How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?

Locksmith Cost Factors

A few factors affect the final price of hiring a locksmith, from the service to the timing and more.

Type of Service

Locksmiths offer various services at different prices. Some services require a specialized locksmith, from rekeying your home locks to replacing your car ignition lock, which can drive up the price. 

Emergencies

If you find yourself locked out of your home at any time, many locksmiths are available 24 hours a day. You can call your local locksmith for an emergency visit, but expect to pay $150 to $250 on average.

Trip Fees

In most cases, you will need to pay a trip fee of $50 to $100 that can surge up to $150 for a locksmith to come to your house or car, especially if you live in a rural area.

Electronic Locks

Upgrading from a traditional lock to an electric lock costs around $150 per lock. Replacing an existing electric lock like-for-like will set you back roughly $60. What you spend depends on the type of lock and what's wrong with it. Installing an electronic security system costs between $100 and $400, while installing a full smart-home electronic system will run you anywhere from $400 to $1,800. 

Locksmith Service Costs

A locksmith offers various services, from unlocking to changing locks or rekeying your home, safe, or car. The total cost depends mainly on the locksmith services you need.

Unlocking a House

It typically costs $65 to $180 for a locksmith to help you if you’re locked out of your house. That price covers overhead, insurance, travel time, and the cost depending on the time of day; after hours will cost more than standard working hours.  

Changing House Locks

It usually costs about $80 to $200 per lock to change the locks on your home and can go up to $300 in emergencies. 

Rekeying Home Locks

Rekeying locks on your home typically costs $80 to $160. If you call the locksmith to your home, you might pay a trip fee of $50 to $100. The cost to rekey is $30 to $60 per lock, bringing you to that total.

Rekeying is different and more affordable than replacing the locks. When rekeying, a locksmith rearranges the pins in the cylinder, which changes the key.

Installing Deadbolt Locks

Installing a deadbolt lock costs $40 to $75 plus the cost of the deadbolt, depending on its type:

• Cylindrical deadbolts cost $50–$70

• Cylindrical lever locks cost: $60–$70

• Mortise locksets cost: $125–$175

Installing Electronic Locks

Most electronic systems use a combination of keypads, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and biometrics. Some systems also interact with smart home hubs.

While a single keypad lock might run as little as $50, installing a smart home electronic lock can cost anywhere from $100 to $500—depending on the type of lock system installed—and go up to $2,000+ for more high-tech systems. 

The price for each type of electronic lock:

• Keypad: $50–$300

• Bluetooth: $60–$200

• Biometric: $150–$500

• Wi-Fi: $250–$450

Unlocking a Car

A locksmith typically charges $60 to $85 to open your car door or trunk, and the cost can go up to $150 depending on how far they have to travel. Expect to pay double for after-hours services.

Replacing a Car Door Lock

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

Rekeying a Car

Rekeying a car door runs from $30 to $50 per door. Expect to pay an additional trip fee plus the cost of the setup keys, which can easily double the price.

Rekeying a car ignition runs between $50 to $150, depending on the make of the car. 

Making a Car Key

Making a standard car key can run anywhere from $4 to $10. If you need a transponder key, you’ll pay up to $400 and may need to order them from the dealership if a locksmith can’t make them.

Extracting a Key

If your key breaks off in a lock, expect to pay between $60 and $200 for extraction. The exact figure will depend on the type of lock, where you live, and whether you incur an emergency callout fee for nights, weekends, and holidays. 

Duplicating a Key

Duplicating a key costs anywhere from $1 to $400. Standard house keys generally only cost $1 to $10. However, if you have a transponder key specifically coded to a security system, like the one in your car, you'll pay between $75 and $400 for a duplicate.

Opening a Safe

Opening a safe costs between $50 and $400, on average. If the job is just to set a new combination or switch a manual lock to an electronic one, expect to pay around $50 to $150. But to manually open a safe, you'll pay a safe locksmith a bare minimum of $150. For tougher cases, where the pro needs to drill into the lock to get it open, the price rises to $200 to $400.

When Should You Call a Locksmith?

The most obvious reasons to call a locksmith are when you've lost your keys, you've locked yourself out of your home or car, or the key has snapped off in the lock. You'll also need to hire a local locksmith if you're looking to upgrade your home's security system, whether that's with a series of deadlocks or you want to switch from manual locks to electronic ones. 

Additionally, whether you buy a new property, buy an old home, or you're just renting, it's worth calling a locksmith to get the locks rekeyed. That way, you know for certain that only you have the keys to your home. 

Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks

Rekeying locks is considerably more affordable than replacing them, at between $80 and $160 per lock. Rekeying involves the locksmith repositioning the pins in the tumbler so that you need a new key to operate the lock. The cost to replace locks is significantly more, at $80 to $300 per lock.

DIY vs. Hiring a Locksmith

Whether you lost your keys or got your keys stuck in the lock, attempting to DIY any work on your lock can end up making the problem worse. You also run the risk of causing damage to your house or car if you don’t have experience. 

If you find yourself in this situation, it’s better to call a local locksmith. They can save you both time and money and give you peace of mind that they will do the job correctly.

FAQs About Hiring a Locksmith

How can you hire a vetted locksmith?

Do your research—even if you're in a hurry to get back into your car or house. Make sure the company you hire has a legitimate online presence with plenty of reviews. If your state has licensing regulations for locksmiths, ask to see the contractor's license. Choose a company with a good reputation and can answer your questions and concerns promptly and thoroughly. 

To find a reputable company, contact a local hardware store or call roadside assistance and ask who they'd recommend. Make sure you get an itemized invoice, and never sign a blank one. Explain the problem, then ask how they plan to remedy it, which they should be able to tell you in detail. You should also ask to see proof of insurance, just to be on the safe side.

When should you replace door locks?

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

• When you move to a new home.

• After a burglary or suspected attempted break-in.

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

How long does it take to rekey a lock?

It usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes to rekey each lock.