Lock Rekeying Costs in Sydney: What You Pay For and Why

Rekeying is one of the most useful and least understood jobs a locksmith does. It gives you the same result most people want from new locks, which is that old keys stop working, without throwing away hardware that still has years of life in it. Because of that, it is usually the cheaper option.

This guide explains what rekeying actually involves, what you are paying for, what makes one rekeying job cost more than another, and when rekeying is not the right choice at all.

What rekeying actually is

Most door locks in Australian homes use a pin-tumbler cylinder. Inside the cylinder is a row of small pins of different lengths. When the right key goes in, its cuts lift each pin to exactly the right height, and the cylinder can turn. The wrong key leaves the pins at the wrong heights, and the lock stays locked.

Rekeying means taking the cylinder apart and replacing those pins with a new set that matches a new key. The lock body stays on the door. The handle, the bolt, the faceplate and the strike all stay the same. Only the inside of the cylinder changes.

The result is simple. Every old key stops working, and the new keys work. It does not matter how many copies of the old key exist or who has them.

Why rekeying usually costs less than replacing

The price difference comes down to what you are buying.

When you replace a lock, you pay for a whole new lock, plus the labour to remove the old one and fit the new one. If the new lock is a different size or shape, there may be extra work on the door.

When you rekey, you pay for labour and a small set of pins and keys. There is no new lock body, no new faceplate, and usually no work on the door itself.

For a house with three or four good locks, that difference adds up. It is why rekeying is the standard advice for people who have just moved in, provided the locks are in decent condition.

What affects the cost of rekeying

Not every rekeying job costs the same. These are the main factors.

The number of locks

This is the biggest one. Each lock has to be removed, opened, re-pinned and refitted. A unit with one entry door is a quick job. A terrace with a front door, back door, side gate and garage takes longer.

The type of cylinder

Standard residential cylinders are straightforward. Some locks are more involved:

• Mortice locks, common on older terrace doors, have their cylinder set inside the door and can take longer to remove.
• Deadlocks with two cylinders, one inside and one outside, mean two cylinders to rekey.
• High-security and restricted cylinders may need parts from a specific supplier, or may need to be rekeyed by the business that holds the key system.

Keying alike

If you ask for all your locks to work on one key, the locksmith has to set every cylinder to the same combination. It is usually little extra effort at the same visit, and it makes life much simpler. Many people find this is the best value part of the whole job.

Master key systems

For a building, office or landlord with several properties, a master key system lets one key open everything while other keys open only certain doors. Planning and pinning a master system is more work than a simple rekey, and costs more, but it saves money every time a tenant or staff member changes. Our security locksmith page explains how these systems work.

The condition of the lock

A cylinder full of grit, or with worn parts, may need cleaning or extra parts before it can be rekeyed reliably. If a lock is too worn to be worth rekeying, a good locksmith will tell you before starting.

Access and timing

As with any job, an apartment in a secure building or a request outside normal hours can add time.

When rekeying is the right choice

Rekeying makes the most sense in these situations.

After moving in

You have no way of knowing how many copies of the old keys are out there. Previous owners, tenants, their friends, cleaners and tradespeople may all have had one. Rekeying settles the question in one visit.

After losing keys

If your keys are lost, especially with anything showing your address, rekeying means whoever finds them cannot use them.

Between tenants

Landlords and property managers rekey between tenancies so the outgoing tenant's keys no longer work. In NSW, landlords and tenants should both receive keys, and lock changes generally need both parties' agreement. Our guide to landlord and tenant lock rules in NSW covers this in more detail.

After a relationship or housemate change

If someone who used to live with you still has a key, rekeying is a quiet, simple fix.

After a staff change

Businesses rekey when staff leave and keys cannot be accounted for.

When rekeying is not the right choice

Rekeying is not always the answer. It is better to replace the lock when:

• The lock is worn out. If the bolt sticks, the mechanism is loose or the cylinder is badly worn, new pins will not fix the underlying problem.
• The lock was damaged in a break-in. A forced lock may be weakened even if it still turns.
• The lock is poor quality. Some very cheap locks offer little real security. Rekeying them gives you new keys for a weak lock.
• The lock cannot be rekeyed. Some sealed or very cheap cylinders are not designed to be opened.
• You want a better level of security. If you want a stronger deadlock or a restricted key system, replacement is the way to get it.

In those cases, see our lock replacement page. The right locksmith will explain the choice honestly rather than defaulting to the more expensive option.

How a rekeying visit works

A typical rekeying visit goes like this.

1. You tell us how many locks and what type. A quick photo of your keys and the lock faces is very helpful.
2. We check each lock on site. Any lock close to failing is flagged before we start.
3. Each cylinder is removed and re-pinned to a new key.
4. The cylinder is refitted and the lock is checked.
5. Every new key is tested in every lock, from both sides where relevant.
6. Old keys are confirmed as no longer working.

You end up with new keys and the confidence that nobody else has a working copy.

Questions to ask before booking

A few questions will help you get an accurate price and avoid surprises.

• Is the price per lock or for the whole job?
• Does the price include the new keys, and how many?
• Is keying alike included, or extra?
• What happens if one of the locks turns out to be too worn to rekey?
• Are there any after-hours charges for the time I want?

A genuine locksmith will be happy to answer all of these on the phone.

Can I rekey my own locks?

Rekeying kits exist, but rekeying is fiddly, precise work. Lose a single spring or drop a pin and the lock can jam or stop working. Getting the pin heights wrong can leave a lock that only works some of the time, which is often worse than one that does not work at all. For most people, having a locksmith do it is quicker, safer and not much more expensive than buying the tools.

How rekeying fits into a bigger security plan

Rekeying fixes the key problem, but it is worth spending five minutes thinking about the rest of the door while a locksmith is already there. A few checks cost little at the same visit and can save a second call-out later.

The strike plate and frame

The most common way a door is forced is not through the lock, but through the frame. If the strike plate is held on with short screws into thin trim, a hard kick can split the timber and the door swings open with the lock still locked. Longer screws into solid frame timber, or a reinforced strike, make a real difference for very little cost.

The door alignment

If you have noticed the door needs a push or a lift to lock, mention it. In older Surry Hills and Redfern terraces, doors drop over time. A lock that has just been rekeyed will still drag if the door is out of line, and that wear shortens its life.

Window and sliding door locks

New keys on the front door do not help much if the courtyard slider has no lock at all. If you are rekeying after moving in, it is a good moment to check windows and sliders too. Keyed window locks are inexpensive and can usually be set to work on the same key.

Spare keys and who holds them

Rekeying gives you a clean start. Keep a short note of who has each copy of the new key: you, your partner, a trusted neighbour, perhaps a cleaner. If a key ever goes missing, you will know exactly whose it was and whether rekeying again is needed.

Rekeying for landlords and property managers

Landlords and agents often rekey between every tenancy. If you manage several properties, a few habits keep the cost down over time.

• Use the same quality of lock across your properties, so cylinders can be rekeyed quickly and parts are always on hand.
• Ask about a master key system, so one key opens every property you manage while each tenant's key opens only their own door.
• Book rekeying for the day the old tenant leaves, so the property is never empty with old keys still out there.
• Keep a key register, recording which keys were issued to which tenant and when.

Each of these turns a series of one-off call-outs into a simple routine, and that is usually where the real savings are.

Rekeying in Surry Hills and nearby

We rekey homes, apartments and businesses across Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Redfern, Paddington, Woolloomooloo and Moore Park. Rentals turn over often in this part of Sydney, so rekeying after moving in is one of the jobs we do most.

We will check your locks first, recommend rekeying only if it makes sense, and agree the price with you before we start.

The bottom line

Rekeying costs less than replacement because you keep the lock and only change what is inside the cylinder. The price depends mainly on the number of locks, their type and whether you want them keyed alike. It is the right choice when your locks are in good condition and you simply need control over who has keys.

To book rekeying or ask a question, call Surry Hills Locksmith Service on 02 3820 5414, open 7 days, 7:00am to 12:00am, or request a quote and we will call you back.