A locksmith charges $75–200 for a standard daytime callout in 2026, which covers the trip and a simple job like a house lockout. Nights, weekends and holidays run $150–350. Rekeying is $25–60 per cylinder once someone is on site, a new deadbolt installed is $150–350, and car key programming is $150–500 depending on the vehicle.
Updated September 15, 2026
Locksmithing has a well-documented scam pattern: an ad promises $19 service, an unmarked van arrives, and the invoice becomes $350 because the lock 'had to be drilled'. Those ads often belong to national call centers that subcontract to whoever is nearby.
Protect yourself in three steps. Ask for a total price including the callout before the van leaves, ask for the legal business name and address and check it against a map, and require the technician to show ID and an invoice with that same business name. A legitimate locksmith will also ask you to prove you live there — if nobody asks, that's a warning sign about who else they'd let in.
Drilling a standard residential lock is almost never necessary. Most house lockouts are opened non-destructively in a few minutes.
Callout fee plus labor. Hardware billed separately unless noted.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Standard callout, business hours | $75–200 |
| Emergency callout, nights and weekends | $150–350 |
| House lockout, non-destructive | $90–250 |
| Rekey a cylinder | $25–60 each |
| Install a deadbolt | $150–350 |
| Replace a mortise lock | $250–600 |
| Smart lock supply and install | $250–700 |
| Car key cut and programmed | $150–500 |
| Safe opening | $150–600 |
| Commercial door hardware, per door | $300–1,200 |
After a move, a breakup or a lost key, rekeying is the cheap answer: the locksmith changes the pins so old keys stop working, and at $25–60 a cylinder you can do a whole house for less than two new locks. Replace instead when the hardware is worn, the grade is too low, or you want a different key system.
Ask for ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 or 2 hardware on exterior doors. Grade 3 is builder-grade and is what most break-ins go through. Having every exterior lock keyed alike costs nothing extra when it's done in one visit.
Locksmith licensing is state by state — some states license and fingerprint locksmiths, others don't regulate the trade at all. Where there's no license, membership in ALOA and a certificate of general liability insurance are the practical substitutes.
For rental property and commercial doors, check that any hardware change keeps the door compliant with fire and egress code. A deadbolt needing a key to exit from the inside is the classic violation and it fails inspection every time.
$90–250 during business hours including the callout, and $150–350 at night or on a weekend. Non-destructive entry should be the default.
Yes. Rekeying runs $25–60 per cylinder plus the callout, while a new quality deadbolt installed is $150–350. Rekey unless the hardware itself is worn or too low a grade.
Usually, including programming the transponder, for $150–500 depending on the make and whether it's a proximity fob. Dealers are typically more expensive and require towing the car in.
Get the all-in price on the phone, confirm the legal business name and local address, and expect to show proof that you live or work there. Refuse drilling on a standard residential lock.
Describe the job and we'll match you with the right company — free for homeowners.