The short answer: once a locksmith is at your door, opening it usually takes 5 to 30 minutes for a residential lock and 10 to 20 minutes for a car. But that's just the actual unlocking part — total time from your call to being back inside is longer. Here's what actually affects the timeline.
Two Different Time Questions
When people ask "how long does a locksmith take," they're usually asking one of two things:
- How long until the locksmith arrives? (Response time)
- How long does the actual unlocking take? (Job time)
These are different, and both matter.
Response Time — How Long Until They Get There?
Response time depends on where you are and when you're calling.
During Business Hours (Weekdays, 8 AM – 6 PM)
- In a major city: 20–45 minutes typical
- In a suburb: 30–60 minutes typical
- In a rural area: 45–90 minutes, sometimes longer
After Hours (Evenings, Weekends, Holidays)
- Major city: 30–60 minutes
- Suburb or smaller city: 45–90 minutes
- Rural: 1–3 hours or more
During High-Demand Periods
During bad weather, after a major event, or during a holiday rush, response times extend. A locksmith who normally arrives in 30 minutes might take 90 minutes when they're handling five calls at once.
Always ask for an ETA when you call. Any legitimate locksmith will give you a time window. If they say "right away" or "just a few minutes" without specifying, ask for a clearer estimate.
Job Time — How Long to Actually Open the Lock?
Once a locksmith arrives, how long does the actual work take? It depends on the lock type and method used.
Residential Door Locks
Standard Pin Tumbler Locks (Most Common)
This covers the vast majority of American homes — standard Kwikset, Schlage, Defiant, and similar deadbolts and knob locks.
Picking time: 5–15 minutes for most locksmiths. An experienced locksmith with good technique and the right pick can open a standard pin tumbler in 2–5 minutes. A less experienced technician might take 15+ minutes.
What happens: The locksmith uses picks to manipulate the internal pins, mimicking what a key would do, until the lock turns.
Bump keys and other methods
Some locksmiths use bump keys, decoder tools, or bypass tools depending on the lock type and what they have available. These can be faster than picking in some cases.
Total time for a standard residential lockout: 15–30 minutes from arrival to when you're back inside (including setup, assessment, and the actual work).
High-Security Locks
High-security locks like Medeco, Abloy Protec, Mul-T-Lock MT5, and Schlage Primus are specifically designed to resist picking. They have:
- Sidebar mechanisms
- Unique keyways
- Special anti-pick pins
- Patented key control
For these locks, a locksmith may spend 30–60 minutes attempting to pick, and some configurations genuinely can't be picked in the field without specialized equipment. In those cases, drilling becomes necessary.
Drilling time: 20–60 minutes depending on the lock, plus time to install a replacement lock afterward.
Important: If a locksmith tells you your standard Kwikset or Schlage B1 needs drilling, be skeptical. These are standard locks that any experienced locksmith should be able to pick. Drilling immediately on basic locks without attempting to pick is a scam tactic.
Mortise Locks
Older mortise locks (common in pre-war buildings, some commercial spaces) are a different design from standard pin tumbler locks. Opening time varies:
- Some mortise locks are actually easier to pick than modern deadbolts
- Others, especially high-security commercial versions, require more time
- An experienced locksmith who knows mortise locks can typically open one in 10–25 minutes
Padlocks
A standard padlock (Master Lock, American Lock, etc.): 5–15 minutes to pick.
High-security padlocks (ABUS, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock): Can take 30+ minutes and may require drilling.
Car Lockouts
Car lockouts are generally faster than residential lockouts because the methods are different and most cars have predictable lock mechanisms.
Standard Cars and Trucks
Modern vehicles don't have traditional pin tumbler locks — their doors are opened via a different mechanism. Locksmiths typically use:
-
Air wedge and long-reach tool: Inflate a small wedge to create a gap at the top of the door frame, then use a long reach rod to press the unlock button inside. Time: 5–15 minutes.
-
Slim jim: Inserted between door and window frame to engage the lock mechanism directly. Time: 5–20 minutes. Works better on older vehicles.
For most standard cars, 10–20 minutes from the time the locksmith arrives to when your door is open is typical.
Luxury and High-End Vehicles
Newer luxury vehicles (BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc.) often have reinforced door frames and multiple seals that make the air wedge method harder. A locksmith may need to work more carefully to avoid triggering airbags or damaging door seals. Time: 15–30 minutes.
Older Vehicles
Older cars with slimmer door frames and simpler lock mechanisms are often faster. Some older American vehicles can be opened in under 5 minutes with a slim jim.
A Note on Drilling Cars
A legitimate locksmith should almost never need to drill into a car door for a standard lockout. The few exceptions:
- The key is broken inside the ignition
- The lock cylinder is damaged
- The vehicle has extremely unusual security mechanisms
If a locksmith shows up and immediately says they need to drill your car door, question this strongly and ask them to try the air wedge or slim jim method first.
Full Timeline Example
Here's a realistic total timeline for a typical residential lockout:
- You call the locksmith: 0:00
- They get your address and give you an ETA: 0:02
- Locksmith arrives: ~0:35 (typical daytime urban wait)
- Locksmith assesses the situation and confirms price: 0:37
- Locksmith works on the lock: 0:37–0:50
- You're back inside: ~0:50–1:00
Total time from call to inside: about 50 minutes to 1 hour in a typical scenario.
For a car lockout, the actual job takes less time. Total from call to driving away: often 45–60 minutes in an urban area.
What Can Slow Things Down?
A few things can extend the timeline beyond the typical:
Unusual lock types. If your lock is older, from an unusual brand, or is genuinely high-security, it takes more time.
Previous tampering. If someone previously tried to force or drill the lock and damaged it, a legitimate pick may no longer work properly.
Inaccessible doors. Apartment buildings where the locksmith has to find parking, get buzzed in, find the right unit — all of this adds time.
Key broken inside the lock. Key extraction before opening adds 10–30 minutes.
Dead or damaged lock. Sometimes what looks like a simple lockout turns out to need a full lock replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take a locksmith to pick a lock?
For a standard residential pin tumbler lock, an experienced locksmith typically picks it in 5–15 minutes. Some experts can do it in under 2 minutes. High-security locks may take 30–60 minutes or may not be pickable in the field at all.
Why is my locksmith taking so long?
If they've been working on the lock for over 30 minutes without success, they may have encountered a genuinely difficult lock or may have limited experience with that lock type. At that point, a conversation about alternatives (drilling or finding a different approach) is reasonable.
How do I speed up the locksmith's arrival?
Tell them the most direct route if you know local shortcuts. Have your ID ready. Meet them at the street or main entrance of your building so they don't waste time finding you.
Does the time of day affect how fast a locksmith can open my door?
It affects arrival time significantly. The actual job time is about the same regardless of when you call. A locksmith who picks your standard lock at 3 PM will pick the same lock at 3 AM in about the same time — they'll just take longer to get there.
Can a locksmith open a deadbolt from outside?
Yes. This is standard locksmith work. A skilled locksmith picks the lock from the outside without damaging it, turning it just as a key would. The lock remains intact and works normally afterward.
What if the locksmith says they can't open my lock without drilling?
For a standard residential lock, ask them to explain why. Most standard deadbolts can be picked by a skilled locksmith. If they say the lock is high-security (Medeco, Abloy, etc.), that may be true — verify by looking at the lock brand yourself. If it's a basic Kwikset and they say they must drill, get a second opinion if possible or accept that drilling may be necessary and ask about the cost to replace the lock afterward.