano Protection coating go a step further on moisture resistance. For a full range of outdoor-ready options, browse our weatherproof padlocks collection.
How to Choose the Right Size Padlock for Your Shed
For most standard shed hasps, a 50mm padlock body is the most common fit and a good default to start with. If you have a larger or heavier-duty hasp, you may need a bigger body or a longer shackle.
If you're not sure, measure the gap in your hasp before buying — that's the space the shackle needs to pass through. Our long shackle padlocks are worth a look if you have a non-standard fitting or need a bit more clearance to thread through a security chain as well.
The 6 Best Padlocks for Sheds
1
Squire Stronglock Plus 50: Best Everyday Shed Padlock
If you want a reliable, no-nonsense padlock for a shed that won't break the bank, the Squire Stronglock Plus 50 is a strong place to start. It replaces the popular Stronglock 39, keeping everything that made the original a favourite while improving on it.
The laminated steel body is worth understanding: layers of steel pressed together means this lock resists cutting and sawing better than a solid cast body, and it's less likely to rust because water can't pool inside in the same way. The hardened boron steel shackle, double locking mechanism and weather resistance make it a genuinely capable everyday shed padlock. It can also be keyed to existing Stronglock padlocks, which is handy if you want one key across multiple locks on your property.
Backed by Squire's 10-year guarantee.
Best for: General shed security at a sensible price.
2
Squire SS50P5 Stronghold 50mm: Best Sold Secure Gold Shed Padlock
Step up from the Stronglock Plus and you're into Squire's Stronghold range. The SS50P5 is an open shackle padlock that carries a Gold rating on the Sold Secure standard and a CEN Grade 3. This means it’s independently tested and recognised by most insurers as a secure shed padlock.
The solid hardened steel body and shackle come with anti-drill protection and an anti-corrosion finish. If you've got bikes, power tools or anything else worth protecting properly, the Sold Secure Gold rating gives you a meaningful tick for insurance purposes and the peace of mind that comes with it. Plus, it's backed by Squire's 10-year guarantee.
Best for: Higher-value shed contents where an independently rated padlock matters.
3
Squire SS50CS Stronghold: Best Closed Shackle Shed Padlock
If your shed is tucked away at the back of the garden, or you simply want the strongest physical protection available, the SS50CS is the one to look at. It's the closed shackle version of the Stronghold range, rated CEN Grade 4, marking it as firmly in the high security bracket.
The closed shackle means barely any metal is exposed once the lock is fitted, making it extremely resistant to bolt cutters. For added key security, the SS50CS Restricted version makes it very difficult for duplicate keys to be cut without your authorisation. This is very much worth considering if multiple people need access.
Best for: Sheds in secluded spots, or anywhere you want serious attack resistance.
4
Abus 26/70 Diskus: Best Weatherproof Shed Padlock
The diskus design is a bit of an outlier in the padlock world, but in a good way. Instead of the traditional shape, the Abus 26/70 is round and flat, with a closed shackle that sits almost entirely within the body of the lock. The result is that there's almost nothing for a thief to get a bolt cutter around. Plus, the body is rated to resist drilling, sawing and pulling from 360 degrees.
Marine-grade stainless steel construction makes it 100% rust-free, and it's CEN Grade 3. It's particularly effective when paired with a compatible Abus diskus hasp, which fully shields the shackle and turns the whole setup into a very tough target. If your garden is exposed to the elements year-round, this is one of the best shed padlocks available.
Best for: Maximum weather resistance, or anywhere a traditional shackle is difficult to protect.
5
Abus 41/50 Laminated: Best Budget Padlock for a Shed
The Abus 41/50 is a laminated steel padlock that earns its place on this list as a great value option from a brand known for quality. The layered steel body offers corrosion protection and resistance to drilling and sawing, while the hardened steel shackle is built to take a knock.
It's weather resistant and available in a keyed alike option if you want one key across multiple padlocks, which is useful if you're also locking a gate or a second outbuilding. This is a well-built, reliable padlock for a shed at a price that makes real sense.
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who don't want to compromise on build quality.
6
Squire SS50S Stronghold: Best Shed Padlock for Exposed Locations
The SS50S is Squire's open shackle high security padlock and a popular choice for anyone storing expensive equipment who also needs something that can handle serious weather. CEN Grade 4 and insurance rated, it's one of the most capable open shackle options in the Squire range.
It's passed over 400 hours of salt spray testing, matters if your garden is near the coast or your padlock is going to be sitting in the wind and rain all year. A 6-pin cylinder offers over 250,000 key combinations, there's a protective dust cover included, and it carries the 10-year Squire guarantee.
Best for: Coastal or highly exposed locations, and anywhere an insurance-rated shed padlock is a requirement.
Shed Padlock Comparison
| Padlock | Shackle Type | CEN Grade | Sold Secure | Weatherproof | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stronglock Plus 50 | Open | N/A | N/A | Yes | Everyday shed security |
| SS50P5 Stronghold | Open | 3 | Gold | Yes | Insurance requirements |
| SS50CS Stronghold | Closed | 4 | N/A | Yes | High security, secluded sheds |
| 26/70 Diskus | Closed (diskus) | 3 | N/A | Marine grade | Exposed/coastal locations |
| 41/50 Laminated | Open | N/A | N/A | Yes | Budget buyers |
| SS50S Stronghold | Open | 4 | N/A | Yes (400hr salt spray) | Exposed locations, insurance rated |
Padlock
Shackle Type
Open
CEN Grade
N/A
Sold Secure
N/A
Weatherproof
Yes
Best For
Everyday shed security
Padlock
Shackle Type
Open
CEN Grade
3
Sold Secure
Gold
Weatherproof
Yes
Best For
Insurance requirements
Padlock
Shackle Type
Closed
CEN Grade
4
Sold Secure
N/A
Weatherproof
Yes
Best For
High security, secluded sheds
Padlock
Shackle Type
Closed (diskus)
CEN Grade
3
Sold Secure
N/A
Weatherproof
Marine grade
Best For
Exposed/coastal locations
Padlock
Shackle Type
Open
CEN Grade
N/A
Sold Secure
N/A
Weatherproof
Yes
Best For
Budget buyers
Padlock
Shackle Type
Open
CEN Grade
4
Sold Secure
N/A
Weatherproof
Yes (400hr salt spray)
Best For
Exposed locations, insurance rated
Don't Forget the Hasp
The strength of your padlock only counts if the hasp it's fitted to is equally solid. A cheap pressed-steel hasp screwed into soft wood won't hold against a determined kick, no matter how good the padlock is. Browse our hasps and staples range for options that match the security level of your chosen padlock. It's the part of shed security that often gets overlooked, and really shouldn't.
Our team knows this stuff inside out, and there's no such thing as a daft question when it comes to keeping your shed secure. Give us a call on 0800 542 1264 (freephone), drop us a line at info@locksdirect.co.uk, or browse the full shed padlocks collection for the complete range.
