Summary
- Daytime lockouts cost $100–250 (US) or £70–180 (UK).
- Out-of-hours call-outs add 50–100%.
- Demand the total price and company details before they travel.
- Most locks open non-destructively — drilling is a last resort.
- Renters should call the landlord or agent first.
Quick answer
A standard daytime lockout costs about $100–250 in the US and £70–180 in the UK. Nights, weekends and holidays typically add 50–100%. Most jobs take under 30 minutes once the locksmith arrives.
Typical 2026 prices
| Job | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime lockout, non-destructive entry | $100–250 | £70–180 |
| Night / weekend lockout | $180–400 | £120–280 |
| Lock change, standard cylinder | $150–350 | £100–220 |
| High-security cylinder upgrade | $250–500 | £150–350 |
| Snapped key extraction | $90–200 | £60–150 |
| Burglary repair and board-up | $250–800 | £180–600 |
| Car lockout | $100–250 | £70–180 |
| Safe opening | $250–700 | £180–500 |
The classic scam
A national-sounding call centre quotes "from $29" or "£39 call-out", dispatches a subcontractor with no ID, drills a lock that did not need drilling, and presents a bill of several hundred with a card machine at the door. It is common in every major city.
How to avoid it:
Before you call
Non-destructive entry
A competent locksmith opens most domestic locks by picking, bypassing or letter-box tools without damage. Drilling should be a last resort for high-security or damaged cylinders — and if it is drilled, the replacement cylinder cost must have been quoted before the drill came out.
After the lockout
Consider a key safe for a spare, a smart lock with a code backup, or simply leaving a spare with someone nearby. Upgrading to an anti-snap, anti-bump cylinder costs $40–120 or £30–90 in parts and removes the most common break-in method entirely.
Summary
Expect £70–180 or $100–250 in daytime hours. Get the total price, the company name and a commitment to non-destructive entry before anyone travels — those three questions defeat almost every locksmith scam.