How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? (2026 Pricing Guide)

The national average for a house lockout is $89–$225. Car lockouts run $50–$150. But prices vary significantly by city, time of day, and service type. Here's everything you need to know before you call.

Last updated: March 2026 · By Sarah Connell, Consumer Pricing Researcher

House Lockout

$89–$225

Car Lockout

$50–$150

Rekey (per lock)

$50–$130

Deadbolt Install

$100–$275

Base Fees

The service call fee is charged just for the locksmith to arrive — separate from the actual labour and parts. This fee is how many scam operations extract money: they quote just the call-out fee, then shock you with the real bill on arrival.

Service	Low	Average	High
Service Call Fee Charged just to show up — before any work	$50	$94	$130
Hourly Rate (Regular Hours)	$50	$104	$125
Hourly Rate (After Hours)	$100	$151	$250
Emergency Surcharge (Nights/Weekends) Added on top of standard rate	$50	$150	$250

Complete Service Price Table

These are total all-in prices based on national averages — service call fee plus labour plus typical parts. Your local price will vary based on your city's cost of living (see city table below). Prices are for standard complexity; unusual lock types, high-security hardware, or difficult access will cost more.

Service	Low	Average	High
House Lockout Standard residential door, business hours	$50	$115	$180
House Lockout (After Hours) Add $25–$75 for nights/weekends/holidays	$75	$160	$255
Car Lockout Standard vehicles with physical key	$60	$100	$150
Rekey Lock (per lock) Changes internal pins; old keys stop working	$15	$28	$35
Rekey Whole House (3–5 locks) Package pricing for full home rekey	$100	$175	$300
Install New Deadbolt (single cylinder)	$40	$120	$200
Install Deadbolt (double cylinder) Keyed both sides; requires key to exit	$150	$200	$250
Smart Lock Installation Hardware + programming; lock cost separate	$200	$280	$400
Key Duplication (standard)	$1.50	$5	$10
High-Security Key Duplication Restricted keys require ID verification	$25	$40	$75
Car Key (Transponder)	$100	$175	$290
Key Fob Programming	$50	$125	$200
Ignition Repair/Replacement Varies by vehicle make and access complexity	$125	$200	$275
Safe Opening (mechanical) Non-destructive picking; higher if damaged	$150	$250	$500
Commercial Lock Installation Grade 1 commercial hardware	$200	$350	$600
Broken Key Extraction From door lock or car ignition	$50	$75	$150

Locksmith Prices by City

Locksmith prices vary significantly by location — a house lockout that costs $120 in Houston will run $210 in New York City. The table below shows average house lockout costs in the 20 largest US markets, based on local cost-of-living adjustments to national averages.

City	Low	Average	High
New York, NY	$135	$210	$300
Los Angeles, CA	$100	$175	$250
Chicago, IL	$90	$145	$200
Houston, TX	$85	$130	$185
Miami, FL	$95	$150	$215
Seattle, WA	$100	$162	$230
Boston, MA	$100	$163	$235
San Francisco, CA	$110	$175	$250
Philadelphia, PA	$90	$148	$210
Denver, CO	$85	$135	$195
Austin, TX	$80	$128	$185
Phoenix, AZ	$80	$125	$180
San Diego, CA	$95	$155	$220
Baltimore, MD	$90	$142	$200
Portland, OR	$90	$148	$210
Atlanta, GA	$85	$135	$190
Dallas, TX	$80	$120	$175
Minneapolis, MN	$95	$155	$220
Nashville, TN	$80	$128	$185
Las Vegas, NV	$85	$138	$195

House lockout prices. Click any city to see local locksmith listings with verified pricing data.

How Locksmiths Calculate Their Prices

A legitimate locksmith builds their price from three components. Understanding this makes it harder for scam operations to inflate your bill unexpectedly.

Service Call Fee

$50–$100

Covers travel and dispatch cost to your location

Labour

$65–$120/hr

Time spent performing the actual work (15–60 min typical)

Parts

$0–$150+

New hardware, pins, key blanks — varies by job

📋 Worked Example: Standard House Lockout

Service call fee$50

Labour (30 min at $80/hr rate)$40

Parts (none needed for lockout)$0

Total$90 — perfectly fair

A more complex job (rekeying 3 locks + new deadbolt): $50 call-out + $80 labour + $30 parts = $160 total. If a locksmith quotes you $350 for this, walk away.

When to Call a Locksmith vs Try It Yourself

Not every lockout requires a professional. Before you call, consider these DIY options — and know when they won't work.

✓ Try It Yourself

Credit card shimming

Spring bolt (not deadbolt) on interior door — slide a flexible card between frame and bolt and apply pressure while turning the knob

Call your landlord

If you rent — they legally must have a spare and many will come out quickly at no charge

Check other entry points

Window you left cracked, back door, garage — many lockouts have an obvious solution that avoids the locksmith entirely

Roadside assistance / insurance

For car lockouts — AAA, most auto insurance policies, and even some credit cards cover lockouts at no cost to you

Spare key from a neighbour

If you gave one to a neighbour or family member — now is the time to call in that favour

✗ Call a Professional For

Deadbolt lockouts

Deadbolts cannot be shimmed with a credit card. They require picking, bumping, or drilling — all professional techniques

Broken or bent key in lock

Extraction tools are required — attempting DIY extraction with pliers almost always makes it worse and damages the lock

High-security locks (Medeco, Abloy)

These are specifically designed to resist picking and impressioning. Professional tools and training required

Car key programming

Modern transponder keys and key fobs require specialised programming equipment tied to the VIN. Not a DIY job

Safe opening

Safes should never be drilled unless absolutely necessary. A locksmith can often open them non-destructively using dial manipulation

Common Locksmith Scams

🚨 The "$15 Starting" Scam

Advertise a low price like "$15 service call" but quote $200–$400 after arriving. Always ask for the total price on the phone before anyone comes out.

🚨 The "Drill First" Scam

Claim drilling is the only option when picking or bumping would work. Drilling destroys the lock and bumps up the price. Always ask them to try picking first.

🚨 The Unmarked Van

Arrive in an unmarked vehicle with no company branding. Legitimate locksmiths operate with branded vehicles and identifiable uniforms.

🚨 Cash-Only Payment

Demand cash and refuse credit cards. This makes it impossible to dispute the charge later. Never pay cash for amounts over $100 without a proper receipt.

Check If You Were Scammed →

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

1."What is your total price including all fees, labour, and parts?"

2."Are you licensed and insured?"

3."Will you arrive in a branded company vehicle?"

4."Do you accept credit cards?"

5."Can you provide a written estimate?"

6."What is your license number?" (in states that require licensing)

Emergency Lockout: What to Do

1.Check all doors and windows first — sometimes there's an open entry point.

2.If you rent, call your landlord or property manager — they may have a spare.

3.If you have roadside assistance or home insurance, check if lockouts are covered.

4.Search for a local locksmith with a verifiable address and real Google reviews.

5.Ask for a total price on the phone before anyone comes out.

6.If the price jumps dramatically on arrival, refuse the work and call someone else.

Locksmith Licensing by State

Not all US states require locksmiths to be licensed — which is a significant part of what enables scam operations to flourish. In states without licensing requirements, there is no background check, no competency test, and no consequence for predatory pricing short of a consumer complaint. The 10 states below have mandatory licensing requirements. In all other states, your best protection is verifying Google reviews, checking for a physical local address, and insisting on a written quote.

State	Required?	Governing Body
California	✓ Yes	Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Texas	✓ Yes	Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS)
New York	✓ Yes	NYC Dept. of Consumer & Worker Protection (DCWP)
Virginia	✓ Yes	Dept. of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
Oklahoma	✓ Yes	Council on Law Enforcement Education & Training (CLEET)
New Jersey	✓ Yes	New Jersey State Police Superintendent
North Carolina	✓ Yes	NC Private Protective Services Board
Tennessee	✓ Yes	TN Dept. of Commerce & Insurance
Louisiana	✓ Yes	Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors
Maryland	✓ Yes	MD State Police Licensing Division
Florida	✗ No	No state license required (county-level varies)
Illinois	✗ No	No state license required (Chicago: IDFPR credentials)
Ohio	✗ No	No state license required
Georgia	✗ No	No state license required
Colorado	✗ No	No state license required

💡 Tip: Search "[your state] locksmith licensing" to find the governing body for your state and verify your locksmith's credentials before they start work. In licensed states, ask for the license number over the phone — a legitimate locksmith will give it to you without hesitation.

“Locksmith scams are among the most common home-service frauds in the US. Scammers advertise very low prices online, then charge dramatically more once they arrive — sometimes 5 to 10 times the quoted rate.”
— Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Alert

How to Find a Reputable Locksmith (6 Steps)

The locksmith industry has a well-documented scam problem at the national level, particularly in online directories and Google Ads. Here's how to protect yourself.

Search locally — not just the top ad

Search Google for 'locksmith near me' but skip the top paid ads. Scroll to the map listings and look for businesses with a physical local address and at least 20 reviews.

Check for a real local address

Paste the locksmith's address into Google Maps. If it resolves to a residence, parking lot, or P.O. box rather than a commercial address, consider it a warning sign.

Ask for the total price before they come out

Call and ask: 'What is your total price including the service call fee, labour, and any parts for this job?' A legitimate locksmith will quote a range. Refuse to commit if they won't quote.

Verify their license if your state requires one

States like Texas (DPS), California (BSIS), New York (DCA), and Virginia (DCJS) require licensing. Ask for the license number and verify it on the state authority's website before work begins.

Confirm they arrive in a branded vehicle

Legitimate locksmiths typically arrive in a branded or marked vehicle. An unmarked van with no company identification is a red flag used by scam operations.

Insist on a written receipt

Before the locksmith starts work, get the agreed price in writing — even a text message or email. If the final bill jumps dramatically from the quote, dispute it or refuse to pay and call another locksmith.

Service-Specific Price Guides

Car Locksmith Prices →

Auto lockouts, key programming

Lock Rekey Cost →

Per lock + whole-house pricing

Emergency Locksmith Cost →

After-hours surcharges

Deadbolt Installation Cost →

Single, double, and smart locks

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a locksmith charge to come out?

Most locksmiths charge a service call fee of $50–$100 just to show up, separate from the actual work cost. Always confirm whether the quoted price includes the call-out fee or if it's added on top. Total cost for a basic job usually runs $89–$225.

How much does a locksmith charge to open a door?

Opening a locked house door (residential lockout) typically costs $89–$225, with a national average of $163. The price depends on lock complexity, time of day, and your location. After-hours and weekend calls add $25–$75 on top.

How much is a locksmith for a car lockout?

Car lockout costs range from $50–$150, averaging around $110. Newer vehicles with advanced locking systems or transponder keys can push the cost higher. Some roadside assistance programs (AAA, insurance) cover this — check before calling.

What is a fair price for a house lockout?

A fair price for a residential lockout is $89–$225, with a national average of $163. Quotes under $50 are almost always bait-and-switch — expect a dramatic upcharge once the locksmith arrives. Get a total price commitment before they come out.

How much does an automotive locksmith cost?

An automotive locksmith typically charges $75–$200 depending on the service. A basic car lockout runs $50–$150. Key programming or transponder key cutting costs significantly more — $150–$400 depending on vehicle make and model.

How much does it cost to rekey a lock vs replace it?

Rekeying costs $50–$130 per lock (avg. $80) and changes the internal pins so old keys no longer work. Replacing the entire lock hardware costs $100–$300 (avg. $175). Rekeying is cheaper and works fine unless the lock mechanism is damaged.

How much does it cost to replace house keys?

Standard key duplication costs $2–$10 at most hardware stores. High-security or restricted keys cost $25–$50. If you've lost all copies and need a locksmith to cut a new key from the lock (impressioning), expect $50–$150.

How much does a locksmith cost after hours?

After-hours locksmith calls (nights, weekends, holidays) typically add a $25–$75 surcharge on top of regular rates. A house lockout that costs $130 in the daytime might run $180–$200 at 2am. Always ask for the after-hours total upfront.

What should I do if a locksmith charges more than quoted?

If a locksmith gives a significantly higher price on arrival than quoted, you can refuse the work and walk away — you only owe if work was performed. Document the original quote (screenshot or email). Report excessive price changes to your state Attorney General's consumer protection office and leave a detailed review on Google.

How do I know if a locksmith is legitimate?

Check for a local physical address (not just a P.O. box), verify their state license if required, look for Google reviews with photos of real jobs, and confirm they give a total price over the phone before arriving. Legitimate locksmiths will not pressure you or refuse to quote in advance.