Door viewer

A door viewer, or spyhole, is a small lens that passes through the door leaf and lets you see from inside who is on the other side without opening up. It is fitted at eye level and from outside all you can see is a small piece of glass.

Traditional ones are optical: a tube with lenses that gives a wide view of the landing. The wider the angle, the more you see, even someone standing close to one side of the door. Many have a cover on the inside so that from outside nobody can tell if there is light or movement in the home.

Digital door viewers, with a camera and screen, are a different thing: we do not fit those. A simple tip: before opening the door to someone you are not expecting, always look through the viewer first, even if the door has a chain or a door guard.