A house lockout is stressful enough without the added anxiety of not knowing whether you're about to get ripped off. Here's a clear breakdown of what residential lockouts actually cost — and the specific things that make prices go up or down.
Quick answer: A residential lockout in the US costs $89–$225, with a national average of $163. After-hours calls add $25–$75. If you're quoted under $50, treat it as a red flag.
Residential Lockout Prices (2026)
| Situation | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Standard lockout, daytime | $89–$150 |
| Standard lockout, evening | $120–$200 |
| Standard lockout, late night/weekend | $145–$225 |
| Apartment building with intercom access | $100–$175 |
| High-security lock (Medeco, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock) | $150–$350 |
| If lock needs to be drilled (last resort) | Add $100–$300 for new lock + install |
What Makes House Lockout Prices Vary So Much?
Your Lock Type
The lock on your door matters more than most people realise.
Standard pin tumbler deadbolt (Kwikset, Schlage): A skilled locksmith picks these in 2–5 minutes. You're paying for the service call, not really the labor time.
High-security locks (Medeco, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA Abloy): These are engineered to be resistant to picking and manipulation. A locksmith may spend 15–30 minutes on one, or may determine that drilling is necessary. Expect $150–$350+ for these.
Smart locks / electronic deadbolts: Most still have a physical key cylinder as a backup — a locksmith uses that. If you've lost both the code and the key, costs go up.
Your Location
Locksmith prices vary by city roughly in proportion to overall cost of living:
- Most expensive: New York City ($135–$300), San Francisco ($130–$280), Los Angeles ($120–$260)
- Mid-range: Chicago, Seattle, Boston ($100–$220)
- Lower cost: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix ($89–$185)
Time of Day
The single biggest price variable for a house lockout. Daytime weekday calls are the cheapest. Nights, weekends, and holidays trigger after-hours surcharges — typically $25–$75 on top of the regular rate.
Legitimate locksmiths are transparent about this. A company that quotes a flat price without asking when you need service, then adds a surprise surcharge on arrival, is not operating honestly.
How You Found the Locksmith
This sounds odd, but how you find your locksmith affects the price you'll pay. Locksmiths at the top of Google searches for "locksmith near me" pay significant advertising costs to be there — and some of those costs get passed to you. Independent local locksmiths with lower ad spend often charge less.
More importantly, many top-ranked locksmith listings are national call centres rather than local businesses. They take your job, dispatch a contractor, and mark up the cost. Using a directory to find verified local locksmiths cuts out the middleman.
The Service Call Fee — What It Is
Almost every locksmith charges a service call fee (trip charge, call-out fee) just to come to your location. This is separate from the work itself.
Standard service call fee: $50–$100
The confusion — and where many scams happen — is that some locksmiths advertise a price that IS the service call fee, then quote the actual work separately once they arrive. A "$35 lockout" headline may mean $35 service call + $150 labor.
The fix: Ask for the total. Not the rate. Not the call-out fee. The total bill for a standard residential lockout at your address right now.
Can You Refuse to Pay a Locksmith?
If a locksmith quotes $100 and presents a $400 bill before starting work, you can decline. You owe nothing if no work has been performed.
If work has already been done and the price is significantly higher than quoted, you're in a harder position legally — but you can:
- Refuse to sign any inflated invoice
- Pay only the quoted amount and document everything
- Report the discrepancy to your state Attorney General's consumer protection office
- Dispute the charge with your credit card provider
This is one reason to always pay by card rather than cash — you have chargeback rights.
Before You Call a Locksmith: Other Options
Check every entry point. This sounds obvious but works surprisingly often. Back doors, windows, garage doors, basement access. If you're a renter, call your landlord or property manager first — they're required to help in most states and may have a spare key.
Neighbour with a spare key. If you've previously given a spare to a trusted neighbour, now's the time.
Building superintendent. If you live in an apartment building, the super typically has master key access.
These aren't always available, but any of them saves you $100–$200 and 30 minutes.
What the Locksmith Will Actually Do
For a standard residential lockout, the locksmith will typically:
- Assess the lock — what type, what condition
- Attempt to pick it — 2–10 minutes for standard locks
- Use a bypass tool if picking doesn't work quickly
- Drill as a last resort — only necessary if the lock is high-security, damaged, or the locksmith lacks the tools/skill to pick it
Drilling destroys the lock and means you'll need a replacement ($100–$300 including installation). A good locksmith picks whenever possible — ask upfront whether they expect to need to drill.
After the Lockout: Should You Rekey or Replace?
Once you're back inside, there's one more decision: is your current lock security still intact?
Rekey if:
- You've lost your keys and don't know who might have them
- You've moved into a new home or apartment
- Someone who previously had access (ex-partner, former housemate) should no longer
Rekeying costs $50–$130 per lock and changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work. Most locksmiths can do this during the same visit, usually for $40–$80 extra.
Replace the lock if:
- The lock was drilled during the lockout
- The lock mechanism is worn or damaged
- You want to upgrade to a higher-security model
New deadbolt installation typically costs $100–$200 plus hardware.
Summary: Fair Prices for a House Lockout
- Standard daytime lockout: $89–$163 is fair nationally
- Evening/weekend: $120–$225 is normal
- High-security lock: $150–$350 is reasonable
- Under $50 quoted: Almost certainly a bait-and-switch
- Over $300 for a standard lock: You're likely being overcharged
Get a total price before they come out. Pay by card. Check reviews. Those three things will protect you from 95% of locksmith scam situations.