Lock Change & Deadbolt Installation in San Diego

New deadbolts, knobs, levers and handlesets, installed straight, latching clean and keyed the way you want. Fresh installs on doors that never had a deadbolt, too.

Call (619) 304-9446 Get a quote Open 24/7 for emergencies Based in Ocean Beach

Quick answer

Action Locksmith San Diego replaces and installs residential locks anywhere in the city of San Diego: Grade 1 and Grade 2 deadbolts, knobs, levers, handlesets, sliding door and gate locks, including fresh bores on doors that have no deadbolt. We carry standard and coastal-rated hardware on the van, or install hardware you've bought, and we quote before we start. See typical installation prices or call (619) 304-9446.

Typical price: $150 to $275 (new deadbolt installed, including standard hardware). See all prices or get a quote.

Part of our residential locksmith services. Mobile across the city of San Diego from Ocean Beach.

Locksmith installing a new deadbolt on a wood front door in San Diego — A fresh deadbolt bore with a reinforced strike plate. This is where security actually comes from.

Lock installation services

Deadbolt installation

Replacement of an existing deadbolt, or a fresh bore on a door that never had one. Wood, metal and fiberglass doors.

Knob and lever replacement

Worn, loose or corroded entry sets swapped for new hardware, keyed to your existing key if you like.

Handlesets

Full front-door handlesets with matching deadbolts, aligned so the latch and bolt both throw cleanly.

Reinforced strike plates

A heavy strike plate with 3-inch screws into the framing is the cheapest upgrade that actually stops a kick. We add it on every deadbolt install.

Coastal-rated hardware

Stainless and solid-brass options for homes near the water where plated locks corrode in a couple of years.

Sliding and patio door locks

Replacement latches, secondary locks and security bars for the weakest door on most San Diego homes.

Gate, garage and side-door locks

Keyed locks and deadbolts for side gates, garage service doors and storage rooms.

Customer-supplied hardware

Bought a lock already? We'll install it, and we'll be honest if it's not worth putting on the door.

When to replace instead of [[rekeying|rekey]]

The lock is worn, sticks, or the key barely turns and cleaning didn't fix it.
Salt air has corroded the finish and the cylinder. Common within a few blocks of the beach.
The door has a keyed knob only and no deadbolt. Knobs alone are easy to defeat.
After a break-in or attempted break-in, even if the lock still works.
You want a real security upgrade: Grade 1 hardware, a high-security cylinder, or a smart lock.
The HOA or a home sale requires matching hardware in a specific finish.

Grade 1, Grade 2 or builder grade?

Residential locks are rated by ANSI/BHMA. Grade 3 is builder grade, the hardware most tract homes come with, and it's the minimum. Grade 2 is a solid mid-range for most homes. Grade 1 is commercial-strength and what we recommend for a front door, a garage side door, or anywhere you've had a problem before. The price difference between Grade 3 and Grade 1 on a single deadbolt is small compared to what it protects.

The lock is only half the story. Most forced entries defeat the door frame, not the lock, which is why we install a reinforced strike plate with long screws on every deadbolt. Ask about it if you're only having a knob replaced.

How an installation works

1
Tell us the door and the goal
Wood or metal, existing deadbolt or none, keyed alike or separate, and any finish you need to match. We quote hardware and labor on the phone.
2
We install and align
New bores are cut with a template, strikes are mortised so the bolt throws fully, and the door is checked for sag or rub.
3
Keyed and tested
New locks are keyed to match your other doors if you want, and you test each one before we leave.

Hardware that survives San Diego

The same lock does not belong on every door in this city. A cottage on Sunset Cliffs needs corrosion-resistant hardware; a bungalow in North Park or Kensington wants a finish that suits a 1920s door; a newer home in Carmel Valley probably has a multipoint patio door that needs its own parts. We work across all of it every week and stock the van accordingly. If you're not sure what you need, describe the door and we'll steer you right.

Lock Change & Deadbolt Installation across San Diego

Available in every neighborhood in the city of San Diego. Areas where we do this job most:

All San Diego service areas

Related services

Lock Rekeying

New keys for the locks you already have. Old keys stop working, every door can share one key.

Typically $120 to $250 Rekeying details

Smart Lock Installation

Keypad and app-controlled locks for homes, ADUs and vacation rentals, installed and programmed.

Typically $100 to $200 Smart Locks details

House Lockout Service

Locked out of your house, condo or apartment? Damage-free entry, day or night, plus a spare key before we leave.

Typically $75 to $175 House Lockout details

All residential locksmith services · Locksmith prices · Property managers & rentals

Lock Change questions

Can you add a deadbolt to a door that doesn't have one?

Yes. We bore the door and mortise the frame with a template, and it takes under an hour. This is the single biggest security upgrade for a door with only a knob lock.

Should I buy the lock myself or have you supply it?

Either works. We carry quality hardware on the van at fair prices and can match finishes. If you've already bought one, we'll install it, and we'll be honest if it's a lock we wouldn't put on our own door.