Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

2 star door handle or 3 star cylinder: how the total is reached

Updated: October 2026

Someone has told you to get three stars, and the basket in front of you is a handle whose title says high security. A 2 star door handle or a 3 star cylinder can both be part of a TS 007 outcome, and they are not the same purchase. The Door and Hardware Federation describes two routes. A Kitemarked 3-star cylinder stands alone. A Kitemarked 1-star cylinder is finished only with genuine Kitemarked 2-star furniture. Prices are on the [security door handle comparison](/hub/door-and-window-security/security-door-handle). Measuring is the [buying guide](/hub/door-and-window-security/security-door-handle/sub/security-door-handle-buying-guide). Peter F. used DHF, police and insurer pages alongside the listings in October 2026. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Someone has told you to get three stars, and the basket in front of you is a handle whose title says high security.

Our top picks

Yale Yale adjustable chrome PVCu handle

Best overall

Yale Yale adjustable chrome PVCu handle
8.0/10about £30.43
View offer
Yale Yale MK3 chrome security handle

Rank 2

Yale Yale MK3 chrome security handle
8.4/10about £30.43
View offer
UAP UAP Signature silver 219 mm handle

Rank 3

UAP UAP Signature silver 219 mm handle
5.8/10about £25.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What the three stars are asking for
  2. 2.When the handle has to be 2-star
  3. 3.When a 3-star cylinder is the simpler swap
  4. 4.What to do with a handle that only says high security

What the three stars are asking for

TS 007 is the Door and Hardware Federation specification for cylinders that resist snapping, and for the furniture that has to accompany the weaker cylinder. The Kitemark is what makes a star count. You reach three stars with a Kitemarked 3-star cylinder, or with a Kitemarked 1-star cylinder plus Kitemarked 2-star handle or surround. A title that says security, anti-snap or high security does not award them. The routes are alternatives, not a sum you keep adding to. Duffells says that 2-star furniture on top of a 3-star cylinder is still three stars, not five. PAS 24 tests a complete doorset. A new lever does not award it. West Yorkshire Police advise a 3-star result, also accept 1-star plus 2-star furniture, and name Sold Secure SS312 for cylinders. Approved Document Q does not force a handle swap on the house you already live in.

When the handle has to be 2-star

The handle has to be the 2-star half when the cylinder in the door is only 1-star, or when you are about to buy a 1-star cylinder. DHF is clear that the 1-star cylinder is not the finished specification on its own. The furniture has to be Kitemarked 2-star as well. If you want a particular backplate length, check that the marked product actually comes in that finish. Look for the Kitemark on the handle you are buying, not on a different model from the same brand. Yale’s Platinum states TS 007 2-star, Kitemark KM 532920, at 92 mm and 215 mm. It is not in this set. The MK3, the top pick at about £30.43, states a cylinder guard and does not state TS 007. Buying the MK3 because it is also Yale, chrome, and 92/215 mm leaves a 1-star cylinder without the 2-star furniture DHF asks for.
Yale Yale adjustable chrome PVCu handle

Testsieger

Yale Yale adjustable chrome PVCu handle
8.0/10about £30.43
View offer

When a 3-star cylinder is the simpler swap

If you fit a Kitemarked 3-star cylinder, DHF does not require a 2-star handle to finish the total. You then choose the handle for the holes, the thickness and the lever or pad, which is the uPVC security door handle page. You can still fit 2-star furniture. The result is still three stars, not five. Sold Secure SS312 Diamond is a cylinder rating, not a handle star. It does not turn an unmarked lever into 2-star furniture. Allianz explains TS 007 for euro cylinders in its own magazine. Read the lock condition in your schedule. A 2-star handle is required only beside a 1-star cylinder.

What to do with a handle that only says high security

The three listings do not print a TS 007 star. The Yale MK3 uses high-security wording and a cylinder guard, at 92 mm and 215 mm, with 4.4 from 111 reviews. Yale’s MK3 page does not say TS 007. The adjustable Yale, the best value at about £30.43, is labelled standard security, with 4.4 from 265 reviews. The UAP Signature uses anti-drill and anti-snap wording, has 3.2 from three reviews, and does not print a star or a Kitemark. Use these sets for the holes and the guard when the star is already on the cylinder, or when you have decided not to buy the star. Do not use them as the 2-star half of a 1-star cylinder. The best security door handle page says which fits 215 mm holes. If the advice was three stars, start with the cylinder.

Common questions

What is a 2-star handle?
It is Kitemarked furniture under TS 007, the 2-star half that DHF pairs with a Kitemarked 1-star cylinder. The mark has to be on that handle or surround. Yale’s Platinum, KM 532920, is an example that states the mark. It is a different product from the MK3 in this set.
If I buy a 3-star cylinder, do I still need a security handle?
You do not need a 2-star handle to complete the TS 007 total if the cylinder is a genuine Kitemarked 3-star. You may still want a guard or a sturdy backplate. That is a fitting choice. It does not add further stars.
Is 1-star plus 2-star as good as 3-star?
DHF treats both routes as ways to reach three stars. West Yorkshire Police accept the pair and also prefer a 3-star cylinder. As good here means the specification’s total, not a lab result we ran. Your insurer may still word the requirement in its own way.
Does a 2-star handle make a 3-star cylinder into 5-star?
No. Duffells states that 2-star furniture plus a 3-star cylinder is still three stars, not five. Adding the numbers is a mistake that shows up on some police and retailer pages. Extra furniture does not create a higher TS 007 grade.
Is the Yale MK3 a 2-star handle?
The MK3 listing and Yale’s MK3 page do not say TS 007, and they do not print Kitemark KM 532920. That number belongs to the Platinum. The MK3 has a cylinder guard and high-security wording. Those are product claims. Do not use the MK3 to complete a 1-star cylinder.
What is Sold Secure Diamond?
Sold Secure Diamond for cylinders is the SS312 rating West Yorkshire Police name alongside the TS 007 routes. It is a cylinder scheme, not a handle star. It does not convert the MK3, the adjustable Yale or the UAP listing into 2-star furniture.

Related pages

uPVC security door handle

Best security door handle

Security door handle

Security door handle buying guide: measure first

How to fit a security door handle with the door held open

Sources

Public UK and manufacturer sources from the research digest, used for this page in October 2026. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in this comparison. None of the three handles is treated as a TS007 2-star or PAS 24 product.

  1. DHF TS 007 (retrieved October 2026)
  2. Yale MK3 security handle (retrieved October 2026)
  3. Yale Platinum TS007 2-star handle (retrieved October 2026)
  4. Approved Document Q (retrieved October 2026)
  5. MLA minimum security, January 2025 (retrieved October 2026)
  6. ERA: how to fit a door handle (retrieved October 2026)
  7. Home Secure Shop: choosing a uPVC door handle (retrieved October 2026)
  8. West Yorkshire Police: euro-cylinder advice (retrieved October 2026)
  9. UAP Signature high security door handle (retrieved October 2026)