Door Lock Cost

How Much Does a Door Lock Cost?

Low: Kits Run $8-$15; Re-Keying Only $5-$15

Medium: DIY Replace Locks $15-$50

High: Locksmith May Charge $40-$100 Per Lock

Losing a set of keys, moving into a new home, going through a divorce or simply realizing that too many copies of your house keys are in circulation can prompt the need to change the entry locks on your home. You can have the lock cylinders reset to use a new key, or you can replace all the locks.

Typical costs:

A re-key kit to reset the cylinders on as many as 6 locks is available for $8 -$15 at some (but not all) hardware stores or home improvement centers.
It's relatively easy (and should require only a screwdriver) to remove the cylinders from your locks. Take the cylinders to a hardware store or locksmith to have them re-keyed at a charge of $5 -$15 per lock. For a home with four locks (both a doorknob and a deadbolt lock on the front and back entry doors) it will run $20 -$60. Call ahead (before removing the cylinders) to be sure someone will be available that day to re-key your locks, and that they will re-key your particular brand and model of lock. The only disadvantage to this approach is that there will be no locks on your entry doors while the cylinders are being re-keyed.
Buying basic locks and installing them yourself runs around $15 -$50 per lock, or $60 -$200 for four locks on a typical home, depending on the quality and style of the locks. Except to pay at the higher end of the scale if you have all the locks keyed to operate with one key, instead of a separate key for each lock.
A locksmith will charge a minimum fee (often called a mobile fee) of $40 -$100 plus anywhere from $5 -$25 per lock cylinder (one per keyhole) for coming to your home and re-keying the locks. (The cost per lock will depend on the type of lock and the prevailing rates in your area.) For a typical home with four locks it can run anywhere from $60 -$200, and costs can be even higher if the work is done off-hours, in the evening or on a weekend. When getting quotes, be sure to ask exactly what is included -- some locksmiths include the cost of re-keying one lock in their minimum charge for coming to your home, others charge the minimum plus the fee for each keyhole.
To have a locksmith come to your home and install new locks, there's usually a minimum fee of $40 -$100 plus a labor charge of $20 -$30, for a total of $120 -$220 for just the labor for a home with four locks (you supply the new hardware). If the locksmith supplies the locks, standard models start around $25 -$50 each, which raises the total cost to $220 -$420 for coming out and installing four locks. If you choose high-security locks such as the Medeco locks (duplicate keys can only be made by the Medeco dealer who installed the lock) they can be $130 -$265 each, for a total cost of $640 -$1,280 for a home with four entry locks.

Additional costs:

A locksmith's re-keying fee is calculated per keyhole. A deadbolt with a keyhole on both the inside and outside of the door (instead of an inside lever that you turn) will cost double to re-key.
If your locks are different brands, it may not be possible to re-key them to work with one key, making it necessary to install new locks if you want everything to operate on the same key.

Shopping for a door lock:

Common lock manufacturers include Kwikset and Schlage.
When calling a locksmith for a quote, try to give as many details as possible -- the type of lock (the brand name is usually on the edge of the door) and whether the door is wood or metal, with a wood or metal jam. If you're having the locksmith come to your home, be sure to ask what the minimum charge is for a service call, and if any off-hours (evenings or weekends) fees will apply. The Missouri-Kansas Locksmith Association lists tips for hiring a locksmith.
Ask for locksmith recommendations at the local hardware store. Locksmith fees can vary considerably, so call around and get several estimates. Make sure the locksmith is licensed and bonded (there have been some scams where thieves masqueraded as locksmiths), and check whether there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.

Article updated December 2008