Unlimited amount of times.
Due to the extremely low price of the key pins in the locks, rekeying is almost always much cheaper than getting your locks changed. When rekeying your locks, you are only being charged for the labor, whereas when you get your locks changed, you're paying both for labor and parts.
The cost of having locks rekeyed ranges from $40-$100, plus $5-$25 for each lock cylinder. Many people rekey locks when they buy a new home, if they lose all the keys to a lock or if they're concerned that unauthorized copies of their keys exist.
Generally, it takes a professional locksmith between 10 and 40 minutes to rekey a lock. If you need multiple locks rekeyed, you'll want to plan accordingly as a locksmith is likely to require at least an hour for a job that requires more than one or two locks.
Lock rekeying is the process of altering a lock's internal components to work with a new key while keeping the existing lock hardware. This involves changing the pins or wafers inside the lock cylinder, which are the parts that interact with the key to allow it to, or prevent it from, turning.
How many times can I re-key my lock? Unlimited amount of times.
Most Home Depot's have an associate on staff that can rekey door locks. Call your local Home Depot and make sure that the person that does the rekeying service is there before you arrive. Also there may be a charge for this service.
We rekey Kwikset and Schlage locks at a fraction of the price of having to replace your locksets. We can also create a 'master key' for superintendents or landlords that need access to multiple units without carrying a hundred keys. We also key Masterlock padlocks to an existing Masterlock key.
Lowes won't rekey an old lock you carry in, you have to buy it right there. ... 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.
Changing a door lock costs around $315 in most cases, but prices can sit as low as $45 or as high as $500, depending mostly on the level of security you need. If your gut is urging you to change your door locks, just do it.
To rekey locks, you or a handyman professional have to remove the key cores from the locking hardware and replace them with lock patterns that match new keys. This sounds simple but actually is time-consuming and can get costly, as you have to pay for labor and buy new equipment.
Locksmith services in the US typically range from $50 to $215 per hour, with a national average service call cost of approximately $156. Various factors, including service type, time of service, location, job complexity, locksmith experience, and additional services, can affect pricing.
Life Pro Tip - If you move into a new house or are just looking to replace locks on your doors, you can take your existing locks out of your doors and get them rekeyed at a hardware store (Home Depot or Lowes) for <$10. This works for most of the common lock manufacturers (Shlage or Kwikset).
If you know the brand or keyhole style of your locks, you may be able to buy a lock rekeying kit from your local home hardware store. But while you might have the tools to change locks, rekeying them can require special—and expensive—tools. You can buy them as a kit, then follow the instructions.
Specialized Training and Skills
Locksmiths undergo extensive training to learn their trade. They must be skilled in working with all these various types of locks and security systems, from traditional mechanical locks to modern electronic key systems.
Rekeying Deadbolt Locks
If the brand of lock is the same as the door knob, you can use the same rekeying kit. However, if they are different brands, you'll need to purchase the correct rekeying kit. Remove the deadbolt from the door and repin the same way you would a door knob.
A rekey service can take between 10 and 40 minutes per lock. Rekeying only applied to keyed security locks, and not to privacy locks found on bathroom and bedroom doorknobs. New lock installation or replacement can take 30-60 minutes per lock, which is one reason that lock replacement is more expensive.
The average homeowner spends around $150 to rekey a more complicated house lock like a profile cylinder or 3-point lock system and replace a set of keys. On the low end, homeowners pay $75 to repair a broken door lock. On the high end, having a locksmith replace a house lock and provide a set of keys costs $550.
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. Depending on the manufacturer, some models feature self-rekeying technology that permits quick and simple rekeying using an included tool.
Can I have every lock in my home Keyed Alike? As long every lock in your home is the same type then yes. If your locks are different, they will have to be changed in order to use the same keys for all of them.
Schlage and Kwikset locks cannot use the same key because they have different keyway designs. The keyway is the shape of the keyhole, and it varies between door lock manufacturers. This design difference means that Schlage keys generally won't fit in Kwikset locks and vice versa.
Fortunately, smart locks offer plenty of long-term value, too, thanks to optional rekeying. Just as you can change your smart lock's access code or eKey to suit your security needs, you can change the lock itself as you see fit — all you need is a little bit of elbow grease.
Rekeying is usually cheaper, and it still provides you with a renewed sense of security. If you move into a new home or if your key is lost or stolen, rekeying your lock will almost always suffice. If your lock mechanism is beginning to deteriorate, however, consider changing the lock.
To change a lock so that it fits an existing key, you simply work in the opposite direction: You change the pattern of the pins in the lock so that it matches the pattern of notches in the key. If the lock is designed with a universal keying system, any locksmith can re-key the lock in no time.
Home Depot can duplicate keys as long as you have the original. They can also duplicate car keys and transponder keys but they can't give you access to your car if you have lost your car key. They can't rekey a lock or install high-security locks around your home or business.