How Much Does a Locksmith Cost in 2025?
The average cost to hire a locksmith is $163
The average cost to hire a locksmith is $163, with most homeowners paying between $107 and $242.
Budgeting for these services ensures you’re prepared for unexpected events and can maintain the integrity of your home’s locks.
Hiring a professional locksmith ensures your property's security and prevents potential damage from DIY attempts.
This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
When estimating how much a locksmith costs, expect to spend an average of $163, with most jobs landing between $107 and $242. Easy jobs that don’t take a lot of time can cost as little as $62, while larger, more complex locksmith tasks can reach $290.
Setting aside a small lock-and-key fund means you won’t panic during a late-night lockout or surprise repair. Pros also recommend rekeying once a year to keep would-be intruders—and old spare keys—out of your home.
Locksmith Cost Factors
Several factors influence how much you'll pay when hiring a locksmith, including the service you need and the time of day you call.
Emergency Surcharges
Lose your keys at midnight? Most locksmiths stay on call, but this convenience comes with an after-hours surcharge of $150 to $250 for nights, weekends, or holidays.
Service Call Fees
Plan on $100 to $250 for the trip itself. The final figure depends on your lock issue and your pro’s rates, so ask for a written quote before booking.
Locksmith Costs by Service Type
Locksmiths provide a wide range of services—from unlocking your front door when you're locked out to installing high-tech electronic locks for enhanced security. The cost varies depending on the specific service you need. Here's what you can expect to pay for common locksmith services.
| Service Type | Average Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Unlocking a house | $65–$200 |
| Changing house locks | $50–$250 |
| Rekeying home locks | $80–$150 |
| Installing deadbolt locks | $50–$200 |
| Installing electric locks | $50–$500 |
| Unlocking a car | $50–$300 |
| Extracting a key | $50–$200 |
| Duplicating a key | $5–$20 |
| Opening a safe | $50–$500 |
| Car transponder key replacement | $100–$400 |
Unlocking a House
A professional can pick your lock for $65 to $200, a price that already covers travel, insurance, and overhead. Call after hours, and you’ll likely pay toward the top of the range.
Changing House Locks
Changing locks costs $50 to $250 for labor, depending on the hardware and the level of installation complexity. The lock itself costs anywhere from $50 for a basic set to $2,000 for a high-end smart model.
Rekeying Home Locks
Rekeying locks on your home costs between $80 and $150. Labor fees range from $50 to $100, while a rekeying kit costs $30 to $60 per lock. When rekeying, a locksmith rearranges the pins in the cylinder to change the key, offering a more cost-effective solution than replacing the lock.
Installing Deadbolt Locks
Installing deadbolt locks costs between $50 and $200, including labor and materials. Prices vary depending on the type of deadbolt you choose, with cylindrical deadbolts costing $50 to $70, cylindrical lever locks costing $60 to $70, and mortise locksets costing $125 to $175.
Installing Electronic Locks
To install new electronic locks, you'll pay between $50 and $500 for labor alone. The cost you spend depends on the type of lock you install and the issue it has. You'll pay $50 for a standard keypad or up to $2,000 for an advanced smart home system. If upgrading from a traditional lock to an electric lock, expect installation costs to be $150 each.
Unlocking a Car
If you’re locked out of your car, a locksmith will charge between $50 and $300 to unlock it. However, you may need to pay double for after-hours services.
Extracting a Key
If your key breaks off in a lock, expect to pay between $50 and $200 for extraction. The exact price will depend on the type of lock, your location, and whether you incur an emergency callout fee for nights, weekends, and holidays.
Duplicating a Key
Basic key duplication for standard house keys costs between $5 and $20. If you have a transponder key, expect higher duplication costs of $100 to $400.
Opening a Safe
Hiring a locksmith to open a safe costs between $50 and $500. If you’re only paying to set a new combination or switch a manual lock to an electronic one, expect to pay $50 to $150. However, for more complex jobs, such as manually opening a safe, the costs start at $150.
When Should You Call a Locksmith?
Misplaced keys aren’t the only reason to dial a locksmith. Call a pro if a key snaps in the cylinder, you’re upgrading to smart deadbolts, or you’ve just moved in and aren’t sure who still has copies. Rekeying or replacing the locks ensures you—and only you—control access.
Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks
Rekeying, which costs $80 to $150 per lock, allows a locksmith to reset the cylinder pins, making old keys no longer work. Swapping the entire lock costs $50 to $250, with premium or smart hardware pushing the price closer to $500.
DIY vs. Hiring a Locksmith
Unless you’re comfortable with pin kits and lock picks, tinkering with a broken lock can turn a $100 fix into a pricey door replacement. It’s usually wiser to hire a local locksmith. A qualified pro arrives with the right tools, restores access in minutes, and prevents damage that could add hundreds to the final bill.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed over 10,000 real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by searching a trusted directory for locksmiths in your area and reading recent customer reviews. Confirm that each candidate holds state-required licenses, maintains active insurance, and is a member of professional groups such as ALOA. Before you schedule, ask for a written estimate, proof of credentials, and references. Finally, verify the company’s physical address (not just a P.O. box) and check that the technician arrives in a marked vehicle and uniform.
Door locks must be replaced immediately when key security is compromised. Replace your locks when moving into a new home, after any burglary or attempted break-in, or when you lose a key that reveals your address. This practice strictly prevents unauthorized access and maintains a secure environment by ensuring that only trusted individuals have access to your home.
Rekeying a lock requires 10 to 15 minutes per unit when performed by a skilled professional. This efficient process resets the lock’s internal pins to work with a new key, rendering all previous keys ineffective. Rekeying offers a fast and secure solution that enhances your home security without disrupting your daily routine.
Security starts before the locksmith turns the first screw. Ask the dispatcher for the technician’s name, company ID, and arrival time, then confirm that information at the door. Once the job is done, request an itemized invoice and test every repaired lock yourself. Keep any old hardware or keys the professional removes and ensure they are either left with you or destroyed, so no surplus keys are left behind.
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