What Does a Locksmith Cost?
Professional locksmith services typically cost $75 to $900, averaging around $150 for most standard residential calls. The wide range reflects the significant difference between a routine lockout and a high-security lock installation. Rekeying is the exception: it is priced per cylinder at $12 to $35 a keyhole, with a $75 minimum for a single lock, so it sits below that range.
Emergency Lockout: $75 to $255
A residential lockout being locked out of your home and needing a locksmith to let you in costs $75 to $250 during standard business hours. After-hours, weekend, and holiday calls carry premium rates of $95 to $255, with posted-rate shops adding a $25 to $50 surcharge on top of their standard price. The $49 to $130 service call fee is part of that total and is owed whether or not the door opens. The time of day and day of week are the primary drivers of lockout cost a locksmith called at 2 AM on a Saturday commands a higher rate than the same call on a Tuesday afternoon. Always ask the quoted rate before confirming the appointment. (For more on this, see Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Locksmith.)
Lock Installation or Replacement: $100 to $300 per Lock
Installing or replacing a standard deadbolt or door lockset including the hardware cost for a mid-grade lock and the labor to install and adjust it runs $100 to $300 per lock. This range covers the most common residential lock service: upgrading or replacing a keyed deadbolt on an exterior door. Premium lock brands (Schlage, Kwikset SmartKey, Medeco) are at the higher end; budget locksets at the lower end. Installing locks on multiple doors in a single visit is typically discounted from the per-lock rate. (For more on this, see Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks: Which Should You Choose?.)
High-Security or Smart Locks: $200 to $895
High-security locks (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA Abloy) and smart locks (Schlage Encode, Yale Smart Lock, August Smart Lock) require premium hardware and, for smart locks, programming and configuration in addition to installation. High-security mechanical locks: $495 to $895 per opening installed. Smart lock supplied and installed: $295 to $495 per door, and $200 to $400 to install a smart lock you bought yourself, depending on the lock model, the number of access codes to configure, and whether integration with a smart home system is required. (For more on this, see Smart Locks: Cost, Installation, and What to Know.)
Locksmith Service Cost at a Glance
Here is a quick reference for common locksmith service costs. Prices reflect residential calls during standard business hours in most US markets. After-hours, weekend, and holiday calls add 50 to 100 percent to emergency service rates.
| Cost Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency lockout (daytime) | $75 to $250 | After-hours lockout: $95 to $255. The $49 to $130 trip fee is part of that price and is owed whether or not the door opens. The time of day and day of week are the primary price drivers for lockout calls. |
| Lock rekeying | $12 to $35 per keyhole | priced per cylinder, plus $2 to $5 per new key, with a $75 minimum for a single lock Some shops instead charge $105 to $155 for the first door including the service call and $45 to $65 for each door after Rekeying is the most economical way to secure a new home or after key loss. |
| Standard lock installation or replacement | $100 to $300 per lock | including mid-grade hardware and installation Grade 1 deadbolts at $40 to $80 retail plus $75 to $125 installation labor is the typical standard residential installation. |
| Smart lock, supplied and installed | $295 to $495 per door | Includes the hardware; installing a smart lock you supply yourself runs $200 to $400 with programming and connectivity configuration. |
| High-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) | $495 to $895 per opening | Patented keyways that resist picking and cannot be duplicated without authorization. |
Cost figures on this page were checked against published pricing on August 28, 2026. How we source cost data.
Service call fees ($49 to $130) may be charged separately from labor always ask for the all-in total price before confirming a locksmith appointment. Treat an advertised price under $50 as a warning sign: state consumer protection agencies have warned about operators who advertise a $15 to $35 service call, then demand far more in cash on arrival.
Planning Your Project Budget
The cost ranges in this article are based on industry data and are intended as planning benchmarks, not fixed prices. The actual cost for your project depends on your specific home, your local labor market, the current price of materials, and the scope the contractor confirms after a site inspection.
Always get at least two written quotes on equivalent defined scope before committing to any home services project. Wide price variation between quotes usually reflects differences in material quality, scope completeness (what is included and what is not), or contractor overhead and experience level rather than simple price competition.
Use the cost data in this article to ask better questions during the quoting process: What material is included? What does that per-square-foot or per-linear-foot rate include and exclude? Are permits, cleanup, and disposal included? What is the warranty on labor? These questions turn a quote into a comparable basis for decision-making.
