Calling a locksmith: lockouts, rekeys and new hardware
Why rekeying beats replacing after a move, how call-out and per-lock charges combine, and when waiting for business hours halves the bill.
Locksmiths get called in two very different moods: the calm one, where you've just moved into a new home and want the locks sorted, and the panicked one, standing on the doorstep at 11pm with the keys inside. The trade handles both, but the smart moves differ.
Knowing the difference between rekeying and replacing, and how timing affects the price, saves real money on what feels like an unavoidable expense.
What locksmiths do
Locksmiths price around a call-out fee plus a per-lock charge for the work. The most useful thing to understand is rekeying: changing the pins inside an existing lock so old keys stop working, without replacing the hardware. It's much cheaper than fitting new locks, and it's usually all you need after moving house or losing keys — you get a fresh set that the previous occupants' keys won't open.
Beyond rekeying, they gain entry after lockouts without damaging the door, supply and fit new deadlocks and hardware, and install keyless and smart locks. Keying multiple locks alike — one key for the whole house — is a small ask that cuts your keyring down and costs little extra.
Where the job broadens: a warped door or damaged frame may need carpentry-style adjustment before a lock sits and closes properly, which adds time.
How the cost works
A business-hours lockout sits in the low-to-mid hundreds, rekeying three or four locks after a move lands a little higher, and supplying and fitting new deadlocks plus a smart lock runs higher again. These are indicative bands; the estimate on this page adjusts for the number of locks, the service and timing.
Two levers matter most. The number of locks stacks up the per-lock charges, though you only pay the call-out once — so batching is worth it. And timing is a big one: after-hours and public-holiday call-outs commonly add fifty to a hundred per cent. If you're locked out but safe, waiting for business hours can genuinely halve the bill.
Choosing the right locksmith
Locksmithing is a licensed, security-regulated trade in most states — so check the locksmith is licensed before you let them work on your home's security. It's a reasonable thing to ask, and any professional expects it.
For value, ask for keyed-alike locks so one key opens everything, and after moving in, ask about rekeying every lock to a single new key rather than replacing them — it's the cheaper path to the same peace of mind. A good locksmith explains the rekey-versus-replace choice rather than defaulting to selling you new hardware.
Mistakes to avoid
Locksmith regrets are mostly about paying emergency rates unnecessarily, or replacing when rekeying would have done.
- Paying after-hours rates for a lockout when you're safe and could wait until morning
- Replacing every lock after a move when rekeying to one key is far cheaper
- Not asking for keyed-alike locks and ending up with a keyring full of them
- Booking separate visits for locks that could all be done in one call-out
- Skipping the licence check on a trade that has access to your home's security
- Ignoring a warped door that will stop the new lock closing properly
Indicative range only, not a quote — see the full guide for worked scenarios and what moves the price.
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