A question we often get from customers around the country is whether they should choose Emtek or Baldwin hardware for their home. In this article we will compare the two brands so you can be better informed before making a purchasing decision. Keep in mind that Baldwin has several hardware groups. Prestige which is entry level, Reserve which is middle of the road and Estate series which is their higher end hardware. Baldwin's Prestige and Reserve series have been around for a while, but they really have limited styles available and are built differently. The Estate Series is really what Baldwin is most known for as a premium hardware product. Baldwin's Estate series and Emtek both have many styles and possible configurations so it is these two lines we will take a closer look at. These are the two lines most customers are comparing.
Design Options
Both brands have many design styles and finishes available which is why these two brands are often compared. The following totals take into consideration passage, privacy and dummy sets only from both brands. Keep in mind that not every design is available in every finish
Emtek - 52 Knob Styles and 84 Lever Styles with 59 Rosette Designs / 23 Finishes
Baldwin - 23 Knob Styles and 39 Lever Styles with 44 Rosette Designs / 14 Finishes
Emtek seems to be much more on the forefront of current design trends and offerings like tubular larger plate trims, barn door hardware, handleset designs and so forth. But really it comes down to your personal design preference as to which brand has the better styles for your project.
Construction
Both Baldwin and Emtek have a very solid feel once the hardware is mounted on the door. This is because these two brands are made of solid brass so they feel much more substantial than the tin like entry level brands sold at big box stores. Though they both feel very solid, there are some differences in the construction of the knob itself between the two brands.
Here we have an Emtek knob cut in half. As you can see the knob is hollow, but the outer shell making the shape of the knob is 1/8" - 1/2" thick in places (depending on the design). As a result this knob feels substantial and will not dent easily like an entry level knob would
Next We have a Baldwin Knob cut in half. As you can see the Baldwin Estate Series hardware is solid all the way through the knob. Holding the two knobs in your hand the Baldwin knob feels much heavier - once mounted to the door your really can't tell much difference between the more hollow Emtek knob and the solid Baldwin knob - both feel solid and good quality when mounted.
Price
Since Baldwin knobs are completely solid they use much more brass in their construction. This means they are more expensive to make which results in a higher price tag. Lets take these two similar styles and compare their pricing to give you an idea. (This pricing is as of January 2025 and is subject to change)
Emtek Round Knob with Disc Rosette - Sold at $139.42
Baldwin Estate Series 5055 Modern Knob - Sold at $325.00
Internal components
Emtek door hardware uses a solidly built latch that is not adjustable but available in a 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" backset. Backset size must be specified when ordering. The non adjustable latches are not as convenient, but they are better quality than a latch designed to accommodate both sizes. These latches have a spring mechanism built inside them, but Emtek also has a spring mechanism built into the back of the lever where it mounts to the rosette. This design spreads out the resistance in the two components. Emtek uses a split spindle design where each half of the lever has a spindle that meets in the middle of the square hole of the latch. Because of this, a lever or knobset assembled in the standard way would require that the latch be centered on the door to function properly (which is nearly always the case). If you have a latch that is not centered on the door - if you have a decorative skin on the exterior of the door for example - we can usually have a set built with differing spindle lengths on each side to accommodate the offset latch.
Emtek comes standard with a full lip strike and with a square corner faceplate for the latch. Radius corner faceplates are also available and drive in latches can be ordered for privacy and passage functions.
Baldwin passage and privacy levers use a similar latch to Emtek, however Baldwin relies on the latch only for the spring mechanism. As a result they have a lever strength latch and a knob strength latch. A lever latch has a much firmer mechanism due to the increased leverage you have with a lever shape vs a knob. Baldwin's latches are also not adjustable, so backset size has to be specified when ordering. Baldwin has a continuous spindle design rather than the two piece Emtek design. Baldwin lever and knob sets come standard with a T strike, but can be ordered with a full lip strike.
Leadtime or Availability
Emtek - 7-10 days before shipping. Custom Assembled product. Rush Assembly options Available.
Baldwin - 6-8 week leadtime. Special Order. Some popular finishes may be in stock.
Warranty
Emtek- Emtek (since 2012) has a lifetime mechanical warranty for the original Purchaser. Lifetime warranty on finishes labelled lifetime, 5 year finish warranty on other finishes. No warranty on living finishes meant to develop patina over time. See Emtek's warranty page for more details on the full product line.
Baldwin- Baldwin has a lifetime mechanical warranty for the original Purchaser. Lifetime warranty on finishes labelled lifetime, 5 year finish warranty on other finishes. No warranty on living finishes meant to develop patina over time. See Baldwin's warranty page for more details on the full product line.
So which brand should you choose?
We sell a lot of both brands. It really comes down to which style and finishes you like the best and what you budget is. As you can see from the above details the Baldwin sets are heavier and arguably could last you longer with the latch being the most likely failure point. With Emtek you could have two potential failure points with the spring mechanism in the latch as well as on the back of the rosette. But the price savings, faster availability and solid feel make Emtek a very popular choice. Whichever you choose, we'd love to help you out with your next project. If you're looking for the heaviest most durable hardware, Baldwin is a great choice. For a great lock that brings value and tons of choices, Emtek Door Hardware is a great option.
The Winner
Emtek
Emtek wins as the best value with many current styles to choose from at a more affordable price. It's still a great quality product and you can nearly buy the same item twice before reaching the cost of the Baldwin.