--- title: What is a Door Contact Sensor? description: Find out what a Door or Window Contact Sensor is and its role in your business security system. image: https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Learn%20The%20Security%20Lingo%20-%20door%20contact%20sensor.jpg --- [![cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Assets/logo/cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1.png)](https://www.dga.com/) Search For: - [Contact](https://www.dga.com/contact/) - [Login](https://connect.dga.com/) - [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) [Get A Free Consultation](https://www.dga.com/free-consultation/) - [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) - [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) - [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) - [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) - [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) - [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) - [Fire Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) - [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) - [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) - [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) - [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) - [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) - [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) - [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) - [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) - [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) - [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) - [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) - [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) - [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) - [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) - [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) - [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) - [Tools](https://www.dga.com/tools) - [DGA Blog](https://blog.dga.com) Search For: [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) Business Security [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) [Fire Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) Fire Systems [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) Industries [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) [Tools](https://www.dga.com/tools) [DGA Blog](https://blog.dga.com) [Contact](https://www.dga.com/contact/) [Login](https://connect.dga.com/) [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) Get A Free Consultation - Categories [Subscribe](https://info.dga.com/blog-subscriptions) - [Access Control](https://blog.dga.com/tag/access-control) - [Fire Systems](https://blog.dga.com/tag/fire-systems) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://blog.dga.com/tag/intrusion-alarms) - [Video Surveillance](https://blog.dga.com/tag/video-surveillance) - [Security Terms](https://blog.dga.com/tag/security-terms) [«  View All Posts](https://blog.dga.com) [Intrusion Alarms](https://blog.dga.com/topic/intrusion-alarms) | [Security Terms](https://blog.dga.com/topic/security-terms) # What is a Door Contact Sensor? - Share This Article - - - - [mailto:?body=https://blog.dga.com/what-is-door-contact-sensor](mailto:?body=https://blog.dga.com/what-is-door-contact-sensor) February 8th, 2024 | 4 min. read ![What is a Door Contact Sensor?](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Learn%20The%20Security%20Lingo%20-%20door%20contact%20sensor.jpg) ![Blog Feature](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/298890/blog-files/blog--cards-feature.png) [Subscribe](https://info.dga.com/blog-subscriptions) ![Isabel Leckie](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Isabel%20Leckie.jpg "Isabel Leckie") [Isabel Leckie](https://blog.dga.com/author/isabel-leckie) Isabel is a Marketing Specialist at DGA. A Door (or window) Contact Sensor is a two-part device mounted on a door or window that causes an alarm condition when the intrusion alarm is armed and the door is open. This alert typically causes an alarm condition and signals the monitoring center to take the next steps. One part of the contact sensor is mounted on the frame while the other is mounted on the moving part of the door. When the door is opened, an alarm condition is initiated. To learn more about the technical details of door contact sensors, check out our [blog post here.](https://blog.dga.com/door-window-contact-sensors-in-business-security) There are many different kinds of contact sensors, from mini contact sensors that blend into any setting to rugged metal contact sensors for warehouse settings with rollup doors and gates. ### Types of Door/Window Contacts | ![standard door contact edit](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/standard%20door%20contact%20edit.jpg?width=1032&height=618&name=standard%20door%20contact%20edit.jpg) | Standard Contact Sensor Affordable, effective and versatile, these standard contact sensors  are used for both doors and windows. | | --- | --- | | ![mini contact sensor edit](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/mini%20contact%20sensor%20edit.jpg?width=893&height=519&name=mini%20contact%20sensor%20edit.jpg) | Mini Contact Sensor Smaller in size but equally as effective, these mini contact sensors are most often used with windows. | | ![standard recessed contact sensor edit](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/standard%20recessed%20contact%20sensor%20edit.jpg?width=1070&height=739&name=standard%20recessed%20contact%20sensor%20edit.jpg) | Standard Recessed Contact Sensor Popular among businesses where aesthetics is a top priority, these  standard recessed contact sensors are discreet and unobtrusive. They  are not suitable to use with metal doors. | | ![large recessed contact sensor for metal doors edit](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/large%20recessed%20contact%20sensor%20for%20metal%20doors%20edit.jpg?width=1130&height=748&name=large%20recessed%20contact%20sensor%20for%20metal%20doors%20edit.jpg) | Large Recessed Contact Sensor for Metal Doors Unlike standard recessed contact sensors, these larger 1-inch diameter  devices can be used on commercial metal doors. | | ![Metal Contact Sensor for Heavy Duty Doors edit](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Metal%20Contact%20Sensor%20for%20Heavy%20Duty%20Doors%20edit.jpg?width=1400&height=706&name=Metal%20Contact%20Sensor%20for%20Heavy%20Duty%20Doors%20edit.jpg) | Metal Contact Sensor for Heavy Duty Doors These metal contact sensors are made to withstand a high level of abuse. Common use cases are stairwell doors, fire escape doors, delivery doors and hatch doors. | | ![Metal Contact Sensor for Rollup Doors and Gates edit](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Metal%20Contact%20Sensor%20for%20Rollup%20Doors%20and%20Gates%20edit.jpg?width=1226&height=1165&name=Metal%20Contact%20Sensor%20for%20Rollup%20Doors%20and%20Gates%20edit.jpg) | **Metal Contact Sensor for Rollup Doors and Gates** For rollup doors and gates, we recommend these rugged metal contact sensors that are designed to be installed on the door/gate frame (versus on the ground) to reduce the potential damage to the devices. The larger reed switch is installed on the door/gate frame and the long, narrow magnet is installed on the moving door. | | ![Safe-Vault Contact Sensor edit](https://blog.dga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Safe-Vault%20Contact%20Sensor%20edit.jpg?width=1282&height=923&name=Safe-Vault%20Contact%20Sensor%20edit.jpg) | **Safe/Vault Contact Sensor** These high-security contact sensors are typically used for safes or vault  doors to resist tampering attempts. Each contact sensor contains several  magnetic switches, each with a different polarization. In order to “close” the contact sensor, the opposite piece on the door must contain the matching magnetic fields in the exact same orientation. |   [![DGA Security](https://blog.dga.com/hubfs/Assets/logo/cropped-DGA-Security-Logo-nsr-1-1.png)](https://www.impactbnd.com) 429 West 53rd Street New York, New York 10019 ##### Contact Sales 800 PICK DGA (800-554-5599) sales@dga.com ##### Contact Customer Care [customercare@dga.com](mailto:customercare@dga.com) 800-221-2300 ##### [Business Security](https://www.dga.com/business-security/) - [Intrusion Alarms](https://www.dga.com/business-security/intrusion-alarms/) - [Video Surveillance](https://www.dga.com/business-security/video-surveillance/) - [Access Control](https://www.dga.com/business-security/access-control/) - [Security System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/alarm-monitoring/) - [Environmental Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/business-security/environmental-monitoring/) - [Elevator Emergency Communication](https://www.dga.com/business-security/elevator-emergency-communication/) - [Nationwide Service](https://www.dga.com/business-security/nationwide-service/) - [The DGA Vault at 580 Fifth Avenue](https://www.dga.com/vault/) ##### [Fire Alarm Systems](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/) - [Design and Installation](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/design-installation/) - [Testing and Inspection](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/testing-and-inspection/) - [Fire Alarm System Monitoring](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/alarm-monitoring/) - [Contractor Support](https://www.dga.com/fire-systems/contractor-support/) ##### [Industries](https://www.dga.com/industries/) - [Art Galleries](https://www.dga.com/industries/art-gallery-security/) - [Banking and Financial](https://www.dga.com/industries/bank-security/) - [Cannabis](https://www.dga.com/industries/cannabis-security/) - [Hotels](https://www.dga.com/industries/hotel-security/) - [Jewelry](https://www.dga.com/industries/jewelry-security/) - [Nonprofits](https://www.dga.com/industries/nonprofit-security/) - [Offices](https://www.dga.com/industries/office-security/) - [Property Management](https://www.dga.com/industries/property-security/) - [Religious Institutions](https://www.dga.com/industries/religious-institution-security/) - [Restaurants](https://www.dga.com/industries/restaurant-security/) - [Retail](https://www.dga.com/industries/retail-security/) ##### [Tools & Training](https://www.dga.com/tools/) - [DGAConnect Login](https://connect.dga.com/) - [DGAOneVIEW Login](https://dgaoneview.com/login#) - [DGA Payment Login](https://payment.mydga.com/login.aspx) - [Free System Training](https://www.dga.com/free-system-training) ##### [About DGA](https://www.dga.com/company/) - [Blog](https://blog.dga.com/) - [Careers](https://www.dga.com/careers/) - [Credentials](https://www.dga.com/credentials/) - [Meet Business Insurance Requirements](https://www.dga.com/meet-business-insurance-requirements/) © 2026 DGA Security Systems, Inc. | [Privacy Policy and Terms of Use](https://www.dga.com/privacy-policy/)