Lock Installation & Rekey Cost — What It Actually Costs, Agreed Up Front

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How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in San Francisco?

Lock installation in San Francisco typically runs $125 to $350 per lock, and rekeying usually costs $35 to $90 per cylinder, or $120 to $220 for a whole house. A standard deadbolt swap or a single-cylinder rekey is often done in well under an hour, while high-security hardware from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, or Abloy can push labor and parts toward the top of those ranges. Most San Francisco jobs land somewhere between $150 and $450 once you combine rekeying with one or two new locks.

We’re Citadel Locksmith. We work across eight lock brands, from everyday Schlage and Kwikset to pick-resistant high-security cylinders, and we serve homes, rentals, and small businesses all over the city. If you want a firm number rather than a range, call us at (833) 589-8078 and we’ll quote your job back to you for free.

Key Takeaways

• A single rekey costs $35-$90 per cylinder; a full-house rekey is usually $120-$220.
• Standard lock installation runs $125-$220 per lock; high-security brands run $220-$350 or more.
• Rekeying existing hardware is almost always cheaper than replacing it.
• Old Victorian and Edwardian doors in San Francisco often need extra prep, which adds $40-$120.
• Free estimates are available. Call (833) 589-8078 before you commit to any price.

Lock Installation & Rekey Cost Breakdown (2026)

Here’s how the numbers break down for the San Francisco market in 2026. Prices include standard hardware unless noted, plus labor for a typical residential door.

What drives a job toward the higher end? Three things. First, the brand: a Kwikset deadbolt and a Medeco Maxum are both “locks,” but only one is built to resist picking, bumping, and key duplication. Second, the door. A pre-hung modern door with a clean bore is a fast install; a 100-year-old Mission District door with shifted framing takes longer. Third, quantity. Rekeying one lock is cheaper per lock than rekeying six, because we’re already on site.

If you’re weighing a full replacement against a simple rekey, rekeying the existing hardware is usually the smarter move. It’s less expensive, it keeps hardware that’s already fitted to your door, and it’s the fastest way to take back control of who holds a key. Replacing hardware only makes sense when the cylinder is worn out, the current lock is a low-quality builder-grade piece, or you want a higher security grade anyway.

What Affects Lock Installation & Rekey Pricing in San Francisco

• Lock brand and security grade. Schlage and Kwikset are the everyday standard. Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy sit at the pick-resistant end and cost more in both parts and labor. We stock and service all three tiers, so we’ll tell you honestly what the upgrade buys you.
• Age and condition of the door. San Francisco’s housing stock runs old. Victorian and Edwardian doors in places like Noe Valley, the Mission, and Pacific Heights often have non-standard bores, rusted strikes, or frames that have settled. A little prep time adds $40-$120 to the job.
• Number of locks. Whole-house rekeys are priced lower per cylinder because we’re handling them in one visit. A six-cylinder rekey is a fraction of six separate single-lock calls.
• Rental vs. owner-occupied. Renters typically just need a rekey after moving in. Landlords and property managers often need multiple units serviced in a single visit, and we’ll quote a per-unit rate for scheduled work.
• Time of day and urgency. Emergency and after-hours response carries a premium, as it should. Standard business-hours scheduling keeps the price in the middle of the table above.
• Security hardware additions. Strike plates, latch guard plates, and reinforced hinges are cheap insurance ($45-$110) and make a real difference to forced-entry resistance.

One thing that’s unique to this city: fog and salt air. Coastal neighborhoods like the Outer Sunset and the Richmond see more corrosion on exterior hardware than inland areas do. If your locks are stiff, sticking, or the key drags, it’s usually salt and moisture rather than wear. A proper rekey and lubrication of the cylinder often solves it without replacement.

Rekey vs. Replace: Which Costs Less in San Francisco?

Rekeying almost always costs less than replacing. A rekey runs $35-$90 per lock; a full lock replacement starts around $125 and goes up from there. Rekeying is the better choice when the existing hardware is solid, when you’ve just moved in or ended a lease, when a key has gone missing, or after a breakup or property turnover where you simply need to know that only you hold a working key. Replacing makes sense when the hardware is builder-grade junk, the cylinder is physically failing, or you want to step up to a high-security grade like Medeco or Abloy. We’ll tell you which path makes sense for your doors once we see them. Call (833) 589-8078 to schedule an inspection and a free quote.

How to Save on Lock Installation & Rekey

• Rekey instead of replacing whenever the hardware allows. The difference per lock is often $80-$150. Not all locksmiths speak Medeco or Abloy, and we do, but we won’t push a replacement you don’t need.
• Bundle the whole house in one visit. Six cylinders at once is cheaper per lock than doing them one at a time. If you’re moving in, do the full rekey in a single appointment.
• Do the strike-plate work while we’re already there. Reinforcement plates are $45-$110 and add real resistance. It’s cheaper than a return trip.
• Rekey when you move in, not after something happens. A planned rekey at move-in is priced at the standard rate. The same job done after a lost key or lockout can land in the emergency range.
• Ask for a written estimate before work begins. Every job we quote is upfront. We don’t do surprise line items after the fact.

None of those are tricks. They’re just the way we’d handle our own homes. Our home page outlines the full range of what we do if you want to see everything before you book.

When to Call for Lock Installation & Rekey in San Francisco

You need a rekey or install when you move into a new place, when a roommate or tenant moves out, when you lose a key or suspect a key has been copied, after a break-in or an attempted break-in, when hardware is sticking or failing, or when you simply want to upgrade from builder-grade to a proper security cylinder. Rekeying is the fastest way to take back control of who holds a key, and it’s the right call the moment you don’t know where every copy of a key ended up. Our team handles residential work across the city, from high-rises in SoMa and the Financial District to walk-ups in the Haight and single-family homes out near the Sunset and Sunset-adjacent areas.

If you’re just south of the city, our Lock Installation & Rekey in South San Francisco service covers the same work there. For everything else, one call to us covers your car, your home, and your emergency.

Brands We Work With and What They Cost

Brand fluency matters to pricing, because different brands sit at different security and price tiers. We service eight brands, and here’s roughly what each tier means for your bottom line.

• Schlage and Kwikset: the everyday workhorses. Rekey or standard install lives in the lower to middle part of the table ($125-$220 installed; $35-$90 to rekey).
• Yale: solid residential and light-commercial grade, often the step up from builder hardware ($180-$320 installed).
• Baldwin and Sargent: premium architectural hardware. These are the entry sets and commercial-grade levers you see on higher-end homes and small businesses. Expect $250-$500+ installed depending on the set.
• Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy: the high-security, pick-resistant tier. Restricted keyways, drill resistance, key control. These run $220-$350+ per lock installed, and they’re worth it where forced entry is the concern.

Not every locksmith keeps all three tiers on hand. We do, which means we won’t tell you “this is your only option.” We’ll tell you what each tier buys you and let you decide.

FAQs – Lock Installation & Rekey Cost

How much does it cost to rekey a house in San Francisco?

Rekeying a whole house in San Francisco typically costs $120 to $220 for up to six cylinders, with each additional cylinder running $18-$35. A single-cylinder rekey is $35-$90. Call (833) 589-8078 for an exact quote on your specific doors and hardware.

Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?

Rekeying is cheaper. A rekey is $35-$90 per lock; a replacement starts around $125 and runs higher, especially for high-security brands. Rekey when your existing hardware is sound, replace when it’s failing or you’re intentionally stepping up to a higher security grade. Call us and we’ll tell you which path your doors call for.

How much does a deadbolt installation cost in San Francisco?

A standard deadbolt installation in San Francisco runs $125-$220, including hardware. A high-security deadbolt like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock runs $220-$350+, and premium architectural hardware (Baldwin, Sargent) can run $250-$500+. Free estimates are available.

Can you rekey my locks the same day?

In most cases, yes. Standard business-hours rekey appointments and single-lock jobs are commonly done in a single visit, and urgent and after-hours work is part of what we do. Call (833) 589-8078 and we’ll tell you what we can do for your job today.

How much does an emergency locksmith cost in San Francisco?

Emergency and after-hours rekeys run $150-$300+, depending on the time and the hardware. Emergency availability is built into our service model, not added on. If security can’t wait, call (833) 589-8078.

Do you work with high-security lock brands?

Yes. We’re trained and equipped to service Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy alongside Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, Baldwin, and Sargent. That range lets us give you honest pricing at every security tier rather than steering you to one brand. Call (833) 589-8078 to talk through your options.

Get a Free Estimate in San Francisco

Whether you need a single-cylinder rekey, a full-house rekey, or a new high-security lock installed, Citadel Locksmith will give you an upfront price before any work begins. Fortress-level security, neighborhood-level service: call (833) 589-8078 for a free estimate. We handle residential, rental, and small-business work across San Francisco, along with car key replacement and emergency response, so one call covers your car, your home, and your emergency.

Pricing reflects the San Francisco market as of 2026. Citadel Locksmith offers free estimates – call (833) 589-8078.