If your locks work fine and you just need to control who has a key, rekey. If the hardware itself is the problem, replace.
Rekeying keeps your existing locks and changes the key — a locksmith swaps the pins inside the cylinder so your old keys stop working and a new key takes over. The hardware on your door doesn’t change.
Replacing means new hardware — a new deadbolt, knob, or handle set goes on the door.
Most of the time, rekeying is the cheaper, faster answer.
Rekeying is quick, it’s done on-site, and because it reuses your hardware it’s usually the lower-cost option.
Rekeying is generally priced per cylinder and usually costs less than buying and installing new hardware, since there are no new parts beyond pins. Replacing depends on the hardware you choose — a basic deadbolt and a smart lock are very different numbers. We’ll quote both when you call.
You don’t have to guess: tell us the situation and we’ll tell you honestly which one you actually need. We’re not going to sell you new locks when a rekey does the job. (More on what moves a quote: what a locksmith costs.)
Big-box rekey kits exist, and for a single, matching-brand lock a handy homeowner can sometimes manage it. Where people get stuck: mixed brands and keyways, high-security cylinders (not DIY), getting every door onto one key, and older hardware that fights back.
If you’ve got more than one or two locks — or anything high-security — it’s faster and cleaner to have it done right the first time.
Yes — a properly rekeyed lock is exactly as secure as it was, just with a new key. Security comes from the grade and condition of the hardware, not from whether it’s new. If the hardware is weak, that’s a reason to replace, not just rekey.
Usually, if they share a compatible keyway. Where they don’t, we can often replace the odd ones to get you to a single key.
Yes — it’s the standard, low-cost way to reset access between tenants. For portfolios we handle turnover rekeying on a schedule; see our property management services.
The locks and keys to handle when you move in — including the garage-entry door, the mailbox, and the safe the sellers left behind.
Read the GuideThere’s no single price for “a locksmith.” Here are the factors that actually move the number — and why the cheapest quote is usually the most expensive.
Read the GuideDescribe the situation and we’ll give you a straight recommendation.
