Arriving at good estimates of access control system pricing is difficult: most access control vendors will want to discuss your needs in detail before providing you with estimates. (See prices for access control systems reported by other BuyerZone users.)

That said, there are some general costs you can keep in mind. A complete keypad or card-based access control system for a single door is typically $1500 to $2500 installed. The more doors you add, the lower the per-door pricing is. These prices include everything – the hardware, software, and installation. The only exception is the cards themselves, which are usually priced separately. If you choose to do the installation yourself, expect prices more in the neighborhood of $500 to $1500 per door.

The full range of options is much larger. Integrated locks with keypads, designed as standalone access control points, can be purchased for as little as $400. Iris scanning systems are much more expensive and can easily reach $10,000 or more for a single access point.

Access control system pricing increases when you start including additional components such as photo ID printers, door prop alarms, and higher-security locks. While the prices listed here can help you get an idea of your budget, your total costs will change throughout the project as you add and remove components.

Budget-minded companies can buy the components and do their own installation, but you'll often need to hire a general contractor to do the hardware installation anyway, so the total savings aren't likely to be that much. In addition, professional installation helps guarantee that the security system provides the security your business requires. Do remember to buy only commercial-grade equipment, not residential equipment: you'll get better reliability and more features.

Your access control system pricing should include basic email and telephone support, at least for the first year. Some vendors provide lifetime support for products they install. Most dealers will also offer extended warranties or maintenance contracts, but the basic manufacturers' warranty is often sufficient for access control hardware. The components are relatively simple and don't have many moving parts, so they don’t tend to break down easily.