Austin has changed fast over the past decade, and so have locksmith prices. What was once one of the cheaper major Texas cities for services is now firmly mid-range. A residential lockout in Austin typically costs $80 to $185, up noticeably from just a few years ago as the tech boom drives up wages and overhead across every trade in the city.
This guide breaks down what locksmiths charge in Austin, what's behind the rising prices, how Texas licensing works, and how to avoid getting taken advantage of when you're locked out and stressed.
Austin Locksmith Price Ranges (2026)
| Service | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Residential lockout | $80 – $185 |
| Car lockout | $70 – $140 |
| Rekey a lock | $55 – $100 per lock |
| Deadbolt installation (labor + hardware) | $110 – $265 |
| Lock replacement | $105 – $240 |
| Broken key extraction | $75 – $145 |
| Safe opening | $150 – $400 |
| After-hours surcharge | $30 – $75 extra |
Austin sits in a middle tier — more expensive than San Antonio, cheaper than Dallas, and trending upward. If you're calling on a Tuesday afternoon for a basic lockout, expect to pay $100 to $135. If it's a Saturday night in East Austin, budget for $160 to $185.
Texas DPS Licensing
Like all Texas cities, Austin operates under the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) licensing system for locksmiths. Here's what that means:
Texas requires all locksmiths to hold a Locksmith License issued by the DPS Private Security Program. Requirements include:
- A criminal background check
- Completion of a state-approved training program or demonstrated experience
- A written examination
- Continuing education to maintain the license
You can verify any locksmith's license on the Texas DPS Private Security online database. It's a straightforward lookup — type in the person's name or license number and it tells you whether they're current and in good standing.
Always ask for the license number before work starts. In Texas, an unlicensed locksmith is operating illegally. That doesn't mean they're automatically incompetent, but it removes accountability and legal recourse if something goes wrong.
Why Austin Locksmith Prices Are Rising
The Tech Boom
Austin has absorbed a massive influx of tech workers, major corporate relocations (Tesla, Oracle, Dell, Samsung, Apple, and others have significant Austin presences), and venture capital money. The resulting wage pressure has pushed up costs across every trade. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and yes, locksmiths all charge more in 2026 than they did in 2019 — in many cases 30% to 50% more.
Population Growth
Austin is one of the fastest-growing large cities in the US. More people means more demand for all services, including locksmith work. Higher demand with a limited pool of licensed practitioners supports higher prices.
Real Estate and Overhead Costs
Commercial leases in Austin have risen substantially. Running a locksmith shop anywhere near the city costs significantly more than it did five years ago. That overhead gets passed to customers.
Supply Chain on Parts
Lock hardware, key blanks, and transponder chips have all seen price increases since 2020. For automotive locksmith work in particular, the cost of key programming equipment and the chip blanks themselves has risen, and those costs get passed through.
Service-by-Service Breakdown
Residential Lockouts
A house or apartment lockout costs $80 to $185 in Austin. Standard deadbolts during business hours: lower end. High-security locks or keypad entry systems after hours: higher end. If you're renting a property, try your landlord or property manager first — it may be free.
Car Lockouts
Car lockouts run $70 to $140. Basic mechanical lockout (slim jim or air wedge method): lower end. Cars with keyless entry systems that require app-based access or are newer models: mid-to-upper range. If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, now is the time to use it.
Rekeying
Rekeying costs $55 to $100 per lock. Austin's rental market is enormous and highly transient — it's one of the most renter-heavy cities in Texas. Moving into a new apartment? The odds that previous tenants made copies of their keys are real. Rekeying all exterior locks for $150 to $300 total is smart and fast.
Deadbolt Installation
Installing a new deadbolt costs $110 to $265 total in Austin. Basic Grade 2 deadbolt with standard installation: lower end. Grade 1 ANSI deadbolt on a door requiring frame reinforcement: higher end. Adding a smart lock (Schlage, Kwikset, Yale) increases the hardware cost by $80 to $250.
Car Key Programming
Car key programming is increasingly common in Austin's market, driven by the high number of newer vehicles driven by tech workers. Transponder key programming costs $150 to $400, and smart key/fob programming runs $175 to $600. A locksmith is typically 30% to 50% cheaper than a dealer for this service.
Neighborhoods and Pricing
Austin's geography affects pricing less than in some cities, but a few factors matter:
- Downtown / East Sixth Street: High demand area, prices at upper range, good availability
- South Congress / South Austin: Competitive market, plenty of locksmiths, reasonable rates
- Domain / North Austin: More suburban, slightly lower prices
- Cedar Park / Round Rock / Georgetown: Some locksmiths add travel fees for these suburbs — look for local operators first
- Dripping Springs / Wimberley: Definitely add travel fees — 30 to 45 minutes out of Austin
Getting a Fair Quote in Austin
Austin's growth has also brought more fly-by-night locksmith operators setting up Google Maps listings. Here's how to avoid them:
- Verify the Texas DPS license at the DPS website before agreeing to anything
- Get a total price including service call fee, labor, and any parts — not a vague "starting at $49" quote
- Look for reviews with photos — fake locksmith listings often have suspicious review patterns
- Check that the phone number matches a local Austin business — national call centers use local numbers to seem local
- Ask if they'll drill — a locksmith who immediately recommends drilling without trying to pick the lock first is often doing it to justify higher charges
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a locksmith cost in Austin, TX? Most residential lockout calls cost $80 to $185 in Austin. The typical rate for a standard daytime residential lockout is $100 to $140. After-hours calls add $30 to $75 to the base price.
Are Austin locksmiths more expensive than Dallas or Houston? Austin is comparable to Houston and slightly cheaper than Dallas for most services. All three Texas cities have risen in price since 2019. San Antonio remains cheaper than all three.
How do I verify a locksmith's license in Texas? Go to the Texas DPS Private Security Program website and use the License Lookup tool. Search by business name or individual license number. If they're not in the database with a current, valid license, don't hire them.
Why have Austin locksmith prices gone up so much? The tech boom. Wages across all skilled trades in Austin have risen sharply since 2019 as companies like Tesla, Apple, and Oracle moved in and the population grew rapidly. Overhead costs for businesses in Austin (rent, insurance, vehicle costs) have all increased substantially.
Is it worth rekeying vs. replacing locks when moving to Austin? For most situations, yes — rekeying is cheaper. It costs $55 to $100 per lock to rekey versus $150 to $250 to replace the entire hardware. Rekeying makes sense when the lock itself is in good shape. Replace if the lock is old, damaged, or you're upgrading security.
Do Austin locksmiths offer same-day service? Yes, essentially all locksmith businesses in Austin offer same-day service. Most have response times of 20 to 45 minutes for residential lockouts. After-hours response can be faster because fewer calls are competing.