Gedreew Large Thermostat Lock Box Cover with Key, Clear Thermostat Cover with Lock Compatible With Honeywell Home Thermostat On Wall, AC Lock Box Cover with Key Fits Thermostats 5"H x 6" W or Smaller

Why I put a lockbox over my thermostat

In a shared office, the thermostat is a lightning rod. Some folks run hot, others cold, and everyone thinks a quick tweak is harmless. After too many surprise setpoint changes, I installed the Gedreew lock box over a standard wall-mounted thermostat. It’s a simple clear cover with a keyed lock, and it immediately calmed the temperature wars without turning the wall into an eyesore.

What it is

The Gedreew lock box is a transparent polycarbonate housing sized for thermostats up to about 7.28 inches wide, 5.75 inches high, and 2.75 inches deep. It hinges open for access and secures with a keyed cam lock. Vents on all four sides allow air circulation so you’re not creating a tiny greenhouse over your sensor. Because it’s clear, you can see the display and status lights without opening the door—useful for checking setpoints and system mode at a glance.

Installation: straightforward with a few smart tweaks

I mounted it over an existing thermostat without removing the control from the wall—one of my primary reasons for choosing this style. The box includes basic screws and anchors; I used a drill, a small level, and a screwdriver. Here’s what helped:

• Measure carefully. The internal space is generous for most residential and light commercial thermostats, but measure depth as well as width/height, especially if you have thick trim or a protruding wall plate.
• Hinge left, lock right. Mounting with the hinge on the left lets the cam lock engage downward, which feels more positive and resists sag over time.
• Check battery door access. If your thermostat has a side or bottom battery door, you may need to mount the unit slightly off-center so you can swing the door open without removing the cover. I shifted mine a half inch to the right and the battery tray clears easily.
• Use appropriate anchors. The included anchors are fine for standard drywall. If you’re mounting into plaster or masonry, plan on beefier anchors.

From marking holes to closing the door, the install took under 15 minutes.

Build quality and materials

Polycarbonate is the right choice here. It’s the same family of plastic used for safety shields: tough, impact resistant, and more resistant to yellowing than the brittle acrylic covers you often see in older buildings. The panel thickness feels substantial, the edges are cleanly finished, and the hinge operates smoothly with minimal play.

The lock is a basic keyed cam—enough to stop casual fingers, not designed to defeat a determined person with tools. Mine came with two identical keys. The latch engages cleanly, and the door sits flush with even gaps along the perimeter.

After a few weeks in a sunny hallway, I haven’t noticed any discoloration, and the clarity is still excellent. Wiping it with a microfiber cloth and a mild cleaner keeps fingerprints at bay. (As with most clear plastics, avoid harsh solvents.)

Visibility and usability

Clear covers can be a mixed bag: glare, haze, and distortion are common. This one earns points. The face panel is flat and clear enough that I can read small LCD characters and icons without trouble, even at an angle. The vent pattern is on the sides, so nothing interrupts your view.

Opening and closing is one-handed once you’ve got the key in. The hinge opens wide, giving full access to buttons or touch controls. If you rely on frequent manual changes, add a small hook nearby for the key; hiding the key defeats the convenience. In my case, the whole point was to stop ad hoc changes, so the key lives in a manager’s drawer.

Temperature accuracy and airflow

Any cover risks trapping heat, which can throw off sensing. Gedreew mitigates this with vents on all four sides, and the effect shows. I compared readings from the enclosed thermostat to a nearby calibrated sensor over several days. The delta stayed within the usual margin I see with the thermostat uncovered, and the HVAC cycle times didn’t change in any noticeable way. Unless your thermostat is unusually sensitive or mislocated in a high-heat spot, the cover won’t skew readings enough to matter.

A small note for smart thermostats that use built-in motion sensors: any cover will reduce their ability to detect presence from across the room. If your system relies on that for occupancy-based setbacks, consider remote sensors or schedule-based control instead.

Security: keeps honest people honest

This is not a vault, and it doesn’t pretend to be. The lock prevents casual tampering by kids, guests, or well-meaning coworkers. The housing is sturdy for its class, but like most surface-mounted covers, someone armed with determination could defeat it or tear it from poorly anchored drywall. For typical homes, offices, schools, or retail spaces, it’s the right level of deterrence: visible, sturdy, and just inconvenient enough to stop spur-of-the-moment adjustments.

Fit and compatibility

The fit range covers most common rectangular thermostats and all round ones I tried. A few tips:

• If you’re near the size limit, check the thermostat’s depth and wire exit path. Wall plates or decorative trim can steal valuable space.
• If your thermostat has a side-access battery tray, plan the off-center mounting I mentioned earlier.
• For truly oversized commercial controls or multiple side-by-side units, this single-cover solution won’t be the right fit.

I also appreciate that the design doesn’t require removing or modifying the thermostat, which avoids warranty and wiring concerns.

Aesthetics and presence on the wall

Lock boxes often look like, well, lock boxes. This one is about as discreet as a protective cover can be. The transparency helps it blend into light walls, and because you can still see the thermostat, the whole assembly reads as “equipment” rather than an afterthought. Edges are smooth, corners are rounded, and the hardware is unobtrusive once installed. If you want it to disappear further, mount it level and aligned with nearby switches or wall plates; small misalignments are more noticeable when the cover is clear.

What I’d change

No product is perfect. Here’s what stood out as potential improvements:

• Combination option: A combo lock variant would solve key management for larger teams where several people need access without duplicating keys.
• Anti-tamper screw option: For locations with rough use, an optional mounting kit with security-head screws and heavier anchors would be welcome.
• Spare gasket or trim ring: A thin foam strip could help seal against dusty environments and quiet the door if you tend to swing it shut; not essential, but a nice touch.

None of these are dealbreakers for me, but they’d broaden the use cases.

Who it’s for

• Households with curious kids who love buttons and dials
• Offices and shared workspaces where setpoints drift because “just a quick change” becomes the norm
• Short-term rentals where you want to cap manual interference without hiding the thermostat
• Light commercial spaces—schools, clinics, and retail—where you need to show the setpoint but limit access

If you need high-security protection against vandalism, a metal enclosure with tamper-resistant fasteners is a better fit.

Practical tips

• Label the key and store a spare somewhere obvious. The lock is secure enough that you won’t be shimmying it open with a paperclip.
• Before drilling, hold the cover in place and fully open the door to confirm it won’t hit trim, signage, or adjacent switches.
• If your thermostat uses batteries, change them before installing the cover. Then plan that off-center mount if needed for future access.

Bottom line and recommendation

The Gedreew lock box does exactly what I needed: it prevents casual adjustments without blocking visibility, it installs in minutes with standard tools, and it doesn’t mess with temperature sensing. The polycarbonate build feels solid, the hinge and lock operate smoothly, and the size accommodates the majority of residential and light commercial thermostats. It’s not a high-security solution, but it’s a reliable, tidy deterrent that fits most homes and offices.

I recommend it. If your goal is to reduce energy waste and end thermostat tug-of-war while keeping the interface visible and accessible to authorized users, this cover strikes the right balance of durability, ease of use, and clean design for the price.