Not all locksmith jobs are equal. A $79 lockout call is perfectly reasonable. A $79 deadbolt installation is a red flag. This guide shows you exactly which services are safe to price-shop and which ones you should pay for quality.
The answer depends on complexity, security stakes, and hardware quality. Here is a plain-language verdict for each major locksmith service category.
A cheap locksmith is generally acceptable for emergency lockouts and standard rekeying of residential locks. You should prioritize quality over price for deadbolt upgrades, master key systems, and any smart home lock integration — these require correct hardware specifications and precise installation to function securely for years.
Price-Shop OK
Getting back into your home or car is a commodity service. The technician picks or bypasses your existing lock — no new hardware is installed, no security decisions are made. The only variables are response time and price.
Verdict: Lowest quote wins — verify license only.
Price-Shop OK
Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of an existing lock so old keys no longer work. The technique is standardized, the parts cost under $5, and any licensed technician can do it correctly. This is one of the most price-competitive locksmith services.
Verdict: Get 2-3 quotes. Budget: $50-$100 per lock.
Mid-Range
Extracting a broken key requires both skill and the right tools. An inexperienced cheap locksmith may damage the cylinder trying to remove the fragment — turning a $100 extraction into a $250 cylinder replacement. Choose a locksmith with specific experience here.
Verdict: Verify experience. Budget: $75-$150.
Quality Matters
When you pay for a deadbolt upgrade, you are paying for both the hardware and the installation. A cheap locksmith may install ANSI Grade 3 hardware while quoting Grade 1 prices — a lock rated for less than a third of the security cycles. Always ask the brand and model number before agreeing to work.
Verdict: Specify Schlage B60N or equivalent Grade 1 hardware.
Never Cheap Out
A master key system creates a security hierarchy across multiple locks. Errors in the keying matrix create unintended access — a tenant key that opens other units, or a master that fails to cover new cylinders. This is a precision engineering job. The cheapest quote is almost always the most expensive outcome.
Verdict: Hire a certified locksmith. Budget: $500+.
Quality Matters
Smart locks require proper door-frame alignment, correct backset measurement, and firmware setup. A poor installation lets the lock appear connected while the deadbolt does not fully engage. Verify the technician has installed your specific brand before hiring.
Verdict: Check brand-specific experience. Budget: $120-$250 labor.
The American National Standards Institute grades residential and commercial locks on security, durability, and load resistance. Grade 3 locks cost about $15 wholesale. Grade 1 locks cost $45-$120. The difference can mean the gap between keeping intruders out and not.
Commercial-grade residential security. Rated for 250,000 open/close cycles. Withstands 10 strikes from a 75-lb weight at 3.5 inches. Recommended for all exterior doors in residential homes.
Use for: All exterior doorsStandard residential duty. Rated for 150,000 cycles. Suitable for interior doors and lower-risk secondary entrances. Often what cheap locksmiths install on front doors when Grade 1 is quoted.
Use for: Interior / secondary doorsLight residential duty. Rated for 100,000 cycles. Minimal security resistance. Fails the same impact test Grade 1 withstands. Common in bargain-bin locksmith quotes and often the hardware used when a price looks too good to be true.
Avoid: Front or exterior doorsBefore a locksmith begins any deadbolt work, ask: "What brand and model lock are you installing, and what ANSI grade is it?" A legitimate locksmith answers immediately. If they deflect or say "a good quality one," that is your signal to get a second opinion. For Grade 1 hardware, ask for Schlage B60N, Kwikset 980, or equivalent by name.
California requires all locksmiths to carry a Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) locksmith license. Regardless of how low a quote is, hiring an unlicensed locksmith in California is hiring someone operating illegally.
Many other states have their own licensing requirements: Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington, Oregon, Alabama, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, and Tennessee all mandate locksmith licensing.
National median prices for 2026 based on aggregated consumer reports and industry data. Prices vary by city, access difficulty, and time of day.
| Service | Normal Range | Suspiciously Cheap | Quality Tier | Price-Shop? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency lockout — home | $75 - $150 | Under $40 | N/A (no hardware) | Yes |
| Emergency lockout — car | $65 - $120 | Under $35 | N/A (no hardware) | Yes |
| Standard rekeying (per lock) | $50 - $100 | Under $25 | Low (standard pins) | Yes |
| Broken key extraction | $75 - $150 | Under $45 | Medium (technique) | Partially |
| Deadbolt install — Grade 1 hardware | $150 - $350 | Under $80 | High (hardware + fit) | Check hardware grade |
| Smart lock install (labor only) | $120 - $250 | Under $60 | High (brand knowledge) | Verify brand exp. |
| Master key system (5 locks) | $500 - $1,200 | Under $250 | Critical (keying matrix) | No — hire certified |
| Commercial access control | $800+ | Under $400 | Critical (code + systems) | No — hire certified |
A price that looks low at the start can end with a bill that is three times what a reputable locksmith would have charged. These are the five most reliable warning signs that a cheap quote is not actually cheap.
No legitimate locksmith can profitably complete a lockout for $15. That price exists only to get someone to your door. On arrival, "complications" are cited and the price jumps to $200-$400. This is called bait-and-switch pricing and is the most common locksmith scam in the US. If the advertised price is under $65, verify the final price before letting them begin work.
Scam operations use call centers that dispatch freelancers with no fixed business location. If you cannot find a real street address (not a P.O. box, not a virtual office) for the company, that is a significant red flag. Every legitimate locksmith business has a verifiable location. Cross-reference the number you called with the physical address on their website.
Legitimate locksmith companies brand their vehicles and require technicians to wear uniforms and carry ID. Someone arriving in a personal vehicle with no branding and no company identification is not operating as a professional business. Ask to see their license and company ID before they touch your lock.
Most residential lockouts can be resolved by picking or bypassing the lock without drilling. A locksmith who immediately reaches for a drill is either unskilled or creating a more expensive job. Drilling destroys the lock cylinder and forces a replacement costing $80-$200. Ask before they start: "Can this be picked or bypassed before considering drilling?"
A professional locksmith provides a written estimate (or at minimum a verbal price commitment) before beginning work and accepts card payment. Cash-only requests combined with resistance to providing an upfront price are classic indicators of an operation designed to maximize the final charge with no accountability trail.
For non-emergency services — scheduled rekeying, new hardware installation, smart lock integration — getting three quotes is the single most effective way to get a fair price without gambling on quality.
The middle quote is often the best value. The lowest quote often involves Grade 3 hardware or limited experience. The highest quote often includes margins that have nothing to do with quality.
View Service Breakdowns
Illustrative experiences based on the most common consumer reports we researched. Names are representative.
"I called the cheapest locksmith I could find for a rekeying job after moving in. It went fine — four locks rekeyed for $180 total, took 40 minutes. For this type of job, price-shopping absolutely works."
"I chose the cheapest locksmith for a deadbolt replacement. Found out later he installed a Grade 3 lock while charging for Grade 1. After I asked my building manager, I had to replace it again with the right hardware. Lesson learned: always ask the grade upfront."
"Locked out at midnight, called whoever was cheapest nearby. $95 to get in, 20 minutes, done. No surprises. For a simple lockout, there is no need to overthink it — just confirm the price before they arrive."
"Set up a master key system for my 6-unit rental property. The cheapest bid was $280 — should have been a red flag. Tenant keys started opening wrong units after 3 months. Had to hire a certified locksmith to fix the entire system for $900. Never again."
Prices vary significantly by location. Urban markets like New York and San Francisco run 30-50% above national median. Rural markets often run 10-20% below. See our state breakdowns for local context.
It depends on the service. Simple lockouts, standard rekeying, and key duplication are generally safe to price-shop — the technique is standardized and no security hardware decisions are made. For deadbolt upgrades, master key systems, and smart lock integration, you should prioritize verified experience and correct hardware over the lowest price. The risk with cheap locksmiths on these jobs is not the labor — it is the hardware they specify and install.
A standard emergency lockout runs $75-$150 in most US cities. Standard rekeying is $50-$100 per lock. High-security deadbolt installation including Grade 1 hardware is $150-$350 per door. Master key systems start at $500 for a small residential setup and scale up from there. After-hours and emergency service adds $25-$75 to most quotes.
ANSI/BHMA grades rate residential and commercial locks on security and durability. Grade 1 is the strongest, rated for 250,000 open/close cycles and designed to withstand forced entry attempts. Grade 2 is standard residential duty (150,000 cycles). Grade 3 is the lowest residential grade (100,000 cycles) with minimal impact resistance. Many cheap locksmiths install Grade 3 hardware while billing for Grade 1 — always ask for the specific brand and model number before agreeing to a deadbolt installation.
In California, look up the locksmith's BSIS license number at the BSIS website (bsis.ca.gov). In Texas, verify through the Texas Department of Public Safety. Most states with licensing requirements have a public license lookup tool on their official government website. Ask for the license number before any work begins — a legitimate locksmith provides it without hesitation.
Five key warning signs: (1) an advertised price under $40 that inflates sharply on arrival, (2) no verifiable physical business address or license number, (3) arriving in an unmarked vehicle with no uniform or company ID, (4) immediately reaching for a drill when picking should work for standard residential locks, (5) demanding cash only with no written estimate before work begins.
For non-emergency work — rekeying, deadbolt installation, smart lock setup — yes, getting two to three quotes is worthwhile. For emergency lockouts, you typically take whoever arrives soonest. When comparing quotes, make sure you are comparing the same hardware grade and service scope. A $90 deadbolt installation quote that includes Grade 3 hardware is not a better deal than a $180 quote that includes Grade 1 hardware.
Yes, drilling is a legitimate last resort when a lock cannot be picked — typically for high-security locks, damaged cylinders, or locks with anti-pick pins. However, most standard residential deadbolts can be picked by an experienced locksmith. Drilling should be presented as a last option with your explicit consent, not a first move. If a locksmith drills a basic residential lock without attempting to pick it, that is a red flag that may indicate either limited skill or a deliberate upsell to a cylinder replacement.
Yes. In licensed states, you can file a complaint with the state licensing board — BSIS in California, the Texas DPS in Texas. Nationwide, you can file with the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) for deceptive pricing and the BBB. For unlicensed states, the FTC complaint is your primary federal option. Keep any invoices, texts, or photos as documentation. You can also dispute credit card charges within 60 days if the work was materially different from what was quoted.
Our guide covers the most common scenarios, but pricing situations vary. Ask us directly and we will point you to the right resource.
Locksmith Cheap is an independent consumer editorial site. We receive no referral fees and have no commercial relationship with any locksmith company.
We aggregate consumer-reported prices from multiple sources and cross-reference with industry associations for national medians.
ANSI/BHMA lock grade standards and state licensing requirements are sourced from official regulatory and standards bodies.
We do not earn referral fees, affiliate commissions, or advertising revenue from locksmith companies. Assessments are fully independent.
Price data and licensing information is reviewed and updated twice yearly. Last update: May 2026.