Locksmith Prices in San Diego | Action Locksmith San Diego

By Mark Hanna, owner and lead locksmith CA LCO License #7199 Updated September 4, 2026

Quick answer

In San Diego, a standard house or car lockout typically runs $65 to $175, a whole-house rekey $120 to $250, a new deadbolt installed $150 to $275, and a replacement car key $150 to $450 depending on the vehicle. Commercial work like master key systems and panic bars starts in the low hundreds. Action Locksmith San Diego quotes the full price on the phone before dispatch, including the service call, with no add-ons when the van arrives. Call (619) 304-9446.

A locksmith price has three parts: the service call (getting a licensed locksmith and a stocked van to you), the labor for the job, and any hardware or keys. We roll all three into one number on the phone. What you should be suspicious of is any locksmith who quotes only the first part.

The ranges below are typical for San Diego and are a guide, not a quote. The actual price depends on the lock, the vehicle, the time of day and what we find at the door, and we'll tell you exactly what it is before we come out.

Ranges below are typical for San Diego and are a guide, not a quote. Call (619) 304-9446 for your exact price, or request a quote for scheduled work.

Residential locksmith prices

Job	Typical range	Notes
House lockout	$75 – $175	Daytime. Evenings, nights and holidays are higher; we tell you the amount on the phone.
Rekey, per lock	$20 – $35	Plus the service call. Keyed alike included when locks are compatible.
Whole-house rekey (2 to 4 doors)	$120 – $250	Most common residential job. Includes new keys.
Lock replacement, labor per lock	$75 – $150	Plus hardware, which we supply or you provide.
New deadbolt installed (fresh bore)	$150 – $275	Includes a standard-grade deadbolt and reinforced strike. Grade 1 or high-security cylinders add to it.
Smart lock installation, labor	$100 – $200	Plus the lock, typically $150 to $350 depending on model.
Lock repair	$75 – $150	Sticking, loose or misaligned locks and strikes.
Broken key extraction	$65 – $150	Includes a replacement key cut on site.

Automotive locksmith prices

Job	Typical range	Notes
Car lockout	$65 – $150	Daytime. Includes trunk lockouts.
Duplicate car key (transponder)	$60 – $200	While you still have a working key. Far cheaper than all-keys-lost.
All keys lost, standard transponder key	$150 – $350	Key generated from the vehicle and programmed on site.
Key fob / smart key replacement	$175 – $450	Push-to-start and keyless-entry vehicles. Some European and luxury models are dealer-only.
Ignition repair or replacement	$150 – $400	Re-keyed to your existing key where possible.
Broken key extraction (door or ignition)	$75 – $175	Plus a replacement key if needed.

Commercial locksmith prices

Job	Typical range	Notes
Business lockout	$95 – $225	Storefront, office and restaurant doors.
Commercial rekey, per cylinder	$25 – $45	Plus the service call. Restricted keyways priced separately.
Commercial lock installation, labor	$100 – $225	Plus Grade 1 or Grade 2 hardware.
Master key system, small office	$300 – $900	Built from existing locks where possible. Larger properties quoted after a survey.
Panic bar installed	$350 – $800	Includes a standard rim exit device. Alarmed, fire-rated and vertical rod devices cost more.
Storefront door lock repair	$125 – $300	Deadlatches, hook bolts, pivots and closers on aluminum glass doors.

Service call and after-hours

Job	Typical range	Notes
Service call (mobile trip)	$45 – $95	Built into every quote above. You never pay it as a surprise line item.
After-hours emergency surcharge	$50 – $100	Nights, weekends and holidays for lockouts. Stated on the phone before you decide.

What changes the price

Time of day. Daytime scheduled work is the cheapest. Emergency lockouts at 2 a.m. cost more, and we say so before you decide.
The lock. A builder-grade knob and a high-security deadbolt are different jobs. High-security and restricted keyways cost more to service and to key.
The vehicle. A 2008 sedan and a 2024 push-to-start SUV need different keys and different programming.
How many doors, locks or keys. Per-lock pricing gets cheaper per unit as the count goes up.
Hardware. Coastal-rated, Grade 1 and smart hardware costs more than builder grade, and lasts a lot longer within a few blocks of the water in Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Mission Beach and La Jolla.
What we find. A lock that also needs a strike realigned, or a door that's sagging, is extra work. We tell you before doing it.

The $15 locksmith

You'll see ads for a $15 or $29 locksmith. That's the service call, quoted by a national call center, and it's followed by a technician in an unmarked car who drills your lock and hands you a bill of $300 or more. It's the most common locksmith complaint in every city, and San Diego is no exception; the same ads find renters in Pacific Beach and Hillcrest apartments at 2 a.m. and drivers in the Fashion Valley garage.

The defense is simple: get the total price on the phone, ask for the California license number, and expect an ID check at the door. Our license is at the bottom of every page and our price is the one we quoted. More on our emergency locksmith page.

Get an exact price

Pick the service and we'll tell you what it costs for your lock, door or car.

Residential Locksmith

Home lockouts, rekeying, deadbolts, smart locks and lock repair for houses, condos and rentals.

Residential details

Commercial Locksmith

Storefronts, offices, restaurants and property managers. Master keys, panic bars, rekeys and keypad entry.

Commercial details

Automotive Locksmith

Car lockouts, replacement keys, transponder and key fob programming, ignition repair, wherever your car is parked.

Automotive details

Emergency Locksmith

Locked out of your home, business or car? Fast mobile response anywhere in San Diego, day or night.

Emergency details

Priced jobs

Locksmith pricing questions

Why can't you give an exact price online?

Because the price depends on the specific lock, vehicle or door, and on the time of day. What we can do is give you the exact price on the phone in about a minute, and that price doesn't change when we arrive.

Do you charge a service call fee?

The service call is built into the quote you get on the phone. It isn't added on top when the van shows up.

Is it more expensive at night?

Emergency lockouts outside regular hours are priced higher than scheduled daytime work, and you hear the amount before you decide. Installations and commercial work are scheduled during the day.

Is a rekey cheaper than new locks?

Almost always. Rekeying reuses your locks and only changes the pins and keys. New locks cost labor plus hardware. See rekeying versus lock replacement.