Locksmith Pricing Guide

How much does a locksmith charge in 2026?

Hourly rates by region, common job prices, what drives the cost, and how to write a locksmith quote that wins.

The short answer

Locksmiths typically charge $60 to $130 per hour

$120 to $2,500+ per job depending on scope. Here is what tradies actually charge in 2026 and how the price gets built.

Locksmiths typically charge between $60 and $130 per hour in the US, with call-out fees on top. Emergency lockouts run $120 to $350. Standard work like rekeying a single lock or replacing a deadbolt runs $150 to $450. Specialist work like high-security cylinders, smart-lock installs, or safe opening runs $400 to $1,200. Full-home security upgrades or commercial master-key systems run $1,500 to $2,500+. Pricing depends on the time of day (emergency multiplier), lock type, brand, and whether keys are being re-cut or the lock is being changed entirely.

Hourly rates

Locksmiths hourly rates by region (2026)

Standard daytime rates across the major markets. Metro areas typically command a 20-30% premium. After-hours work is 1.5x to 2x.

Region	Hourly rate	Notes
United States	$60 - $150/hr	Licensed locksmiths in metro areas at the top
United Kingdom	£40 - £95/hr	MLA approved locksmiths at the higher end
Australia	$80 - $160/hr	Licensed master locksmiths above this range
South Africa	R280 - R700/hr	PSIRA-registered locksmiths above this
Canada	C$60 - C$130/hr	Toronto, Vancouver at the top
New Zealand	$75 - $150/hr	Auckland and Wellington at the top
Ireland	€50 - €120/hr	Dublin commands a premium
India	₹2000 - ₹5700/hr	Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore at the top

United States

Hourly rate$60 - $150/hr

Notes

Licensed locksmiths in metro areas at the top

United Kingdom

Hourly rate£40 - £95/hr

Notes

MLA approved locksmiths at the higher end

Australia

Hourly rate$80 - $160/hr

Notes

Licensed master locksmiths above this range

South Africa

Hourly rateR280 - R700/hr

Notes

PSIRA-registered locksmiths above this

Canada

Hourly rateC$60 - C$130/hr

Notes

Toronto, Vancouver at the top

New Zealand

Hourly rate$75 - $150/hr

Notes

Auckland and Wellington at the top

Ireland

Hourly rate€50 - €120/hr

Notes

Dublin commands a premium

India

Hourly rate₹2000 - ₹5700/hr

Notes

Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore at the top

Job pricing

Common locksmith jobs and what they cost

Real-world price ranges for the jobs tradies quote every week. Includes labour, parts, and standard call-out.

Job	Typical price	What's included
Standard call-out (within radius)	$90 to $180	Includes travel and arrival. Most credited against the work if the customer proceeds.
Residential lockout (non-destructive)	$120 to $350	Includes 30-60 min on-site. Premium during after-hours; some jobs need pick-resistant techniques.
Rekey single lock	$120 to $280	Includes new pins, cut new keys (2-3 included), and 30-45 min labour. Premium for high-security cylinders.
Deadbolt replacement (per lock)	$150 to $450	Includes lock, fixings, and 45-60 min labour. Premium brand (Mul-T-Lock, Medeco) adds $150-300.
Smart lock install (Yale, August, Schlage)	$380 to $850	Includes lock, app setup, Wi-Fi configuration, and 1-2 hour labour. Battery-only models cheaper than wired.
Master-key system (small business, up to 6 locks)	$650 to $1,800	Includes new high-security cylinders, master keys, and individual user keys. Multi-tier hierarchy costs more.
Safe opening (combination forgot)	$280 to $850	Includes manipulation or drill-and-repair. Modern electronic safes generally cheaper than mechanical.
Car lockout (residential makes)	$120 to $280	Standard non-destructive entry. Premium makes (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) need specialist tools and run higher.
Emergency call-out (after hours)	1.5x to 2.5x standard	Typical 6pm-7am, weekends, public holidays. State multiplier on quote before dispatching.

Standard call-out (within radius)

Typical price$90 to $180

What's included

Includes travel and arrival. Most credited against the work if the customer proceeds.

Residential lockout (non-destructive)

Typical price$120 to $350

What's included

Includes 30-60 min on-site. Premium during after-hours; some jobs need pick-resistant techniques.

Rekey single lock

Typical price$120 to $280

What's included

Includes new pins, cut new keys (2-3 included), and 30-45 min labour. Premium for high-security cylinders.

Deadbolt replacement (per lock)

Typical price$150 to $450

What's included

Includes lock, fixings, and 45-60 min labour. Premium brand (Mul-T-Lock, Medeco) adds $150-300.

Smart lock install (Yale, August, Schlage)

Typical price$380 to $850

What's included

Includes lock, app setup, Wi-Fi configuration, and 1-2 hour labour. Battery-only models cheaper than wired.

Master-key system (small business, up to 6 locks)

Typical price$650 to $1,800

What's included

Includes new high-security cylinders, master keys, and individual user keys. Multi-tier hierarchy costs more.

Safe opening (combination forgot)

Typical price$280 to $850

What's included

Includes manipulation or drill-and-repair. Modern electronic safes generally cheaper than mechanical.

Car lockout (residential makes)

Typical price$120 to $280

What's included

Standard non-destructive entry. Premium makes (BMW, Mercedes, Audi) need specialist tools and run higher.

Emergency call-out (after hours)

Typical price1.5x to 2.5x standard

What's included

Typical 6pm-7am, weekends, public holidays. State multiplier on quote before dispatching.

What drives the price

Six things that change the price of a job

The same job can cost 2x more or less depending on these factors. Knowing them helps customers spot fair quotes and helps tradies justify their own.

Time of day

Standard rates apply 7am-6pm weekdays. Emergencies and after-hours work command a 1.5x to 2.5x multiplier. Quote the multiplier before dispatching; it is the #1 dispute trigger on locksmith bills.

Lock brand and security grade

Standard pin tumbler is $40; high-security cylinder (Mul-T-Lock, Medeco, ASSA) is $180+. Restricted-key systems where the customer cannot duplicate keys at any hardware store cost more. State the brand on the quote.

Number of keys cut

Standard rekey includes 2-3 keys; extra keys are $8-25 each (more for restricted blanks). Master-key systems include the master plus 1-2 operating keys per cylinder.

Damage to door / frame

Most lockouts use non-destructive entry. Where damage is unavoidable (drilling), the locksmith should quote the replacement lock and frame repair before proceeding. Get this in writing.

Type of premises

Residential is simplest. Commercial premises with master-key requirements, time-locked safes, or compliance systems (panic bars, fire-rated locks) cost more and need licensed locksmiths.

Distance and travel

Most locksmiths have a standard call-out radius (15-25km). Beyond that, expect a per-km surcharge. Multi-trip jobs (e.g., parts run for an unusual lock) multiply the travel cost.

How to quote it

How locksmiths should price their work

Tips for tradies on writing quotes that win the job and protect the margin.

Quote the after-hours multiplier upfront

Before dispatching to an after-hours job, confirm the multiplier with the customer over the phone. Sets expectations and stops bill-shock disputes at 2am.

Itemise lock by brand and grade

'Mul-T-Lock MT5+ cylinder, restricted profile' beats 'high-security lock'. Customers see exactly what they are getting and avoid substitution arguments.

Include keys in the quote

State 'includes 3 keys cut, extra keys $X each'. Saves the 'how many keys do I get' conversation and lets customers buy spares at quote time.

Take photos of the door before drilling

If destructive entry is unavoidable, photograph the door and frame before work starts. Protects both sides against 'you damaged my frame more than necessary' disputes.

Offer a security audit

A $250 home security audit can upsell into $1,500-3,000 of lock upgrades. Quote it as a discrete service; experienced locksmiths convert 40-60% of audits into upgrade work.

Send invoice instantly via WhatsApp

Customer pays on site, locksmith sends WhatsApp invoice immediately with serial numbers and key details. Reduces follow-up admin and creates a written record for insurance.

Watch out for

Pricing red flags to watch for

The patterns that usually signal a problem on the quote, with what to do about each one.

Unbranded vehicle, no business card

What to do: Walk away. Door-knock 'locksmith' scams target lockouts. Real locksmiths arrive in a branded vehicle, can produce ID and a licence number, and will wait while you verify.

Quote of $19 then $400 on arrival

What to do: Bait-and-switch is a known locksmith scam. The $19 is the call-out; the $400 is for the work the customer cannot refuse because the locksmith is already on site. Insist on a written quote BEFORE work starts.

Cash-only with no invoice

What to do: Walk away or pay only via card with a clear merchant ID. Cash locksmiths often double-bill, charge for parts they never used, and leave no recourse.

Drilling first without trying picks

What to do: Stop the work. A skilled locksmith picks or bumps first; drilling is the last resort and adds $200-500 of damage repair. If they go straight to a drill, they may not be trained.

No licence or registration number

What to do: Most regions require locksmith licensing. Ask for the licence number, write it down, and verify it later. Unlicensed locksmiths may have criminal records that licensed ones do not.

Pressure to upgrade locks immediately

What to do: After a lockout is the worst time to make a security decision. A reputable locksmith does the immediate job, quotes the upgrade in writing, and lets you decide in 24-48 hours.

Sample quote

A real example: line-by-line

Front door deadbolt upgrade, high-security cylinder, residential

Line	Rate	Total
Call-out fee (within 20km radius)	$ 100	$ 100
Mul-T-Lock MT5+ cylinder (restricted key profile, 7-pin)	$ 260	$ 260
Internal thumbturn + external escutcheon	$ 95	$ 95
3 keys cut on restricted blank (customer registered)	$ 18 each	$ 54
Removal of old cylinder, install, function test, customer handover	$ 95/hr	$ 95
Document the key registration card (customer keeps for future cuts)	Included	Included
Subtotal		$ 604
Tax (10%)		$ 60
Total		$ 664

Call-out fee (within 20km radius)

Rate $ 100$ 100

Mul-T-Lock MT5+ cylinder (restricted key profile, 7-pin)

Rate $ 260$ 260

Internal thumbturn + external escutcheon

Rate $ 95$ 95

3 keys cut on restricted blank (customer registered)

Rate $ 18 each$ 54

Removal of old cylinder, install, function test, customer handover

Rate $ 95/hr$ 95

Document the key registration card (customer keeps for future cuts)

Rate IncludedIncluded

Subtotal$ 604

Tax (10%)$ 60

Total$ 664

FAQ

Locksmiths pricing questions, answered

Everything customers and tradies ask about locksmith pricing.

Hourly rates are $60 to $130 in the US, £40-95 in the UK, A$80-160 in Australia, R280-700 in South Africa, and C$60-130 in Canada. After-hours emergency call-outs run 1.5x to 2.5x standard rates.

Out-of-hours work pulls the locksmith from family time and disrupts their normal schedule. The 1.5x-2.5x multiplier reflects the actual cost of being available at 2am. Reputable locksmiths quote the multiplier before dispatching.

Phone three locksmiths if the job is non-urgent (e.g., locked out but you have an alternative entrance). For genuine emergencies, get the quote in writing over phone before they arrive; that is your protection.

Commercial locksmiths handle master-key systems, panic-bar compliance, time-locked safes, and access control wiring. They charge 30-50% more per hour and need different licences. A residential locksmith doing commercial work may be over-promising.

A key cut on a blank only available to licensed locksmiths and registered to a specific customer. You cannot copy it at any hardware store. Premium for security; the cost is $15-30 per copy. Best on doors where unauthorised copies are a serious risk.

Not for standard residential work; pay on completion. For master-key systems over $1,000 with material outlay, 30% deposit is standard. Anyone asking for full payment before arrival is a scam risk.

Use a national chain or insured local with a verifiable address and licence number. Get the price in writing BEFORE work starts. Refuse drilling until they have tried picks. Never pay cash without an invoice. Photograph the door before destructive entry.

Smart locks add convenience (no keys to lose, remote unlock for tradies) but most domestic models are less pick-resistant than a quality deadbolt. The best security: smart lock paired with a mechanical high-security cylinder, or a Grade 1 smart lock from a known brand (Yale Linus, August Wi-Fi, Schlage Encode).

Get the call-out, hourly rate, lock brand, key count, and after-hours multiplier upfront in writing. Pay via card with a clear merchant ID, not cash. Verbal quotes that change on arrival are the #1 locksmith scam pattern.

Yes, modern locksmiths quote via WhatsApp with photos of the lock and brand spec. Faster acceptance, mobile-friendly review, and the message thread doubles as a written record. Tools like QuoteGenio build the PDF on the locksmith's phone and send via WhatsApp in 2 minutes.

Use a template

Free locksmith quote and invoice templates

Itemised templates ready to send. Skip the manual quote builder and get from job to paid in 2 minutes.

Quote

Locksmith Quote Template

Locksmith quote with call-out, cylinder grade, rekey option, and after-hours rates.

Open template

Invoice

Locksmith Invoice Template

Locksmith invoice with call-out, cylinder grade, rekey count, and after-hours rates.

Open template

City pricing

What locksmiths charge in 160 cities

Locksmiths pricing benchmarks written for tradies pricing their own work in each city. Local hourly rates, common job prices, and a sample quote you can copy. Pick a country to see its cities.

New York City$60-$150/hr

Locksmiths pricing

What to charge for locksmiths jobs in New York City.

How much does a locksmith charge in 2026?

Locksmiths typically charge $60 to $130 per hour

Locksmiths hourly rates by region (2026)

Common locksmith jobs and what they cost

Six things that change the price of a job

Time of day

Lock brand and security grade

Number of keys cut

Damage to door / frame

Type of premises

Distance and travel

How locksmiths should price their work

Quote the after-hours multiplier upfront

Itemise lock by brand and grade

Include keys in the quote

Take photos of the door before drilling

Offer a security audit

Send invoice instantly via WhatsApp

Pricing red flags to watch for

A real example: line-by-line

Locksmiths pricing questions, answered

Free locksmith quote and invoice templates

What locksmiths charge in 160 cities

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