What rekeying actually does
Inside a standard pin-tumbler lock is a row of small pins of different lengths. Your key lifts each pin to exactly the right height so the cylinder can turn. Rekeying swaps those pins for a new set, so the lock now answers only to a new key. The lock body, the handle and the deadbolt on your door don't change.
It's why rekeying usually costs far less than replacing locks: you're paying for labor and a few pins, not new hardware.
When you should rekey
- You just bought a home. You have no idea how many copies the previous owner, their family, their dog walker and their contractors had.
- A key was lost or stolen, especially with an address nearby.
- A tenant, roommate, nanny or contractor moved on and the keys didn't all come back.
- You want one key for every door. We can key the front, back and garage-entry doors alike so you carry one key instead of four.
- Short-term rental turnover, if you use keys rather than codes.
Rekey or replace?
Rekey when the locks work fine and you just need control of who has keys. Replace when a lock is worn out, sticking, corroded from salt air, a low-grade lock you don't trust, or when you want to upgrade to a deadbolt, a smart lock or a high-security cylinder. Our rekey-or-replace guide goes deeper. If replacing makes more sense, we'll say so. See lock installation.
Near the coast? Check the cylinders while we're there
Salt air is hard on locks. If yours are stiff, gritty or turning green, a rekey is the right time to clean and lubricate the cylinders, or to tell you honestly that one is past saving. Our salt-air lock care guide explains what to use and what to avoid (spoiler: not WD-40 on a lock you care about).
What affects the price
- Number of cylinders (each door lock and deadbolt counts)
- Whether the locks share a keyway, so they can be keyed alike
- Lock brand and type (standard, high-security, commercial)
- Number of new keys you want
The price on the phone is the price at the door. We quote the total before dispatch and you approve it before work begins. If something changes once we see the lock, we stop and tell you first.
- Lock or hardware typeA standard deadbolt, a high-security cylinder and a smart lock are different jobs.
- Vehicle and key typeMake, model and year; mechanical, transponder, remote or push-to-start key.
- ComplexityOpening a latch vs. a thrown deadbolt; one cylinder vs. a whole building.
- TimeEvening and short-notice work can cost more than a scheduled daytime visit.
- LocationHow far the nearest technician has to drive, and access (gates, garages).
- Required partsCylinders, locks, key blanks, chips and fobs, itemized on the invoice.
Where we do this
Lock Rekeying across Broward County and Palm Beach County, plus North Miami-Dade. We're mobile and come to you. Local notes for your city:
HollywoodHallandale BeachFort LauderdaleDania BeachPembroke PinesMiramarDaviePlantationCoral SpringsPompano BeachDeerfield BeachBoca RatonDelray BeachBoynton BeachWest Palm BeachAll service areas
From our work
