Should you rekey or replace your locks?

Updated November 10, 2026 · KeystoneProGuide editorial team

What is the difference?

Rekeying changes which key works a lock; replacing changes the lock. After a rekey your door hardware stays where it is, and the keys that used to open it no longer do. ALOA, the locksmiths' trade association, calls rekeying the only way to make sure former key holders cannot get in, and recommends it as soon as possible after you take possession of a home. Replacement removes the old lock entirely and fits new hardware, which also comes with new keys.

Both solve the key problem. Only replacement changes the quality of the lock itself.

When is rekeying enough?

When the locks you have are worth keeping. ALOA's answer to "rekey or replace?" is that it depends on the condition and suitability of the locks on your doors: in some cases the existing ones can be used, in others new ones are needed. In practice that points to rekeying when:

• the locks work smoothly and are not damaged;
• every exterior door already has a deadbolt;
• the locks are of a type and grade you are happy with;
• your only concern is who might hold a key, after a move, lost keys or a tenant leaving.

When should you replace instead?

When the lock is worn out, damaged, too weak for the door, or not the kind of lock you want.

• Worn locks. ALOA says locks wear each time a key goes in and out, the latch most of all, and that a lock which still sticks after lubrication may need rekeying, a new latch or full replacement. A locksmith should tell you which and why.
• Damage after a break-in or attempt. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that damaging or removing a door was the most common way in for forcible burglaries in its 2003 to 2007 survey data. A lock or strike that has been forced is a replacement job, and the frame may need work too.
• A knob lock with no deadbolt. Lower Moreland Township police in Montgomery County say a key-in-the-knob lock by itself is insufficient and that every exterior door should have a deadbolt. Rekeying a knob lock does not change that.
• A lower grade than you want. The King County Sheriff's Office in Washington State recommends Grade 1 or Grade 2 locks on exterior doors. Certified residential deadbolts also carry a label rating security, durability and finish from A to C, as ANSI's account of the BHMA label explains.
• An older house with mixed hardware. ALOA says older houses often have different types of locks, of varying quality, installed over the years.
• A switch to keypad or smart locks. That is always a replacement.

How do the prices compare?

In the surveys, rekeying generally costs less, mainly because there is no new hardware to buy, though HomeAdvisor's labor-only figure for a lock change overlaps its rekey range. The figures are national; none of the publishers gives a Pennsylvania price.

For a whole house, Angi gives $200 to $500 for rekeying four to six locks, and HomeGuide gives $95 to $270 for three doors including the trip fee. HomeAdvisor splits a rekey into $50 to $100 of labor and $30 to $60 per lock for the rekeying kit, and says a replacement lock itself can run from $50 for a basic set to $2,000 for a high-end smart model. Fixr gives $150 to $550 to change house locks.

Hardware is where replacement costs climb. Angi prices a standard deadbolt at $30 to $70, a high-security lock at $100 to $400 and a smart lock at $150 to $500, before labor.

Can you mix the two?

Yes, and it is often the sensible answer. A locksmith can rekey the locks that are in good shape and replace only the ones that are worn, damaged or below the standard you want. ALOA suggests including garage locks and any storage buildings in a rekey, so ask for a price per lock and a list of which doors get which treatment.

How do you judge a replacement offer?

By asking what you are getting and why. The Better Business Bureau warns about two related tactics: locksmiths who insist an old lock must be drilled out and replaced with a new, expensive one, and sellers of "extra-secure" locks that are in fact cheap and anything but secure. Before agreeing to replace a lock you expected to rekey, ask:

1. What is wrong with the current lock?
2. What exactly will replace it, by product name?
3. What grade or BHMA label rating does it have?
4. What is the price for the hardware and for the labor, in writing?

If the answers are vague, a rekey and a second opinion cost less than a lock you did not need.

Where next?

Changing locks after you move covers the most common reason to rekey, the cost guide compares prices for other jobs, and local businesses are on the locksmiths directory page.

Sources

1. Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House?, ALOA Security Professionals Association
2. Common Lock Issues: Advice and Info, ALOA Security Professionals Association
3. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? [2026 Data], Angi
4. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?, HomeAdvisor
5. How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?, HomeGuide
6. Locksmith Prices, Fixr
7. Doors and locks, King County Sheriff's Office
8. Prevent Burglaries with these tips from Chief Smith!, Lower Moreland Township Police Department
9. BBB Scam Alert: Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam, Better Business Bureau
10. High Standards for Residential Door Hardware: BHMA Certified Secure Home Label, American National Standards Institute (The ANSI Blog)
11. Victimization During Household Burglary (press release), Bureau of Justice Statistics