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.
Deadbolt Installation Across the United States
Deadbolt installation puts a solid steel bolt into your door frame, so the door has to be forced, not just pushed. At Loxley Locksmith & Security, we install deadbolts the way the manufacturer intended: correct bore, correct backset, long screws in the strike, and a bolt that throws smoothly the first time you turn the key. You get a written price before any work starts, and that price is what you pay. We have worked this way since 2007, as the residential and commercial locksmith branch of the Kingswell family of companies. Every technician is background-checked, uniformed and held to one written standard. Call (682) 281-8985 and a live person answers 24/7.
What Deadbolt Installation Includes
A proper deadbolt installation is more than screwing a lock into a hole. Our written price covers the hardware, the labor, the door preparation, the strike plate and a test of the finished lock with you at the door. Most single-door jobs take 30 to 60 minutes. If your door already has a bored deadbolt hole, we can often swap hardware in less time than that.
Fresh install on a door with no deadbolt
Many older homes and rental units only have a knob lock with a spring latch. That latch can be slipped open with a plastic card. We measure the door, mark the bore with a jig, drill the cross bore and edge bore, mortise the latch face flush, and fit the deadbolt so the bolt extends a full inch into the frame.
Replacing an existing deadbolt
If you already have a deadbolt that is worn, loose or the wrong finish, we remove it and fit a new one in the same bore. We check that the hole is the standard size, the bolt lines up with the strike, and the door has not shifted since the old lock went in. A new lock on a misaligned door will fail just like the old one, so we fix the alignment too.
Single Cylinder or Double Cylinder
Most homes want a single cylinder deadbolt: a key outside and a thumb turn inside. It is fast to operate in an emergency, and it is what most fire codes expect on a main exit. A double cylinder deadbolt needs a key on both sides. It makes sense on doors with glass nearby, where a burglar could break a pane and reach in to turn a thumb turn. The tradeoff is real: if a fire starts and the key is not in the lock, getting out takes longer.
We will tell you which one fits your door and your local code before you choose. If you have sidelight glass, a mail slot close to the lock, or a decorative window, we may suggest a single cylinder with a security film or a key-operated lock with the key stored in a safe spot near the door. You decide, and the price is in writing before we start.
Choosing a Deadbolt Grade
Deadbolts are graded by the American National Standards Institute and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. The grade tells you how many turns of the key the lock survives and how much force it takes before it fails.
- Grade 3 suits interior doors and low-risk secondary doors. It is the cheapest option and passes the basic strike tests.
- Grade 2 is the right choice for most main entry doors. It holds up to heavier abuse and more daily use.
- Grade 1 is commercial-grade hardware. It takes the most force and the most cycles, and it is the strongest residential option you can buy.
Typical cost for the lock alone runs about $20 to $40 for Grade 3, $40 to $90 for Grade 2 and $80 to $200 or more for Grade 1 and high-security models. We bring samples so you can feel the difference in weight and action before you choose.
Door Prep and Strike Plate Reinforcement
A deadbolt is only as strong as the wood around it. The most common way a locked door gets kicked open is not the bolt snapping. It is the frame splitting around a strike plate held by half-inch screws. We replace builder-grade screws with 3-inch hardened steel screws that bite into the wall stud behind the jamb.
What we check on every install
We check that the door is solid and not hollow around the lock area, that the hinges are tight, that the gap between door and frame is even, and that the bolt hole in the frame is deep enough. If the jamb is cracked or soft, we tell you and show you the fix, such as a steel jamb reinforcer or a wrap-around plate, before adding it to the price.
Keyed Alike, Smart and Specialty Options
If you are adding deadbolts to several doors, we can key them all to the same key so you carry one key for the front, back and garage entry doors. We can also match the new deadbolts to your existing knob locks if the brands allow it. Prefer no key at all? We can install keypad and smart deadbolts that work with a code or a phone app, with a mechanical key override as a backup. Ask about smart options when you call and we will price them in writing alongside the standard choice.
For homes and offices that want tighter key control, we also fit restricted-keyway deadbolts. Those keys cannot be copied at a hardware store kiosk, so you know who holds a working key. See our high security locks service for the full range.
Brands We Install
We carry and install Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, Baldwin and Sargent deadbolts for everyday residential doors, plus Medeco and Mul-T-Lock for high-security applications. Most of the time we can match the finish of your existing door hardware: satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, matte black, polished brass or antique brass. If you already bought a lock, bring it out and we will install it. We will also tell you plainly if the model you bought is a poor fit for your door.
Signs You Need a Deadbolt Installed Now
- Your door only has a knob lock. A spring latch is not a security device. It keeps the door closed against wind, not against a person. Adding a deadbolt is the single most effective upgrade for a front or back door.
- You just moved in and the door has an old, worn deadbolt. Worn bolts drag, stick and sometimes fail to throw all the way. Replace the hardware and rekey or key the new lock fresh, so only the keys you hand out will work.
- Your existing deadbolt turns hard or does not fully extend. The cause may be a shifted door, a damaged strike or a worn lock. We tell you which, and install a new unit if repair is not the better call.
- You had a break-in or attempted break-in. The lock, strike and frame may be damaged in ways you cannot see. We install new hardware and reinforce the frame in the same visit.
- You are adding a new exterior door, like a garage entry or patio door. Each exterior door should have its own deadbolt. We install them as a set so the keying is consistent.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call us, or check the home page for service details. A live person answers at (682) 281-8985. Tell us how many doors, what lock is on them now and what finish you want. No phone tree.
- 2
We give you a written price before the work starts. It covers the trip, the labor, the hardware and the strike reinforcement. If the job changes on site, we tell you before the price changes. This is the Kingswell Way.
- 3
A uniformed, background-checked technician arrives in the quoted window. They show identification, look at the door and confirm the price before touching anything.
- 4
We install and test the deadbolt with you. You watch the bolt throw, try every key and turn the thumb turn. We leave the door and the work area clean.
- 5
If the work fails within 365 days, we come back free. That is the Done Right Promise, and it is written on every invoice.
How Much Does Deadbolt Installation Cost?
Deadbolt installation pricing in the U.S. generally runs $95 to $180 per lock for standard Grade 2 hardware, including labor and basic door preparation. High-security models from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock or Baldwin run $150 to $300 per lock installed. Drilling a new door that has no bore adds time and usually lands at the upper end of the range. Smart deadbolts typically add $50 to $100 for setup and pairing. These are honest ranges based on what we charge across the country, and the phone quote matches the invoice.
Several things move the price: the number of doors, the grade of the lock, whether the door needs boring or repair, and whether you want frame reinforcement. Buying three or more locks on one visit usually lowers the per-lock labor. You avoid overpaying by getting the price in writing before dispatch. There is a free estimate on every call, so phone our team at (682) 281-8985 and ask for your number. No obligation, no surprise charges.
Related Locksmith Services
Deadbolts often come with other work. If you need new keys for existing locks, look at our rekey locks service. If a lock is sticking or loose, see door lock repair. For other hardware on the same door, our lock installation page covers knobs, levers and handle sets. We can usually handle all of it in one visit, with one written price.
Where We Work
Loxley Locksmith & Security serves homeowners and businesses across the United States through local crews held to the same written Kingswell standard. Each location is independently owned and operated, which means you get a locksmith who knows the local area but works under one national rulebook: price agreed before the work starts, arrival window kept, job site left clean, and every installation backed by a written guarantee. Wherever you are calling from, a live person answers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deadbolt Installation
A single deadbolt on a door that is already bored takes about 20 to 30 minutes. A fresh install on a door with no deadbolt hole runs 45 to 60 minutes, including strike reinforcement. Multiple doors take a little longer per door, but not much.
Standard Grade 2 deadbolts run $95 to $180 per lock installed. High-security models from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock or Baldwin run $150 to $300. Loxley Locksmith & Security gives you the price in writing before work starts, and the phone quote matches the invoice. Call (682) 281-8985 for a free estimate.
Yes. Bring it out and we will check that it fits your door, then install it to spec. If the lock is a poor match for your door thickness or backset, we tell you before we start and suggest a model that works.
Most homes should use a single cylinder: key outside, thumb turn inside. It lets everyone get out fast in an emergency. A double cylinder makes sense only when glass sits within arm’s reach of the lock, and local fire code may restrict it. We explain the tradeoff on site.
Yes. We replace short builder screws in the strike plate with 3-inch hardened screws that reach the wall stud. If the jamb is cracked or soft, we price a steel reinforcer and show you the damage first.
Every installation carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the work fails inside a year, we come back and fix it at no charge, parts and labor included. It is written on every invoice.
Schedule Your Deadbolt Installation Today
If your door needs a deadbolt, or the one you have is not doing its job, call (682) 281-8985. We will give you a written price before anyone is dispatched, a real arrival window and a written guarantee on the work. A live person answers 24/7, and the estimate is free. No pressure, no surprise charges.
Written by Sam Rourke, Owner at Loxley Locksmith & Security, serving homeowners and businesses since 2007.