How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?

Locksmith Prices

Locksmiths cost $157 on average, with a typical range between $97 and $217. Minimum trip charges range from $50 to $100. After hours emergency service calls run $150 to $250. For home lock or safe installation or rekeying, expect to pay $50 to $100 per hour. Opening a locked car runs $50 to $100, depending on travel distance.

Cost to Rekey Locks for Homes

Average Cost to Change Locks on House

Changing locks for your home costs anywhere from $50 to $300 on average. It depends on how many locks you have, what level of security you’re trying to achieve, and whether you go with mechanical, electronic or biometric. Some additional considerations include:

• Home lockouts: $35-$150. Most of that for travel. Evening, weekend or holiday services can go up to $150-$250.

• Key copies: $2-$10. Keys with electronic components might run upwards of $150.

• New door locks: $40-$100 plus labor charges of $15 to $40 per lock.

Electronic Home Lock Installation Cost

Adding smart home electronic systems cost anywhere from $400 to $1,800, plus the price of the unit. Single locks might run as little as $60, with entire systems running $500 to $2,000 or more. If you often lose your key, consider a smart lock system. Some notes to remember:

• Most electronic systems use a combination of keypads, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and biometric capabilities.

• Some systems interact with smart home hubs, like Google Home and Alexa.

*Add $75 per hour for installation.

When to Replace Door Locks

You’ll want to replace your door locks in a few scenarios, including:

• Any time you move into a new home.

• After a burglary or suspected attempted break-in.

• If you lose a key with some address-identifying information.

Door Lock Prices by Brand

Deadbolt Installation Cost

Installing a deadbolt costs $40 to $75 plus the price of the deadbolt. If you choose a lever or mortise set, you might pay more for labor alone:

• Cylindrical Deadbolt: $50-$70.

• Cylindrical Lever Lock: $60-$70.

• Mortise Lockset: $125-$175.

Locked Out of House Locksmith Charge

On average, you’ll pay $150 to have a locksmith get you into your house. . Since it takes them only a couple minutes to get you in, remember that you’re paying for a service, not an hourly rate. That price covers overhead, insurance, travel time, and the expertise of the pro you called.

Auto Locksmith Prices

An auto locksmith is trained to open cars quickly and without damaging them. They have the proper equipment to open the car, and they can do it in minutes. They can also replace the lock if needed.

Cost to Unlock a Car

Car lockout service costs $75 to $150, depending on how far they had to travel. Expect to pay double for after-hours services. For new cars, leases and many insurance companies, you’re probably covered by roadside assistance and won’t have to pay a cent. Look for credit card providers who offer this as a benefit.

Cost to Rekey a Car Door

Rekeying a car door runs $30 to $50 per door. If you need the locksmith to come to you, expect to pay an additional $50 to $100 trip fee. You’ll also need new set up keys, which can easily double the price.

Replace Car Door Lock

In most cases, repairing or replacing a standard door lock runs $50 to $200. But if you need to replace the keypad, you might spend an additional $200 to $400.

Rekey a Car Ignition

Rekeying an ignition runs $50 to $150 depending largely on the make of the car. However, many new cars don’t have keyed ignitions, only push-starts. You’ll need to go to your auto mechanic or dealership to have that replaced.

Cost to Make Car Keys

Making a standard car key runs $4 to $10. But if you need a transponder key or one with a chip to keep your car alarm from sounding, you’ll pay anywhere from $75 to $400. In some cases, a locksmith can’t make these keys and you’ll need to order them from the car manufacturer directly.

Programming Key Price

Programming a transponder key runs anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on where you have it done and the make of your car. You might find it cheaper to get a new key from your dealership.

Locksmith Charge to Open Safe

A few other safe services offered by locksmiths include:

• Changing the combination by hand: $50-$70.

• Changing the key combination: $50-$60.

• Lock Combination Change: $40-$75.

• Switch a Mechanical lock to electronic: $100-$150.

• Moving Charge: $100-$150.

• Installation: $150-$400.

Emergency Locksmith Estimates

After hours locksmith charges run $150 to $250 to get your home or car unlocked. Unfortunately, most of us end up paying 24-hour locksmith prices since we tend to go home after regular business hours. Only then do we find that we forgot our keys or locked them in our car.

In all, expect to pay about double for any emergency locksmith services. The good news is, keyless entry methods such as electronic locks, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and biometrics, make losing your key almost obsolete. Most of these keyless entry systems have a physical override key in the event that there is a battery or electronic failure. Hide the override key nearby to access it if this should happen.

Commercial Locksmith Service Prices

Commercial locksmith services range anywhere from $75 to $800. Large projects for businesses quickly get above $2,500. While the services might look similar, they’re dealing with heavy duty commercial grade hardware and installing into doors and windows made from stronger stuff than your average home.

License & Identification

Not all states carry licensing requirements for locksmiths. So, be wary of fraud or scams. To ensure you get the best locksmith for your needs and avoid potential problems, you should:

• Check on ALOA certification or membership. Associated Locksmiths of America has a voluntary certification program. At the very least, verify membership.

• Verify legitimate businesses. Google the business and verify it’s legit.

• Always ask the business for the name of the locksmith they send to you.

• Ask to see the license of the locksmith you hire when they arrive. Not all states require licensing, but if they do, ask to see it. If you’re unsure about their licensing, check your state’s requirements.

DIY Before You Call?

Don’t DIY your locks unless you’re an experienced lock picking expert with the right equipment. Chances are pretty good you’re not. You’ll probably end up making the problem worse or causing damage to your house or car. Some options to investigate first:

• Do you have a friend or neighbor with a spare key?

• Do you have a set of car keys at home (if it’s an auto lockout)?

Avoid any methods that use coat hangers, credit cards or other homemade devices. They don’t work and almost always cause damage. Call a residential locksmith near you today to get into your home or car.

Tips on Hiring a Locksmith

You can get a locksmith out to your home or car 24 hours a day. But always make sure they’re a legitimate professional. Here are some ways to find a qualified locksmith:

• Watch out for locksmith scams. Always ask for a name, location, rates and licenses.

• Call multiple locksmiths to get accurate rates. Detail the problem and what you think needs to be done. Honest locksmiths provide pricing upfront.

• Interview them. Ask about their training, previous jobs, if they’re insured and any additional charges.

• Online ratings.Look for their social media scores and feedback

• They should be up to date with modern tech.They shouldn’t just install locks and pick ones. They should also know about biometric security and other advanced systems.

• If you’re locked out, don’t let them drill and replace. A good locksmith knows how to unlock almost any door without a drill.

• If you're locked out of your car, call roadside assistance first if you have it. It’s usually quick and free.

The best thing to do is to research potential professionals in a trusted locksmith directory. Read reviews and find a trusted professional.

FAQs

How much is a locksmith fee to open a front or entry door?

The national average for opening a front door runs about $150.

How much does it cost to change locks in an apartment?

It’ll cost about $25 per door to change the locks in an apartment. However, check with the landlord first since denying the owner access might violate the lease.

How much does it cost to hire a locksmith in NYC?

You’ll pay anywhere from $75 to $500 for a locksmith in New York City with an average of $275.

Why do locksmiths charge so much?

Locksmith’s charge as much as they do to cover:

• Specialized training.

• Overhead – vehicles, insurance, licenses, utilities, other fees

• Time to travel to your location.

• Specialized tools.

Can the police unlock your car for free?

No, police do not unlock cars for free unless it’s an emergency, like a baby or pet stuck in a vehicle.

Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?

On average, you’ll spend about 50% less to rekey than replace.

Can I rekey my own locks?

You can purchase rekey kits for $30 to $250. It might take some trial and error, but it’s a doable DIY job. However, if you mess up, you’ll probably need to call a locksmith.

How long does it take to rekey a lock?

It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to rekey a single lock.

How much does a locksmith charge to program a key fob?

You’ll probably end up paying $50 to $100 to reprogram a key fob. Some dealerships do it free, always call them first.

How much does a car key replacement cost?

A car key replacement costs anywhere from $75 to $250 for most transponder models. Luxury cars might run $200 to $500 a key. Simple metal keys, sometimes called ‘valet keys’ cost $4-$10 to make, however, some newer cars require ‘chipped’ keys that keep the alarm from going off.

How much does Pop-a-lock charge?

Pop-a-lock, a national chain of locksmith pros, have varying costs depending on where you live. But, expect to pay around the national average of $150.

How much does a locksmith cost to unlock a car?

It’ll cost $50 to $150 to open a car door. But you may be able to get it done for free since most insurance or roadside assistance policies cover this completely.

How much does a locksmith cost to make a car key?

Making a car key can run anywhere from $4 to $10 for a standard key or up to $250 for a transponder type. Most of the time, you’ll need to get new keys from a dealership.