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
To rekey locks means changing the pins inside a lock cylinder so the old key stops working and a new key takes its place, without replacing the hardware on your door. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security has been doing this work since 2008, with background-checked, uniformed technicians who rekey entry knobs, deadbolts, and side doors for homeowners and renters nationwide. A live person answers the phone 24 hours a day, and you get a written price before the technician touches a single lock. Call (818) 390-9007 and we will set a time that works for you, often the same day.
People usually call us after a move, a lost key, a breakup, or a contractor who never returned a spare. Rekeying fixes all of those for far less than new hardware, and the job is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it is not done right, we make it right, in writing. For the full list of what we do, start at our home page.
Lock Rekey
A lock rekey swaps the internal pins and springs of a cylinder to match a new key. The lock body, handle, and finish stay exactly as they are, so nothing on the door changes except who can open it. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security typically charges $65 to $180 per lock, depending on the cylinder type and keyway, and most doors are finished in under an hour.
Every old key that used to work becomes a useless piece of metal the moment we finish. That is the whole point, and it is why a lock rekey is the first thing we suggest after closing on a house.
What Happens to the Old Key
The technician tests the old key in the rekeyed lock while you watch. It will not turn. Then we hand you the new keys and test those on every lock we touched, so you leave knowing each one works from both sides of the door.
Locksmith Rekey
When you hire a locksmith rekey, you are paying for the skill of reading a cylinder, choosing the right pin kit, and setting it without damaging the lock. A poorly done rekey leaves a key that sticks, a cylinder that spins, or a bolt that catches halfway. Our technicians rekey Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and Baldwin hardware every day and carry the pin kits for each on the truck.
We also spot problems while the cylinder is open. A worn plug, a cracked tailpiece, or a rusted spring gets flagged right then, with a written price for the fix. You decide whether to proceed. If you would rather talk through the repair side first, our door lock repair page covers it.
Rekey Door Lock
To rekey a door lock, the technician removes the cylinder, takes out the old pins, fits new ones cut to the new key, and puts everything back on the door. Front door knobs, leversets, back doors, and garage entry doors are all common jobs. Because the exterior hardware stays in place, the door looks untouched when we leave.
If a lock is too worn to hold a new pinning, we say so plainly instead of selling a rekey that will not last. In that case a change of door locks is the better call, and the written quote shows both options side by side.
Rekey Service
Our rekey service is built around a simple routine. You call (818) 390-9007, a live person takes your address and the number of locks, and you hear a price before anyone is dispatched. The technician arrives in uniform with identification, confirms the price in writing, and gets to work. Shoe covers go on at the door and a drop cloth goes under the work area.
Most residential jobs are done in a single visit. Rental units are fine too, as long as the building allows it, and we will speak with a property manager directly if approval is needed.
Keyed Alike
Keyed alike means several locks open with one key. Instead of carrying a ring with four keys for the front door, deadbolt, garage entry, and back door, you carry a single key that works on all of them. We rekey the cylinders to match, and the written quote covers every lock in the set, so there is no per-lock surprise at the end.
Who Benefits Most
Families with kids, anyone who hands a key to a dog walker, and owners of small rental properties all gain from keyed alike setups. Fewer keys means fewer copies, and fewer copies means fewer places for one to go missing. If you want a lock set that matches the rest, our lock installation service can add new hardware pinned to the same key.
Rekey Deadbolt
A deadbolt is the lock that matters most on an exterior door, so it is the one people rekey first. Blackthorn Locksmith & Security rekeys single-cylinder and double-cylinder deadbolts, usually for $65 to $180 each. The bolt, the thumbturn, and the strike plate stay in place. Only the cylinder is repinned.
While the deadbolt is apart, we check how far the bolt throws and whether it lands cleanly in the strike plate. A bolt that stops short is a common reason a locked door is not really locked, and a quick adjustment fixes it. If you need a brand new bolt instead, see deadbolt installation.
Rekey House
To rekey a house means doing every exterior lock in one visit so the whole home runs on a fresh set of keys. This is the standard first step after buying a home, because you cannot know how many copies the previous owner, their sitters, and their contractors made. One visit, one new key, and every old copy is dead.
We count the cylinders first, quote the full job in writing, and work door by door. A typical house with a front door, back door, and garage entry takes about an hour. Larger homes with side doors and outbuildings take longer, and the quote says so up front.
Rekey or Replace: How We Decide
Rekeying costs less than replacing, but it is not always the right answer. If the lock is in good shape and you only need to cancel old keys, rekey. If the lock is older than 10 years, pitted, loose in the door, or you want a different finish or a smart lock, replace.
We explain both options and the price of each before any work begins. The decision is yours, and we will never push a bigger job than the door needs.
Signs You Should Rekey Soon
- You just moved in. You do not know who still holds a key. Rekeying the house closes that gap in about an hour.
- A key was lost or stolen. Even if it has no address on it, a missing key is a risk until the lock is repinned.
- A roommate, ex-partner, or tenant moved out. Getting every key back is hard to prove. Rekeying ends the question.
- A contractor or cleaner had a copy. Work is done, but the key is still out there. Cancel it.
- You carry too many keys. Keying the locks alike cuts the ring down to one key and makes daily life easier.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call and speak to a live person. Tell us how many locks and which doors. We give you a price range and book a window that fits your day.
- 2
Your technician arrives in uniform. They show identification, look over each lock, and confirm what can be rekeyed.
- 3
Written price first. You see the full price on paper before any cylinder comes out. If more work is needed, you get a second price and decide.
- 4
The rekey. We repin each cylinder, cut new keys, and reassemble the hardware. The work area stays covered and clean.
- 5
Test and hand-off. We test every lock with you watching, confirm the old key fails, and give you the new keys along with the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
How Much Does It Cost to Rekey Locks?
A typical rekey runs $65 to $180 per lock. The price moves with the cylinder type, the keyway, the number of locks, and whether you want them keyed alike. High-security cylinders such as Medeco and Mul-T-Lock cost more because the keys cannot be cut at a hardware store.
The written price you receive before work starts is the price on the invoice. There is no call-out surcharge added on arrival. For a free estimate on any lock job or rekey, call (818) 390-9007.
Brands We Rekey
We rekey Schlage and Kwikset every day and stock the pin kits to finish those jobs on the first visit. We also work on Yale, Baldwin, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Sargent, and Abloy. If your lock is an unusual make, we will tell you honestly whether it can be rekeyed or should be replaced.
Where We Work
Blackthorn Locksmith & Security serves homeowners and renters across the United States through local crews. Your technician is dispatched from a nearby community and follows the same standards no matter where the door is. The same live phone line, written price, and 365-Day Done Right Promise apply on every job.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rekey Locks
Rekeying changes the pins inside the lock cylinder so a new key works and the old key does not. The lock itself stays on the door. It is the fastest way to cancel old keys without buying new hardware.
Most rekeys cost $65 to $180 per lock. You get the price in writing before work starts, and it does not change on arrival. Call (818) 390-9007 for an exact quote.
A single lock takes about 15 to 20 minutes. A typical home with three exterior doors takes about an hour. Larger properties take longer, and the quote tells you how long up front.
Rekey when the hardware is in good shape and you just want to cancel old keys. Replace when the lock is worn, damaged, or you want a new finish or a smart lock. We explain both options and the price of each before you decide.
Yes, as long as the locks share a compatible keyway or can be repinned to one. We call this keyed alike, and the written quote covers every cylinder in the set.
Every job is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it is not done right, we make it right, in writing. Manufacturer warranties on any new hardware apply separately.
Schedule Your Rekey Today
Blackthorn Locksmith & Security is ready when you are, day or night. Call (818) 390-9007, speak to a live person, and get a free written estimate before anyone is dispatched. Uniformed technician, clear price, new keys that work, and old keys that do not. One call and your locks are handled.
Written by Shane Delaney, Owner at Blackthorn Locksmith & Security, serving homes across the United States since 2008.