Rekey or Replace Your Locks? A Simple Decision Guide

Rekey when the lock is fine but the wrong people might have keys: from $95 per lock. Replace when the hardware itself is damaged, worn out, or due for an upgrade: from $125 plus the new hardware. That one distinction settles almost every case. The rest of this page maps it to your situation.

What Is the Difference Between Rekeying and Replacing a Lock?

Rekeying does not weaken the lock or leave marks on the door. The same cylinder, freshly pinned, protects exactly as it did before; the only thing that changed is which key it obeys.

Replacement removes the lock and installs new hardware. You pay for labor plus the lock itself, so the total depends on what you choose, from a basic deadbolt to a high-security cylinder. It is the more expensive route, which is exactly why it should be reserved for the situations below.

When Should You Rekey Your Locks?

- You just moved in. Previous tenants, their friends, and old contractors may all hold copies. - You lost a key, or one was stolen with your address attached. - A roommate, ex, or employee moved out and returning the key proves nothing; copies are cheap. - After a contractor or dogwalker arrangement ends. - You want one key for every door. Locks of the same brand can usually be keyed alike, so one key runs the top and bottom lock.

When Should You Replace a Lock Instead?

- The lock is damaged: after a break-in attempt, a snapped key, or visible rust and wobble. - It is worn out: sticking, grinding, or needing a jiggle ritual every time. Rekeying a dying lock puts new pins in a failing body. - You want an upgrade: a higher-grade deadbolt, a pick-resistant cylinder, or a smart lock. - The lock is a cheap builder-grade unit on your main entry door.

After a break-in or attempted break-in, look past the lock. Check the door frame, the strike plate, and the hinge screws for splitting or bend marks. Forced entries usually defeat the frame, not the cylinder, so a new lock on a cracked jamb solves nothing. Replace the damaged pieces together and the door comes back stronger than before the attempt.

Can You Rekey Some Locks and Replace Others?

The same visit is the right time to fix small faults: a sagging door that makes the bolt drag, a loose strike plate, a wobbling handle. Those adjustments cost little while the locksmith is already at your door.

What Do ANSI Lock Grades Mean?

Should Landlords Rekey Between Tenants?

What Does Rekeying or Replacement Cost in Brooklyn?

Still unsure, apply the one-line test from the top of this page. Good lock, bad key situation: rekey. Bad lock, any situation: replace. If you describe the lock and the problem on the phone, we will tell you which one you actually need, including when the honest answer is the cheaper one.