The best window locks, compared.
Top pick: Stainless steel window catch, 4 pack Best value: XFORT Viper cable restrictor, 4 pack – £18.99 for four screw-only restrictors with their own review file, about £4.75 a lock. Supplied screws were too long for uPVC in stored reviews. Updated 16 October 2026.
A window lock on amazon.co.uk is either hardware that holds a sash shut or hardware that stops an open sash travelling far enough for a fall or a climb. Most uPVC casements already lock through the espag handle, so the products here are a second device: a keyed cable restrictor, a surface timber latch, or a hook catch. Packets all say window lock, and the wrong type is a common buy. A screw-on cable is not a 24 window. The [window lock buying guide](/hub/burglar-protection/window-lock/sub/window-lock-buying-guide) sets job, frame, fixing and key before you use the ranking. Quality shows up as screws into a sound frame, a cable or latch that matches the sash, a key that leaves the cylinder, and an opening you can check along the whole sash.
A window lock on amazon.co.uk is either hardware that holds a sash shut or hardware that stops an open sash travelling far enough for a fall or a climb.
32 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What do you need the window to do?
This four-pack of chrome 304 stainless catches, model UK-WXC-14, costs £6.59, and amazon.co.uk lists 5.0 from one review. The box is four catches and stainless screws. A key is not listed, and one bullet mentions people who want a keyless restrictor. The listing says most uPVC and PVC frames, left or right hand, with pre-drilled holes, and then says it is not suitable for double-glazed UK windows. No cable length is given. It is an adjustable stay, not a keyed cable, and the page contrasts it with no-drill adhesive restrictors. One review, and an exclusion of the usual UK double-glazed casement, is too thin a file for a window you rely on.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A uPVC or PVC frame that is not double-glazed in the UK sense the listing excludes, if a keyless stay is what you want and one review is enough
Less suitable: A double-glazed UK window, a keyed lock, or any opening where a single review is not enough evidence
Specifications
Common questions
Does this catch come with a key?
The box list is four catches and stainless steel screws. A key is not listed. One bullet mentions people who want a keyless restrictor.
Will it fit a double-glazed UK window?
The listing says it is not suitable for double glazed UK windows. It says most uPVC and PVC frames, left or right hand, with pre-drilled holes.
Is it a cable restrictor?
No cable length is given. It is a screw-fixed window catch with an adjustable opening gap. The listing contrasts it with no-drill adhesive restrictors.
The Schlosser Technik two-pack is a screw-fixed keyed cable restrictor for uPVC, at £13.40, and amazon.co.uk lists 4.6 from 4,116 reviews, the longest independent review file in this set. One stored UK review describes a fit high on a uPVC window, with the cable stretched to about 100 mm after a 2.5 mm pilot and the supplied screws. That gap is one reviewer’s measurement, not a certified opening, and the specification block does not print a cable length or a newton figure. The title says tested to British Standards and does not name the standard, so it is not evidence of BS EN 13126-5, PAS 24 or Secured by Design. Several stored reviews say the packet had no instructions and that there is one key per lock, so a lost key means replacing the unit. Stored reviews also mention a Velux, a loft window and a sliding door, which the title does not list. It is the top pick here on review history and a screw fit, if you can accept an unnamed standard and a missing cable length.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A uPVC casement where you want a screw-fixed cable and a long UK review file, and you will keep the single key
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a named standard, a printed cable length, or a timber sash held shut
Specifications
Common questions
Which windows is this 2-pack for?
The title specifies uPVC window cable restrictors. The specification block does not list wood or aluminium. Stored reviews also mention a Velux, a loft window and a sliding door.
Are fitting instructions in the box?
The specification block does not say. Several stored reviews say the packet had no instructions and they used the listing images.
How many keys does it include?
The specification block does not give a key count. Stored reviews say one key per lock, and that losing it means replacing the unit.
This two-pack costs £5.99 for a keyed restrictor with a 188 mm cable and 3 mm steel wire, sold with 2 keys, 8 screws and 2 cleaning wipes. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 1,587 reviews, and those texts are the same block stored for the four-pack and the MIVITOOM eight-pack, so this is one pool rather than three populations. The listing allows adhesive or screws on uPVC, wood, aluminium and metal, and the bullets also name cupboards, drawers, fridges and doors. Stored reviews say adhesive alone was pulled off and that screws held. A cable of 188 mm is the travel until a key releases one end, and the opening still depends on where you place the plates. At £5.99 it is the smallest outlay on that shared file, which is a low price for two locks and a weak reason to trust the pads on their own.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two windows, or a cupboard, where you will screw the plates and you only need the lowest cash outlay in this set
Less suitable: An upper-floor fall risk if the pads are the only fixing, or a buyer who wants a review file that belongs to this pack alone
Specifications
Common questions
Can I fit these without drilling?
The listing offers self-adhesive mounting or screws. The box lists 2 locks, 2 keys, 8 screws and 2 cleaning wipes. Stored reviews say adhesive alone was pulled off, and screws held.
How far can the window open?
The cable is listed at 188 mm. The window can open fully after the key releases one end. The opening also depends on where you place the plates.
Are they only for windows?
The title is a uPVC window restrictor. The bullets also name cabinets, drawers, refrigerators and doors.
This white four-pack costs £11.99 and uses a 188 mm cable with 3 mm steel wire, with four keys, screws, adhesive and an adhesion promoter. The manufacturer reference on the page is Caseeto. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 1,587 reviews, and the 50 stored texts match the £5.99 two-pack and the MIVITOOM eight-pack. A stored review in this file says a strong child pulled off an adhesive-only fit. The same pool says screws held. You pay twice the two-pack price for twice the count, about £3 a lock, which matches the two-pack unit price and costs more per lock than the eight-pack. The page does not add a review history of its own.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Four flat frames where you want the 188 mm cable and you will screw the plates rather than rely on the pads
Less suitable: A fall-risk window fixed with adhesive only, or a shopper reading 1,587 reviews as proof of this four-pack alone
Specifications
Common questions
Will they fit wooden windows?
The listing names uPVC, wood, aluminium and metal. It also lists doors, fridges, cupboards and drawers.
Do I have to drill?
No. The listing says drilling or self-adhesive, with two screw holes, screws and adhesive on the back. Stored reviews in this file say a strong child pulled off an adhesive-only fit.
How long is the cable?
188 mm. A key releases one end so the window can open fully.
The MIVITOOM eight-pack costs £19.94 for eight keyed restrictors, eight keys and 32 screws, with the cable listed at 188 mm. The title specifies uPVC, and the bullets also name fridges, toilets, cupboards, doors and pets. A cable diameter is not in this file. The star line is 4.5 from 1,587, and the 50 stored review texts are the same block as the two-pack and the four-pack. The eight-pack does not have its own UK review population in the capture. Unit price is about £2.49 if you will use eight, which is lower than the smaller packs in the same pool. Adhesive is still offered, and those shared reviews say a pad alone was pulled off.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A house that needs about eight keyed cables on uPVC, screwed in, and you accept a review file shared with the smaller packs
Less suitable: One or two windows, where £19.94 buys more locks than you will fit, or a fall-risk sash held only by the pads
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the 8 pack?
The listing says 8 window restrictor locks, 8 keys and 32 screws. It also says 2-packs and 4-packs are sold separately.
How are they fitted?
Self-adhesive or drilling. The cable is listed at 188 mm. A cable diameter is not in this file.
Are the reviews unique to this 8 pack?
The 50 review texts stored for this ASIN are the same block as B0BX97FBJK and B0BX95NDXT, and the star line is the same 4.5 from 1,587.
The eSynic set is a keyed cable restrictor with a 19 cm wire and self-drilling screws, at £16.95, and amazon.co.uk lists 4.5 from 738 reviews. The title, the item count and the included-components field say 6 restrictors, 6 keys and 24 screws. One bullet says 8 restrictors, 8 keys and 32 screws, and the unit-count field says 10 Pack, so the number in the box is not settled on the page. There is no adhesive in the box list. One stored review says screws into uPVC plastic have less hold than screws into wood. No newton figure is printed. The 19 cm length is the useful printed figure in this set, if you can wait until the parcel arrives to see whether you have six or eight.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A uPVC or timber sash where a stated 19 cm cable matters more than a certain pack count
Less suitable: An order that has to be six, or eight, before it is paid for
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a 6 pack or an 8 pack?
The title, the item count and the included-components field say 6 restrictors, 6 keys and 24 screws. One bullet says 8 restrictors, 8 keys and 32 screws. The unit-count field says 10 Pack.
How long is the cable?
The item highlight says 19 cm, also written as 7.5 inches.
Will it fit wooden windows?
The listing says wood, aluminium and PVC, and most window types. One stored review says screws into uPVC plastic have less hold than screws into wood. There is no adhesive in the box list.
The XFORT Viper four-pack is a screw-fixed keyed cable restrictor at £18.99, and amazon.co.uk lists 4.4 from 789 reviews. The listing says the hardened steel cable withstands forces above 1,000 N, for uPVC, aluminium, wood and metal, and the box includes multi-substrate screws. Cable length is not in the specification block, and neither is the key count. In the stored UK reviews, several people found those screws too long for uPVC and used their own, including 4 x 25 mm. A long screw in a hollow profile can meet steel reinforcement or the glass, so the screws in the packet are not a length you can assume. The 1,000 N line has no standard number beside it. It is the best value here among screw-only restrictors with their own review file, at £18.99 for four against £13.40 for the Schlosser pair, if you will check the screw length before you drive it into uPVC.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Four uPVC, aluminium or timber windows where you will screw the plates and check the screw length first
Less suitable: A job that needs a printed cable length, or a hollow uPVC frame if you plan to use the supplied screws without measuring them
Specifications
Common questions
Will the XFORT screws suit a uPVC frame?
The listing includes multi-substrate screws for uPVC, aluminium, wood and metal. In the stored UK reviews, several people found those screws too long for uPVC and used their own, including 4 x 25 mm.
How strong is the cable?
The listing says the hardened steel cable withstands forces above 1,000 N and is resistant to cutting. Cable length is not in the specification block.
Does it need a key?
Yes. It is a key-locking restrictor. The listing does not state how many keys are in the box.
The Yale 8K101 four-pack is a white steel surface latch for hinged timber casements, at £20.98, with 4.4 from 335 amazon.co.uk reviews. It has no cable. The key locks the body around a staple on the frame, and the listing says the clenching action pulls the sash to the frame and can reduce draughts. The included-components line is four locks and a key, and one stored review ordered extra keys. The listing does not say uPVC. It has been on amazon.co.uk since 2 May 2008 and is sent without retail packaging. Use it when a timber casement has to be shut and keyed, and leave it if the job is a limited opening on a plastic window.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Hinged timber casements you want shut and keyed, including a draughty sash the clenching action can pull to the frame
Less suitable: uPVC windows, and any sash you need to leave ajar on a cable
Specifications
Common questions
Will the Yale 8K101 fit uPVC windows?
The listing says hinged timber casement windows. It does not say uPVC. This is a surface latch, not a cable restrictor.
Does it include a key?
Yes. The included-components line is 4 Yale 8K101 window locks and a key. One stored review ordered extra keys.
What does the latch do?
It is surface-fixed and the key locks it around a staple on the frame. The listing says the clenching action pulls the window to the frame and can reduce draughts.
This unbranded four-pack is a keyed steel-cable restrictor at £11.99, with a mounting face of 7.5 × 3.2 cm, first listed on 18 August 2026. amazon.co.uk shows no star line and no stored review text for this ASIN. The listing offers adhesive on a clean, dry, flat face, or screw holes, for uPVC, wood and aluminium. Cable length and a strength figure are not printed. Matching keys are included, and the page does not say how many. With no UK reviews, there is no account of whether the pads stay on or whether the screws suit a hollow profile. At £11.99 it sits with other four-packs that do have review text, so the missing star line is the fact that matters.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A flat uPVC, wood or aluminium face where you only need a keyed cable and can accept a listing with no UK reviews
Less suitable: An upper-floor window where a child could fall, or any job that needs review evidence before you drill or stick
Specifications
Common questions
Can these go on without drilling?
Yes, if the frame is clean, dry and smooth. The listing also includes screw holes where a screw fit is more suitable.
Which frames do they fit?
The listing says compatible uPVC, wooden and aluminium frames with a flat mounting area. The mounting design is 7.5 × 3.2 cm. It says to check clearance and window movement.
Do they come with keys?
Yes. The listing includes matching keys and says to store them out of children's reach. It does not give a cable strength figure.
Scores run from 0 to 100 using amazon.co.uk listing fields captured on 15 October 2026 and the UK review themes already stored for this set. There is no lab test, and no star rating borrowed from another shop. The top pick is the highest score. Best value is separate: screw-only restrictors with their own review file. Three ASINs that share one star line are not scored as three populations.
Review evidence
35%Amazon.co.uk stars, scaled, plus review volume. A listing with no review line scores 0. The shared 1,587-review pool on three ASINs scores as one file, not three.
Printed specification
25%Points only for fields the listing prints: fixing, cable length or latch action, named frames, a newton figure or wire diameter, and a key count in the box list.
Review sentiment
25%An editorial reading of the stored UK review themes: a described fit, screws that were too long, pads that were pulled off, or no review text at all.
Price against that evidence
15%Shelf price in GBP set against the printed specification and the review reading. The lowest price does not win this block on its own. No reviews, a thin sample, or a shared file is capped.
Map the lock onto the job and the frame before you compare the price. A cable that holds the sash ajar does not hold the house shut when you are out. Prices below are the nine amazon.co.uk shelf prices captured on 15 October 2026, not a live re-check. We did not run a lab test, and we do not treat an unnamed British Standards line as a named standard.
A window lock in UK shops is either hardware that holds a sash shut or hardware that stops an open sash travelling far enough for a fall or a climb. Most uPVC casements already lock through the espag handle, so the products here are usually a second device: a keyed cable restrictor, a surface timber latch, or a hook catch. Quality shows up as screws into a sound frame, a cable or latch that matches the sash, a key that leaves the cylinder, and an opening you can check along the whole sash.
The Yale 8K101 is described for hinged timber casements. It has no cable. A plastic window that needs a limited opening wants a restrictor, not this latch.
A cable that holds the sash ajar does not lock the house when you are out. Accessible windows that should be shut still need their own lock, with the key out, and you should read the insurance schedule.
Stored XFORT reviews found the supplied screws too long for uPVC, and some owners used 4 x 25 mm. A long screw in a hollow profile can meet steel reinforcement or the glass. Measure before you drive it.
Decide the job first. Shut and locked when you are out is not the same as ventilated with a limited opening. A cable that holds the sash ajar does not do the first job. Then the frame: uPVC, timber casement, aluminium, or sash. The Yale latch in this set is described for hinged timber casements. A cable is the usual retrofit on uPVC. Fix with screws into sound material where a fall would injure someone. Adhesive pads are a secondary option and fail in stored reviews when a child pulls on them.
Use a detachable key, stored for adults and away from small children. A window you rely on to escape a fire must stay releasable by an adult at night. Check the widest gap, not only the gap beside the cable. One restrictor on a wide sash can leave a larger opening at the far end. A named standard only counts if the number is printed. Tested to British Standards without a number is a title claim. PAS 24 tests a whole window, not a screw-on cable.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Parents and pet owners on an upper floor need a screw-fixed cable and a gap you can measure, with the key stored for adults. The Schlosser Technik two-pack is about £13.40, rated 4.6 from 4,116 reviews, for a uPVC casement if you keep the single key.
You want a hinged timber sash shut and keyed, including a draughty window the clenching action can pull to the frame. The Yale 8K101 four-pack is about £20.98, rated 4.4 from 335 reviews. It is not a ventilator and it is not described for uPVC.
You will screw four plates and check the screw length first. The XFORT Viper four-pack is about £18.99, rated 4.4 from 789 reviews, about £4.75 a lock. Stored reviews found the supplied screws too long for uPVC.
For a screw-fixed keyed cable on uPVC, the top pick is the Schlosser Technik two-pack at about £13.40, rated 4.6 from 4,116 reviews. The title cites British Standards with no number, and the cable length is not printed. For four screw-only restrictors with their own review file, the best value is the XFORT Viper at about £18.99, about £4.75 a lock, rated 4.4 from 789 reviews, if you check the screw length. eSynic and the Yale 8K101 both score 74 and do different jobs, so neither takes the top pick. The £5.99 two-pack is a smaller outlay, and its review file is shared.
XFORT Viper cable restrictor, 4 pack
£18.99 for four screw-only restrictors with their own review file, about £4.75 a lock. Supplied screws were too long for uPVC in stored reviews.
Editorial
Products Compared publishes British-English buying guides based on amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. We do not run a lab and we do not invent test scores.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings in this comparison. Listings captured 15 October 2026. Page updated 16 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the amazon.co.uk listings captured on 15 October 2026. We did not run a lab test.
