Updated November 2026. An EM lock (also sold as a maglock, magnetic lock or electromagnetic lock) is a common lock on access-controlled doors in offices, because it has no moving parts, fits almost any door and costs little. Choosing the right EM lock for a door still takes a few decisions: how much holding force, how the door should behave when power fails, single or double door, which bracket the frame needs, whether you want a lock signal, and how big the power supply should be. This guide covers each one with real models. Prices shown are current catalogue prices including 18% GST.
How an EM lock works
An EM lock has two parts: the magnet body, fixed to the door frame, and the armature plate, fixed to the door. When the coil is powered, the plate is pulled flat against the magnet and the door stays shut. When power is removed, by the controller, a reader, an exit button or an emergency break glass unit, the magnet lets go and the door opens. Because nothing latches mechanically, every EM lock is fail-safe by nature: no power means a free door.
Holding force: 300 lbs, 600 lbs (280 kg) and above
Holding force is the pull the magnet resists before the plate separates. Locks are sold in classes and the same lock is often described in both pounds and kilograms. A 600 lbs lock is usually labelled 280 kg. In the wider market you will also see 180 kg (about 400 lbs) and 350 kg (about 800 lbs) classes, plus 1200 lbs class locks for heavy doors.
- 300 lbs class: light internal doors such as cabins, store rooms and cupboards. Example: MORX 300 lbs EM Lock with Red LED at ₹1,369.
- 600 lbs (280 kg) class: the usual choice for office entrances, glass partitions and most single doors. Examples: ZKTeco EML280-5 magnetic lock with lock signal at ₹1,670, ZKTeco EML280-2 (2-wire) at ₹1,730 and the MORX 600 lbs EM Lock with Red LED at ₹1,540.
- Heavier classes: solid metal doors, perimeter doors and doors people may push hard. Our catalogue lists the MORX L Bracket for 1200 lbs EM Lock at ₹915 for this class; if you need a lock above 600 lbs, mention it in a quote request.
As a rule of thumb, 600 lbs suits most commercial doors. Go higher for heavy or outward-facing doors, and lower only on light internal doors.
Fail-safe vs fail-secure, and what it means for fire exits
Fail-safe means the lock releases when power is cut. Fail-secure means it stays locked when power is cut and needs power, or a key, to open. Every EM lock is fail-safe. Electric strikes and rim locks are often fail-secure, and drop bolts come in both types.
For any door on an escape route, fail-safe is the normal choice: in a fire or power failure, people must be able to get out without a card. That is why an EM lock is normally paired with an emergency break glass unit wired to cut lock power directly, and why many sites link the lock power supply to the fire alarm panel so doors release when the alarm triggers. Confirm the exact arrangement with whoever signs off fire safety for your building.
Fail-secure suits doors that nobody needs to escape through, such as a store room or cash room. Examples are the MORX fail-secure electric strike lock at ₹2,224, the MORX fail-secure electric rim lock at ₹2,310 and the ASSA ABLOY AAES5ANHSSS electric strike with feedback (fail secure) at ₹8,469.
Single door or double door
A double-leaf door needs either two single locks or one double-door lock that holds both leaves from one body. A double-door body is neater and needs only one cable run and one power feed. The ZKTeco EML280D-2 double door magnetic lock holds 600 lbs on each leaf from one 500 mm body and costs ₹3,560. It draws 0.55 A at 12V and is a 2-wire lock with no signal output. The MORX 600 lbs Double Door EM Lock with Timer and Feedback at ₹4,149 adds a timer and feedback, as its name states.
Door material and the bracket you need
The magnet mounts on the frame and the plate on the door, and the two must meet flat. On many doors that is only possible with a bracket, so choose the bracket from the door, not from the lock. Browse the full range under EM lock mounting brackets.
| Door situation | Bracket | Example (incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden or metal door with a usable frame header | Usually none, lock under the header | Lock only |
| Header too shallow or no flat face for the lock | L bracket | MORX L bracket for 600 lbs locks, ₹299 |
| Door that swings in towards the lock side | Z bracket (often used with an L) | MORX Z bracket for 600 lbs locks, ₹556 |
| Narrow door where a plain L will not fit | L plus Z set | ZKTeco MLB-280LZ, ₹717 |
| Frameless glass door, 10 to 15 mm | U bracket clamps the plate to the glass | ZKTeco MLB-280U, ₹411 |
| Frameless glass door, lock side | L bracket for glass | ZKTeco MLB-280L, ₹400 |
The ZKTeco brackets above are listed for 280 series locks. Always match the bracket to the lock size.
Signal output, LED and feedback
A basic EM lock is 2-wire: power in, nothing out. A lock with a signal output reports whether the plate is actually bonded to the magnet, so the software can flag a door left ajar or a misaligned plate.
- Lock signal: the ZKTeco EML280-5 adds a lock signal output on 5-wire wiring at ₹1,670. The YLI YM-280N(LED) magnetic lock has a NO/NC/COM lock signal and shows red when locked and green when unlocked; its price is on request.
- LED only: the MORX 600 lbs EM Lock with Red LED at ₹1,540 gives a visual status without a signal wire.
- Feedback and timer: the MORX 600 lbs EM Lock with Feedback at ₹1,882 and the MORX 600 lbs EM Lock with Timer and Feedback at ₹2,267 for doors that should relock after a set delay.
A lock signal tells you the magnet is holding. A separate door sensor tells you the door is closed. On important doors, many buyers use both.
Power supply sizing
EM locks draw current all the time the door is locked, so the power supply matters more than with most door hardware. From the datasheets in our catalogue: the ZKTeco EML280-2 and EML280-5 draw 0.43 A at 12V or 0.29 A at 24V, the YLI YM-280N(LED) about 500 mA at 12V, and the EML280D-2 0.55 A at 12V.
- Add up the continuous current of everything on the supply: locks, readers and the controller.
- Add at least 30% headroom so the supply is not running at its limit.
- Pick 12V or 24V to suit the lock. On long cable runs 24V is easier, because lower current means less voltage drop.
- Add battery backup. A fail-safe lock releases the moment power stops, so backup decides whether the door stays secure during a power cut.
Look under access control power supplies for supplies sized for locks.
When an electric strike or drop bolt is the better choice
Electric strike
An electric strike replaces the strike plate in the frame and works with the door’s existing mortise lock and handle. The door keeps its key and lever, and many strikes are fail-secure. Choose one when you want to keep the mechanical lock or when the door needs to stay locked during a power cut. See electric strikes and rim locks.
Drop bolt
A drop bolt shoots a bolt into the frame or floor and is almost hidden once fitted, which suits glass entrances. It needs good door alignment, and its start current can be much higher than its holding current: the ZKTeco BL34-2 at ₹1,338 draws 450 mA to throw and 150 mA to hold. Other options include the MORX Drop Bolt Lock with Timer (2-wire, fail safe) at ₹1,540, the ZKTeco F-BL43-5 frameless glass door bolt with door status output at ₹2,791 and the ASSA ABLOY AAIDRP200LAL drop bolt with timer and feedback at ₹12,148. Browse electric drop bolts.
Stay with an EM lock when
- The frame cannot be cut for a strike or bolt.
- The door sags or moves with the seasons, because an EM lock tolerates small misalignment better than a bolt.
- It is a double door or a high-traffic door where you want no moving parts.
Where to go next
Compare all models under magnetic EM locks. For the rest of the door, from reader to exit button and power backup, read our access control door setup checklist. For projects, multiple doors or bulk orders, send your door count and door types through our request a quote form.