What Drives Locksmith Costs?
Locksmith costs from $75 to $900 are primarily determined by the type of service, when the call is made, and the complexity of the lock hardware involved. Here is the specific breakdown.
Time of Day and Day of Week
The single largest variable in emergency locksmith pricing is when the call is made. Standard business hours (typically 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday): lowest rates. Evenings (5 PM to 10 PM) and early mornings (6 AM to 8 AM): moderate premium, typically 25 to 50 percent above standard. Late night (10 PM to 6 AM): highest premium, often 75 to 100 percent above standard rate. Weekends: comparable to evenings. Holidays: highest tier for most locksmiths. A $100 daytime lockout may cost $175 to $200 on a weekend evening and $200 to $250 in the middle of a holiday night.
Service Type and Complexity
A standard lockout (opening an existing lock without destroying it) is the fastest and least expensive service an experienced locksmith picks or bypasses most residential locks in 5 to 15 minutes. Lock rekeying (changing internal pins so existing keys no longer work) takes slightly longer but is less expensive than replacement typically $12 to $35 per keyhole, with a $75 minimum for a single lock. New lock installation involves hardware, installation time, and adjustment more labor and material, therefore higher cost. Security assessment and master key system design are the most complex and expensive residential locksmith services. (For more on this, see Hidden Costs of Locksmith Services.)
Lock Brand and Security Level
Budget locksets ($15 to $40 retail) installed by a locksmith: $100 to $150 total installed. Mid-grade locks (Schlage B series, Kwikset deadbolts, $30 to $70 retail): $120 to $200 installed. High-security locks (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, $150 to $400+ retail): $495 to $895 installed per opening. Smart locks ($80 to $340 retail): $200 to $400 installed with programming. The lock hardware cost is a significant component of the total bill for installation and replacement services ask for the retail price of the specific lock being installed to understand how much is hardware vs. labor. (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. (For more on this, see Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Locksmith.)
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.
