How Much Does Access Control Cost?

The most often asked question is “How much does Access Control cost?”.

In this blog post, we address the average access control cost for most small to medium-sized business locations. The total cost is often better understood by answering the question “How much does Access Control cost per door?”.

Let us take a look as the cost of a small single-door system with basic components.

Cost Overview

All access control systems require the same basic components. The base level simply control the door’s lock and unlock status and usually involve a keypad or fob to control the same status. Some doors are also controlled with a timer. This option

IEI keypad controlling access by PIN to Electric Strike

automatically unlocks a door for a specified period of time.

The following list shows the basic controls for a single door with a timer which is not connected to a network or cloud-based management controller. We cover the network-based systems in a different article.

Basic Access Control Component List

• Low voltage power supply (12 – 36VDC)
• Basic power supply distribution panel
• Lock power timer panel
• Backup batteries (usually required for magnetic lock systems, recommended for electric strikes)
• Keypad (PIN codes only for up to 100 end-users)
• Electric strike or magnetic lock
• Infrared egress motion detector

The list describes only the parts needed for the access control portion of the project. It does not address modifications to existing door hardware, removal of the unneeded hardware, or the installation of any additional hardware required to make this single door access control system actually work.

This article does not address additional hardware requirements. Hardware needs vary due to the existing setup and what is actually needed. Local Fire codes and Life-Safety rules determine the hardware needed. All installations involve labor charges.

We have not included the labor charges that most companies will charge to install the access control. It is important to consider the fact that companies who do not charge separate labor cost fees are often doing one of two things. First, the hardware includes expected labor costs. Secondly, the installation involves a long-term contract lock-in for monitoring or maintenance.

The contracts are usually about five (5) years in length. Contracts auto-transfer to any new building owners.

One example of a control panel used to authorize end-user access.

Some contracts include building liens for non-payment. Contract amounts are collected even if no additional service is provided to directly address any system problems.

Ball-park hardware estimate

Here is the info you have probably scrolled to find — the cost of access control for one

Altronix timer controller tied into a keypad access control system for one door.

door. The hardware-only estimate based on the above list and utilizing some common lower-end cost Altronix, BEA, IEI, and Bosch hardware would cost approximately $2000.00USD.

Remember, there are many different systems and options available. Some will have a higher hardware cost.

Other factors affecting the overall cost for installing access control on one main entrance door are: Data and Power Cable runs, and additional door sensors (these are not often requested except for monitored networked systems). Drop ceilings generally are easier to pull cables through and mount the controller hardware above.

Hard-capped locations pose additional challenges and increase the time on site for the installation. This will increase the initial cost estimates.

Considering the points above, one could expect about $1500.00 added to the installation cost. Companies such as ourselves (ApexAccess) will include the labor estimate as an hourly fee line item. It is based on our usual time on site history.

Hourly estimates obviously vary. To help our customers to better budget, we often quote the labor estimate as a not to exceed (NTE) amount.

Conclusion

Access control costs per door vary widely. The example discussed in this article only looked at a single entrance keypad (pin code) double magnetic lock setup. This is a common setup in our area for office buildings and single-occupancy office locations.

There are some common features that customers generally are looking for when considering access control options. But there are also some physical limitations that exist on some doors. The best plan of action is to give ApexAccess a call to set up an onsite appointment. We are then able to determine with accuracy what hardware and components are needed and provide a detailed itemized estimate for your consideration.