Cost to Rekey a House

HomeAdvisor prices a home rekey at $80 to $150.

What you pay for

Fees that change the total

• Service call / trip fee: $100 to $250 (HomeAdvisor)
• Minimum service fee: $40 to $75 (Angi)
• After-hours surcharge: $150 to $250 (HomeAdvisor)

Rekey vs. replace

Source: Angi.

Rekeying keeps your existing locks and changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work.

Bob Vila's rekey breakdown

Bob Vila, citing HomeAdvisor, breaks a house rekey into $40 to $100 for the service, $15 to $40 for new lock parts and a $50 to $100 trip charge. Its national average for any locksmith job is $156.

Locksmith rates

Rekeying vs. a new lock

Extra keys

Copying a house key costs $1 to $10 (Bob Vila) or $5 to $20 (HomeAdvisor); Angi lists extra keys at $2 to $8 each.

HomeServe's figures

HomeServe lists rekeying at $15 to $40 per lock plus a trip fee, and says a locksmith visit averages $50 to $150 just to come out. Changing three locks instead runs $95 to $270.

How the sources compare

HomeAdvisor's $80 to $150 is a total for rekeying a home, including labor and kit. Angi's $10 to $30 and HomeServe's $15 to $40 are per lock, before trip fees. Bob Vila's breakdown, $40 to $100 for the service plus $15 to $40 in parts and a $50 to $100 trip charge, adds the trip charge as a separate line.

What rekeying is

Rekeying changes the small pins inside a lock cylinder so a new key works and old keys stop working. The lock hardware stays on the door, so the look of the door does not change.

When to rekey

• After moving into a new home, since you do not know who still has keys.
• After losing keys or having them stolen.
• After a roommate, tenant, contractor or employee no longer needs access.
• When you want all exterior locks to use one key.

More on rekey vs. replace

Rekeying is usually less costly than replacing locks, because only the pins change. Replacement makes more sense when the locks are worn, damaged, low-security or you want a new style or a smart lock.

Keyed alike

If your locks are the same brand and keyway, a locksmith can often rekey them all to one key. Locks from different brands may need new cylinders or replacement to match.

What affects the price

• Number of lock cylinders.
• Lock brand and type.
• High-security locks with restricted keys.
• Service call fee.
• Extra keys.

DIY rekey kits

Some lock brands sell rekey kits or have a built-in rekey feature. These can work for simple locks, but mistakes can leave a lock jammed.

Questions to ask

1. Can all my locks be keyed alike?
2. Is the trip fee included in the quote?
3. How many keys come with the job?

In Texas

The Texas Property Code requires landlords to rekey residential rental units after a tenant moves out, within a set time. Landlords and tenants can read the specific rules in Chapter 92 of the Property Code.

How rekeying works

A pin tumbler lock has a set of small pins inside the cylinder. When the correct key is inserted, the pins line up at a shear line and the cylinder turns. Rekeying means removing the cylinder, taking out the old pins and installing new pins sized to a new key. The lock's outside hardware stays the same, but old keys no longer work. Because only small pins change, rekeying is quick and costs less than buying new locks.

Rekeying after moving in

When you buy or rent a home, you rarely know how many copies of the old keys exist. Previous owners, contractors, real estate agents, neighbors and cleaners may all have had keys. Rekeying every exterior lock, including the garage side door and any locks on sheds, is one of the cheapest ways to make sure only you have access. Renters should check the lease before changing locks; many leases require landlord permission and a copy of the new key.

Other times to rekey

• After a roommate, tenant or employee moves out.
• After losing keys, especially if they were with something showing your address.
• After a break-in or attempted break-in, along with checking the doors and frames for damage.
• When you want all exterior doors to use one key.

Bringing cylinders to the shop

Some locksmiths charge less if you remove the lock cylinders and bring them to the shop, since there is no travel fee. This works for people comfortable taking locks apart, but it leaves the door unlocked until the cylinders return, so plan it for a day when someone is home. For most homeowners, a single on-site visit to rekey every lock is simpler and avoids reinstalling cylinders incorrectly.

Master key systems

Landlords, property managers and small businesses often use master key systems, in which each door has its own key but one master key opens every lock. Rekeying an existing set of locks into a master key system is more involved than a simple rekey, because each cylinder needs extra pins, and the locksmith has to plan the key combinations so that no individual key opens the wrong door. Ask for a key schedule that lists every door and who holds each key. For a home, a simpler alternative is keying all exterior doors alike, so one key works everywhere. Keep in mind that the more keys exist, the more important it becomes to track who has them and to rekey when someone with a key leaves.

Sources

1. HomeAdvisor: How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? (updated Jun 19, 2026)
2. Angi: How Much Does Lock Replacement Cost? (updated Oct 13, 2026)
3. Bob Vila: How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?
4. HomeServe: Locked Out? How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? (Jun 3, 2025)