Lock Installation & Rekey Cost - Real Prices, Quoted Before We Drive

Every visit starts with

Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch

You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.

Styles & brands we work with

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How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in Los Angeles?

Lock installation in Los Angeles typically costs $120 – $280 per lock for a standard residential deadbolt, while rekeying an existing lock runs $25 – $60 per cylinder. Most single-family homes we service in Los Angeles fall in the $150 – $400 range for a full job, and that price is written down before any work starts. High-security hardware like Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, or Abloy pushes the number higher, but the estimate you get from us doesn’t move once we’re on site.

Lock Installation & Rekey Cost Breakdown (2026)

Here’s what pricing looks like across Los Angeles right now. These ranges cover labor and standard hardware unless noted, and every one of them is confirmed in writing before a tool comes out of the bag.

What moves the number up or down? The single biggest factor is whether we’re rekeying hardware you already own or installing new locks. Rekeying is almost always cheaper because we’re swapping the internal pins and keeping the lock body. High-security cylinders cost more because the pins and key blanks come from restricted supply chains. Beyond hardware, the age of your door, how many doors need matching keys, and whether the door itself needs prep work (a fresh bore, a strike-plate adjustment, a deadlatch that doesn’t line up) all shift the total.

What Affects Lock Installation & Rekey Pricing in Los Angeles

• Number of cylinders. A single rekey is a small job. A five-door rekey where every door needs its own key or a matched set takes more time and more pins, and the price reflects that even though we quote a flat per-cylinder rate.
• Hardware grade. Standard Schlage and Kwikset cylinders sit at the low end. Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Baldwin use restricted keyways and precision pins that take longer and cost more to source, and in Los Angeles we see a lot of them on hillside homes and small commercial storefronts.
• Door type and condition. A pre-hung modern door with a clean 2-1/8″ bore is quick. Older Craftsman bungalows around Angelino Heights or Highland Park often have original wood doors with undersized bores, and those need prep before a new deadbolt sits flush.
• Code requirements. Los Angeles commercial and multi-unit buildings fall under California building code and Title 24 door hardware rules for egress. Panic hardware, closers, and ADA-compliant lever sets are not optional in those buildings, and they’re priced accordingly.
• Access and parking. A downtown high-rise with a freight elevator, or a hillside home off a narrow canyon road, takes longer to reach than a flat driveway in Culver City. We build realistic arrival windows into the schedule so you aren’t waiting half a day.
• Time of day. A standard weekday visit is the baseline. Late-night, holiday, and weekend calls carry an after-hours premium because we’re pulling a technician off a scheduled route to get to you.
• Whether you want matched keys. If you’re tired of carrying four keys for four doors, we can key everything to one key or set up a master-key system. That’s a small add-on during a rekey and a bigger job if the locks use different brands.

How to Save on Lock Installation & Rekey

You don’t have to pay top-of-range for a solid job. A few things we tell every Los Angeles customer:

1. Rekey instead of replace when the hardware is fine. If your locks work smoothly and just need new keys after a move, a rekey saves you $60 – $150 per door versus new hardware.
2. Bundle the whole house in one visit. Rekeying three to five doors at once costs noticeably less per door than three separate trips. We also key them all to one key while we’re there, usually at no extra charge.
3. Handle it during business hours. A weekday appointment avoids the after-hours premium entirely. Call (409) 405-4485 and we’ll find you a slot that doesn’t cost extra.
4. Get the price in writing first. This one saves money by preventing the classic surprise. With The Relay Visibility Guarantee, the number we quote is the number on your invoice. No swelling between estimate and payment.
5. Ask about the free second visit. If a repair fails inside our guarantee window, we come back at no charge. That’s not a discount, it’s a floor under your total cost.

How We Price the Job: What Happens Next

Every job runs the same way, whether you’re a homeowner in Sherman Oaks or a shop owner on Melrose:

1. You call (409) 405-4485. A live person answers, 24/7. No voicemail, no callback queue, no phone tag.
2. We write the price before we start. You get a written price for the exact work, confirmed before a single tool leaves the bag.
3. You get a live, trackable arrival time. You’ll know who’s coming, what they look like, and when they’ll arrive before they knock. Our technicians are background-checked and arrive in uniform.
4. We do the work and send before-and-after photos. You see exactly what changed, even if you’re at the office while we’re at your rental.
5. You get a digital invoice with a pay link. Same price. Every repair carries a written guarantee, and if it fails inside the window, the second visit is free. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise – if it’s not done right, we make it right.

We’ve been doing this since 2008 as part of the Relay Home Co. family, with each location independently owned and operated. We’re trained on Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, Yale, Baldwin, Mul-T-Lock, Sargent, and Abloy hardware, so a rekey or a fresh install is routine for us whether it’s a standard apartment deadbolt or a high-security commercial cylinder. You can read more about the full scope of what we handle on our Lock Installation & Rekey in Los Angeles page, and start from our home page if you’re new here.

FAQs – Lock Installation & Rekey Cost

How much does it cost to rekey a lock in Los Angeles?

Rekeying a standard lock in Los Angeles typically runs $25 – $60 per cylinder. High-security cylinders like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock run $55 – $110 because of the restricted pins and keys. A typical three-door house lands between $180 and $350 total, and we confirm the written price before we start. Call (409) 405-4485 for an exact quote – estimates are free.

Is it cheaper to rekey or replace my locks?

Rekeying is almost always cheaper when your existing hardware is in good shape – usually $60 – $150 less per door than replacing. Replace only when the lock body is worn, damaged, or you’re upgrading to high-security hardware. If you’re not sure which side your locks fall on, we’ll tell you honestly before quoting. Call (409) 405-4485 and we’ll walk you through it.

How much does a new deadbolt installation cost in Los Angeles?

A standard deadbolt install runs $120 – $200 per door in Los Angeles, and high-security options like Medeco or Baldwin run $180 – $280. That covers labor and standard hardware unless you’re supplying your own. If the door needs a fresh bore, that’s included in the range we quote. Call (409) 405-4485 for a written price before any work starts.

Can you come the same day for a lock install or rekey in Los Angeles?

Yes, in most cases. We answer the phone live 24/7 and schedule same-day visits across Los Angeles when the route allows, with a live trackable arrival time so you’re not stuck waiting. After-hours and weekend calls carry a $60 – $140 premium, but the written price is set before dispatch. Call (409) 405-4485 and we’ll give you a real window.

Do you charge extra for high-security locks like Medeco or Abloy?

Yes – high-security cylinders run roughly $30 – $50 more per lock for a rekey and $60 – $100 more for a full install, because the pins and keys come from restricted supply chains. We’re trained and equipped on Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Baldwin, and Sargent alongside Schlage, Kwikset, and Yale, so it’s the same written-price process either way. Call (409) 405-4485 for an exact range on your hardware.

What does the written guarantee actually cover?

Every repair carries a written guarantee stamped on the job, and if it fails inside the window we come back at no charge. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means if it’s not done right, we make it right – no argument, no second invoice. That’s on top of the written price before work starts and before-and-after photos of the finished job. Call (409) 405-4485 with any questions before you book.

Get a Written Price Before You Book

If you’re rekeying after a move, upgrading a rental’s hardware, or replacing a deadbolt that’s seen better days, the price depends on your doors and your hardware – and we’ll put that price in writing before we start. Call (409) 405-4485 for a free estimate. A live person answers 24/7, you’ll get a trackable arrival time, and the number we quote is the number you pay.

Pricing reflects the Los Angeles market as of 2026. Preston Locksmith & Security offers free estimates – call (409) 405-4485.

Written by Kevin Yoon, Owner at Preston Locksmith & Security, serving Los Angeles since 2008.