A house rekey changes which key opens your locks, so every old key stops working and your locks stay on the door. It’s the fastest, most affordable way to take back control of your keys after you buy a home, a tenant moves out, or a key goes missing. We come to you anywhere in Columbus and Central Ohio, and you get the price before we start.
When a rekey makes sense
- You just bought a home. Previous owners, contractors, agents and neighbors may all have had a key. A rekey makes sure only your keys work.
- A tenant moved out. Landlords rekey between tenants so the last set of keys is retired.
- A key went missing, or someone who had a key isn’t part of the household anymore.
- You’re tired of carrying four different keys. If the locks share a keyway, we can set them all to one key.
Even the Grove City Division of Police lists rekeying your exterior locks after you move in on its Home Security Checklist.
What a house rekey costs
During the day around Columbus, a rekey is an $85 service call plus $20 to $30 for each standard lock cylinder. You get the full price before we start.
| Service | Daytime price |
|---|---|
| Service call, local Columbus area | $85 |
| Standard residential lock cylinder | $20 to $30 each |
| Keypad lock | Usually $30 to $65, depending on the brand and keyway |
| Mortise, profile and double-cylinder locks | Quoted for your lock |
| Whole-house rekey | The 6th standard cylinder is free on the same visit |
For keypad locks, send us a photo of the lock first, so we know the brand and keyway before we quote.
One key for the whole house
After a move-in, it’s common to find that the front door, the garage entry and the back door all take different keys. Most of the time that’s because the locks use different keyways, the shape of the key slot. Locks that share a keyway can be set to one key. Locks that don’t can’t be matched by rekeying alone.
When we find a mix, we show you which locks can share a key, and if you want one key for everything, we tell you which locks would need to be replaced to get there.
When we’d replace a lock instead
A rekey only makes sense when the lock itself is in good shape. We’ll recommend replacing it when:
- The lock is very old and no longer works smoothly.
- The bolt sticks, or once it’s out, it can be pushed back in by hand.
- The knob is faulty and spins without working the latch.
- It’s a cheap off-brand lock that can’t be rekeyed properly.
In those cases a new lock often costs about the same as working on the old one, and we’ll tell you honestly which makes more sense.
How a rekey visit goes
A typical home with 4 to 6 locks takes about an hour. We lubricate each lock first, so the rekey goes smoothly, then rekey it right there at the door. You get the new keys before we leave.
Kwikset SmartKey locks are handled a little differently. If you still have a working key, we reset the lock on site. If the working key is gone, we remove the lock and reset it with Kwikset’s dedicated tool.
What people ask for on the phone
You don’t need to know the right word, but it helps to know what we’ll ask you.
- “I need to change the tumblers” or “the inner part of the lock.” That’s a rekey. We change the pins inside so a new key works.
- “I need to change my locks.” We’ll politely ask: are the locks old, or do you just want the current keys to stop working? If it’s the keys, a rekey is usually all you need.
- “I need a rekey, I’m locked out.” We’ll get you back inside first. That’s a house lockout. Once you’re in, a rekey is your choice.
Recent house rekeys around Columbus
A realtor’s referral in Worthington. A local real estate agent referred a client to us, and we rekeyed the front door’s Kwikset SmartKey deadbolt to new keys.
A stolen truck on the west side. A condo owner in a gated community on the west side had his truck stolen with his keys still inside. His worry was simple: the thief might now have a key to his home. We rekeyed his locks, so the keys that left with the truck no longer open anything.
New homeowners in Upper Arlington. A new homeowner had us rekey three locks, so only the new keys work.
A rekey that turned into a new knob in Clintonville. After rekeying a new homeowner’s locks, we found the front door knob was old and worn out. We installed a quality Schlage knob with a specially ordered 5-inch latch to match his door, and keyed it to the same new key as the rest of the house.
Two doors in Plain City. A customer who found us on Yelp had us rekey both of her doors.
House rekeys across Columbus and Central Ohio
We rekey homes throughout Columbus and the suburbs, including Dublin, Hilliard and Grove City. See all our service areas.
From a single front door to every lock in a new house, a rekey puts the keys back in your hands. We’re also here for lockouts, new deadbolts, smart locks and lock repair. Whatever your lock needs, we’re just a call away at 844-644-6539!
Common questions
Does a rekey make my lock stronger?
No. A rekey changes which key works, not the lock itself. If you want sturdier hardware, ask about replacing the lock. We carry high-security locks too.
Can you rekey just one lock?
Yes. One lock or the whole house, the service call is the same, so it often makes sense to do every outside door in one visit.
Can you come in the evening or on a weekend?
Yes. We’re open every day from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. After-hours visits are priced based on the situation, and you get the price before we start.
Do you offer any discounts on rekeys?
Yes. On a whole-house rekey, the 6th standard cylinder is free on the same visit. See our specials page for the details.
How do I pay?
Payment is due when the work is done. We take cards, tap to pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cash, Venmo, Zelle and Cash App.
Do landlords need to be there for a rekey?
No. As long as the landlord knows about the rekey, we can coordinate with them by phone or text without them being on site. If the landlord is paying, we’ll give them the total directly.