Long Handle vs Short Handle Smart Locks: Which Doors Need Which
When you open one of our push/pull lock pages, the choice that looks simplest is the one people most often get wrong: long handle or short handle. The two share the same electronics, the same mortise options and the same weather rating, so it can feel like a styling decision. It isn't. The handle decides whether the lock actually works on your door once it's fitted, because the grip has to clear whatever is around it — a glass bead, a frame, an adjoining panel — every time someone pulls. This guide explains what separates the two versions and how to match them to the door you have.
⭐ Key Takeaways
- The long-handle SL-P1 has a 130 mm bar handle on a 353 mm panel; the short-handle SL-P2 uses the same electronics with a shorter grip for doors where a long handle would foul the frame.
- Both versions have the same six mortise options — 6085, 4585, 3585, 2885 and two hook-bolt types — so handle length and fit code are separate choices.
- Both are IP66-rated with waterproof seals supplied, both cost $494.99 AUD, and both come in silver and black.
- Choose the long handle for full-width timber and framed-glass doors with room around the grip; choose the short handle for sliding doors, narrow aluminium stiles and tight frames.
- A sliding door needs a hook-bolt option whichever handle you pick.
- Measure the room around the handle, not just the mortise, before you order.
What Actually Differs Between the Two
On paper the two locks are almost identical, and that's the point. Both have a tempered-glass touchscreen with virtual-password support, a fingerprint reader that reads in 0.1 seconds or less and stores up to 100 prints, two supplied IC cards, the TTLock app over Bluetooth with the optional G2 gateway for remote access, a remote control and two mechanical keys. Both run on four AA alkaline batteries, which are not included. The overall height is 353 mm on both published dimension drawings, and the centres are 85 mm.
The difference is the handle. The long-handle SL-P1 carries a 130 mm bar designed for full-width timber and framed-glass doors where there's room for a proper grip. The short-handle SL-P2 swaps that for a shorter, flush grip made for doors where a full-length handle would catch the frame: sliding doors, narrow aluminium stiles and framed glass. The manufacturer doesn't publish a length for the short grip, so the best way to see it is the dimension drawing on the product page.
| Feature | Long handle (SL-P1) | Short handle (SL-P2 / SL-P2-S) |
|---|---|---|
| Handle | 130mm bar on a 353mm panel | Shorter flush grip, 353mm tall |
| Made for | Full-width timber and framed-glass doors | Sliding doors, narrow aluminium stiles, tight framed glass |
| Mortise options | 6085, 4585, 3585, 2885, 3585 hook, 2885 hook | 6085, 4585, 3585, 2885, 3585 hook, 2885 hook |
| Finishes | Brushed silver, matte black | Brushed silver (SL-P2-S), matte black (SL-P2) |
| Weather rating | IP66, −25°C to 70°C | IP66, −25°C to 70°C |
| Price (AUD) | $494.99 | $494.99 |
💡 Did You Know?
Because the mortise options are identical, a long-handle lock can be ordered for a narrow aluminium stile and a short-handle lock for a standard timber door. The handle length and the mortise code are independent choices — the first decides whether the grip clears the frame, the second decides whether the lock case fits inside the door.
Reading the Room Around the Handle
Most buyers measure the mortise carefully and then forget to check the space the handle will sweep. A bar handle needs clearance on the pull side: enough room to get your fingers around it without scraping the frame, and enough distance from any glass bead or adjoining panel that the grip doesn't sit proud of where it was meant to. On a full-width timber door the answer is easy, because there's a wide, flat face and plenty of room. On a framed glass door with a slim aluminium stile it's the opposite: the stile may be only a hand's width across, with glass or a frame on either side, and a long grip can end up overhanging the edge.
The simplest check is to hold a tape against the door at the height of the existing handle and note how much clear flat surface lies between the lock edge and the nearest obstruction. If that room is generous, the long handle is the natural choice and gives a fuller grip. If it's tight, the short handle exists for exactly that situation. Our guide to narrow aluminium stile doors explains how to measure the stile itself, which is the first number to take on those doors.
✓ Long handle, full-width doors
Smart Door Lock — Long Handle Silver, IP66
130 mm bar handle for full-width timber and framed-glass doors, in six mortise sizes including hook bolt.
$494.99 AUD
View Product →Sliding Doors: The Hook Bolt Matters More Than the Handle
If your door slides on a track, the handle is the lesser question. A straight bolt slides into the jamb on a hinged door; on a sliding door there is nothing for it to grip, so the lock needs a hook bolt, which pivots and catches. Two of the six options — 2885 hook and 3585 hook — are the hook-bolt versions, and they're offered on both handle lengths. In practice most sliding door frames are narrow, which is why the short handle is the usual partner for a hook bolt, but a wide-stiled sliding door can take the long handle if the room allows.
Choosing by Door Type
| Your door | Handle to consider | Fit options to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hinged timber door, wide flat face | Long (SL-P1) | 6085 on most Australian doors; 4585 for European fittings |
| Framed glass door with a wide stile | Long, if there is clearance | Measure the existing mortise |
| Narrow aluminium stile, glass beads close by | Short (SL-P2) | 3585 or 2885 |
| Sliding door on a track | Short is the usual partner | 3585 hook or 2885 hook |
| Not sure | Check the dimension drawings, then ask us | Send a photo of the door edge with a tape across it |
✓ Short handle, sliding and narrow doors
Smart Door Lock Black — Push/Pull Handle
The short-handle version for sliding doors, narrow aluminium stiles and framed glass, with hook-bolt options.
$494.99 AUD
View Product →Mistakes We See and How to Avoid Them
Ordering by handle looks rather than clearance. The long bar looks elegant on a photograph of a wide door, but on a narrow stile it's the wrong choice no matter how good it looks. Start with the room around the grip, then choose the finish.
Forgetting that the handle and the mortise code are separate. The code (6085, 4585, 3585, 2885 or hook bolt) is about the lock case inside the door. The handle is about the outside. You need both right, and both are options on the same product page. If you're unsure how the codes work, our guide to push/pull versus turn-handle locks explains the backset-then-centres reading.
Assuming a sliding door can use a straight bolt. It can't. If the door runs on a track, choose a hook-bolt option.
Skipping the sizing guide. Five minutes with a tape saves a return. The sizing guide shows exactly what to measure and where.
Shop the Push/Pull Range
Push/Pull & Sliding Door Smart Locks
IP66 bar-handle locks with waterproof seals supplied — long and short handle, silver and black, six mortise options each.
Shop the Collection →If weather is part of the decision, read what IP66 actually means, and for a side-by-side of every model see the complete buying guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the long and short handle versions?
Only the handle. The electronics, mortise options, IP66 rating and price are the same; the long handle is a 130 mm bar for wide doors and the short handle is for doors where a long grip would foul the frame.
Which handle should I choose for a narrow aluminium stile?
Usually the short handle, because there is little room around the grip. Measure the stile and the clearance first, and choose a 3585 or 2885 mortise to match the existing lock.
Can I fit the long handle on a sliding door?
Yes, if there is enough clearance, using a hook-bolt option (3585 hook or 2885 hook). Most sliding door frames are narrow, so the short handle is the more common partner.
Do both versions have the same features?
Yes. Both offer fingerprint, keypad code with virtual password, IC card, the TTLock app, a remote control and mechanical keys, and both are IP66 rated.
Does the handle length change the price?
No. Both versions are $494.99 AUD in either finish.
What if I order the wrong handle?
We offer 14 days to change your mind, so you can return it. It is quicker to send us a photo of the door edge with a tape across it before you order.
Key Takeaways
- Long (SL-P1, 130 mm bar) and short (SL-P2) handles share electronics, mortise options, IP66 rating and price — only the grip changes.
- Handle length and mortise code are separate choices; check the room around the grip as well as the existing mortise.
- Sliding doors need a hook bolt; the short handle is the usual partner. See narrow aluminium stile doors.
- Learn the code system in push/pull vs turn-handle and the weather rating in IP66 explained.
- Measure with the sizing guide, browse the push/pull range, or compare models in the complete buying guide.