How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? What You Should and Should Not Pay For
There is no fixed or regulated price for a locksmith in the UK. How much does a locksmith cost, then? It depends on the time of day, how the door is opened, the parts fitted and the grade of lock. As a rough guide, UK price comparison sites currently put a standard lock change at about £80 to £150 and an emergency lockout at about £100 to £250. The single most useful thing you can do is agree the price, or exactly how it will be worked out, before any work starts.
How much does a locksmith cost in the UK?
Locksmithing is not regulated by the government in the UK, and the Master Locksmiths Association points out that anyone can trade as a locksmith. Prices are set by each business, which is why published figures vary so widely. The ranges below come from two price comparison sites, MyJobQuote and MyBuilder. Treat them as a sense check, not a price list.
| Job | Typical UK range | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Lockout, no damage to the lock | £100 to £160 | MyJobQuote (Sep 2026) |
| Lockout where the lock has to be drilled or replaced | £180 to £300 or more | MyJobQuote (Sep 2026) |
| Emergency lockout, total | £150 to £250 | MyBuilder (Aug 2026) |
| Broken key removed from a lock | £110 to £200 | MyJobQuote (Sep 2026) |
| Lock fitted or changed, including parts | £80 to £150 | MyBuilder (Aug 2026) |
| Hourly labour rate | £45 to £65 | MyBuilder (Aug 2026) |
| Out-of-hours surcharge | £50 to £100 extra | MyJobQuote (Sep 2026) |
Neither guide is specific to Essex, and neither lists every type of lock. A quote that sits well outside these ranges is not automatically wrong, but you should ask why.
What makes a locksmith bill go up or down?
- Time of day. Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays usually cost more. The Master Locksmiths Association gives example emergency labour rates that rise in steps after 6pm, after 8pm and after midnight.
- How the door is opened. Non-destructive entry, such as picking or bypassing the lock, leaves the lock working. Drilling means a new lock has to be fitted, which is why MyJobQuote puts a lockout with drilling or replacement at £180 to £300 or more, against £100 to £160 without damage.
- Parts and lock grade. A high-security cylinder, such as a TS 007 3-star or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond cylinder, costs more than a basic one. Yell’s 2024 price guide put an anti-snap uPVC lock at about £150 on average, against about £125 for a standard one. If your insurer asks for a particular standard, check which locks your home insurance actually requires before you agree to a cheaper part.
- The door itself. Multipoint locks on uPVC and composite doors cost more to repair. MyJobQuote puts an emergency uPVC lock repair at £150 to £300 or more.
- Travel and minimum charges. Some locksmiths charge a call-out fee, some charge a minimum first hour, and some charge neither. The Master Locksmiths Association warns that a fixed first-hour fee is usually charged in full even if the job takes ten minutes.
Questions to ask before the locksmith sets off
A good locksmith will answer these on the phone without fuss. Write the answers down, or ask for them by text.
- Is there a call-out fee or a minimum charge, and what does it cover?
- What is the labour rate at this time of day, and is it charged by the hour or in smaller blocks?
- Is the price a fixed quote or an estimate?
- Will you try non-destructive entry first?
- If a new lock is needed, what will it cost, and what standard is it made to?
- Does the price include VAT? If VAT is added, ask for the VAT number. You can check it with HMRC’s VAT number checker on GOV.UK.
- How can I pay?
A photo of the lock and door sent before the visit helps the locksmith give a firmer price.
Red flags and fair practice
| Red flag | Fair practice |
|---|---|
| An unusually low price on the phone that rises sharply on arrival | A clear figure, or a clear way of working it out, given before the locksmith sets off |
| “It’s complicated” used to justify a much bigger bill, with no explanation | Any change of price explained and agreed with you before the extra work starts |
| Going straight to drilling a lock that could be picked or bypassed | Non-destructive entry tried first, with drilling as a last resort |
| Pressure to pay cash, or to pay before you have seen the door working | A choice of payment methods and a written invoice or receipt |
| Every lock in the house “needs replacing” while they are there | The urgent job done first, with any upgrades offered separately and priced |
| A charge for declining the work that you were not told about | Any call-out or minimum charge stated before the visit |
These signs match the warnings in Which?’s guide to locksmith scams. Which? also notes that money paid in cash is hard to recover, while card payments can give you a route to a refund. For more on choosing someone reliable, see how to spot a trustworthy locksmith and avoid rip-offs.
Your rights when a locksmith comes to your home
This section is general information about consumer law in England, not legal advice. How it applies depends on how and where you agreed the job.
Can you cancel an emergency call-out?
Usually not under the 14-day cooling-off rules. The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 remove the right to cancel where you specifically asked a trader to visit your home to carry out urgent repairs or maintenance (regulation 28(1)(e)). The regulations do not say whether opening a locked door counts as a repair, so treat this as likely rather than certain.
The exception only covers the urgent job. If the locksmith supplies extra services you did not ask for, or goods other than the replacement parts needed for the repair, the normal cancellation rights can apply to those extras (regulation 28(2)). That is one more reason to keep upgrades separate from the emergency.
What must you be told about the price?
If you agree the job face to face at your door, the law usually treats it as an off-premises contract. Before you are bound, the trader must give you key information on paper, or another durable form if you agree, including the total price with taxes, or how the price will be calculated if it cannot be worked out in advance (regulation 10 and Schedule 2). If the trader does not tell you about extra charges, you do not have to pay them (regulation 10(4)). These information rules do not apply to off-premises contracts where you pay £42 or less (regulation 7(4)). If you agree everything by phone, similar rules for distance contracts apply (regulation 13).
What if no price was agreed, or the work is poor?
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you three useful rights for services:
- The work must be done with reasonable care and skill (section 49).
- What the locksmith tells you about the price or the service, and you rely on, becomes part of the contract (section 50).
- If no price was agreed, you only have to pay a reasonable price (section 51).
If the work falls short, you can ask for it to be put right and, if that fails, ask for a price reduction (sections 55 and 56). Citizens Advice explains that a quote is a promise to do the work at an agreed price, so a trader cannot charge more without a good reason, while an estimate is a best guess and the final bill must be reasonable. If you are charged more than you agreed, say so in writing and contact the Citizens Advice consumer service, which can pass the case to Trading Standards.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a key cut?
MyBuilder puts duplicate key cutting at about £5 to £20 per key.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace a lock?
Rekeying can cost less than replacement if the lock itself is in good condition, according to Yell’s locksmith price guide. Ask for both prices if both are possible.
Will my home insurance pay for a locksmith?
It depends on your policy. Check your policy wording, or call your insurer, before you book a locksmith, so you know whether you are covered and whether the insurer has its own process to follow.
Need a locksmith in Clacton, Colchester or Tendring?
Parade Locks does not charge a call-out fee, and Parade Locks takes emergency call-outs 24 hours a day across Clacton, Colchester and the surrounding Tendring and north Essex area. Pensioners get 10% off, and NHS staff who are Unite members can ask about a discount. Call 07889 977737 and ask us the questions above before you book, or send us a message. You can also read more about our emergency locksmith service in Essex.
