Is It Cheaper to Rekey or Replace a Lock?

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What’s the Difference Between Rekeying and Replacing?

Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration inside your existing lock so that old keys no longer work and only new ones do — the lock itself, the deadbolt, the exterior hardware you see and touch, all stay exactly the same. It’s a locksmith working inside the cylinder, not swapping parts on your door.

Replacing means removing the entire lock — cylinder, hardware, sometimes the strike plate — and installing new hardware in its place. That’s the right call when the lock itself is the problem, not just who has a key to it.

When Rekeying Makes Sense

• You moved into a home or rental and don’t know who else has keys from a previous owner or tenant.
• You lost a key, or one was taken, and you want it to stop working without buying new hardware.
• A roommate, ex-partner, contractor, or former employee had a key and you want their access removed.
• Your existing locks are in good physical condition — they turn smoothly, latch properly, and aren’t damaged.
• You want every lock on the property working off one new key, without changing how your doors look.

When Replacing Makes Sense

• The lock is damaged — a cracked cylinder, a bent bolt, a mechanism that sticks or fails to latch.
• You’re upgrading to a smart lock, a higher security-grade deadbolt, or matching hardware across your home.
• The lock was forced or drilled during a break-in or a previous lockout and the cylinder itself is compromised.
• You simply don’t like the current hardware and want a different look, brand, or finish.

Cost Comparison: Rekey vs. Replace

Job	Typical Range
Rekey, per cylinder	$50 – $100
Whole-house rekey (5–6 cylinders)	$150 – $250
Lock replacement (standard-grade hardware)	$80 – $300+
Smart lock installation (labor)	$80 – $250

For a whole house with several exterior doors, rekeying every cylinder to one new key is almost always the lower-cost option when the hardware itself doesn’t need to change. See the full sitewide pricing breakdown for every job we price, or read how to tell if a quote you received was fair.

What About Moving Into a New Home?

A move-in rekey is one of the most common reasons people call at all — you have no way of knowing how many keys exist for a home you didn’t build, and buying entirely new locks just to control who has access is rarely necessary. Rekeying every exterior cylinder to a fresh key gets you the same result — old keys stop working, period — for a fraction of the cost of full replacement, unless the existing hardware itself is outdated or damaged. Our residential locksmith services cover this exact situation.

Is It Cheaper to Rekey or Replace a Lock? Questions, Answered Directly

Can Any Lock Be Rekeyed, or Does It Have to Be Replaced?

Most standard pin-tumbler locks — the kind on the vast majority of residential doors — can be rekeyed as long as the mechanism itself is undamaged. A lock that’s been drilled, forced, or has a cracked or badly worn cylinder usually needs to be replaced instead, since rekeying only changes which key works, not the physical condition of the hardware.

Do All the Locks in My House Need to Match After a Rekey?

They don’t have to, but most homeowners choose to rekey every exterior lock to the same key for convenience — one key for the front door, back door, and any other exterior entry instead of carrying several. This is typically priced as a whole-house rekey rather than billing each cylinder as a fully separate visit.

Is Rekeying as Secure as Replacing the Lock Entirely?

Yes, when it’s done on hardware that’s in good condition — rekeying resets who can open the lock just as effectively as new hardware would, since the security comes from the key working the pins, not from the lock being physically new. Replacement only adds security value when you’re upgrading to a higher security grade or fixing hardware that was already compromised.