Rekeying is priced per lock, not per house. Our published estimate is $30-60 per lock, and the exact price is confirmed on site before work begins. So the cost of a whole-house rekey is the number of keyed locks you count, times that per-lock estimate. The multiplying is yours to do.
This guide is for Austin homeowners who want a number before they call. It shows how to count your locks, what moves the estimate, what a rekey does not include, and what to have ready. For the service itself, see our residential rekeying in Austin.
How is a whole-house rekey priced?
Rekeying is priced per lock. Our published estimate is $30-60 per lock, and the technician confirms the exact final price on site before any work begins. There is no flat price for a house, because houses have different numbers of keyed locks. Your whole-house number is your lock count times the per-lock estimate. No trip charge applies.
Why per lock? Because each cylinder is worked on separately. A rekey means repinning a cylinder so it works with a different key. Schlage’s own rekeying quick start guide has a whole section on cylinder repinning, and it describes rekeying as a precise process. One lock, one set of pins, one line on the estimate.
The numbers on our published price estimates are ranges, not final quotes. They give you a general idea. The technician looks at your locks and confirms the exact price with you before any work begins.
That is the whole method. Count the keyed locks first, then do the multiplying yourself. We are deliberately not handing you a house total in this guide, because we cannot give you a number until we see the locks. If you are still deciding whether to rekey at all, our guide on how to decide between rekeying and replacing covers that choice.
Which locks count toward the total?
Count every keyed cylinder you want to work with the new key: the front door, back door, side and patio doors, the door from the garage into the house, any detached garage or shed, and gate or mailbox locks you want matched. A lock with no keyway, such as a button-only keypad, has nothing to rekey and is not counted.
Use the worksheet below. Fill in the blank line next to each row, then add the column at the bottom.
| Where the lock is | Keyed cylinder to count? | Your count |
|---|---|---|
| Front door deadbolt and handle set | Count each keyed cylinder | ____ |
| Back or patio door | Count each keyed cylinder | ____ |
| Side door | Count each keyed cylinder | ____ |
| Door from garage into the house | Count each keyed cylinder | ____ |
| Detached garage, shed or gate padlock | Count only if you want it on the same key | ____ |
| Mailbox or utility box | Count only if you want it on the same key | ____ |
| Keypad or button-only lock with no keyway | Nothing to rekey | ____ |
| Your total keyed locks | Add the column | ____ |
Notice that one door can hold two cylinders. A deadbolt and a handle set are separate locks, and each has its own keyway. If both take a key, both go on the list.
A smart lock with a key override is still a keyed cylinder, so it belongs on the list. A lock you plan to replace does not, because replacing it is a different job with a different estimate.
How do you count your locks, step by step?
Walk the outside of the house first, then the inside, and write down each keyed cylinder as you find it. Note the brand if you can see it, and which locks you want on one key. Then take your count times the per-lock estimate. The arithmetic is yours.
The grid below turns that into five steps. It takes about as long as a walk around the block.
Counting your locks, one door at a time
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Step 1: Start at the front door
List each keyed cylinder on it, deadbolt and handle set separately.
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Step 2: Walk the rest of the exterior
Check the back, side and patio doors and the door from the garage.
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Step 3: Add outbuildings only if you want them matched
Gates, sheds and boxes count only when they should share the same key.
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Step 4: Note the brand name on each lock
Also write down any lock that sticks, feels rough or needs a jiggle.
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Step 5: Multiply for your own range
Take your total times the $30-60 per-lock estimate, then call for an on-site confirmation.
Step five is the only math in the whole job. Your lock count times the per-lock estimate is your own range, and nobody has to guess for you. When you call, read the technician your list and the brand names. Our lock rekeying service page explains what happens on the visit.
Why do lock counts differ between Austin homes?
Lock counts follow the house, not the neighborhood. A narrow-door bungalow in Hyde Park or Travis Heights, a two-story home in Circle C, and a townhome in Mueller can each have a different number of exterior doors and a different mix of hardware. That is why a per-lock estimate works better than a per-house number.
Older homes can carry mixed or non-standard hardware. A door that was swapped in one decade and a deadbolt that was added in another do not always match, and a technician may find more than one brand on a single house. Newer tract homes often follow a standard preparation, so the locks tend to be more uniform. Neither one is better or worse. It simply changes what the walk-through turns up.
Central Texas sun and humidity are hard on exterior hardware. Mention any lock that feels rough when you call.
Your count is the only count that matters.
What does the per-lock rekey estimate cover?
The per-lock estimate covers changing the inside of a lock so a different key works and the old key stops working, while the lock stays on your door. A pin tumbler cylinder turns only when every pin sits at the shear line, so rekeying resets those pins to a new key. It is priced per lock, with the final price confirmed on site.
The mechanism is simple. A pin tumbler cylinder holds small spring-loaded pins. The plug turns only when the cuts on the key lift every pin to the shear line at once, according to Schlage’s glossary. A rekey swaps the pins so a different pattern of cuts does that job.
The practical result is simple. Schlage says of its own rekeyable locks that once rekeyed, the old key will no longer work. The door, the handle and the deadbolt all stay put.
We will not call a rekey a security upgrade. It ends access for the old keys, and that is what it does. It does not change how strong the lock or the door is.
What moves the price within the range?
The number of locks is the biggest factor, because the estimate is per lock. After that, the brand and keyway, whether you want several locks on one key, the condition of each lock, and the hour of the visit can change where an estimate lands. The technician looks at the locks and confirms the exact price on site before work begins.
Each factor works a little differently.
Lock count. This sets the scale. Ten locks cost more than two, because each is its own line.
Several locks on one key. Wanting the front, back and garage doors to share a key is a setup choice. Mention it on the call so the technician plans for it.
Brand and keyway. Tell us the brand name you see on each lock and we will tell you what we can service. We do not assume that two brands can share one key. Different brands and keyways need a check on the actual keyway before locks are keyed alike.
Condition. A technician checks that each lock works smoothly before changing the pins. A lock that sticks gets looked at first.
Timing. Service between 10 PM and 7 AM carries a separate fee, covered in its own section below.
For the published figures, see our pricing page. Every range there is an estimate.
What is not part of a rekey estimate?
A rekey estimate covers the rekey, not new hardware. Replacing a lock is a different job, with its own estimate of $90-200 per lock plus hardware. Adding a deadbolt where none exists, fitting a smart lock or upgrading to a high-security lock are separate jobs too. Service between 10 PM and 7 AM adds $25. The exact total is confirmed on site.
That list is worth reading twice, because it is where estimates drift. These jobs sit outside a rekey, each with the page that covers it:
- Lock change or replacement, the $90-200 per lock plus hardware job: see lock change and replacement.
- A new deadbolt on a door that has none: see deadbolt installation.
- An electronic lock, which has its own price picture: see smart lock installation, and our write-up on smart lock installation cost in Austin.
- A higher-grade cylinder or restricted keyway: see high-security locks.
Additional keys are not listed on our pricing page, Ask how many keys come with the visit when you call.
There is no trip charge. Our pricing page states that the only additional fee is the after-hours fee.
When can a lock not be rekeyed, or need a different plan?
Most keyed residential locks can be rekeyed, but a few cases need a different plan. Some restricted-keyway systems are controlled by the maker, so keys can only be ordered through authorized channels. Kwikset’s two keyways, KW1 and SC1, do not share keys. And a lock that does not turn smoothly gets looked at by the technician before any pins are changed.
Kwikset states on its support page that only SC1 keys are compatible with the new SC1 cylinder. So a house with a mix of KW1 and SC1 hardware needs a closer look than a house with matching locks.
Restricted systems go further. The maker of Medeco BiLevel locks states that keys are only available from authorized Medeco dealers. That is the maker controlling who can order the keys.
On the phone, we can tell you whether a lock is something we can service. For more on key control, read our guide to key control and restricted keyways.
Does the after-hours fee apply to a rekey?
Yes, service between 10 PM and 7 AM carries an additional $25 after-hours fee, which is separate from the per-lock estimate. Visits during the day do not carry it, and there is no trip charge. The technician confirms the exact final price on site before any work begins, including whether the fee applies.
If the rekey can wait for daytime hours, the after-hours fee does not come into it. If it cannot wait, the fee is $25 on top of the per-lock estimate, and you will hear it before the work starts.
A rekey estimate is per lock, so the first useful number is your own lock count. Have that ready, plus the brand names, and the call goes quickly. You can request an on-site estimate online, or call (737) 222-7022 and tell us what you found.
What can you do before the visit to keep the estimate simple?
Decide which locks should share a key, gather every working key you have, and note the brand name on each lock. Tell the technician about any lock that sticks or any key you have lost. A clear lock count and a short list of problem locks keep the on-site estimate quick to confirm and keep surprises off the final price.
Keys in hand. Gather every working key for every lock on your list. If one is missing, say so on the call.
Which doors share a key. Decide whether you want one key for the whole house, or a separate key for the garage, the shed or the gate.
Brand names. Read the name off each lock if you can. It saves a round of questions.
Rough locks. Write down any lock that sticks, drags or needs a jiggle to turn.
Extra keys. Cutting extra copies is a choice. Decide how many you want before the visit, and ask how many come with the work.
A price confirmed on site is also one way to tell a real locksmith from a bad actor. Our guide to how to spot a fake locksmith before you book explains why. For the record, Austin Locksmiths holds Texas DPS licence B30821501 and has served Austin since 2015, and you can check the licence yourself.
Some people consider a do-it-yourself rekey kit. Kwikset’s own support page lists a known problem where neither the old nor the new key works after a SmartKey mistake. Our write-up on the hidden costs of DIY unlocking attempts covers what can go wrong when a lock is forced or tinkered with.
What does Texas Property Code 92.156 say for renters?
Texas Property Code 92.156 says a landlord must rekey a rental’s security devices within seven days after each tenant turnover date, at the landlord’s expense. That duty belongs to the landlord, so a tenant who wants extra rekeying beyond it should read the statute and the lease. This is general information, not legal advice.
The enrolled bill that amended the section says the devices must be rekeyed by the landlord at the landlord’s expense not later than the seventh day after each tenant turnover date. You can read the bill text from the Texas Legislature yourself.
What if the lock itself is the weak point?
A rekey changes who holds working keys. It does not change how strong the lock or door is. If the hardware is damaged, outdated or not what you want protecting the door, the cost question changes from rekeying to a different job. Our decision guide walks through that choice, so this page stays with cost.
For the choice itself, start with rekey or replace your locks. If you decide the hardware should change, these pages cover the next steps:
- High-security locks for a higher-grade cylinder.
- Deadbolt installation for a door that needs one.
- Signs it is time to upgrade your home security for a wider look.
- A home security assessment for a walk-through of the whole house.
Each of those is its own estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to rekey every lock in the house at once?
No. Rekeying is priced per lock, so you choose which locks to include. Some homeowners start with the exterior doors and add others later. The technician confirms the exact price on site before work begins.
Will my old key still work after a rekey?
No. A rekey resets the lock so a different key works and the old key stops working. Schlage describes rekeying this way for its own locks. Keep the new keys somewhere you can reach them.
Do I get a trip charge on top of the per-lock estimate?
Our pricing page says there is no trip charge. Service between 10 PM and 7 AM adds a $25 after-hours fee. All prices are estimates, and the exact final price is confirmed on site before work begins.
Does a rekey change how the lock looks?
No. The lock stays on the door, so the hardware looks the same. Only the pins inside the cylinder and the keys change.
How do I know which locks the technician can service?
Tell us the brand name on each lock when you call. Some restricted-keyway systems are controlled by the maker, so we confirm what we can service before the visit.
Can a tenant ask for a rekey?
Texas Property Code 92.156 sets the landlord’s duty to rekey after a tenant turnover date. For anything beyond that, read the statute and your lease. This is general information, not legal advice.
Next step: get an on-site estimate
Count your keyed locks first. Then call (737) 222-7022 or send a request through our contact page, and have your brand names ready. The technician confirms the exact price on site before work begins. You can also read more about our lock rekeying service before you call.
Prices shown are estimates
They give you a general idea of what the service costs, and are not a final quote. Your actual price depends on the lock, the vehicle or door, job complexity, and time of day. Your technician confirms the exact final price with you on site, before any work begins.
