Should I Be Worried About My Padlock Being Picked?

Almost any padlock can be picked in theory, but the difficulty varies greatly depending on the lock’s size and internal mechanism. A standard keyed padlock uses spring-loaded pins inside the cylinder. When the correct key is inserted, the pins align and allow the cylinder to rotate. With specialised tools and enough time, a lock-picker can manipulate these pins to simulate the key’s alignment.

Why Smaller Padlocks Are Easier To Pick

The number of pins in a lock has a direct impact on how difficult it is to pick.

A 30mm padlock typically contains 3–4 pins
A 50mm padlock may contain 4–7 pins
More pins mean more combinations and therefore more skill and patience required to pick the lock. This is why small, inexpensive padlocks are easier targets.

Modern Anti-Picking Technology

Premium padlock manufacturers have introduced several features to resist picking:

Guarded keyways that limit tool access
Mushroom or spool pins that create false feedback
Hardened or shielded cylinders to block manipulation
These additions make traditional lock-picking significantly more difficult, even for professionals.

Disc Detainer Cylinders: Near-Impossible To Pick

Some high-security padlocks avoid standard pin systems entirely. Instead, they use rotating discs (disc detainer mechanisms). Because the discs rotate a full 360 degrees and require precise alignment:

They are extremely difficult to pick
Even experts require specialised tools and significant time
Keys cannot be copied without a restricted code card

Examples include:

ABUS Granit Plus range
Abloy PL series
These locks are frequently used in commercial, industrial and high-value applications.

Do You Need A Pick-Proof Padlock?

For most everyday uses, such as garden gates, lockers, sheds and storage units, a good-quality, medium-to-large brass or hardened steel padlock is secure enough. Opportunistic thieves do not typically pick locks — they break, cut, or pry them.

Pick-resistance becomes important if:

The location is remote and unmonitored
The lock protects high-value or sensitive assets
You expect a deliberate, targeted intrusion

In those cases, a disc detainer padlock is worth the investment.