How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? (From Lowest to Highest)

There are certain lock problems that you just can’t do by yourself. This may be caused by the severity of the issue or you neither have the necessary materials nor the experience.

It is where hiring a professional comes in. Locksmiths can be very helpful when you have lock problems that need to be solved immediately because of emergencies, such as getting locked out of your car or for temporary reasons, just like having the locks of your house rekeyed.

If you’re in need of the service and you’re wondering, “how much does a locksmith cost?,” you might want to read further.

Price Range of Locksmiths

How expensive is a locksmith? The national average locksmith cost is around 150$, while the lowest cost can go $50 and the highest can go $300 – $500.

Indeed, the price of a locksmith can fluctuate, depending on the following factors:

1. How complex the job is

If you are locked out, and you only need the locksmith to pick to unlock your house, you will only be charged less than 50$. This is because it only takes a little time and effort in order for the locksmith to do the job.

However, suppose you need a locksmith to put up a security system around your house. In that case, a locksmith can charge you as high as $400, since it takes longer and requires highly specialized skills to do the job.

2. The number of hours to do the job

Replacing the locks of your house would take hours to do, and the locksmith will charge you more than the cost to open a safe which takes a shorter time to do.

You must also be prepared to pay the necessary fee the locksmith will charge you due to the unexpected difficulty of troubleshooting and fixing the issue.

3. Where you are located

Most locksmiths will charge you a specific fee depending on how far you want the locksmith servicing. Some locksmiths charge you per mile, while some will charge a flat rate.

That is why if you are living in NYC, don’t ask for locksmith services outside your city so that you can avail cheap locksmith prices.

Locksmith Service Costs

1. Cost per hour

Not all locksmiths price the same. Based on the locksmith price guide, if you hire a master locksmith for a complex job, the locksmith might charge you $100 to $125 per hour.

For simple lock problems such as unlocking a bedroom door, an apprentice locksmith would only charge you around $50 to $75. On the other hand, a journeyman locksmith can charge you $75 to $100 per hour if you want to change locks on a house, for instance.

2. Cost by type of lock

Every lock has its own intricacies and complexities. For example, simple sliding doors can be fixed for $50 while complex sliding doors can be as expensive as over $130. 

A mortise lock can be very costly, as you might pay over $350 for the materials alone, and the locksmith pricing for this type of lock is $125 to more than $175.  

The most expensive service must be installing an electronic lock since many pay nearly $500 for a top-notch lock system.

Below is the reference for the material prices, depending on the different types of locks and parts. You can estimate the total fee by combining the labor cost and the materials cost here:

3.  Type of service

The table above shows the type of car service a locksmith can do. The cost to rekey a car can range from $35 -$150, while a car lockout service costs $80 – $150.

The lock change costs $50 – $150. If you want to change the locks on two doors, the cost to change locks on two doors would be $100 – $300.

Emergency services for a car lock problem are more expensive. Locksmiths can charge you $150 – $250 per hour based on emergency locksmith prices.

Since door locks and car locks have different mechanisms, each of the services have different prices except for a few similarities. A new key costs $10 – $25 if you want to have a key duplicated for car keys and home lock keys.

If you want to retrieve your valuables from your safe, the cost to open a safe ranges from $140 – $450. You will need to pay $150 – $550 for the cost to change locks, depending on the number of locks you want to be changed or replaced.

Tips to Save Money on Locksmith Services

Locksmiths are not cheap and affordable for everyone. If you are on a tight budget, you might want to know these helpful tips to save money on locksmith services:

Hire A Locksmith vs DIY

If you are torn between hiring a locksmith or doing it by yourself, here are some pros and cons to consider for each option:

1. Pros and cons of hiring a locksmith

2. Pros and cons DIY

Helpful Tips

Are Locksmiths Worth It?

Hiring a locksmith is worth it, since registered and licensed locksmiths are one call away, especially when you need them during emergencies. They also have the necessary knowledge and experience, so you are sure that they can get the job done right.

When you hire a local locksmith, you get what you pay for. They can give you peace of mind since you don’t have to worry about having your security breached, and they can also present you different options of services for your lock problems.

Can You Negotiate With a Locksmith?

Yes, you can negotiate with a locksmith for cheap locksmith prices. The first step you want to do to lessen the cost of your lock services is to call locksmiths near you and get quotations to decide on the average cost for that service.

Next, inform some of the locksmiths that others have offered you less than what they have offered. This will be your prompt to ask for discounts for the fee, which will come depending on your negotiating skills.

Buy New Lock or Rekey: Which is Cheaper?

If you lost your keys to your lock, the cost of having your locks rekeyed is cheaper than the cost to replace locks. Rekeying would only cost you $20 – $50, while replacing a new lock would cost $50 – $300.

However, if the lock is already years old and has become rusty and sticky, you may opt to buy a new lock. This will give you a fresh set of keys while enjoying the convenience of easy access to the door or valuables.

Conclusion

If you are worried that you can’t do things the right way, the best course would be to seek help from a professional. Especially for your lock problems requiring intricate materials and advanced skills, you might want a locksmith to do the job for you.

Now that you know the answer to the question “how much does a locksmith cost?,” you can allot a budget for the cost. It will also help you to prevent overpaying or underpaying your locksmith.