Locksmith Charges for 2025

Last Updated on May 13, 2025

Cost to get a locksmith onsite | Cost to Unlock Car or House | Cost to Rekey | Cost for Car Keys | Price Variants

ACME Locksmith has proudly served over 170,000 Arizona customers for more than 25 years. This guide breaks down what locksmiths charge in 2025, using real data and adjusted prices based on national averages and inflation. We explain how pricing works, what to expect, and how to save money.

*The cost shown is cumulative. Start with the service charge price, and then add the cost of the service you are hiring for.

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📍 How Locksmith Prices Work

Locksmith charges are typically made up of two parts:

1. Service Call Charge – The cost to dispatch a locksmith to your location. This covers the expense of getting a locksmith onsite to perform your service.
2. Labor or Service Fee – The cost of the work being performed. Sometimes this is an hourly charge, sometimes the charge is a flat rate based on the service being performed (e.g. car unlock)

✅ Tip: You can save money by bringing your hardware to a locksmith shop instead of requesting on-site service.

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📊 How Pricing Data Was Calculated

Our pricing is based on two national locksmith industry price surveys—the 2022 and 2024 Locksmith Ledger National Price Survey. Each survey included different service categories, so we used both to ensure a complete picture. When the 2024 survey didn’t cover a specific category (such as service call charges), we used the 2022 data and adjusted it for inflation.

For example, prices not included in the 2022 survey were calculated using a 8.5% inflation adjustment from 2022 to 2025. This allows us to provide the most accurate and realistic estimates based on both historic and current pricing trends.

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🚗 2025 Service Call Costs

In 2025, the national average trip charge for a locksmith is approximately $97. In Phoenix, most locksmiths charge between $95–$125, with the average around $115.

Cities with a higher cost of living may be slightly above that range, while lower-cost areas may be slightly below it.

❌ Beware of Scams: Locksmiths advertising rates like $29 or $49 are not legitimate. These are common bait-and-switch scams.

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⏱Locksmith Hourly Rates

The hourly rate applies to general labor tasks that aren’t priced as flat-rate services. While many standard locksmith jobs—such as car unlocks, lock rekeying, and key cutting—have fixed prices, the hourly rate is used for more variable or complex tasks. These include things like lock repair, drilling, custom part installation, and other miscellaneous labor.

As of 2024, the national average hourly rate for locksmith services was $104. That figure is projected to rise to $108 in 2025. In the Phoenix area, hourly rates typically range between $95 and $125, which aligns closely with national averages.

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🔓 Average Locksmith Service Costs in 2025

🚪 Unlocking a Car or Home

Unlocking a vehicle or home consists of the trip charge plus a service fee. Nationally, customers can expect to pay:

• Standard Unlock (nationwide): $190 on average, $170-$210 during standard hours.
• Phoenix Unlock (local average): $150 on average

If a locksmith won’t give you the full price up front, don’t hire them. Reputable locksmiths will provide exact pricing before dispatching.

🏠 Rekeying Home Locks

Rekeying means changing the pins inside your existing locks so they work with a new key. It’s cheaper than replacing locks entirely.

• In 2025 the national average rekey cost per lock cylinder is $28.
• Average 3-door home rekey (6 cylinders + service call) is $260.

Prices may vary depending on:

• Number of cylinders
• Whether you have the original key

🔎 More info: See our article How Much Does It Cost to Rekey a Home

Also see our article: Is it Cheaper to have Your Locks Rekeyed or to Replace Locks?

🚘 Car Key Duplication Costs

There’s a wide price range for car key copies depending on the key type:

• Standard metal car key: $10–$20
• Transponder (chipped) key: $65–$290 (includes programming)

Having a backup car key made in advance is always cheaper than replacing a lost key.

Prices are impacted by:

• Whether it’s a copy or full replacement
• The type of key/FOB
• Programming fees

🔎 For detailed pricing: How Much Do Car Keys Cost, Where to Get Car Keys Made

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The cost of a standard car key copy is only $8-15. But this cost goes up significantly for a transponder key (a key with a chip in it that needs to be programmed). The cost to copy a chipped car key will be from$65 – $190 for the key, cutting, and programming of the key.

Check out our detailed article How Much Do Car Keys Cost for more specific information and variances.

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💲 Additional Charges That May Apply

⏰ Emergency or After-Hours Service

Needing service outside of business hours will usually add $50+ to the total bill. Holiday, weekend, or late-night calls can increase this further.

⚡ Urgent/Same-Day Requests

Even during regular hours, requesting ASAP service can result in a priority fee—especially if it requires interrupting another job.

🛣 Mileage or Extended Service Area Fees

If you live outside the locksmith’s normal range, you may pay extra. In metro areas, this can be charged by the mile ($1–$2/mi) or by estimated travel time.

🔧 Specialty Services

Some services, like safe drilling, electronic lock installation, or vault entry, require advanced training and are priced accordingly. Expect premium rates for highly specialized work.

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🔎 How to Get the Best Locksmith Price

Avoid Scam Companies

Don’t chase the lowest quote—chase the most accurate one.

Reputable locksmiths will:

• Provide exact quotes upfront for common services, never “plus labor”
• Be within a few dollars of each other in your area.
• Not advertise ultra-low teaser prices. There are no $29 to $49 locksmith services.

Working with a locally-owned locksmith with a shop you can visit will almost always save you money.

Choose Wisely

• Bring hardware to the locksmith shop if possible
• Rekey your locks instead of replacing them
• Have spare keys made before you lose the originals
• Avoid after-hours calls when you can
• Use a well-reviewed, local company that gives exact pricing up front

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Detailed Locksmith Pricing Articles

How much does it cost to rekey house locks?

How much does it cost to rekey a business?

How much does a car key cost?

Ho much does it cost to drill a safe?

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Summary

Locksmith prices very depending on what needs to be done but:

• On site services are composed of a trip charge and
• The work needing to be done.
• The average price range for onsite service will be $170-$290 for typical car and home services.

You will always save money if:

• You hire a local locksmith you that has a shop you can take your needs into (when possible)
• You rekey existing locks instead of replacing locks