You just got the keys to a new place in Denver, and the question on day one is simple: who else has a copy? Rekeying answers it for a lot less than swapping every lock. Here is the real cost and when it makes sense.
A full house rekey usually runs $150 to $300 for four to six cylinders. That breaks down to roughly $20 to $40 per cylinder plus the service call to get a locksmith out to you. A rekey or lock change is one of the cheaper jobs a locksmith does, which is exactly why it is the first thing we recommend to new homeowners across the metro.
The number moves with two things: how many cylinders you have and how old they are. A modern home with four matching deadbolts is quick. A historic property in Denver with original mortise locks takes longer because that hardware comes apart differently and reassembles by hand. Count your exterior locks, add any interior doors you want keyed, and that gives you the cylinder total that sets the range.
| Job | Usual range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Per cylinder rekey | $20 to $40 | Plus a service call. |
| Full house rekey (4 to 6 cylinders) | $150 to $300 | Most common move-in job. |
| Deadbolt replacement | $100 to $250 | Hardware included, per door. |
| Smart lock install | $150 to $350 | Per door, hardware extra if not supplied. |
| Keyed-alike setup | Included in rekey | One key for compatible cylinders. |
Rekey when the lock works and you just need old keys to stop working, which covers the large majority of moves. Replace when the hardware is damaged, badly worn, the wrong grade, or you want to upgrade. The mistake we see most is people paying to swap perfectly good locks when a rekey would have killed every old key for a fraction of the price.
You moved into a home and have no idea who holds copies of the keys. A roommate or tenant left. You lost a key and want the old one disabled. In all of these, the lock body is fine, you just need the pins changed so the old key no longer turns. Rekeying does exactly that, usually in a single visit for $150 to $300 across the house.
The lock sticks, grinds, or shows real wear. The deadbolt is a thin builder-grade unit that flexes in the door. You want to step up to a Grade 1 deadbolt, add a smart lock, or match all the hardware to one finish. In those cases the rekey alone leaves you with the same weak lock, so replacing is the better spend.
Most homes can be keyed alike, meaning one key opens every exterior door. As long as the cylinders share the same keyway, which most residential hardware does, a locksmith pins them to a single new key during the rekey. No extra trip, no extra hardware, just fewer keys on your ring. We confirm which locks are compatible before starting so the result is exactly what you expect.
For larger needs, master-keying adds a layer: a master key opens everything while individual keys open only certain doors. That is common for landlords managing rental turnover, which we see constantly along the older corridors in Aurora. A property manager keeps the master, each unit gets its own key, and turnover means a quick rekey of one unit instead of the whole building.
The previous owner’s keys are the real risk, and you cannot account for every copy ever made. Contractors, cleaners, neighbors, the listing agent, a previous tenant. Any of them could still hold a working key, and you will never know. A rekey on day one closes that gap for $150 to $300, which is cheap insurance against the one variable a new homeowner cannot control.
In our experience, the move-in rekey is the most-skipped basic security step in the metro, especially in fast-turnover suburbs like Lakewood and Arvada where homes change hands often. Pair it with a quick look at your deadbolts while the locksmith is already on site. If the strike plates use short screws or the deadbolts feel flimsy, upgrading them in the same visit saves a second service call. See the FAQ page for what we check on a move-in visit.
A full house rekey of four to six cylinders usually runs $150 to $300, which works out to roughly $20 to $40 per cylinder plus a service call. That is far cheaper than replacing every lock. The age and type of your hardware moves the number: older mortise locks in historic homes take longer than modern deadbolts.
Rekey if the existing locks are sound and you just want fresh keys, which covers most moves. A rekey changes the pins inside so old keys stop working, usually for $150 to $300 across the house. Replace only when a lock is damaged, badly worn, or you want to upgrade the grade or add a smart lock at the same time.
Usually yes. As long as the locks share the same keyway, which most home hardware does, a locksmith can rekey them to one key so a single key opens every door. Mismatched brands or a high-security cylinder may need its own key. We confirm what can be keyed alike before we start so there are no surprises.
Most homes are done in one visit, usually 30 to 60 minutes for four to six standard cylinders. Older mortise hardware in a Capitol Hill or Five Points home takes longer because the locks come apart differently. We carry common pinning kits on the truck, so a same-visit rekey is the normal outcome, not a second trip.
For most homes, yes. Rekeying kills every old key, which is the real risk when you do not know who the previous owner handed copies to. If your deadbolts are builder-grade or worn, pairing the rekey with a Grade 1 or Grade 2 deadbolt upgrade is worth it. We will tell you honestly which doors need more than a rekey.
Most homes rekeyed in one visit, keyed alike if you want. Insured, local crew, full total quoted before we start. Day, night, or weekend across the Front Range.
Last updated: May 28, 2026.
