Sadly, our world isn’t as safe as it once was, and we need to do everything we can to keep our homes and our family safe. One way of accomplishing that is by installing a spy hole into your door.

In this article, we’re going to explain what a spy hole is, how to take out your old one and install a new one, and answer some common questions.

What Is Another Name For A Spy Hole?

Spy holes as also referred to as:

‘Peephole’ is the most commonly used term in the UK, so this may be the best word to Google if you’re shopping online. For the purpose of this article, we will refer to all these interchangeably.

How Does A Door Peephole Work?

Door viewers are tubes with little lenses inside that are mounted into your front door to let somebody inside see who is outside. With a spy hole, you won’t have to open the door to know who is outside, lowering the risk of opening your door (and home) to a complete stranger.

However, they are much more than just a simple hole, they magnify the outside world, helping you see clearly without having to drill a huge space to look through. With a wide-angle lens, you get a full view, so you can see if anyone is hiding instead of standing directly outside.

Of course, if you have a glazed front door then you won’t need to install a peephole. However, if you’re external door is made of solid panels, this is a fantastic option to keep everybody in your home safe and secure.

Can A Peephole Be Installed In A Door?

If you’ve purchased and installed a solid door that doesn’t have a door hole already installed, or you’ve moved into a property and so didn’t have an option on whether you got a peephole, then the good news is that you can install one into your door.

More than that, it’s a relatively simple process that many homeowners carry out themselves.

How Much Does A Peephole Cost?

The cost of a peekhole varies depending on what you’re looking for. They can cost as little as £4 to a few hundred if you opt for a digital version. Therefore, it’s important to shop around to find the best model for your needs and budget.

You can get a spy hole online or at hardware stores.

How To Remove A Peephole From A Door

If you’ve moved into a new home that already has a peephole installed but you’d like a different model, or your doorhole has seen better days and needs replacing, you’ll need to remove it from your door before installing your new one. This is extremely easy and can be done in a matter of minutes.

A Step-By-Step Guide To Removing A Spyhole

Step one: If you or the previous homeowner has painted around the spy hole you’ll risk chipping the paint on your door during the uninstallation process. To prevent this, you should take a compass and scour around the peekhole so that it can be twisted off without pulling at the rest of the tape.

Step two: You should then apply painter’s tape around the door as a further protective measure.

Step three: There should be two small adjacent slits on the spy hole that’s on the inside of the door. While holding the outside part of the peephole steady, use your washer to turn and unscrew the door viewer until it’s loose and can be removed fully.

Step four: Next, you should be able to easily slide the peephole on the outside of the door out.

And that really is all there is to it.

Now, let’s take a look at how to install your new spy hole.

How To Install A Door Peekhole

You can quickly and easily install a new door peephole in five steps. It’s vital that you have the proper safety gear to keep you protected at all times.

A Step-By-Step Guide To Installing A New Spyhole

Step one: Use a tape measure and chalk or pencil to mark the right height for where your peekhole is going to be positioned. If your door is made out of a material that makes marking it with chalk or pencil difficult, you can use a small bit of painter’s tape. Bear in mind that accuracy is vital at this point.

Step two: Next, check the instructions that came with your chosen spy hole so that you use the right drill bit size. If the hole is too small you’ll have to drill a bigger hole. That isn’t the biggest problem to overcome, but if the hole you drill is too large, your spy hole won’t be secure and water and insects may get into your home through the gaps.

Step three: Now you should align your drill with the markings you made earlier and drill a pilot hole. You should then use your drill bit to start drilling into the door to make the hole for the peephole to sit in. It’s important not to go the entire way through the door or you’ll risk splitting the wood.

Step four: Repeat step three on the other side of the door. If you’re drilling into an open door, use the door wedge to keep it firmly in place while you drill. 

Step five: Insert your new door viewer and screw it securely in place.

Additional tip: If your door is painted, you may need to touch up some areas, especially if you accidentally scraped the door with the compass when uninstalling the old spy hole.

What’s The Average Height Of A Peephole?

A door peephole is generally installed between four and five-and-a-half feet from the ground. However, it’s important that you don’t take this as gospel, instead, you should position your spy hole at a height where both the tallest and shortest person in your household can easily use it.

If you have children who want to look through the peephole, you may want to invest in a little step box or stool rather than install a peek hole very far down the door.

Does A Peephole Work Both Ways?

Unfortunately, there is a possibility that someone on the outside can look through the spy hole and into your home if you invest in the most simple model.

A fisheye lens is a possible option to combat this, as its design offers very little visibility to outsiders. You can also invest in a door hole that projects the outside view onto a frosted or semi-opaque screen. The downside to this is that a larger hole is needed and you may not have the best view from inside if the lighting outside is poor.

The best option for the ultimate privacy is to select a peephole with a cover to prevent anyone from trying to look through your peephole and into your home when you’re not around.

Should I Cover My Peephole?

As we mentioned earlier, some peepholes let people on the outside look in, which is less than ideal.

There’s also a device called a ‘reverse peephole viewer’ where someone can essentially flip the magnification and see inside your house without your permission. They don’t flip the actual peephole, so it’s impossible to know if one has been used on your home.

Therefore, if you’re worried then it’s worth installing a peephole cover, to stop people from looking in when you’re not around. It will give you additional peace of mind and work as an extra layer of security.

There’s a variety of covers available and should come with simple installation instructions.

Can You Put A Peephole In A Composite Door?

You certainly can. Composite doors consist of an outer skin with foam in the inside skeleton. The instructions above were for a wood door, but they will work perfectly well for a composite door, too.

You can also follow these instructions for steel and fibreglass doors.

Whether you’re installing your spy hole into a wood, composite, steel or another door, it’s an easy way to increase the security of your home. Install a peephole cover to increase security even more.