Lock Replacement Cost

By Anthony Limpert, Supercanic, Riverside County, California

Author Source EEAT Authors · Anthony's Author Page

What the Lock Itself Costs

The hardware is the part of the bill that moves the most. Fixr lists these material prices. A knob lock is 25 to 55 dollars. A standard deadbolt is 40 to 75. A lever set is 65 to 85.

Better hardware climbs fast. Fixr puts keyless and keypad locks at 150 to 300 dollars, electronic locks at 200 to 400, a front door handle set at 225 to 550 and a mortise lock at 300 to 450.

A commercial grade deadbolt is often 90 to 250 dollars. It is heavier, the bolt is stronger and it lasts far longer on a door that gets a lot of use.

This Old House, using Homewyse data, puts a typical lockset at 146 to 229 dollars before labor. That fits a good quality residential lock.

What the Labor Costs

Labor is usually 40 to 150 dollars per lock on top of the service call. One Phoenix shop lists exactly that range. Fixr puts lock install labor at 50 to 75 dollars an hour, and This Old House puts labor for a lock change at 91 to 194 dollars for the job.

A straight swap into the same holes sits at the low end. Most deadbolts and knobs use standard holes, so a new one goes in with a screwdriver.

The price rises when the door needs new holes, a new strike plate, a mortise pocket cut, or adjustment so the bolt slides freely. A door that has to be fixed before the lock works is a bigger job, and a good locksmith says so before starting.

Putting it together, Fixr lists 100 to 300 dollars to install a door lock and 150 to 550 to change the locks on a house.

Ways to Pay Less

Ask whether you need new locks at all. If the hardware works and you only want the old keys to stop working, a rekey is 20 to 40 dollars per lock plus the call out. See the rekey cost guide.

Do every door in one visit. You pay the service call once, not once per door.

Key all the outside doors alike while the locksmith is there. It costs little more and saves you a ring of keys.

If you buy the lock yourself, check that it fits your door and ask the locksmith on the phone if they will fit it. Many will, for labor only. Choosing a deadbolt covers what to look for.

What to Ask Before Work Starts

Ask for the brand and grade of the lock they plan to fit, and the total price for parts, labor and the call out.

Ask whether the price changes if the door needs new holes or a new strike. A clear answer on the phone saves an argument on the doorstep.

Watch for a sales push during a lockout. Some bad operators drill a working lock and then sell an expensive replacement. A good locksmith opens most doors without damage and tells you before drilling. Read how to spot a locksmith scam.

Ask about the warranty on the lock and the work. A real business will tell you both.

Where These Numbers Come From

Sources. These ranges come from public price pages we read on Fixr, This Old House, which uses Homewyse data, Thumbtack and ACME Locksmith, checked against our locksmith cost guide. Prices vary by city and by brand.