You're standing on the porch, your keys are on the other side of the door, and you need to know what this frustrating but common situation will cost to fix before you call anyone. How much does a locksmith cost? Most homeowners pay between $107 and $242, with a national average of $164, based on current nationwide pricing data from Angi.
Where you land in that range depends on the job. A simple house lockout during business hours sits near the low end, while rekeying every lock in your home or calling at 2 a.m. pushes the bill higher.
Below, you'll find an estimated price breakdown by service, what affects the final bill, how to save, and how to avoid some locksmith calls altogether.
Key Takeaways
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Most locksmith visits cost $107 to $242, with a national average of $164. The final price depends on the service, the time of day, your location, and the type of lock involved.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â A house lockout is estimated at $75 to $200 during standard hours. Add roughly $50 to $150 when you need a locksmith at night, on a weekend, or on a holiday.
●       Rekeying is estimated at $50 to $130 per lock, or $200 to $500 for a whole house. It’s usually cheaper than replacing locks, which runs an estimated $100 to $300 per lock.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Expect to pay an estimated service call fee of $35 to $100 before any work begins. That fee covers travel and diagnosis, so bundling several jobs into one visit saves money.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Keyless entry can reduce repeat locksmith calls. A lock that opens with a code, fingerprint, or app makes lockouts and lost keys less of an emergency, and access changes don't require rekeying.
How Much Is a Locksmith on Average?
How much is a locksmith for a typical home job? Based on available data, the national average generally runs $164, with most homeowners paying between $107 and $242. Bigger projects, like rekeying every lock in the house or installing high-security hardware, are estimated to cost $200 to $500 or more.
Every visit typically starts with a service call fee. A service call fee is a flat charge, estimated to be between $35 and $100, that covers the locksmith’s travel time and the initial inspection. You’ll generally pay it even for a five-minute job, in addition to the labor itself.
Beyond that fee, locksmiths price their work in a few ways:
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Flat fees for common jobs, like opening a locked door or rekeying a single lock.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Hourly rates can range, and are estimated to be from about $50 to $100 for larger or more complicated work.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Travel fees may apply in some areas, especially if you live far from the locksmith's shop.
Several factors affect the price. Calling at night or on a weekend costs more than booking during business hours. Locksmiths in large cities and high-cost areas tend to charge more. High-security or smart locks take more skill and time than a standard deadbolt, and jobs that require drilling or full lock removal can add an estimated $50 to $200.
Tipping isn't required, but it's a nice gesture for good service. A tip of 15% to 20% is common, especially for a late-night call or a tricky job.
Locksmith Cost by Service
Locksmith cost depends most on the service you need. Below are general estimates of what to expect for the four jobs homeowners call about most.
House Lockout Cost
A house lockout typically runs $75 to $200 during standard hours. That covers getting you back inside without damaging the lock or door, and most lockouts take only a few minutes once the locksmith arrives.
If the lock has to be drilled or replaced to get you in, the bill climbs, since you'll also pay for the new hardware and installation.
Locksmith Rekey Cost
Rekeying means changing the pins inside a lock so your old keys stop working, and a new key takes over, without replacing the lock itself. Locksmith rekey costs are typically $50 to $130 per lock, or about $200 to $500 to rekey a whole house with four to six locks.
Rekeying is generally cheaper than replacing a lock, because you keep the hardware you already have. It's a common choice when you move into a new home, lose a key, or want to cut off access for a former roommate.
Lock Installation and Replacement Cost
Installing or replacing a lock typically costs $100 to $300 per lock. The cost of installing or replacing a lock depends mostly on two things: the type of lock and who supplies the hardware.
If the locksmith provides the lock, hardware adds to the bill. A standard deadbolt can cost $30 to $70, while high-security locks can cost $100 to $400, and smart locks can cost $150 to $500 for the hardware alone. If you buy the lock yourself, you're mainly paying for labor and the service call.
Emergency and After-Hours Cost
Emergency locksmith costs may include a surcharge of $50 to $150 on top of standard pricing. That added fee applies to calls at night, on weekends, or on holidays, when the locksmith is working outside regular business hours.
For example, a lockout that costs $100 on a Tuesday afternoon could cost $150 to $250 at midnight on a Saturday.
Locksmith Cost Comparison Table
How much does a locksmith charge for each common service? Here's a side-by-side look at typical prices for homes.
Service | Estimated typical cost | What it covers |
Service call fee | $35 to $100 | Travel and diagnosis, charged on most visits |
House lockout | $75 to $200 | Getting back inside without damage, standard hours |
Rekey (per lock) | $50 to $130 | New pins and keys for an existing lock |
Rekey (whole house) | $200 to $500 | Four to six locks rekeyed in one visit |
Lock installation or replacement | $100 to $300 per lock | Installing new hardware, with lock cost varying by type |
Emergency or after-hours surcharge | $50 to $150 extra | Night, weekend, or holiday calls |
How to Save on Locksmith Costs
Planning ahead usually costs a lot less than calling in an emergency. A few habits keep your locksmith bill on the low end of the range.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Get more than one quote: Ask for a total price, including the service call fee, before the locksmith heads to your home.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Book during standard hours: If you're not locked out, scheduling a weekday visit avoids the after-hours surcharge.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Rekey instead of replacing: If your locks work well and you only need new keys, rekeying keeps your existing hardware.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Bundle your jobs: Have every lock that needs attention handled in one visit, so you pay a single service call fee.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Leave a spare key with someone you trust: A neighbor or family member with a spare key can save you a lockout call.
How a Smart Lock Can Cut Locksmith Costs
Each lockout, lost key, or move-in rekey comes with its own locksmith price, and those costs repeat every time it happens. A smart lock is a one-time purchase that makes those situations less likely to require a locksmith.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Lockouts: A lock that opens with a code, your fingerprint, or your phone doesn't depend on a key you might forget on the kitchen counter or in your other purse.
â—ŹÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Lost keys: When you rarely carry a key, losing one isn't an emergency.
●       Move-in rekeys: Installing your own smart lock lets you add or remove codes and fingerprints in an app instead of paying to rekey every time you want to update someone’s access.
Tapo's lineup includes several smart locks you can install yourself, which can save the installation fee. The Tapo DL130 adds palm vein recognition to fingerprint entry, so you can unlock it by holding up your hand, with seven ways overall. It is designed for DIY installation and takes about 15 minutes with your own screwdriver. You can also create one-time or scheduled codes for guests and change them anytime in the Tapo app.
For fingerprint entry without palm recognition, the Tapo DL110 and Tapo DL105 each store up to 100 fingerprints, so everyone in your household can use their own. Both run up to one year on a single charge, based on Tapo testing.
You can confirm whether a lock will fit before it’s even out of the box. Grab a tape measure and check two things: your door’s thickness and its backset, the distance from the door’s edge to the center of the existing doorknob hole. Compare those two numbers to the compatibility specs listed on the product page before you buy, since even locks in the same lineup can differ in backset or thickness range.
The DL110 and DL105 each include a physical backup key, so a dead battery or a missed fingerprint scan is less likely to lock you out. If the battery runs low or a scan doesn’t read, the backup key still opens the door.
Know the Cost Before You Call a Locksmith
Now you have a clearer sense of what a locksmith typically costs: estimates put a house lockout at $75 to $200, rekeying at $50 to $130 per lock, installation at $100 to $300 per lock, and after-hours calls adding $50 to $150. Booking ahead, bundling jobs, and rekeying instead of replacing keep those numbers down.
For lockouts and move-in rekeys in particular, a smart lock can help reduce recurring costs after a one-time purchase. To compare keypad, fingerprint, and palm access options, explore Tapo's smart entry collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do locksmiths charge you?
Most locksmiths charge an estimated service call fee of $35 to $100 to come to your home, plus the cost of the job itself. Common jobs like lockouts and rekeys usually have a flat price, while bigger projects may be billed hourly. After-hours calls cost extra.
Is it cheaper to use a locksmith or DIY?
DIY is usually cheaper, but only for simple jobs. A rekey kit costs about $15 to $40, compared with an estimated $50 to $130 per lock for a pro, and installing a deadbolt yourself can save on labor. For lockouts, damaged locks, or high-security hardware, a locksmith is the safer call.
How do locksmiths calculate labor costs?
Locksmiths usually start with a flat service call fee for travel and diagnosis. From there, they charge either a set price for routine jobs or an estimated hourly rate of about $50 to $100 for complex work. Jobs that require drilling or involve high-security locks can add more, and after-hours timing adds a surcharge.
How much does it cost to rekey a house?
Rekeying a whole house costs an estimated $200 to $500, which can cover about four to six locks. If you only need one lock done, expect to pay less. Scheduling every lock for the same visit means you pay a single service call fee, which keeps the total lower.
How much does it cost to make a key?
A basic house key copy is estimated to cost anywhere from $2 to $20, depending on the key type. Standard keys from a hardware store or kiosk sit at the low end, while high-security keys cost more to cut. If a locksmith comes to your home to make one, they add a service call fee on top.
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