If you’ve ever had a lock replaced or been locked out of your home or business, chances are you’ve needed to employ the help of an experienced locksmith. Locksmiths work on all types of issues, from evaluating how secure your home is to regular key-cutting jobs, and much more.

Changing the locks on your home, business or car is best done by a qualified locksmith. If it’s been a while since you last hired a locksmith and you aren’t sure of the costs involved to hire locksmiths, read on.

We will explain the cost of a locksmith, what they do, and what qualities to look for in an expert local locksmith.

Professional locksmith services

Most locksmiths provide a surprising array of services, they don’t just work in a shopping centre stall key cutting or handle lock installations when you buy a new property.

The services you can expect from a locksmith include:

• Re-key or replace locks for your house door, office and deadlocks
• Automotive locks and ignitions
• Adjust existing locks in need of repair
• Install hardware and hydraulic closing fixtures for residential and commercial properties
• Replace worn parts in an old lock or remove a broken key
• Key cutting and cutting duplicates of keys
• Assistance if you’re locked in or locked out of your house.

Other skills locksmiths possess are being able to:

• Install a security door
• Install locks on windows, garages or sheds
• Security systems or safe combination locks

Emergency locksmith services

If you’ve accidentally locked yourself in or out of the house or car, or lost your house key, most locksmiths offer emergency services 24-7 to help you gain access to your property or vehicle. They will arrive quickly with all the tools they need for the job, whether you need a new key or a lock picked.

If you call to gain entry outside normal working hours, be aware that the call out fee attached is usually much higher.

Cost to change locks

How much does it cost for lock repairs? The average locksmith cost is between $55 and $330. Duplicate keys can be just $15 to $19. Whereas if you need a locksmith outside normal working hours, and in the case of emergency services, it can easily set you back $200 to $330, depending on the locksmith and other factors.

Whether you need an upgrade to your security system, have broken keys or door handles, or simply need the locks changed, you can hire a locksmith to help assist with your residential or business needs.

The average price for a locksmith:

• Change locks on a car or vehicle – approximately $100 to $250
• Change locks on a house – approximately $100 to $250
• Re-key or open locks on a house – approximately $100 to $250
• Install an external door and locks – approximately $200

Depending on the locksmith, additional fees may be charged for consumables, including lock cylinders if required. Your local professional locksmith will outline all of the costs ahead of time with a quote.

You will also have to pay a call out fee for local tradies to attend your home or business. For regular times, call out fees are roughly $110. A service call after hours increases locksmith rates. For weekends and weeknights between 9:00pm – 12:00am, the rate is usually between $150-$200. After midnight, expect to pay a callout fee of up to $300 to get your lock open.

Hiring the right locksmith

When you’re hiring a locksmith, get a few quotes. Try to hire a locksmith in your area to avoid higher costs associated with travel time. Whether you need new keys or are locked out of your home, a quality locksmith will offer excellent service at a time that suits you.

For peace of mind you can look for a tradie who is recognised through the Master Locksmiths Association. A qualified locksmith will have completed a locksmith apprenticeship, which usually takes 4 years to finish.

If you need a security industry professional to attend your home or business, here are some tips:

• Search for a locksmith offering a 24-hour service
• Search for recommended or master locksmiths in your area
• Check for verified reviews
• Ask about inclusions and safety processes
• Compare at least three quotes.

Where to find a good locksmith

Often, the best place to start when tracking down a great locksmith is to ask around and look for recommendations or online ratings.

Yellow Pages provides reviews for local locksmiths that outline their business hours, and you can find the average cost for services and expertise.

To find out more, a quick search of our local directory should reveal some great options for local lock professionals. If you would like to get a few local quotes, try our simple to use quote request tool located below.