Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
How Much Does Locksmith Cost in Los Angeles?
Most Los Angeles locksmith jobs land between $95 and $350. A standard house lockout runs $95 – $185, rekeying a single lock is $25 – $45 per cylinder plus a service call, and high-security cylinder replacement with Medeco or Mul-T-Lock hardware typically runs $220 – $450 installed. Emergency calls after 10 p.m., on weekends, or in high-demand areas like Hollywood or Downtown can add $50 – $120 to those numbers.
Those ranges hold across the city because the labor market here is expensive but competitive. What changes the total is the hardware, the hour, and how far a technician has to drive to reach you. Dunmore Locksmith has served Los Angeles customers since 2007 as part of the Threshold Group network, and we put every price in writing before a single tool comes out of the van.
Locksmith Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what Los Angeles customers actually paid across our service categories this year. These are written ranges, not estimates that balloon once the technician is standing at your door.
| Service | Typical LA Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| House lockout (standard knob or deadbolt) | $95 – $185 | Includes daytime service call |
| Car lockout | $75 – $160 | Newer vehicles with transponder keys run higher |
| Rekeying (per cylinder) | $25 – $45 | Plus service call; multiple locks reduce per-unit cost |
| Lock change (standard deadbolt) | $85 – $180 | Includes hardware on most jobs |
| High-security cylinder install (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) | $220 – $450 | Per lock, hardware included |
| Commercial master key system | $400 – $1,200+ | Depends on door count and cylinder grade |
| After-hours / emergency call | Add $50 – $120 | Evenings, weekends, and holidays |
| Apartment mailbox or storage lock | $45 – $110 | Common in dense rental corridors |
What pushes a Los Angeles job toward the top of a range? Three things most often: the hardware grade (a builder-grade Kwikset knob is not the same job as a Medeco commercial cylinder), the time of day, and whether the door or frame has been damaged. A slammed door with a bent strike plate takes longer than a clean lockout, and we tell you that before we start, not after. Factory-authorized work on Schlage, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Baldwin, Yale, Kwikset, and Sargent hardware is part of our standard service, so we’re not guessing at fit or torque specs on brands we don’t carry.
What Affects Locksmith Pricing in Los Angeles
- Time of day and day of week. A 2 p.m. Tuesday rekey costs less than a 2 a.m. Sunday emergency. LA’s nightlife districts (Hollywood, WeHo, Downtown) generate steady after-hours call volume, which is exactly why those slots carry a premium.
- Distance and traffic. Los Angeles traffic is a real cost driver. A job in Santa Monica and a job in Encino may look identical on paper, but the drive time between them is not. We quote based on where you actually are.
- Hardware grade. Standard residential cylinders are inexpensive. High-security cylinders from Medeco or Mul-T-Lock cost more because they’re pick- and bump-resistant and require authorized key control. If you’ve had a break-in or you’re a landlord with a problem door, that upgrade usually pays for itself.
- Number of locks. One rekey has a service call attached. Four rekeys on the same visit spread that call across every lock, so the per-lock cost drops fast.
- Door and frame condition. Older Craftsman homes and pre-war apartment buildings in Koreatown and Highland Park often have doors that have shifted. A misaligned strike or swollen frame adds labor to any lock job.
- Building type. A single-family home in Sherman Oaks is a straightforward job. A commercial property with a master key system and multiple tenant doors is a project, and we price it as one.
How to Save on Locksmith Costs in Los Angeles
The single biggest saver is bundling. Every service call has a base cost, so if you have three doors that need rekeying, doing them together can cut your per-lock total by $30 – $60 compared to three separate visits. Landlords and property managers in Los Angeles do this routinely after a tenant turns over.
Second, plan non-urgent work for daytime weekdays. If your lock isn’t failing and nobody’s locked out, there’s no reason to pay the after-hours premium. Third, ask about the hardware you already have. If your deadbolts are Schlage or Kwikset, rekeying is almost always cheaper than replacing, and we’ll tell you honestly when it isn’t. Fourth, get the price in writing before work starts. That single habit eliminates the most common locksmith complaint in this city: a quoted price that doubles once the technician is at the door.
We offer free estimates, so you can call Dunmore Locksmith and get a real number before you commit to anything. Estimates cost you nothing and take a few minutes.
FAQs – Locksmith Cost in Los Angeles
How much does a locksmith cost in Los Angeles?
A typical Los Angeles locksmith call costs $95 – $185 for a standard lockout and $25 – $45 per cylinder for rekeying, plus a service call. High-security cylinder replacement runs $220 – $450 installed. After-hours and weekend calls add $50 – $120. Call (910) 714-4287 for a free written estimate on your specific job.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace a lock?
Rekeying is almost always cheaper, usually $25 – $45 per cylinder versus $85 – $180 to replace a deadbolt with new hardware. Rekeying changes the internal pins so your old keys no longer work, which is what you want after a move, a breakup, or a lost key. Replacement makes sense when the hardware itself is failing or you’re upgrading to a pick-resistant cylinder. Call (910) 714-4287 and we’ll tell you which one your door actually needs.
Why do Los Angeles locksmith prices vary so much?
The spread usually comes down to time of day, hardware grade, and how far the technician drives. A daytime rekey in Burbank and a midnight lockout in Venice are not the same job. Traffic and distance are real costs in this city. The written price we give you before work starts is the price you pay, with no additions at the end.
Do you charge extra for emergency or after-hours calls?
Yes, after-hours calls add $50 – $120 to the standard rate, and we tell you the exact amount on the phone before we dispatch. Our phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you’re never talking to a voicemail or a chatbot at 2 a.m. Call (910) 714-4287 and you’ll get the full price up front.
What’s included in your written price, and is the work guaranteed?
Every job includes labor, and hardware is itemized separately if you’re buying new cylinders or deadbolts. The written price you receive before work starts is what you pay. Every repair is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the repair fails within a full year, we come back at no charge. Call (910) 714-4287 for a free estimate and the written terms.
What to Expect When We Arrive
Knowing the price is half of it. Knowing who’s coming to your door is the other half, and that’s where The Threshold Standard does the work for you.
- You call (910) 714-4287 and reach a live person, any hour of the day or night.
- We quote your price in writing before any work begins, so there are no surprises.
- We text you the name and photo of the technician assigned to your job before the visit.
- Your technician arrives in a clean marked uniform and shows a photo ID badge at the door.
- If anyone shows up who you weren’t told to expect, that visit is covered at no charge.
That last point matters in Los Angeles, where unlicensed operators knock on doors in the same neighborhoods we serve. If the person at your door wasn’t sent to you by name and photo, don’t open it. The name Dunmore comes from old words for a great fort, a stronghold built to keep what’s inside safe, and that’s the standard we hold our crews to.
Contact Us for a Free Estimate
Dunmore Locksmith has served Los Angeles homeowners and businesses since 2007 as part of the Threshold Group network of independently owned local locksmith companies, led by Perry Osgood. Whether you need a single rekey, a commercial master key system, or a lockout handled tonight, we’ll give you a real number in writing and send you the name and photo of the technician before anyone knocks. Call (910) 714-4287 for a free estimate – our phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Pricing reflects the Los Angeles market as of 2026. Dunmore Locksmith offers free estimates – call (910) 714-4287.
What Our Customers Say
"Deadbolt on the front door was sticking and wouldn't throw all the way. He cleaned it, adjusted the strike plate, and it works smoothly now. Charged very little."
- Victor S."The fact that he was background checked and carried ID made me comfortable letting him into the home. Changed out two worn deadbolts for new grade 1 ones."
- Brenda Z."We moved into a new house and wanted to know nobody else had a key. He rekeyed every exterior door and showed me how the pins work. Clear and patient."
- Anita P.