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InsightHorizon Digest

How do I change the locks in my house

Author

Joseph Russell

Updated on April 04, 2026

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.

Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?

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.

Can I rekey my own locks?

Homeowners may not know that they can rekey their locks by themselves. Rekeying your locks saves considerable money, especially when you need to rekey multiple locks. Plus, if you like new challenges, rekeying a lock can be an inexpensive project that helps you learn how locks operate.

How much does it cost to change the locks on a house?

ServiceAverage CostHouse Lockout$65 – $185Commercial Lockout$70 – $200Rekey House$50 – $130 + $20/lockChange Locks on House$80 – $200

How do I rekey my house locks?

  1. Step 1: Remove the Doorknob. The first step is to remove the doorknob from the door. …
  2. Step 2: Remove the Cylinder. …
  3. Step 3: Take Out the C-Clip. …
  4. Step 4: Attach Key Plug. …
  5. Step 5: Dump the Old Pins. …
  6. Step 6: Insert New Pins. …
  7. Step 7: Replace the Plug. …
  8. Step 8: Reattach Knob to Door.

Can Home Depot rekey a lock?

Home Depot does rekey doorknobs, cylinder, and deadbolt locks at selected store locations. Customers can expect to pay $5 to $50, and Home Depot will rekey locks purchased from the store or other retailers/brands, including Schlage and Kwikset locks, provided you can offer the correct keys.

Should I change the locks when I buy a new house?

When you move into a new home, you should change the locks on your house. You have no idea how many copies of the house keys are floating around out there from the previous homeowners, so changing the locks will keep your new house more secure. Tom recommends changing the locks whenever a new home is purchased.

Is rekeying safe?

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.

Does Ace Hardware rekey locks?

Ace Hardware can rekey locks of the brands Schlage, Kwikset, or Ace brand. Further, Ace Hardware can rekey doorknob or deadbolt locks.

What is rekeying a lock mean?

When you rekey your locks, you’re altering the lock mechanism so that the old key will no longer open it. Instead, a new key will be necessary. … For example, if all of your locks are of the same brand or have the same type of keyhole but use different keys, you can have your locks rekeyed to operate from the same key.

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Can Lowes rekey locks?

Lowe’s is able to rekey locks at a wide variety of their stores as of 2022. However, Lowe’s cannot rekey all brands of locks, and can only rekey locks that have been purchased at their stores. Additionally, to help customers rekey locks themselves, Lowe’s sells a variety of kits and keys that can be used.

Can you rekey defiant locks?

You can call a locksmith to rekey your lock for you with a fee, or you can do it yourself with the purchase of a kit. … To rekey a Defiant lock, you will need its original key. Other than that, the rekeying process is similar to rekeying any other lock type.

Who can rekey a door lock?

Call a locksmith. A locksmith will usually charge a set rate for a service call (often between $40 and $100) and then charge you an additional fee (potentially $10 to $30) for every lock you want rekeyed.

How does locksmith change locks?

A locksmith simply replaces the tumblers and pins to create a lock that can be opened by a brand-new key. The locksmith can also check on the lock’s condition and add lubrication to maintain your lock.

How much does it cost to rekey a lock?

How Much Does Rekeying Cost? Second, rekeying is significantly less expensive than changing your old locks for new ones. While a new keyed or keyless lock, gripset and matching interior trim runs from $130 to $360, the cost of rekeying a lock is about $80 – regardless of whether you have a keyed or keyless unit.

Can I get all my locks keyed the same?

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.

Can you get a key cut for a lock without a key?

If it’s a lost key a locksmith can make you a key without the original, as locksmiths can make keys to lock by hand. By using a blank and a file and the skills, they’ve developed over the years a locksmith can create a key from scratch without the need for an original key.

What is the difference between Schlage and Kwikset?

Both companies, Schlage and Kwikset make many different types of locks, such as residential doorknobs, deadbolts and keypads. Schlage also has a vast line of commercial products, including some heavy duty and high-security locks, whereas Kwikset has a more modest line of “light commercial” locks.

How do you use a Kwikset rekey kit?

First, insert the functioning key and turn it ¼-turn clockwise. Then, insert and remove the SmartKey learn tool. Follow by removing the functioning key, inserting a new key, and turning it ½-turn counter-clockwise. Your lock is then successfully re-keyed.

Are Kwikset and defiant the same?

Defiant locks share the same type of keyway with the Kwikset brand, which means that a Defiant key will fit into a Kwikset lock and vice versa. If all the locks on your house are Kwikset locks, you can still buy a Defiant lock and match it to work with your current house key.

Can you use Kwikset pins in a defiant lock?

No. they not open with Kwikset tools — Defiant locks are throwaways not designed to be rekeyed. … Defiant uses kw1 keys but schlage pins for pinning.

Is there a master key for all locks?

Master keys and change keys When lock rekeying into a master key system, two keys are created: … It cannot be used inside any other locks you have. Master key: The master key can open all locks you have in your residential or commercial property.

Can you open the same lock with the same key more than once?

Master Key System This type of key management system is not new. … In short, a master key system allows one keys to open multiple different locks. At the same time, more than one key can open the same lock. In an office building, for example, each employee can have their own key which unlocks the door to their office.

How long does it take to rekey a lock?

How long does it take to rekey a lock? It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to rekey a single lock.