Updated June 2026
Rekeying a lock costs $50–$130 per lock for professional service, or $100–$300 total for a typical home with two to four entry points — including the service call fee. The national average for a full rekey visit runs around $140. But here's what the price aggregator sites don't tell you: 9 of 10 locksmith websites hide their prices entirely, and that silence costs legitimate locksmiths real calls every week.
This is based on GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking locksmith websites. The post below explains the real math of rekey pricing — and why publishing yours is the highest-leverage thing a legitimate locksmith can do to win more calls before their phone even rings.
What does rekeying a lock actually cost?
The price has two parts that almost no one explains upfront:
| Component | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Service call / trip fee | $50–$100 (avg. $75) |
| Per-lock rekey labor | $15–$40 per lock |
| New keys (if needed) | $3–$10 per key |
| After-hours surcharge | +$95 average |
| High-security/non-standard cylinder | +$20–$60 per lock |
Total for a standard visit (2–4 locks, regular hours): $100–$300. That's the honest number. A family rekeying the front, back, and garage entry after moving into a new home is typically looking at $150–$250 all-in.
What changes the final number:
- Lock brand and age. Kwikset and Schlage re-key quickly. Older or high-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) take longer and may cost $20–$60 more per lock.
- Time of day. Scammers exploit after-hours desperation. A legitimate locksmith charges a disclosed surcharge — typically $75–$100 extra — for nights, weekends, and holidays.
- Distance. Service call fees increase when a technician travels outside their core area. Ask upfront.
- Number of locks rekeyed in a single visit. The service call is fixed; the per-lock cost drops as a percentage when you rekey five locks instead of two. Bundle everything in one visit.
Can I rekey locks myself?
DIY rekey kits cost $10–$30 and are sold at most hardware stores for popular Kwikset and Schlage cylinders. For a homeowner comfortable with small-parts work, rekeying a single lock takes about 15–20 minutes with a kit. The risk: mistakes leave you with a lock that doesn't function correctly. For a whole-house rekey, most locksmiths can complete the job in under two hours — and the labor cost is low enough that most homeowners are better served by a professional.
Alternatively: remove your locks yourself and drop them at a local lock shop. You skip the trip fee and pay roughly $20 per keyhole for the rekey work.
Is rekeying cheaper than replacing locks?
Almost always yes — and just as secure, provided the hardware is in good shape.
| Option | Per-Lock Cost | Full-Home Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Rekey existing lock | $50–$130 total (includes trip fee amortized) | $100–$300 |
| Replace lock hardware | $75–$200+ per lock | $300–$600+ |
The only reason to replace rather than rekey: the existing lock is worn, damaged, or you want to upgrade to a different brand, finish, or smart-lock format. If the hardware is solid, rekeying delivers the same security outcome for 30–50% less cost.
When should I rekey my locks?
The four most common triggers:
- Moving into a new home. This is the #1 reason people search this question. You don't know who has a copy of the key — the previous owners, their contractors, their neighbors. Rekeying on move-in day is the minimum.
- Lost or stolen keys. If you're not sure who has access, assume someone does.
- After a tenant or employee leaves. Particularly relevant for landlords, Airbnb hosts, and commercial properties.
- Relationship change. After a breakup, divorce, or any situation where access needs to be revoked.
Many locksmiths recommend rekeying home locks once per year as a routine security measure. That's a personal call — but the move-in rekey is non-negotiable for most security-minded homeowners.
Why do most locksmith sites hide their prices — and why that's a problem?
Across GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking locksmith websites, 9 of 10 locksmith sites display no pricing at all. The substitution is messaging: "up-front pricing," "no hidden fees," "priced fairly." Promises without numbers.
This opacity has a direct cause: the locksmith scam ecosystem. Fake listings flood search results and Google Maps with lowball quotes — "$25 to unlock any lock" — then inflate bills to $300–$500 once on-site. It's a documented, FTC-flagged pattern that has made consumers in this category uniquely price-wary before they even pick up the phone.
Here's the perverse consequence: when legitimate locksmiths also hide their prices, they look like everyone else.
The consumer who doesn't find honest pricing on your site calls the next result. That next result may be a directory, a lead-gen platform, or worse — a fake listing routing to a scam operation.
Key takeaway: 92% of local business websites hide pricing entirely — across GrowLocal's proprietary local-business website research (N=237 sites, 28 categories). In the locksmith category, that number is even higher. The two sites in our locksmith research that showed a visible pricing page stood out immediately as the most trustworthy options. See the full pricing-transparency data →
Why publishing your rekey pricing is your best trust signal
The consumer doing a pre-call search for "locksmith rekey cost" is not in an emergency. They're planning ahead — for a move, a rekey after losing keys, or a property management decision. This is exactly the buyer who is most convertible by a transparent pricing page.
What happens when they find your pricing page before calling:
- They call you more confident. No sticker shock. No fear they're being baited.
- They self-qualify. The customer who sees your $75 service call fee and books anyway is not going to dispute your bill.
- You're the only one they trust. In a sea of locked-down pricing, the site showing real numbers is the credible outlier.
A locksmith who ranks for "locksmith rekey cost" AND publishes honest pricing is doing something the major directories can't: delivering the answer AND the trust signal in one visit.
This is exactly what the strongest locksmith sites we analyzed do. Two competitors in our research had dedicated "Pricing" links in their navigation — an uncommon choice that positioned them as the transparent alternative in a category full of pricing secrecy. For a locksmith website, a pricing FAQ page or service page with real numbers is the right place to publish this.
What to put on your rekey pricing page
Your pricing page doesn't need to give a firm fixed quote — locksmiths legitimately can't do that without seeing the hardware. But it should answer the questions every potential customer has before calling:
- The two-part bill: "We charge a service call fee of $X plus $Y per lock for standard residential cylinders."
- What changes the price: lock brand, after-hours, distance, high-security cylinders.
- What's included: labor, new keys, lubrication and reinstallation.
- When a price might change on-site: only after explaining why to the customer before starting work.
- Warranty terms: your labor guarantee (specific terms — "90-day" or "lifetime labor" — outperform vague "satisfaction guaranteed").
A FAQ section on your website is the natural home for this content. Pair it with a contact/quote form so the consumer can reach you directly — which is how a GrowLocal locksmith website handles this conversion path.
On booking: most planned-rekey calls are booked by phone or through a contact form. Live online scheduling is offered by some larger locksmith operations but isn't universal in this trade. A fast quote form with a clear response-time promise ("we respond within 2 hours during business hours") is an honest alternative to a live booking calendar, and for many residential customers, it's all they need.
How rekeying fits the bigger picture of your locksmith website
A pricing page is one element. The broader picture of what separates the most trusted locksmith sites from the forgettable ones:
- License number in the header or footer. Required in most states; visually proves legitimacy in a scam-prone category.
- Named technicians. "Your tech will be Rahim or Kawa" is a scam-buster. Anonymous call-center locksmiths never name their people.
- A real address. Not just a service area map — a physical location where someone could walk in. It's a signal no fake listing can fake.
- A specific review count. "4.9★ — 746 Google reviews" beats "Excellent." Across our research, only 1–2 competitors per category displayed a concrete review count above the fold, making it an instant differentiator.
- Real photos. Your branded van, real jobs, real hardware. Stock photos read as scam-adjacent in this category.
These elements collectively form the anti-scam profile a legitimate locksmith needs. A pricing page is the capstone — the element that answers the one question every consumer has before calling and proves you're not the operation hiding a bait-and-switch. See our full breakdown of what to put on a locksmith website → and the locksmith website essentials guide for more on structuring a site that converts.
Frequently Asked Questions About Locksmith Rekey Costs
How much does it cost to rekey a house with three doors?
A standard three-door rekey runs $150–$250 for most markets, including the locksmith's service call fee ($50–$100) plus $15–$40 per lock for labor. Total time on-site: 30–60 minutes. Getting all three locks done in a single visit is more cost-effective than scheduling them separately.
Should I rekey or replace my locks when I move in?
Rekey unless the hardware is worn or you want to upgrade. Rekeying gives you the same security as a lock replacement at 30–50% of the cost — the existing pins are reset to a new key, and the previous owners' keys no longer work. Replace only if the lock is damaged or you're upgrading to a smart lock or higher-security cylinder.
Do locksmiths charge extra for nights and weekends?
Yes, legitimately. After-hours surcharges of $75–$100 are standard for nights, weekends, and holidays. A trustworthy locksmith discloses this fee before starting work. If a locksmith quotes a flat price over the phone and the bill doubles once on-site, that's a bait-and-switch — get the price breakdown in writing before work begins.
Why do most locksmith websites not show prices?
Across GrowLocal's proprietary research into top-ranking locksmith websites, 9 of 10 sites display no dollar figures at all — instead relying on "up-front pricing" assurances without actual numbers. The reasons range from wanting flexibility for variable jobs to a category-wide reluctance to compete on price. The opportunity: publishing real ranges makes you the transparent outlier in a scam-wary market.
Is rekeying as secure as installing a new lock?
Yes, for locks in good condition. Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration so only a newly cut key works — the existing lock hardware stays in place. If the cylinder is worn, damaged, or a known low-quality brand, replacing the hardware provides an upgrade in security; otherwise, rekeying is functionally equivalent.
Can I put my locksmith pricing on my website without committing to a fixed price?
Absolutely — and you should. The most effective pricing pages show a range ("residential rekeys start at $X per lock plus a service call fee of $Y") and explain the factors that move the final price (lock type, after-hours, distance). This answers the consumer's pre-call question without locking you into a price you can't honor on a non-standard job.
Do I need a special website builder to publish a locksmith pricing page?
No. A simple service page or FAQ section on any professional website handles this. A static, fast-loading page with your pricing ranges, FAQ answers, and a contact form is the right format — and faster than most competitor sites, which matters for both conversion and SEO. GrowLocal locksmith websites include FAQ and service pages built for exactly this kind of transparent, trust-building content.
How many locks should I rekey when I move into a new home?
Every exterior entry point: front door, back door, side door, and any garage entry to the living space. If the property has a keypad garage door opener, reset the code. Aim to do all locks in a single visit — the per-lock cost drops as a share of the total, and you avoid paying a second service call fee.