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.
Change Door Locks Nationwide, Done Right
To change door locks means taking out the lock that is on your door now and putting a different one in its place, so the old keys stop working and the hardware is in better shape than before. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security has done this work since 2008, with background-checked, uniformed technicians who handle everything from a single front-door deadbolt to every exterior door in the house. Same-day appointments are available across the United States, and a live person answers the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you call (818) 390-9007, you get a written price before any work begins, not a rough number that moves when the technician shows up. That is the Cedarwell Care Promise, and it covers every lock change we take on.
People ask us to change door locks after a move, a break-in scare, a lost set of keys, a roommate or tenant who has left, or because the old hardware is worn out and sticking. If you only need new keys for the lock you already have, a rekey may be the cheaper answer, and we will say so. If the hardware itself is the problem, a change is the right call. Either way the job gets done correctly the first time, or the 365-Day Done Right Promise means we make it right, in writing. Start from our home page if you want to see everything we do.
Patio Door Lock Change
A patio door lock change replaces the latch, hook bolt, or keyed handle set on a sliding or swinging patio door. These doors often carry the weakest lock on the whole house, because the factory latch on many sliders is little more than a hook that catches a small lip. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security changes patio door locks for $95 to $260 depending on the door style, whether the lock is keyed, and whether we are adding a second locking point. We bring common replacement latches and handle sets on the truck, so most patio door lock changes finish on the first visit.
Sliding Doors and Swinging Patio Doors
A sliding panel needs a latch that grabs the frame firmly and a lock that keeps the panel from being lifted off its track. A swinging French or patio door needs a proper deadbolt or multipoint-compatible lock. The technician checks which type you have, measures the backset and the cutout, and puts the right replacement in front of you before anything is removed.
Adding a Second Point of Security
When we change a slider lock, we often suggest a foot bolt or surface-mounted keyed latch low on the frame. It costs little, takes minutes to fit, and gives the door a second anchor that a pry bar does not beat easily. We explain the options and the written price, and you choose.
Door Lock Change
A door lock change is the standard job: one exterior or interior door, one old lock out, one new lock in. It covers knobs, leversets, and deadbolts on front doors, back doors, side-garage doors, and bedroom or office doors that need a keyed lock. Most single-door changes run $150 to $400 depending on the brand, the finish, and the grade of the new hardware. We stock Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and Baldwin, so the replacement usually matches the rest of your hardware.
The technician removes the old lock, checks the bore holes and the latch edge of the door, and cleans up anything that would stop the new lock from sitting square. A crooked cutout is the number one reason a new lock binds a few months after installation, so we fix it now instead of leaving it for you to find later.
Matching the Rest of Your Hardware
Finish matters when people see your entry every day. We carry satin nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, polished brass, and matte black, and we match the hinges and other hardware so the door looks like one set. If you want every exterior door on the same key, we can set that up in the same visit.
Interior Doors That Need a Real Lock
Home offices, storage rooms, and rooms in a shared house sometimes need a keyed lock rather than a push-button privacy set. We fit keyed knobs and leversets that work from both sides with a key, and we show you how they operate before we go.
Lock Change
A lock change is the broader request, and it usually starts with a worry: keys are missing, a former tenant never returned a copy, or a break-in has left you wondering who else can get inside. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security handles a full lock change on every exterior door of a home in one visit, typically from $150 per door for standard hardware, with the total written down before we start. A live person answers any hour, so you can call the night you discover the problem instead of waiting for a business day.
After a break-in or a move, we recommend looking at the whole entry, not just the lock. The technician checks the door slab, the frame, the hinge screws, and the strike plate. A new lock on a split frame does not stop anyone, so we tell you plainly if the frame needs attention and give a written price for that work as a separate line.
One Key for Every Door
When we change several locks together, we can key them alike. You carry one key for the front door, the back door, and the side-garage door, and there are fewer copies to lose. Families with young children and anyone with a house sitter often choose this setup.
After a Move, a Breakup, or a Tenant Turnover
You cannot know how many copies of an old key exist. Previous owners, contractors, relatives, and tenants all may hold one. A lock change ends that question the same day, and the old keys become useless pieces of metal.
Change Lock Cylinder
To change a lock cylinder means swapping only the keyed core inside the lock while leaving the outer hardware on the door. It works well when the knob, lever, or deadbolt body looks good and operates smoothly, but the cylinder is worn, damaged, or needs to be on a new key. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security changes cylinders for roughly $90 to $250 per lock depending on the brand and keyway, and the work usually takes under an hour. The finish on your door stays exactly as it is.
A cylinder swap is also the path to upgraded security without replacing the whole lock. We can fit a high-security cylinder with a restricted keyway into many existing deadbolts, so keys cannot be copied at a hardware store without your authorization. That matters if a contractor, cleaner, or pet sitter has held a key in the past. We confirm that the cylinder fits your lock body before we order or install anything.
When a Cylinder Swap Is Enough
If the lock latches cleanly, the door lines up, and the only issue is the keys or a worn pin stack, the cylinder is the part to change. If the lock body is corroded or the latch is failing, we recommend a full replacement and say why. See our door lock repair service if the problem is a lock that can be fixed rather than changed.
Door Lock Installation
Door lock installation covers the fitting of a new lock in a door that has none, or in a new door or frame that was just put in. This includes boring the cross hole and the edge hole, setting the latch, mounting the strike plate, and testing the throw. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security installs locks on new doors, converted rooms, and replaced entries, with most single-door installations priced between $120 and $300 including hardware and labor. For more on new hardware, see lock installation and deadbolt installation.
A deadbolt is only as strong as the screws holding the strike plate. We replace short factory screws with 3-inch screws that reach the framing stud behind the jamb on every exterior door, because half-inch screws can be kicked out with a single hit. We also photograph the finished work so you can see what was done.
New Doors and New Frames
A new door without a properly aligned lock is an open invitation. We bore to the right backset, check the latch seats fully without rubbing, and adjust the strike so the bolt throws all the way into the frame. When we leave, the door closes with a solid thunk, not a rattle.
Signs It Is Time to Change Your Locks
- You just moved in. Previous owners, their sitters, and their contractors may all hold copies. Changing the locks the day you get the keys is the most practical home-security step you can take.
- A key was lost or stolen. If the key had your address on it or was taken with a wallet or bag, treat the lock as compromised and change it before the weekend.
- A tenant, roommate, or partner has moved out. Getting every key back is rarely possible. A new lock settles the question without an argument.
- The lock sticks, grinds, or turns hard. A lock that fights you in daily use will fail eventually, often on the one night you cannot afford it.
- There was a break-in or an attempted one. Pry marks, a bent latch, or a cracked frame mean the lock and the door both need an honest look.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call and speak to a live person. You will reach a human being at any hour. We ask which doors are involved, what brand of lock you have now, and when you need someone there. We give you the technician’s name before they arrive.
- 2
Your technician arrives in uniform. They introduce themselves, show identification, and confirm the address. Shoe covers go on before entering and a drop cloth goes down under the work area.
- 3
Inspection and written price. The technician looks at each lock, the door, and the frame, then puts a written price in front of you before any work begins. If extra work is recommended, you see a second written price and you decide.
- 4
The change, done carefully. Old hardware comes out, new hardware goes in, and the workspace stays covered. We use pet-safe lubricants and quiet tools during nap hours.
- 5
Test, clean-up photo, and keys. Every lock is tested with you watching, and you get your keys and a photo of the clean-up. Then we explain the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it is not done right, we make it right, in writing.
How Much Does It Cost to Change Door Locks?
The price to change door locks depends on how many doors you have and how much of the lock you are changing. A cylinder swap typically runs $90 to $250 per lock, and a full single-door lock change runs $150 to $400. A patio door lock change falls between $95 and $260, and door lock installation on a new door runs $120 to $300. Changing every exterior door on one key is priced door by door, and the total is written down before we begin.
What moves the price: the brand and grade of the lock, the finish, the number of doors, whether the door or frame needs adjustment, and the hour of the call. What does not move it: the number we give you on the phone. The written price covers parts and labor, and there is no call-out surcharge added on arrival. The 365-Day Done Right Promise covers every completed job. Call (818) 390-9007 for a free estimate on any lock change.
Where We Work
Blackthorn Locksmith & Security serves homeowners, renters, and landlords across the United States through local crews. Our technicians are dispatched from their own communities, carry the same tools, and follow the Cedarwell Care Promise on every job. Wherever your door is, you reach the same live person, the same written-price policy, and the same 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Door Locks
Rekey when the hardware is in good shape and you only want the old keys to stop working. Change the lock when it is worn, damaged, mismatched, or you want better security. The technician will tell you which one fits your door before quoting, and a rekey is usually the cheaper of the two.
A single standard lock usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. A cylinder swap is often under an hour, and changing every exterior door in a house is normally done in one visit. If a door needs fresh boring or the frame needs work, the technician tells you the extra time up front.
A cylinder swap runs about $90 to $250 per lock, and a full single-door lock change runs $150 to $400. Patio door lock changes run $95 to $260. You get the written price before work starts, and it is the price on the invoice. Call (818) 390-9007 for an exact quote, estimates are free.
Yes. We can key the front door, back door, side-garage door, and deadbolts alike so one key opens them all. It means fewer keys to carry and fewer copies to keep track of. The written quote covers every lock we touch.
Yes. A live person answers the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. If you discover a lost key or a break-in at night, call right away and we will schedule the earliest available technician with a written price.
Every job is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it is not done right, we make it right, in writing. That covers our workmanship for a full year. Manufacturer warranties on the hardware apply separately, and we explain what is covered on the lock you choose.
Schedule Your Lock Change Today
Blackthorn Locksmith & Security is ready when you are, day or night. Call (818) 390-9007 and speak to a live person who will schedule your lock change, answer your questions, and give you a free, no-obligation estimate before anyone is dispatched. You get a written price before the work starts, a uniformed technician at your door, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise on every job. One call, and your doors are secure again.
Written by Shane Delaney, Owner at Blackthorn Locksmith & Security, serving homes across the United States since 2008.