Changing all your locks to be keyed alike is only possible if the locks are all compatible. “If you want your doors keyed alike, you can test this at home simply by picking a key from one of your doors and inserting it into the different locks. If the key goes in the lock, then that lock can be keyed alike.”
Re-keying kits are available for most lock brands but they're not interchangeable. You must buy a kit for each brand of lock in your home. (If you're lucky, they'll all be the same brand!) Each kit will re-key six locks, but you can order extra pins if you need to do more.
To get your locks re-keyed, visit your local locksmith to have them do it for you. Or, just ask the store you're purchasing the locks from to re-key the lock to one you may already own. It's a process that should only take a few minutes.
Rekeying Home Locks
Rekeying locks on your home typically costs $80 to $160. If you call the locksmith to your home, you might pay a trip fee of $50 to $100. The cost to rekey is $30 to $60 per lock, bringing you to that total. Rekeying is different and more affordable than replacing the locks.
When purchasing more than one lock, look for packages that have the same “key alike” number on the package. Alternatively, our store associates can key all of your locks to work with the same key. You can also purchase a rekeying kit to swap out pins and springs yourself.
Negatives: While convenient, keyed alike locks are less secure than their keyed different counterparts. Keyed alike locks are optimal when locking indoor applications but they are not secure enough for exterior applications.
Keyed alike means one key fits all locks, for example your front and back door locks can both use the same key or every lock in an office can use the same key. Having your locks keyed alike is very beneficial if you want to open & close all your door locks with one key.
Rekeying your lock is almost always cheaper than replacing a lock. This is because of the cheaper price of the key pins inside the locks, whereas when you replace a lock, you are paying for all brand-new parts.
When you rekey a lock by yourself, you will need to purchase a rekey kit that is specific to your brand of doorknob, lever, or deadbolt. You will receive several keys (often between three and six keys), all identically cut.
Lowe's are able to rekey locks in certain stores. Customers can bring in their locks (if an eligible brand to be rekeyed at Lowe's) and have their locks rekeyed for around $5. Lowe's also offers rekeying kits so customers can rekey their own locks at home.
Home Depot will rekey locks such as Schlage, Kwikset, doorknobs, deadbolts, single and double cylinders for $5 to $15 per lock. If your local store does not offer the service, you may purchase a rekey kit or visit Lowe's or Ace Hardware. Home Depot does not rekey car locks as they often require specialized technology.
Pick the key you like the best (or have the most of) and have all the other knobs keyed to it. Remove the locks that need to be rekeyed and take them to a locksmith or a hardware store. Bring a key that works each of the locks and the key you want all the locks keyed to and give us five minutes a lock.
Let's begin with 'Keying Alike'. Essentially this is where all locks within a set have the same key code, or in other words, one key can used to open multiple locks within the set. Keying locks alike is a great time saving solution as, with only one key, time does not need to be spent looking for the correct one.
Is there a master key for all locks? For certain systems of locks, yes. A master key is specifically designed to unlock a given locking system. Having one key for safekeeping can help open a lock in case its paired key is lost or damaged.
Rekeying a lock does not hurt the security of the lock, nor does it make it more secure. One of the factors that makes a lock secure is how many pins are inside of it. As long as the locksmith swaps the old 5 pins with 5 new ones, the lock will remain just as secure as it was before.
A locksmith will use something called a pinning kit to change the pins inside the lock. Keep in mind that to quickly do so, the locksmith needs a copy of the original key. If you don't have a single copy of the key, the locksmith will have to pick the lock, which can result in higher labor costs for you.
Also in the non-forced entry category, there is no doubt Schlage is better. With a better, more precise manufacturing process and 2 additional security pins than the Kwikset deadbolt, Schlage locks are significantly harder to pick, bump or compromise in non-destructive ways.
This is because Schlage and Kwikset locks are not compatible with the same type of key. Their keyways are made differently, therefore you will either want to have all Schlage locks or all Kwikset locks. When you're at home, you don't want to use different keys for each lock you own.
Advantages. The main advantage of having your locks keyed alike would be the convenience of having one key for all locks such as at home or your workplace. It helps to eliminate the hassle of finding the right key for the right lock if you have multiple locks.
If you cannot find a local store that will rekey a lock inexpensively, you can purchase the necessary tools to rekey the lock. Purchase a rekey kit—for a single lock or up to five locks of the same brand—that matches the brand of lock you want to rekey.
unless you get an employee in a good mood that feels like helping. They use the 5 digit code on your key to know what pins to put in the lock. Yes, Lowe's would not rekey my locks when I moved into a new house unless I bought them there. Luckily Home Depot was more helpful!