Smart Lock Credential Capacity Planner

Calculate optimal credential allocation for employees, contractors, guests across PIN, RFID, NFC, biometric systems

Why Credential Planning Matters

Capacity exhaustion: 30% of deployments exceed lock capacity within 12 months (growth underestimated). Management overhead: 5-10% monthly turnover = 60-120 credential changes/year per 100 users. Security risk: Reusing deleted codes without proper rotation violates NIST SP 800-63B. Optimal planning: 20% buffer + turnover tracking prevents credential failures. Data: NIST Digital Identity Guidelines, Allegion Access Control Study 2025.

Credential Requirements

Permanent Employees: 20

0 employees200 employees

Contractors/Temporary Staff: 10

0 contractors100 contractors

Guest/Delivery Codes (concurrent active): 30

Time-limited codes for visitors, deliveries, cleaners

Monthly Turnover Rate: 5%

Employee/contractor churn requiring credential changes

Lock Model/Tier

Supported types: PIN, RFID | PIN length: 4-8 digits

Capacity Analysis

60%

Capacity Used

Safe Status

0%70%85%100%

Lock Capacity:100

Employees:20

Contractors:10

Guests:30

Total Needed:60

Available:40

Monthly Churn: 2 credentials/month

Management Overhead: 24 annual changes

Capacity OK. Good headroom for growth.

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Recommended: Be-Tech

High Capacity

Be-Tech commercial locks support 250-500 credentials with advanced management: PIN (4-12 digits), RFID, NFC, biometric. Cloud-based credential lifecycle management, automatic expiration, audit logs. Ideal for offices, hotels, multifamily properties.

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Credential Types & Characteristics

Based on ISO/IEC 9798 & NIST SP 800-63B

PIN/Password Codes

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Length: 4-12 digits (NIST SP 800-63B recommends ≥6 for memorized secrets). Longer = better entropy (4-digit: 10,000 combinations, 6-digit: 1,000,000).
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Storage: Hashed/encrypted in lock firmware (AES-128+). Never plaintext. Verify manufacturer security practices.
•
Lifecycle: Change only on suspected compromise (NIST SP 800-63B Section 5.1.1.2). Automatic expiration for guests (1-hour to 365-day windows).
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Capacity: 50 (basic) to 500 (enterprise). Most mid-range locks: 100-250 codes.

RFID/NFC Cards & Tags

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Protocols: RFID (125kHz, 13.56MHz HID), NFC (ISO 14443A/B, ISO 15693). NFC compatible with smartphones.
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Security: Encrypted chip IDs (Mifare DESFire EV3, HID iCLASS SE). Cloning-resistant. Disable lost cards remotely.
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Advantages: No memorization needed. Faster entry (0.5-1 sec vs 3-5 sec PIN). Durability (5-10 year lifespan).
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Capacity: Same as PIN (share credential slots). Card cost: $2-10 (RFID), $5-15 (NFC).

Biometric (Fingerprint/Face)

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Technology: Capacitive fingerprint (99%+ accuracy), 3D facial recognition (IR depth sensors). Template-based (not storing actual biometric).
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Privacy: Local template storage only (never cloud). Irreversible hashing. GDPR/CCPA compliant enrollment.
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Speed: 0.3-1 sec authentication. No hands-free for fingerprint. Face recognition contactless.
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Capacity: 100-500 fingerprints (enterprise only). Multiple fingers per user (2-5) for redundancy.

Mobile/Bluetooth Credentials

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Technology: BLE (Bluetooth 4.0+) with encrypted challenge-response. Apple Wallet, Google Wallet integration.
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Range: 1-10m (configurable). Touch-to-unlock or proximity unlock. Battery-dependent (phone must be charged).
•
Security: AES-256 encryption, time-limited tokens (30-60 sec validity). Remote revocation instant.
•
Capacity: Unlimited (cloud-managed). Lock stores active sessions only (10-50). Ideal for scaling.

Credential Lifecycle Workflow

Enrollment Active monitoring Secure removal

Full lifecycle: NIST SP 800-63B compliant enrollment → Event-driven updates → Verified deletion

Manufacturer Credential Capacities

Lock Tier	Capacity	Credential Types	PIN Length	Examples
Basic/Entry	50 codes	PIN only	4-6 digits	Wyze Lock, August Wi-Fi
Standard/Mid-Range	100 codes	PIN, RFID	4-8 digits	Schlage Encode, Yale Assure
Premium/Pro	250 codes	PIN, RFID, NFC	4-10 digits	August Pro, Schlage Connect
Enterprise/Commercial	500+ codes	PIN, RFID, NFC, Biometric	4-12 digits	Allegion NDE, Assa Abloy

Data Sources:

• Schlage: Encode/Connect specifications (2025 product datasheets)
• Yale: Assure series documentation (100-250 user capacity)
• August: Wi-Fi/Pro model specs (50-250 users, manufacturer website)
• Allegion: NDE series commercial locks (500+ enterprise credentials)
• Capacities verified from manufacturer datasheets and product documentation (Nov 2025)

Credential Lifecycle Management

Provisioning

• Secure enrollment process (in-person or MFA-verified remote)
• Unique IDs (avoid sequential PINs like 1234, 5678)
• Role-based access (admin, user, guest tiers)
• Document credential issuance (audit trail)
• NIST SP 800-63B identity proofing

Maintenance

• Regular audits (quarterly recommended)
• Automatic expiration for temporary credentials
• Change credentials ONLY on suspected compromise (NIST SP 800-63B)
• Monitor failed access attempts (>5 = investigate)
• Maintain 20% capacity buffer for growth

Deprovisioning

• Immediate revocation on termination (HR integration)
• Secure deletion (overwrite, not just mark inactive)
• Collect physical credentials (RFID cards, fobs)
• Verify deletion (test removed credential doesn't work)
• Document in access log (compliance/audit)

Related Calculators

Protocol Wizard

Choose access control protocol (Zigbee, Z-Wave, BLE)

Battery Life

High user count impact on battery

TCO Calculator

Total cost including credential management

Standards & Data Sources

Verified Nov 2025

All credential capacity and security recommendations based on industry standards and manufacturer specifications

Security Standards

NIST SP 800-63B Revision 3 (2017, reaffirmed 2020): Section 5.1.1.2 Memorized Secret Verifiers (≥6 digit recommendation, change only on compromise, not periodic rotation), Section 5.2.2 Physical Authenticators

ISO/IEC 9798: Entity authentication mechanisms (parts 1-6), credential verification protocols

ISO/IEC 14443: RFID contactless card standards (Type A/B proximity cards)

ISO 15693: Vicinity cards specification (NFC long-range)

Manufacturer Data

Schlage: Encode WiFi (100 codes, Manual P/N 23-032), Connect (30 codes, BE469)

Yale: Assure Lock 2 (250 codes, YRD256 Rev. C), Real Living (250 codes)

August: Wi-Fi Smart Lock 4th Gen (50 virtual keys), Pro (500 cloud users)

Allegion: NDE Wireless (2,000 users networked), Schlage AD-400 (3,000 users)

Turnover data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS Report (3.5% national avg, 2-8% by industry, Nov 2025)

Note: Credential capacities vary by lock model and firmware version. Always verify manufacturer specifications for your specific hardware. Maintain 20% buffer for reliability and growth. High turnover environments (hotels, coworking) should consider cloud-managed mobile credentials for unlimited scaling.

Calculator last updated: November 24, 2025 | Next review: May 2026