Rekeying a single lock usually takes a locksmith well under half an hour. A typical house with a front door, a back door, and a garage entry is often done in about an hour, keys and testing included. Businesses take longer, and how much longer depends on the number of doors, the type of hardware on them, and whether there’s a master key system involved.
So the honest answer to “how long does lock rekeying take” is: not long, unless something about the lock or the building makes it complicated. Below is what actually happens during a rekey, how residential and commercial jobs differ, and the things that tend to slow a job down once the locksmith is standing at your door.
How Long Does It Take To Rekey A Lock?
For a standard pin tumbler lock (the kind on most front doors, knobs and deadbolts), an experienced locksmith can usually rekey it in roughly 10 to 20 minutes. That covers pulling the cylinder, changing the pins, putting everything back together, and checking it with the new key.
Every key lock has small spring-loaded pins inside the cylinder. These pins are cut to lengths that match the cuts on your key. Rekeying means taking out those pins and putting in a new set that matches a different key. The lock body, deadbolt, and handle stay on the door. Only the internal combination changes, so the old keys no longer work, and the new keys take over.
Those times assume the lock is in reasonable shape and the locksmith has the right pins with them. A stiff, worn, or damaged lock takes longer. Once in a while the locksmith opens one up and finds it isn’t worth rekeying at all, which we’ll get to further down.
How Long Does Residential Lock Rekeying Take?
Most homes have two to four exterior locks. Rekeying and testing them usually takes about an hour, longer if there are extra locks, like on gates or garages.
New homeowners are one of the most common reasons people book residential lock rekeying. You have no idea how many copies of the old keys are floating around. The previous owners had some, and so might their relatives, a dog walker, or the contractor who redid the kitchen five years ago. Rekeying every exterior lock when you move in is quick, and it means the only working keys are the ones you were handed.
Lost or stolen keys are the other big one. If your keys disappeared along with something that shows your address, like a wallet or the registration in your glovebox, it’s worth rekeying the same day instead of waiting to see what happens.
A lot of people also ask to have every lock in the house work with one key. That’s usually doable, and it doesn’t add much time when the locks share the same keyway. If you have a Schlage deadbolt and a Kwikset knob, though, one key can’t run both without swapping a cylinder or replacing one of the locks. A good residential locksmith will tell you that before starting, not halfway through.
How Long Does Commercial Lock Rekeying Take?
A small office with a front and back door might take about as long as a house. A storefront with an aluminum-frame entry, a rear service door, and a few interior offices takes longer. Larger buildings can fill most of a day, and some commercial lock rekeying projects are split across several visits so the business can stay open while the work gets done.
Part of the difference is the hardware. Mortise locks, exit devices, and heavy-duty commercial cylinders take more steps to remove and reinstall than a residential deadbolt. Interchangeable cores are the exception: with the right control key, you can swap a core in seconds, which is one reason many businesses use them.
The master key system is vital for access management, granting employees keys for specific doors while giving managers keys for all doors. Referring to the keying chart during rekeying ensures compatibility and speeds up the locksmith’s work.
Employee turnover drives a lot of business lock rekeying. When someone leaves with a key, or you’ve lost track of who has one, rekeying the affected doors is usually quicker than replacing hardware across the building.
Restricted and high-security keyways can cause delays because the key blanks are closely controlled. You may need to order keys or cylinders from a specific dealer, which could extend your completion date. If your building has these keyways, it’s advisable to check on this in advance.
What Can Affect Lock Rekeying Time?
The number of locks is the obvious one. Ten doors take longer than two, although the time per lock tends to drop once the locksmith is set up and working through them.
Lock type comes next. A basic deadbolt is simple. Smart locks with a keyed backup cylinder, mortise locks, and high-security cylinders with extra pin rows or sidebars take longer to take apart and repin.
Condition can change the whole job. Years of grime, a cylinder someone tried to force, or a lock gummed up with the wrong lubricant can all slow things down. Sometimes the inside is worn enough that new pins won’t fix the problem, and the locksmith will recommend replacing the lock instead.
The existing keyway matters when you want one key for everything, since locks from different manufacturers often don’t share one. Master key systems and restricted key systems add planning, record-keeping, and sometimes special-order parts, as covered above.
Then there are repairs. If the deadbolt drags because the door has sagged, or the bolt doesn’t line up with the strike plate, it makes sense to fix that while the locksmith is already there. It adds time, but a freshly rekeyed lock on a misaligned door is still going to be a pain to use.
Rekeying Vs. Replacing Locks: Which Is Faster?
Rekeying is usually faster. The locksmith changes the pins and leaves the hardware where it is. Replacing a lock means taking the old hardware off, fitting new hardware to the door, and sometimes adjusting the door itself if the new lock doesn’t line up with the old holes.
Speed shouldn’t be the only thing you weigh, though. Rekeying makes sense when your locks work well, and you just need to cut off old keys. Replacing makes more sense when a lock is worn out, damaged, or cheaply made, or when you want something the current hardware can’t give you, such as a higher-security deadbolt, a smart lock, or commercial-grade hardware on a door that gets slammed all day. If a lock is already failing, paying to rekey it first is money you’ll end up spending twice.
If you’re not sure which way to go, our lock repair and replacement page explains the options, or a locksmith can look at the lock in person and give you a straight answer.
When Should You Rekey Your Locks?
The clearest time is right after you move into a home or take over a commercial space. After that, it comes down to who might still have a key. Lost or stolen keys, an employee who left on bad terms (or just forgot to hand theirs back), a tenant moving out, a roommate change, or a contractor who had access for months are all good reasons.
Property managers often rekey between tenants as a matter of routine, since it’s faster and less disruptive than swapping hardware on every unit. It’s also worth rekeying after a break-in if spare keys went missing, even when the lock itself wasn’t how they got in.
And sometimes the reason is simpler. You’ve handed out keys over the years and can’t say for certain who has one anymore. That’s enough.
When Should You Call A Professional Locksmith?
Some residential locks, like Kwikset’s SmartKey models, are built so homeowners can rekey them with the working key and a small tool. If that’s what’s on your door, go for it. Most other locks mean taking the cylinder apart and handling a set of tiny pins and springs. Drop one spring into the carpet, and the lock won’t work until it’s found or replaced.
Call a professional when the lock is commercial grade, part of a master key system, high security, or already giving you trouble. The same goes if you don’t have a working key, since the lock has to be opened or decoded before it can be rekeyed.
Testing is the step people skip. After rekeying, every lock should be checked with every new key, from both sides, with the door open and then closed. A deadbolt can turn smoothly with the door open and bind once the bolt has to meet the strike plate. A locksmith checks for that before leaving and makes sure the new keys are cut cleanly, because a rough key wears the pins down faster.
Professional Lock Rekeying In Santa Rosa And The North Bay
Economy Lock & Key has been working on locks and keys in Northern California since 1987. We handle residential lock rekeying for homeowners, landlords and property managers, and commercial lock rekeying for offices, storefronts and multi-door buildings, including those running on a master key system. Our mobile locksmiths come to you around Santa Rosa, Sonoma County and the wider North Bay, and our shop on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa is open if you’d rather stop in.
If you’ve just moved, lost a set of keys or had someone leave the company with a key, give Economy Lock & Key a call. Tell us roughly how many locks you have and what kind they are, and we’ll give you a realistic idea of how long the job will take before we show up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take To Rekey One Lock?
Usually about 10 to 20 minutes for a standard lock in good condition, not counting travel time for a mobile visit. Worn, commercial, or high-security locks take longer.
Is Rekeying Faster Than Replacing A Lock?
In most cases, yes, because the existing hardware stays on the door. Replacement is still the better call when a lock is worn, damaged, or not secure enough for the door it’s on.
Can All Locks In A House Be Rekeyed To One Key?
Usually, as long as the locks share the same keyway, mixed brands may need a cylinder swap or one replacement lock before a single key will work everywhere.
How Long Does Commercial Lock Rekeying Take?
A small office might take an hour or two. Larger buildings and master key systems can take a full day or more, and restricted keys may need to be ordered, which adds days.
Do I Need To Replace My Locks, Or Can They Be Rekeyed?
If your locks work smoothly and you’re happy with their security level, rekeying is normally enough. Replace them if they’re damaged, badly worn, or you want an upgrade.
Can A Locksmith Rekey A Lock If I Don’t Have The Original Key?
Yes, in most cases. The locksmith picks or decodes the lock to get the cylinder out, then rekeys it as usual. It takes a bit longer, and occasionally the lock has to be replaced instead.
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