Short answer: When you move into a home, lose a key, or realize you no longer know who is holding a copy, your instinct is often to buy all-new locks. Frequently you do not need to. Rekeying can give you the same fresh-start security for a fraction of the cost, but it is not always the right call. Here is how the money and the security really compare, with prices given as general ranges rather than promises.
When you move into a home, lose a key, or realize you no longer know who is holding a copy, your instinct is often to buy all-new locks. Frequently you do not need to. Rekeying can give you the same fresh-start security for a fraction of the cost, but it is not always the right call. Here is how the money and the security really compare, with prices given as general ranges rather than promises.
Rekeying keeps your existing locks on the door but changes the internal pin configuration so that all old keys stop working and a new key takes over. The lock body, finish, and hardware stay exactly as they are; only the guts are re-tuned. Because it is mostly labor and a small set of pins, rekeying is usually the budget option, commonly in the range of about $15 to $40 per cylinder plus the service call, and it is fast. Its other advantage is convenience: if you have five doors that currently take five different keys, a locksmith can rekey all of them to a single new key in one visit. That alone is a reason many homeowners rekey even when nothing is broken.
Rekeying only makes sense if the lock itself is sound. Replacement wins in a few clear cases. If the lock is old, corroded, or physically worn so it already sticks and grinds, rekeying just puts fresh pins into a failing body. If you want to upgrade your security level, say moving to a high-security or bump-resistant cylinder or a smart deadbolt, that is a new lock by definition. And if you simply want a different look or finish to match a renovation, you are buying hardware regardless. New locks cost more, since you are paying for the physical lock plus installation, and quality ranges widely from basic builder-grade to premium high-security. The upside is you get modern mechanisms and, often, a longer service life.
Run three questions. First, are the locks themselves in good working order? If they turn smoothly and are not corroded, that points toward rekeying. Second, is your goal simply to control who has a working key, for example after a move, a breakup, a lost keyring, or a contractor who had access? Rekeying handles that completely and cheaply. Third, do you want something the current lock cannot give you, like higher security, keypad or smart entry, or a matching new finish? That points to replacement. A common and cost-smart hybrid is to replace only the one or two doors where you want an upgrade and rekey the rest to match, so every door in the house opens with the same key without paying to swap hardware you did not need to touch.
Rekeying keeps your existing locks on the door but changes the internal pin configuration so that all old keys stop working and a new key takes over. The lock body, finish, and hardware stay exactly as they are; only the guts are re-tuned. Because it is mostly labor and a small set of pins, rekeying is usually the budget option, commonly in the range of about $15 to $40 per cylinder plus the service call, and it is fast. Its other advantage is convenience: if you have five doors that currently take five different keys, a locksmith can rekey all of them to a single new key in one visit. That alone is a reason many homeowners rekey even when nothing is broken.
Rekeying only makes sense if the lock itself is sound. Replacement wins in a few clear cases. If the lock is old, corroded, or physically worn so it already sticks and grinds, rekeying just puts fresh pins into a failing body. If you want to upgrade your security level, say moving to a high-security or bump-resistant cylinder or a smart deadbolt, that is a new lock by definition. And if you simply want a different look or finish to match a renovation, you are buying hardware regardless. New locks cost more, since you are paying for the physical lock plus installation, and quality ranges widely from basic builder-grade to premium high-security. The upside is you get modern mechanisms and, often, a longer service life.
Run three questions. First, are the locks themselves in good working order? If they turn smoothly and are not corroded, that points toward rekeying. Second, is your goal simply to control who has a working key, for example after a move, a breakup, a lost keyring, or a contractor who had access? Rekeying handles that completely and cheaply. Third, do you want something the current lock cannot give you, like higher security, keypad or smart entry, or a matching new finish? That points to replacement. A common and cost-smart hybrid is to replace only the one or two doors where you want an upgrade and rekey the rest to match, so every door in the house opens with the same key without paying to swap hardware you did not need to touch.
Call (650) 474-5773 and describe the situation, your exact location, and what you need. Timing is confirmed on that call rather than promised in advance.
Call for help: (650) 474-5773 — a straight answer and an honest estimate before any work begins.