The Best Door Viewer and Peephole Guide

A door viewer, also known as a peephole, is an essential part of your home security. There are many different types of door viewers available on the market today, so it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. In this blog post, I will discuss the different types of door viewers and provide information about the pros and cons of each option!  

What is a Door Viewer? 

A door viewer is a fish-eye type of lens that is installed in a small hole in your door. While looking through the peephole from the inside, you get a wide-angle view of the outside. Door viewers are an important part of home security because they can help you identify strangers or potential threats before they have a chance to enter your property. Always have a door viewer in addition to a door chain on all your doors.

Peepholes are common in both residential and commercial settings.

What is a Door Peephole? Peephole vs Door Viewer  

This is quite easy: Both words mean the same. Some call it peephole and some others call it door viewer. There is not much about it, but it leads to confusion from time to time.  

Why do I need a Door Viewer? 

It does not matter in which kind of neighborhood you live; you always want to make sure you know who is outside before opening the door. 

Never ever should you open the door without checking first. Especially during the night or when you are alone at home, you need to ensure that you do not give strangers the chance to access your home easily. Door viewers can be used or installed in apartments or houses. 

What are the different types of Door Viewers? 

There are many different types of door viewers available on the market today and each type of door viewer has its own set of pros and cons. Some of the most popular options include: 

Traditional Door Viewers 

These door viewers typically have a fisheye lens on one side and a viewfinder on the other, which allows you to see who is at your door without opening it. Since this is just a lens, make sure you have a privacy lens cover on the inside of the door to avoid people on the outside peeking through or guessing if someone is home. There are some tools on the market that allow you to reverse look through a door viewer. Even without it, you can tell if lights are on or if there is a movement behind the door. 

Here is a link to one of the highest rated traditional door viewers on Amazon: Heavy Duty Door Viewer

And if you are missing a privacy lens cover, here is one from Amazon as well: Door Viewer Privacy Cover

Digital Door Viewers 

Digital door viewers have a small LCD screen that displays a live video feed of who is at the door. Most digital door viewers also have a built-in camera so that you can take pictures or videos of the person at your door. Some even have a knock sensor that automatically takes a picture or video of the person in front of the camera once they knocked on the door. 

Another benefit of some options on the market is the night mode which helps identifying people during the night when the light coverage is lower than during the day. 

With this solution, the person on the outside usually does not know if you are behind the door and observing since it is blocking the view inside. 

If you are living in an apartment and there is already a traditional door viewer in place, you might be able to replace it with a digital door viewer. 

Smart Doorbells 

Smart Doorbells can easily be used as a digital door viewer as they might be already in place and are integrated with your home security system or plan. Smart doorbells are the most expensive option, but they offer the most features and the highest level of security. 

All smart doorbells have a camera and an intercom system. They allow you to see and communicate with the person at your door from anywhere in the world and send you an alert anytime they recognize someone at the door. 

When using a smart doorbell as a door viewer, check the settings of the doorbell and if possible, turn off any LED that could tell the other person if you are watching them. Some cameras turn on a light which I personally do not like. I do not want to acknowledge my presence or that I’m watching them if I do not have to. 

No matter which type of door viewer you choose, it is important to make sure that it is installed correctly. 

How to install a Door Viewer or Peephole? 

Installing a door viewer is quite an easy task and most of us can complete this within a couple of minutes. Let me summarize the steps followed by a video for easy explanation. 

1. Measure the door thickness so you can get the right door viewer for the size of the door 
2. Find the perfect location for the viewer. Consider the height of everyone living in your house or if you must follow any ADA guidelines. 
3. Mark the spot in the middle of the door from the left to the right. 
4. Drill a pilot hole 
5. Drill halfway through the door with an appropriately sized drill bit. Make sure it is not bigger than the hole needed for the door viewer – check the guide on the package.
6. Drill through the other side of the door 
7. Insert the outside lens from the outside and the barrel from the inside 
8. Screw both parts together and you are done. 

Prefer a quick How To Install A Peephole Video? Please have a look here:  

Incorrect installation can result in damage to your door or frame, as well as decreased security. If you are unsure about how to install any type of door viewer, I recommend hiring a professional to do it for you. 

Conclusion

My personal choice would be either the traditional door viewer or the smart doorbell. But in order to improve my overall Home Security, I really like a combination of both. 

Please be always careful about who you open the door. If you do not know the person, do not open it! If there are multiple people outside, be extra careful. If you are in doubt and fear that someone is going to break in – leading to a home invasion – do not wait and call 911. Better be safe than sorry. Keep yourself and your family safe. 

– Stay safe!