New homeowners & rekeying

Rekey or replace your locks? How a locksmith decides

Most people who call asking for new locks actually need a rekey. A few who ask for a rekey really need new locks. Here is the test we use at the door.

By Timmy Creighton, founder and licensed locksmith · Major Key Locksmith · October 2026

What rekeying actually does

Inside every pin-tumbler lock is a row of small pins cut to match one key. Rekeying means taking the cylinder apart and swapping those pins for a new set, then cutting keys to match. The lock on your door looks and works exactly the same. The only thing that changes is which key turns it, and every old key stops working.

It is quick and it is inexpensive. With us, rekeying is $55 a cylinder when you have a working key and $100 when you do not, on top of the $250 mobile service charge that covers the visit once. A standard lock supplied and installed on that same visit is $150 a lock, so replacing costs more, and that is before you count the keys.

Rekey when

• The locks turn smoothly, latch cleanly and you like them.
• The only problem is who has keys: you just moved in, a tenant moved out, keys were lost, someone left.
• You want one key for every door and the locks share a keyway.

Replace when

• The lock is worn out. A lock that sticks, clicks or needs a jiggle is a mechanism wearing out. A new key in a tired lock is still a tired lock.
• It is a basic lock on a door that matters. A light-duty lock is fine on a closet. On the front door it is the weak point. See what lock grades mean.
• You want something your lock cannot do. A keypad, a fingerprint, an app, or a patented key that cannot be copied at a hardware store. Pins do not add features.
• It was damaged. After a break-in or a forced entry, inspect the lock, the strike and the frame. If any of them are bent, we replace rather than rekey.

The mixed-brand question

Rekeying only works within a keyway. Four Schlage locks and two Kwikset locks cannot share one key until the odd ones out get new cylinders. The matching itself is free. The hardware to make a lock match is not, and we price it with you before we touch it.

Questions people ask

Is rekeying cheaper than replacing locks?

Almost always. You keep the hardware and pay for the pins, the labour and the keys, rather than a new lock on every door.

Can you rekey a lock without the original key?

Yes. It takes longer because the lock has to be opened first, which is why it is $100 a cylinder instead of $55.

Will rekeying change how my locks look?

No. Same hardware, same finish, same handle. Only the key changes.

Can a smart lock be rekeyed?

Most smart deadbolts still have a key cylinder as a backup, and that cylinder can usually be rekeyed to match the rest of the house. The codes and app users are changed separately, in the lock itself.

Keep reading

Any price mentioned here is the one published on our pricing page as of October 2026. The final price is always confirmed with you before any work begins. More answers from the blog →