Locked out of your house? What to do, who to call and what it should cost

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

Is anyone in danger?

Deal with that before anything else. If a child or anyone who cannot get out is shut inside a car, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says to act immediately and call 911; it says more than 1,000 children have died of heatstroke in hot cars over the past 25 years. A lockout with nobody at risk can wait the time it takes to make two careful phone calls.

What should you try before calling a locksmith?

• A spare key you have already placed. Police advise keeping a spare with someone you trust rather than hiding it outside. Lower Moreland Township police in Montgomery County say to leave a spare key with a trusted neighbor, and the King County Sheriff's Office in Washington State says the same, noting that burglars know to look under mats and in planters. If you have done this, a phone call may be all you need.
• Anyone else who lives there or holds a key. A housemate, landlord or property manager may be quicker and cheaper than any locksmith.
• Roadside assistance for a car. Washington's Attorney General says that if you are locked out of your car and have a roadside assistance service, call them first. It says such services sometimes come with a car, through an insurance policy or through a membership club.
• Local police, in some places. The Southern Chester County Regional Police Department offers a vehicle lockout service as a courtesy, through Chester County Police Radio at (610) 268-3171. It says these calls rank below more serious incidents, and that if officers cannot open the car quickly or without damage they will help you contact a locksmith or tow service. That is one department's service; do not assume yours offers it.

How do you check a locksmith in a hurry?

Spend five minutes on the phone before anyone is sent. The consumer agencies that have studied locksmith complaints agree on the essentials.

1. Get the business's legal name and exact address. Connecticut's consumer protection department says that if the person cannot provide an exact address, hang up. Washington's office says to be wary if the phone is answered only with "locksmith".
2. Get the total price. Ask for the full cost including the service call and travel. Washington's office says that in a lockout most legitimate locksmiths will quote the total on the phone.
3. Do not just take the top search result. Connecticut says fraudulent businesses pay to appear first, and Ohio's Attorney General warns that a local-sounding website and phone number do not mean the company is local.

How to choose a locksmith has the full set of checks for when you are not in a hurry.

What should a home lockout cost?

The national cost surveys put a house lockout at roughly $65 to $200 in normal hours. Angi gives $75 to $200, HomeAdvisor $65 to $200 and HomeGuide $75 to $200 or more. After-hours calls cost more: Angi adds $50 to $150 for an emergency or after-hours visit, and HomeAdvisor gives a $150 to $250 surcharge for nights, weekends and holidays. No survey publishes a Pennsylvania figure.

A quote far below those ranges is the warning sign. The Better Business Bureau describes phone quotes as low as $15 that grow by hundreds once the locksmith is on site.

What should happen when the locksmith arrives?

Expect to prove who you are. Washington's office says a legitimate locksmith should confirm your identity and that you own the property before doing any work, and that you should ask for the locksmith's identification and a business card in return. Have something with your name and address on it ready, even if it is on your phone or in the car.

Expect the door to open without destroying the lock. Ohio's office says most skilled locksmiths can open locks without breaking them, and that breaking a lock can damage your property and cost much more. The BBB says it is not routine to insist on drilling. If you are told the lock must be drilled and replaced, ask for the replacement price in writing; you can refuse and call someone else.

Get an itemized invoice with the business name and address before you pay, and pay by card if you can. The BBB says the invoice is what lets you dispute a charge later.

What should you do after a lockout?

Two things, depending on why it happened.

• If your keys are lost or stolen, assume someone else may have them. ALOA, the locksmiths' trade association, recommends rekeying after a move because it is the only way to secure a home against former key holders, and the same reasoning covers keys that went missing. Rekey or replace explains the choice and the prices.
• If you simply locked yourself out, use the moment to set up a spare with a neighbor and to save the number of a locksmith you have checked properly, so the next lockout starts with a call you trust.

Local businesses that offer lockout service are on the locksmiths directory page.

Sources

1. Child Heatstroke Prevention: Prevent Hot Car Deaths, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
2. Keys to avoiding locksmith fraud, Washington State Office of the Attorney General
3. Vehicle Lock-out Services, Southern Chester County Regional Police Department
4. Prevent Burglaries with these tips from Chief Smith!, Lower Moreland Township Police Department
5. Doors and locks, King County Sheriff's Office
6. Consumer Alert: Locked Out? Be Wary of Scammers Posing as Locksmith Technicians, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
7. Beware: Searching for Local Locksmiths May Lead to Faraway Call Centers, Ohio Attorney General
8. BBB Scam Alert: Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam, Better Business Bureau
9. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
10. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?, HomeAdvisor
11. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?, HomeGuide
12. Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House?, ALOA Security Professionals Association