You just closed on a house in Santa Monica. Maybe it’s a bungalow off Montana Avenue, a condo near the Third Street Promenade, or a place tucked into the Ocean Park neighborhood south of Pico. The keys are in your hand, but here’s the thing — you have no idea how many copies the previous owner made. Their dog walker had one. Their neighbor had one. Their ex probably still has one floating around a junk drawer somewhere.
This is exactly why lock rekey in Santa Monica is one of our most requested calls from new homeowners. And the first question everyone asks is the same: how much is this going to cost me?
Average Lock Rekey Cost in Santa Monica
A standard lock rekey runs between $15 and $35 per lock, with most Santa Monica homeowners paying around $20–$25 per lock when we’re doing multiple locks in one visit. That’s the per-lock price — the labor and new key pins included.
For a typical home with a front door, back door, side gate, and garage entry, you’re looking at roughly $80 to $140 total. Compare that to full lock replacement, which can run $75–$200+ per lock depending on hardware, and rekeying starts to look very attractive.
A few things that shift the price up or down:
- Number of locks — More locks usually means a lower per-lock rate. Four or five locks in one visit is our sweet spot.
- Lock brand and type — Standard Kwikset or Schlage locks are quick work. High-security brands like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock take more time and specialty pins, so they cost more.
- After-hours service — If you need us at 11 PM on a Friday because you just got the keys and want to sleep easy, there’s a service fee for emergency/after-hours visits. We’re 24/7, but daytime appointments are the most budget-friendly.
- Keyed-alike setup — Want one key that opens every lock in the house? That’s called keying alike, and we do it at no extra charge during a rekey visit. Highly recommended.
How Lock Rekeying Actually Works
A lot of people think rekeying means swapping out the entire lock. It doesn’t. Your existing hardware stays on the door. Here’s what happens:
Step 1: Remove the Lock Cylinder
We take the lock cylinder out of the knob or deadbolt. This takes about a minute per lock — no damage to your door, no drilling, no mess.
Step 2: Replace the Pins
Inside every lock cylinder, there’s a set of small spring-loaded pins. These pins are what make your specific key work. We swap them out for new pins that match a completely new key pattern. The old keys become useless — they physically can’t turn the lock anymore.
Step 3: Reassemble and Test
The cylinder goes back into the lock, we test the new keys from both sides of the door, and confirm everything latches and deadbolts smoothly. We hand you a fresh set of keys and the job is done.
The whole process takes about 5–10 minutes per lock. For a full house, we’re usually finished within 30 to 45 minutes.
Should You Rekey or Replace the Locks?
This is the real question, and the honest answer depends on what you’re working with.
Rekey if:
- Your locks are in good working condition — they latch properly, the deadbolt throws fully, no wobble or rust
- You like the look and finish of your current hardware
- You just want to make sure old keys don’t work anymore
- You’re on a budget and the locks are structurally sound
Replace if:
- The locks are visibly worn, sticky, or damaged
- You want to upgrade to a higher security grade (like going from a Grade 3 to a Grade 2 deadbolt)
- The home has old builder-grade hardware that’s ready to retire
- You want smart locks or keyless entry
We see a lot of homes along the 90405 corridor — around Sunset Park and the blocks between Lincoln Blvd and Centinela — where the original builder locks from the ’90s are still hanging on. Those we’ll usually recommend replacing. But a solid Schlage or Baldwin deadbolt that’s only a few years old? Rekey it and save the money.
If you do need new deadbolts, we also handle and can pair that with a rekey on your remaining locks.
Why New Homeowners in Santa Monica Call Us First
We get a lot of rekey calls from people who just closed escrow on places in the Wilshire-Montana area, North of Montana, and throughout the mid-city neighborhoods. It’s one of the smartest first moves you can make as a new homeowner — right up there with changing the garage code and updating the alarm system.
Our full range of Santa Monica locksmith services includes rekeying, lock installation, and lockout assistance. We’re mobile, so we come to you — no need to pull locks off your doors and drive them somewhere.
If you just picked up the keys to a new place and want to make sure you’re the only one who can walk in, give us a call at (818) 398-9391. We’ll give you an honest quote over the phone and can usually get there the same day. Lock rekey in Santa Monica is quick, affordable, and one of those things you’ll be glad you didn’t put off.
