How much does a locksmith cost in Pennsylvania?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What does a locksmith usually cost?

Most home locksmith visits fall somewhere between about $100 and $250 before any hardware, going by the four national cost surveys below. Angi puts the national average at $164, with most homeowners paying $107 to $242. HomeAdvisor gives almost the same picture: an average of $163 and most jobs between $107 and $242. Fixr gives a $100 to $200 range with a $150 average, and HomeGuide says most people spend $100 to $300 during normal business hours.

None of these publishers gives a figure for Pennsylvania or for any county. Every number in this guide is national, and each is given the way its publisher gives it.

What do common jobs cost, survey by survey?

The surveys break prices down by job. Where a publisher does not list a job, the cell says so.

Some notes on the table. HomeAdvisor says its data comes from a survey of more than 10,000 customers. Angi says its average rests on 16,505 projects reported by its contractors. Both pages also say they were written or updated with automation and then reviewed by an editor, and their headline figures are nearly identical, so treat them as close to one source. HomeAdvisor's lock-change figure is labor only: it says the lock itself runs from $50 for a basic set to $2,000 for a high-end smart model. HomeGuide prices rekeying at $15 to $40 per lock plus a trip fee, which is how it reaches $95 to $270 for three doors.

What extra fees should you expect?

Three charges come up in every survey.

• Service call or trip fee. Angi gives $35 to $100. HomeGuide gives $50 to $150. HomeAdvisor gives $100 to $250 in one section of its page and $150 to $250 in its summary.
• Hourly labor. Angi and HomeGuide both give $50 to $100 an hour in normal hours. Fixr prices by skill level: $50 to $75 for an apprentice, $75 to $100 for a journeyman and $100 to $125 for a master locksmith.
• After-hours or emergency premium. Angi says an emergency or after-hours call adds $50 to $150. HomeAdvisor gives an after-hours surcharge of $150 to $250 for nights, weekends and holidays. HomeGuide gives an emergency hourly rate of $150 to $250 and says emergency pricing can reach $500 or more.

The spread between those figures is wide, so the useful question is not which survey is right but which fees your quote includes.

What do the locks themselves cost?

Hardware is priced separately from labor on most quotes. Angi's ranges for the lock alone are $30 to $70 for a standard deadbolt, $100 to $400 for a high-security lock, $120 to $350 for an electronic keypad lock, $150 to $500 for a smart lock and $125 to $300 for a mortise lock. HomeAdvisor gives $50 to $70 for a cylindrical deadbolt and $125 to $175 for a mortise lockset. HomeGuide says premium lockset hardware may cost $500 or more per lock before labor.

For electronic locks, Angi gives $100 to $200 to set up and program a smart lock, and says programming adds $30 to $100 to a basic installation. HomeAdvisor gives $150 per lock to install an electric lock in place of a traditional one.

What about car keys?

Car keys are priced differently because many have to be programmed to the vehicle. HomeGuide lists a car lockout at $60 to $250+, a mechanical key at $25 to $100, a transponder key at $60 to $250 and a smart key at $150 to $500+. Fixr gives $70 to $250 for a car key replacement and $80 to $150 for a car lockout. HomeAdvisor gives $100 to $400 for a transponder key and $50 to $300 to unlock a car, and says after-hours car unlocking may cost double.

Is a very cheap phone quote a good deal?

Usually not, according to the consumer agencies that have looked at this trade. The Better Business Bureau describes a common pattern in which the person on the phone quotes as little as $15 and the locksmith then finds reasons to raise the price on site, so that victims often pay hundreds more. Ohio's Attorney General described a lawsuit in which consumers were told a lock opening would cost $19 and regularly paid much more. Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection calls the pattern bait-and-switch.

Compare those quotes with the survey ranges above: a lockout quoted far below every published range is a reason to ask more questions, not a bargain.

How do you compare two quotes fairly?

• Ask for the full price up front. Connecticut's consumer agency advises asking for a full price including service and travel costs on the phone, then a written quote before work begins.
• Ask what is included. The BBB says most complaints concern fees that were not disclosed on the call, and suggests asking about the service call, mileage and parts before agreeing.
• Keep the price from changing on site. The BBB says that if the on-site estimate does not match the phone price, have someone else do the job.
• Get an invoice. Washington's Attorney General says most legitimate locksmiths will give a phone estimate for the total cost of a lockout, and advises demanding an invoice afterwards. The BBB adds that it should be itemized and show the business name and address.
• Schedule what can wait. Every survey prices after-hours work higher, so a rekey or a new deadbolt costs less on a weekday than a lockout at night.

Where do you go from here?

Price is one test of a locksmith. Licensing and registration are another: what Pennsylvania requires of locksmiths explains the state's home improvement registration and how to check it, and how to choose a locksmith covers the rest of the checks. Local businesses are listed on the locksmiths directory page.

Sources

1. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
2. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?, HomeAdvisor
3. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?, HomeGuide
4. Locksmith Prices, Fixr
5. BBB Scam Alert: Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam, Better Business Bureau
6. Beware: Searching for Local Locksmiths May Lead to Faraway Call Centers, Ohio Attorney General
7. Consumer Alert: Locked Out? Be Wary of Scammers Posing as Locksmith Technicians, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
8. Keys to avoiding locksmith fraud, Washington State Office of the Attorney General