TradeBase Buying Guide

Choose the right window lock in 60 seconds

Sash, cam, sliding latch, mini push-bolt. Aluminium and timber compatible. All multi-packs keyed alike. Tiered trade pricing on every listing — buy more, save more.

TradeBase double-hung sash window lock with keeper plate
TradeBase double-hung sash lock with keeper plate — the most common Australian window lock.

Window locks aren’t all the same product. The lock you fit to a vertical-sliding double-hung sash is mechanically different from the cam lock on a horizontal slider, which is different again from the latch keeper on an aluminium awning. And there’s a fourth option — the mini push-bolt — that fits any window or door regardless of frame. Get the type wrong and the lock won’t engage. This guide walks you through every decision in the right order so you order the right lock the first time. Already know what you need? Jump to our full window lock range. Looking for an awning-window winder? See the winder buying guide instead.

The 60-second decision

  1. What type of window? Double-hung sash, horizontal slider, cam-locked sliding, or universal push-bolt.
  2. Frame material — aluminium or timber? Mounting holes and base plate dimensions differ.
  3. What colour? White, black, silver/grey, or chrome.
  4. How many? Single, 4-pack, or 10-pack — all multi-packs keyed alike, with tiered trade pricing.

1. What type of window?

Sash double-hung

Top sash slides up or bottom slides down. Lock screws to the top of the bottom sash with a keeper-snib catching the upper sash. Most common heritage and timber-frame window in Australia.

Cam lock

A rotating cam swings into a strike to lock. Mounts vertical or horizontal. Best choice for large, wide and heavy sashes — fit one cam at each end so the window is restrained at both points, not just the centre. Common on aluminium-framed kitchens and bedrooms built post-1980 and on big picture-window slider runs.

Sliding latch

Pull-handle latch that catches when the slider closes. Used on aluminium sliding windows where the original hardware is corroded or broken — replaces most generic Australian sliding-window catches.

Mini push-bolt

Universal-fit keyed bolt — works on any window or door, any frame material. Keyed alike across multi-packs. Sash window child-safety, French doors, screen doors, caravans. See the section below ↓

2. Aluminium or timber frame?

The lock body is the same shape but the keeper plate (the bit that catches the snib) differs between aluminium-window and timber-window versions of the sash double-hung lock. Get the right one and the screws go straight into the existing holes.

TradeBase aluminium window double-hung sash lock with narrow keeper plate

Aluminium frame · Narrow keeper plate

Aluminium Sash Lock — White

Narrow keeper plate matches the slim profile of aluminium sashes. Screw pattern aligns with most Australian aluminium double-hung windows. Also in Black.

TradeBase timber window double-hung sash lock with wide keeper plate

Timber frame · Wide keeper plate

Timber Sash Lock — White

Wider keeper plate spreads load across timber sash. Direct fit on heritage timber double-hungs. Also in Black, Silver/Grey, Chrome.

Cam locks & mini push-bolts are universal — the same body fits both aluminium and timber.

The cam lock alternative — for big, wide, heavy windows

TradeBase black cam lock for double-hung sash window

Cam lock · Black

Cam Lock — Sash Double-Hung, Black

Rotating cam swings into the strike, mounts vertical or horizontal. The right call for large, wide and heavy windows — on big sliders and oversized sashes a single centre snib leaves both ends free to rattle, flex or be levered. Fit a cam lock at each end of the sash and the window is restrained along its full width: no flex, no movement, no weak point an intruder can pry. Also suits aluminium-framed sliders and double-hungs where a slim profile is preferred over a snib-style sash lock. Universal fit (works on aluminium and timber), no key.

Rule of thumb: any sash wider than ~1200 mm or noticeably heavy (laminate or double-glazed glass) should have two cam locks — one at each end. Single-point centre locks on big sashes lever open, rattle in wind, and never seat properly over time.

3. The mini push-bolt — universal window & door lock, keyed alike

The mini push-bolt is the swiss-army option in this guide. It works on any window or door regardless of frame material, fits in 5 minutes with two screws on the sash and two on the strike plate, and every multi-pack ships keyed alike to a single key. It’s not a forced-entry security lock — it’s a keyed second-point lock for child safety, convenience, and as a deterrent.

TradeBase mini push-bolt installed on a window frame

Best uses on windows:

  • Sash window child-safety restrictor — bolt limits how far the sash can open
  • Sliding aluminium windows — secondary lock above the main snib
  • Awning & casement windows — holds the window open or shut at a set position
  • Caravan, granny flat, shed — cheap basic locking
  • French doors & screen doors — one bolt top and bottom

Choose colour and quantity — all multi-packs keyed alike

White
Black
Silver Grey

Looking for the sliding-patio-door version of this bolt? See the combined Patio Bolt & Mini Push-Bolt Buying Guide — same keyed-alike system in 304 stainless for sliding patio doors.

4. Colour swatches

White
Black
Silver / Grey
Chrome

5. Trade pricing — tiered on every listing

💰 Trade pricing applies to every window lock. A typical Australian home has 8–15 window locks — the 4-pack and 10-pack ship at roughly half the per-unit price of singles, and every multi-pack is keyed alike to one key. Locksmiths, glaziers, builders, strata managers and property services & maintenance — email sales@tradebaseaustralia.com.au for set rates locked in for the year.

Single

Replace one broken lock at standard online pricing.

4-pack keyed alike

Apartments, units. White · Black

10-pack keyed alike

Whole house. White · Black

Trade / installer

Set rates locked in for the year. Email sales.

Brand compatibility

TradeBase window locks are direct mechanical replacements for the major Australian window-hardware brands. Compatible with timber and aluminium frames including Whitco®, Lockwood®, Stegbar®, Bradnam®, AWS®, Trend®, Wideline® and Boral®.

Common scenarios

ScenarioWhat you needExample product
Heritage timber double-hung, white frameSash lock, timber, white — wide keeperWhite Timber Sash Lock
Whole-house aluminium, white10-pack aluminium sash, narrow keeper, keyed alikeWhite Aluminium 10-Pack
Black-frame contemporary build10-pack black, keyed alikeBlack 10-Pack
Horizontal sliderCam lock, blackBlack Cam Lock
Large, wide or heavy sash — lock both ends2× cam locks per sash, one at each endBlack Cam Lock × 2
Aluminium slider with broken handleSliding window handle latchSliding Latch Lock
Sash window child-safety restrictorMini push-bolt, white, single or 4-packWhite 4-Pack Push-Bolt
Whole-house mini push-bolts on every window10-pack keyed alikeWhite 10-Pack Push-Bolt
Black aluminium frame — matching mini push-boltBlack mini push-boltBlack 4-Pack Push-Bolt
Apartment block / strata, locksmith tradeBulk 10-pack, set trade pricingEmail sales

Locksmiths, glaziers, builders, strata, property services & maintenance — set trade pricing

Email your typical monthly volume and we’ll come back inside 24 hours with a set trade rate locked in for the year, plus priority dispatch on every order.

Installation

Window-lock installation is straightforward — two screws hold the lock body to the sash, two more hold the keeper. 5–10 minutes per window with a Phillips-head screwdriver. The keyed-alike multi-packs save time on whole-house jobs because there’s only one key to manage. Mini push-bolts are even faster — 5 minutes per window, two screws on the sash and two on the strike plate.

Still not sure?

Take a photo of the existing lock and email sales@tradebaseaustralia.com.au with the frame colour and material — we’ll match you to the right TradeBase replacement in one reply. Or browse the full window lock range.