Lock Rekeying Cost Calculator
Total cost from lock count, pins, and service call.
About this calculator
This calculator totals the cost of rekeying a set of locks to new pins, accounting for lock type, pin count, and whether all locks are being keyed alike. Per-lock rekeying labor starts from a base rate by lock type — $15 for a standard knob/lever, $20 for a deadbolt, $45 for a high-security cylinder (Medeco/Mul-T-Lock style), $35 for a mortise lock — and adds $5 for every pin above the standard 5-pin count, since high-security cylinders commonly use 6 or 7 pins and each extra pin is another cut to make and fit. When locks are keyed alike (all opening with one key), the calculator applies a modest labor discount to every lock after the first — 85% of the per-lock rate — reflecting that the locksmith has already worked out the target keyway and doesn't have to start from scratch on each additional cylinder; locks keyed differently pay the full per-lock rate on every unit.
Key copy pricing also varies by lock type, from $3 for a standard or deadbolt key up to $18 for a high-security key that requires a restricted blank, multiplied by however many copies you request. The pins-required output is simply pin count times lock count — a rough materials figure, not an exact bill of parts, since actual pin kits vary by manufacturer. Job time assumes 8 to 15 minutes of hands-on work per lock depending on complexity, plus a flat 10-minute setup and travel allowance for the whole visit.
Inputs
Results
Total cost
$159.75
≈ 11 movie tickets
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the number of locks to be rekeyed.
- Set the pin count per lock (5 for standard residential, 6-7 for high-security cylinders) and choose the lock type: standard knob/lever, deadbolt, high-security, or mortise.
- Indicate whether all locks will be keyed alike to a single key, and how many key copies to cut.
- Add a service call fee if the locksmith is traveling to your location.
- Review the total cost, rekeying labor, key copy cost, cost per lock, pins required, and estimated job time.
How the result changes with Pins per lock
| Pins per lock | Total cost |
|---|---|
| 5.2 | $159.75 |
| 5.7 | $186.00 |
| 6.3 | $186.00 |
| 6.8 | $212.25 |
What each input means
- Number of locks
- Total locks to rekey (knobs, deadbolts, or both count separately).
- Pins per lock
- Pin tumbler count: standard residential is 5, high-security may be 6 or 7.
- Lock type
- 1 = Standard knob/lever, 2 = Deadbolt, 3 = High-security (Medeco/Mul-T-Lock), 4 = Mortise.
- Keyed alike?
- 1 = All locks keyed to the same key, 0 = Each lock different.
- Key copies
- Number of key copies to cut after rekeying.
- Service call fee ($)
- Flat fee for the locksmith to come to your location.
What each result means
- Total cost
- Complete cost including service call, rekeying labor, and key copies.
- Rekeying labor
- Labor cost for rekeying all locks (excluding service call).
- Service call fee
- Flat trip/service charge.
- Key copy cost
- Cost for additional key copies.
- Cost per lock
- Average rekeying + key cost per individual lock.
- Pins required
- Total bottom pins needed for all locks.
- Est. time (min)
- Estimated total job time in minutes including setup.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersNumber of locks = 6, Pins per lock = 5, Lock type = 1, Keyed alike? = 1 = 6 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total costTotal cost = serviceCallFee + rekeyTotal + keyCopyTotal159.75 = $159.75
- Calculate Rekeying labor78.75 = $78.75
- Calculate Service call feeService call fee75 = $75
Engine last updated . Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators. Built by Paul Gunder, a software engineer, not a licensed financial, medical, or legal professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does keying locks alike actually save compared to keying them differently?
The first lock is always charged at the full per-lock rekeying rate, but every additional lock keyed to that same key is discounted to 85% of that rate — reflecting that the locksmith has already worked out the target keyway and doesn't have to start the pinning process from scratch on each cylinder. For 6 standard knob locks at $15 each keyed alike, that's $15 for the first lock plus 5 locks at $12.75, versus $90 total if all 6 were keyed differently.
Why does the "cost per lock" output not match rekeying labor divided by lock count?
Cost per lock is calculated as total cost minus the service call fee, divided by lock count — so it folds in key copy cost as well as rekeying labor, not rekeying labor alone. That means cost per lock will shift if you change the number of key copies requested, even though the number of locks being rekeyed hasn't changed.
Why does pin count only add cost above 5 pins, and why does it matter for high-security locks?
Standard residential pin tumbler locks use 5 pins, which is treated as the baseline included in each lock type's base rekeying rate; the calculator adds $5 for every pin above that baseline. High-security cylinders like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock commonly use 6 or 7 pins for greater pick resistance, so selecting a higher pin count on top of the high-security lock type's already-higher $45 base rate compounds both cost factors.
Why is a high-security key copy priced so much higher than a standard key copy?
Standard and deadbolt keys are estimated at $3 per copy, mortise at $8, but high-security keys are estimated at $18 per copy because high-security systems (like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock) use patent-protected, restricted key blanks that only authorized locksmiths can source and cut, unlike the generic blanks used for standard keys.
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