Smart locks
House lockouts
Re-keying
Deadbolt upgrades
Schlage
Kwikset
Car keys & fobsNon-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
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How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in Chicago?
Lock installation in Chicago typically runs $95 to $260 per lock for standard residential hardware, and a rekey costs $20 to $45 per lock when there’s no service call involved. A full rekey of a home or small apartment with three to four locks usually lands between $130 and $210 out the door, while swapping in a deadbolt on a new door often comes in at $180 to $320 depending on the lock grade. Those are 2026 Chicago prices, and they hold whether you’re in a high-rise in the Loop or a two-flat in Logan Square.
Valor Locksmith handles both jobs across Chicago, from entry-level Kwikset and Yale hardware to high-security Baldwin and Mul-T-Lock systems. We give free estimates, so you get an exact number before anyone touches a lock.
Lock Installation & Rekey Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what Chicago customers actually pay. These are installed ranges that include labor and a typical hardware swap, not just the sticker price of a lock on a shelf.
| Service | Typical Price Range (Chicago, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Rekey, single lock (customer has keys) | $20 – $45 |
| Rekey, single lock with service call | $85 – $130 |
| Rekey, whole home (3 – 4 locks) | $130 – $210 |
| Deadbolt installation, builder-grade (Kwikset, Yale) | $95 – $160 |
| Deadbolt installation, mid-grade (Schlage, Sargent) | $140 – $220 |
| High-security lock install (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy) | $260 – $520 |
| Smart lock installation (customer-supplied) | $120 – $200 |
| Baldwin or designer hardware installation | $180 – $340 |
| Additional lock, same visit | $25 – $70 each |
| After-hours or emergency call surcharge | $60 – $150 |
What pushes a job to the top of a range? The lock itself, mostly. A Mul-T-Lock or Medeco cylinder costs several times what a Kwikset deadbolt does, and it takes more care to fit because the tolerances are tighter and the hardware is heavier. A complicated door, an old rim lock, or a door that needs to be re-bored for a new deadbolt all add labor. What keeps it low? Rekeying instead of replacing. If your existing locks are sound, a rekey gets you access control for a fraction of new hardware, and that’s a core reason we offer it as a standalone service rather than an upsell.
What Affects Lock Installation & Rekey Pricing in Chicago
Chicago pricing has some local quirks you won’t see priced the same way in the suburbs or in other cities. Here’s what actually moves the number.
- Building type and door material. A steel-frame commercial door in the West Loop is a different job than a hollow-core apartment door in Uptown. Heavy steel and reinforced frames often need different hardware and more time, so expect the higher end of the range. Older greystone and brick two-flats sometimes have doors that shifted over decades, and fitting a deadbolt square to a warped strike takes patience.
- Lock grade and brand. This is the biggest single driver. Consumer lines like Kwikset and Schlage sit at the lower end. High-security brands most locksmiths don’t stock or service, like Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy, sit at the top. We’re certified across eight named brands (Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, Yale, Baldwin, Mul-T-Lock, Sargent, and Abloy), so a high-security install doesn’t become a special-order headache.
- Number of locks and cylinders. Per-lock pricing drops as the count rises. Rekeying four locks on one visit is cheaper per lock than rekeying one, because the trip and setup are shared. Landlords turning over a unit often rekey every entry and bedroom lock at once for exactly this reason.
- Chicago winters and door hardware. Cold snaps freeze moisture in older cylinders and cause sticking and key wear. We routinely see worn cylinders and failed set screws after a hard freeze in neighborhoods like Albany Park and Lincoln Square. A rekey that includes a cylinder clean-out during the cold months prevents a middle-of-the-night lockout later.
- High-rises and building access. Loop and River North high-rises often require lobby check-in, elevator keys, or after-hours coordination with building management. That coordination is part of the job and can affect scheduling and price compared to a single-family home.
- Timing. A planned weekday visit is your cheapest option. An emergency call at 2 a.m. carries an after-hours surcharge, because emergency response is built into what we do and it costs more to run than a scheduled appointment.
Rekey vs. Replace: Which Costs Less and When
For most Chicago customers, rekeying is the cost-smart answer. If your locks are solid and you just need new keys and old keys retired, a rekey saves you the cost of new hardware entirely. You’ll spend $130 to $210 rekeying a typical home versus $380 to $900 replacing every lock with comparable quality. That’s real money.
When does replacement make more sense? When the hardware is failing, when you want to upgrade to a high-security system, or when you’re moving from a builder-grade Kwikset to something like a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock cylinder after a break-in. Rekey instead of replace – save money without sacrificing security, but only when the existing lock is worth keeping. We’ll tell you straight on-site which one you’re looking at. Full details on the service are on our Lock Installation & Rekey in Chicago page.
How Much Does It Cost to Rekey a House in Chicago?
Rekeying a whole house in Chicago usually costs $130 to $210 for three to four locks, or roughly $20 to $45 per lock plus a service call if you’re only doing one. A larger home with six or more locks, or one with a mix of deadbolts and knob locks, climbs toward $250 to $320. If you’ve just moved into a place in Wicker Park or Pilsen and don’t know who else has keys, a full-house rekey is the first thing worth doing.
How to Save on Lock Installation & Rekey
There’s no secret coupon here, but there are smart ways to keep the price down without cutting corners.
- Bundle the visit. Have every lock you want rekeyed done in one trip. The per-lock cost falls once the service-call portion is shared across several locks.
- Rekey instead of replace when the hardware is sound. This is the single biggest saver. Don’t replace a working Schlage deadbolt if a rekey solves the problem.
- Buy your own hardware if you want a specific brand. We install customer-supplied locks, including smart locks, and you’ll often find better retail pricing than a shop markup. We’ll tell you what to buy for your door.
- Schedule during normal hours. A planned weekday appointment avoids the after-hours surcharge that comes with emergency calls.
- Get a free estimate first. We quote before we start, so there’s no surprise line item. Call (877) 870-5926 and describe the doors and locks; you’ll get a real range, not a bait-and-switch number.
Why Choose Valor Locksmith for the Job
Valor shows up. That’s the whole promise, and it’s the reason the name means what it does. We work across the full spectrum of hardware, from entry-level Kwikset and Yale to high-security Baldwin and Mul-T-Lock systems, and we’re certified on eight named lock brands that demand specialized training. Most locksmiths keep one or two consumer lines on the van; high-security platforms like Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Sargent are a different level of work.
Beyond locks, we handle automotive key replacement. That means if you’re locked out of your car in a garage off Milwaukee Avenue or you lost the only key to your vehicle, it’s one call for locks, keys, and rekeying rather than a chain of single-specialty shops. And because emergency locksmith response is a defined part of what we do, a lost key at the wrong hour isn’t a dead end.
We don’t work from a call center. You talk to someone who knows the hardware, and you get an upfront number. For the full scope of what we do across the city, see our home page.
FAQs – Lock Installation & Rekey Cost
How much does a locksmith charge to rekey a lock in Chicago?
A single lock rekey in Chicago runs $20 to $45 if no service call is needed, or $85 to $130 including the trip. A whole home with three to four locks typically costs $130 to $210. Call (877) 870-5926 for an exact quote – estimates are free.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks in Chicago?
Rekeying is almost always cheaper. A full-home rekey runs $130 to $210, while replacing the same locks with comparable hardware costs $380 to $900 or more. Replace only when the hardware is failing or you’re upgrading to high-security. Call (877) 870-5926 and we’ll help you decide.
How much does lock installation cost in Chicago?
Standard deadbolt installation costs $95 to $260 depending on grade, smart locks run $120 to $200 for a customer-supplied unit, and high-security installs run $260 to $520. Call (877) 870-5926 for a free estimate on your doors.
Does it cost more to install a high-security lock like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock?
Yes. High-security lock installation in Chicago costs $260 to $520, versus $95 to $160 for a builder-grade deadbolt, because the cylinders are precision hardware and the install takes more care. We’re certified on Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Sargent, so it’s handled right the first time. Call (877) 870-5926 to talk through options.
Do you charge extra for emergency or after-hours lock service?
After-hours and emergency calls carry a $60 to $150 surcharge on top of the standard job price. A planned weekday visit avoids it. If you’re locked out right now, call (877) 870-5926 and we’ll give you the number before we head out.
Pricing reflects the Chicago market as of 2026. Valor Locksmith offers free estimates – call (877) 870-5926.
What Our Customers Say
"Rekey was done properly. One of the keys he cut was slightly stiff in the back door and I had to call him to swap it, which he did without a fuss."
— Heather Walsh"Programmed a transponder key for a 2014 model that the dealership wanted an absurd amount for. Same key, fraction of the price, took him twenty minutes in my driveway."
— Allison Parker"Locked out at eleven at night with a kid asleep in the car. He was there in 25 minutes, had the door open in under two, and did not do the thing where the price goes up once he's standing in front of you."
— Wade Bennett