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.
Rekey Locks Across the United States
When you rekey locks, a locksmith changes the pins inside each cylinder so the old keys stop working and a new key takes over, while the lock itself stays on your door. At Loxley Locksmith & Security, that is the fastest and cheapest way to take back control of who can get into your home or business. You get a written price before any work starts, and that price is what you pay. We have worked this way since 2007, as part of the Kingswell family of companies. Every technician is background-checked and uniformed. To rekey locks at your property, call (682) 281-8985. A live person answers 24/7 and tells you what to expect before anyone gets in a truck.
Lock Rekey
A lock rekey swaps the internal pin stack in the cylinder for a new combination. The lock body, the knob or deadbolt, and the finish all stay put. Only the key changes. The old key may still slide into the keyway, but it will not turn. Most rekeys take 10 to 15 minutes per lock, and a typical house with three or four exterior locks is finished in under an hour.
What actually changes inside the cylinder
Each pin chamber holds a driver pin and a key pin of a certain length. The key lifts every pin to the exact shear line so the plug can rotate. We remove the plug, replace the key pins with a new set cut to a different bitting, and reassemble it. Then we test the new key several times and try an old key to prove it no longer works. You see the result before we leave.
Locksmith Rekey
A locksmith rekey is different from a do-it-yourself kit from the hardware store. Kits work on some Kwikset and Schlage cylinders, but they fail often on older or worn locks, and a bad rekey can leave a lock that sticks or that still accepts a former key. Loxley Locksmith & Security technicians carry pin kits and tools for Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, Baldwin, Medeco, and Mul-T-Lock, and they know how each brand tends to fail.
What a pro catches that a kit misses
We check the plug for wear, the springs for tension, and the bolt for smooth travel. If a cylinder is too worn to rekey well, we say so and quote a replacement before touching it. Our door lock repair crews handle that on the same visit, so you do not need a second appointment.
Rekey Door Lock
To rekey a door lock on an exterior entry, we remove the knob or deadbolt, pull the cylinder, rebuild it, and put everything back with the door aligned. The door does not need to come off its hinges. Front doors, back doors, garage entry doors, and side gates with keyed locks are all common jobs. Interior locks on offices, storage rooms, and bedrooms can be done the same way.
Doors we see most often
Residential entry sets, mortise locks on older homes, commercial storefront cylinders, and padlock-style cylinders on gates and sheds all come up weekly. If a door has a lock that you cannot identify, send us a photo when you call or let the technician look at it. We will tell you if it can be rekeyed and what it costs before work begins.
Rekey Deadbolt
A deadbolt is the lock that does most of the real security work on a door, so it is the first one most customers ask us to rekey. A standard single-cylinder deadbolt from Schlage or Kwikset usually costs $55 to $120 to rekey, service call included. Double-cylinder deadbolts, which need a key on both sides, cost about the same because the work is the same, only done twice.
Deadbolt problems that show up during a rekey
While the cylinder is out, we look at the bolt itself. A bolt that does not extend a full inch into the strike plate is a common weak point, and so is a strike plate held by short screws that only bite into the jamb trim. If we find either, we tell you and price the fix. If you want a new lock rather than a rekey, our deadbolt installation service covers it.
Rekey House
When you rekey a house, the goal is simple: every exterior lock opens with one key, and nobody from the past has a copy that works. This is the standard job after buying a home, finishing a divorce, ending a lease with a tenant, or firing a contractor or house cleaner. A full-house rekey of four to six locks usually costs less than replacing a single high-end deadbolt.
Pinning every lock to one key
We rekey the front, back, garage entry, and side doors so a single key works everywhere. You carry one key instead of a ring of five. If you prefer separate keys for separate doors, say so and we set it up that way and keep a written list of who has which key. For homes where several locks need replacing as well, ask about our change door locks service.
Landlords and property managers
Property managers with many units use us for turnover rekeys between tenants. We can pin a whole building to a master key system, so one key opens every unit for the manager while each tenant gets a key that only opens their own door. That is cheaper and faster than swapping hardware at each turnover.
Keyed Alike
Keyed alike means two or more locks are pinned to the same key. It is the most popular request when we rekey a home or small shop. Instead of a key for the front door, a key for the back door, and a key for the garage, you carry one. Keyed alike works across brands only within certain limits, because each manufacturer cuts keys to its own keyway. A Schlage deadbolt and a Kwikset knob cannot share a key, so mixed-brand doors sometimes need one lock swapped for the same brand.
When keyed alike is the wrong call
One key for everything is convenient, but it also means one lost key exposes every door. For a business with employees, or a rental where a cleaner needs only the front door, we usually suggest a small master key system instead. You decide how much access each key carries, and we write it down for you.
Rekey Service
Our rekey service is built around a written price, a kept arrival window, and a guarantee on the work. You call (682) 281-8985, tell us how many locks and what brand, and we quote the full price before dispatch. Technicians arrive in a marked vehicle, show ID, confirm the quote, and get started. Most customers watch the whole job.
What is included in every rekey
The trip, the labor, new keys cut to the new bitting, a test of every lock with every key, and a check that the old key no longer works. Extra keys beyond the first set cost a few dollars each. If we find a problem outside the scope of the rekey, we tell you before doing anything about it.
Lock Rekey Versus Replacing the Lock
Rekeying is not always the right answer. If a lock is cracked, badly corroded, or a low-grade builder model, a rekey puts a new key into hardware that is failing anyway. Replacing the lock costs more up front but removes the weak point. For new hardware, see our lock installation service. A quick rule we use: if the lock turns smoothly, the finish is sound, and the brand is a known one, rekey it. If not, replace it.
Here is how the cost compares for a typical single door. A rekey runs $55 to $120. A basic replacement runs $85 to $200 installed. A high-security replacement from Medeco or Mul-T-Lock can reach $400. The rekey saves money only when the hardware is worth keeping, and we will say honestly which side your lock falls on.
Signs You Should Rekey Your Locks Now
- You just bought or rented a place. Former owners, agents, cleaners, and contractors may all hold copies. A rekey makes every one of them useless in a single visit.
- A key was lost or stolen. If the key had an address on the tag, or was in a wallet or car that was taken, treat the lock as compromised the same day.
- An employee, tenant, or roommate left. People rarely return every copy. A rekey costs less than the risk of one unreturned key.
- You had a break-in or attempted entry. Even if the lock held, rekey it. We also check the door, strike, and frame for damage you cannot see from outside.
- Your key works only after jiggling. Worn pins and a worn key fight each other. A rekey with a fresh key often fixes it; if it does not, we move to repair or replacement.
Our Rekey Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call us, or start from the home page. A live person answers at (682) 281-8985. Tell us how many locks, the brand if you know it, and whether you want them keyed alike. No phone tree.
- 2
We give you a written price before the work starts. The price covers the trip, labor, and keys. If the job changes on site, we tell you before the price changes.
- 3
A uniformed, background-checked technician arrives in the quoted window. They show ID, look at each lock, and confirm the price before touching anything.
- 4
The rekey is done on site. We pull each cylinder, repin it, test every lock with the new key, and prove the old key no longer turns. You can watch all of it.
- 5
If the work fails within 365 days, we come back free. The guarantee is written on your invoice. Call us and we schedule the return visit. No argument and no extra charge.
How Much Does It Cost to Rekey Locks?
Rekey pricing in the U.S. generally runs $55 to $120 per lock for standard Schlage and Kwikset deadbolts and knobs. Yale and Baldwin cylinders usually fall in the same range. High-security cylinders from Medeco and Mul-T-Lock cost more, often $90 to $175 per lock, because the key blanks are restricted and the pinning is more involved. A full-house rekey of four to six locks commonly lands between $150 and $400. A new key beyond the first set adds a few dollars each. These are honest ranges based on what we charge across the country.
The price moves with the number of locks, the brand, the condition of each cylinder, and whether you want locks keyed alike or on a master system. Getting it in writing before dispatch is how you avoid overpaying, and every Loxley Locksmith & Security quote includes the trip, labor, parts, and the written guarantee. Estimates are free, so phone (682) 281-8985 and ask for your number. No obligation and no surprise charges.
Where We Work
Loxley Locksmith & Security serves homeowners, landlords, and businesses across the United States through local crews held to the same written Kingswell standard. Each location is independently owned and operated, so you get a locksmith who knows the area but works under one national rulebook: price agreed before the work starts, arrival window kept, job site left clean, and every job backed by a written guarantee. Wherever you are calling from, a live person answers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rekey Locks
Plan on $55 to $120 per lock for standard residential deadbolts and knobs, and $150 to $400 for a full house of four to six locks. High-security brands like Medeco cost more. Loxley Locksmith & Security gives a written price before dispatch. Call (682) 281-8985 for a free estimate.
About 10 to 15 minutes per lock once the technician is at the door. A typical house is finished in under an hour, and you can watch the work.
Yes, if the lock is in good condition. A rekey gives the cylinder a new combination, so old keys stop working. If the lock is worn, cracked, or a poor-quality model, replacing it is the better choice, and we will tell you which applies.
Usually yes, when the locks are the same brand and keyway. This is called keyed alike. Locks from different brands cannot share a key, so a mixed-brand home may need one lock swapped for a matching brand.
Rekey when the hardware is sound and you only need to cancel old keys, such as after moving in or losing a key. Change the locks when they are damaged, loose, or outdated. We can advise on the phone.
Every rekey carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the work fails within a year, we return and fix it at no charge, parts and labor included. It is written on every invoice.
Schedule Your Rekey Service Today
If you need to rekey locks, or you are not sure whether a rekey or a replacement fits your doors, call (682) 281-8985. We 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. We have served customers since 2007.
Written by Sam Rourke, Owner at Loxley Locksmith & Security, serving homeowners and businesses since 2007.