The single question we get asked most often by homeowners is some version of: “Do I need to change my locks, or can I just rekey them?”

The answer almost always saves customers money — but only if you ask the right way. Here’s the framework we use, the same one our techs walk through with you on the phone before we dispatch.

The short version

Rekey when your existing locks are good quality and you simply need to invalidate any old keys. Cost: $25–$45 per lock. Most homes done in 30–60 minutes.
Change locks when the existing hardware is damaged, low-grade, or you specifically want to upgrade to better security. Cost: $150–$300 per lock with hardware included.

Most of the time, rekey is the right answer. Lock companies and big-box stores benefit from people defaulting to “I need new locks” — because they sell new locks. We don’t.

What does “rekey” actually mean?

Rekeying changes the internal pins of your existing lock cylinder so the lock now operates on a new, different key. Old keys — every copy that ever existed — stop working. The lock body, the deadbolt, the strike plate, the door — all stay the same. Only the pins inside the cylinder change.

A skilled locksmith can rekey most pin-tumbler locks in 5–15 minutes per lock. We do it on-site, no need to remove the door or send anything to a shop.

What does “lock change” mean?

A lock change replaces the entire lockset — the cylinder, the bolt, the latch, the trim, sometimes the strike plate. New keys come with the new lock. The old lock is removed and discarded (or kept for parts). This is the option to choose when:

The existing lock is mechanically damaged
The lock is low-grade hardware you want to upgrade
You’re changing the lock style (e.g., adding a smart lock, switching to a different brand)
The cylinder isn’t compatible with rekeying

When to choose rekey

These are the scenarios where rekeying is almost always the right call:

1. You just moved into a new home

You don’t know who has copies of your keys. The previous owner. Their cleaning service. The realtor’s lockbox. The dog walker. The handyman from 2019. Rekeying invalidates every single one of those copies for $25–$45 per lock instead of $150–$300 per lock. First-day-of-move-in rekey is the highest-ROI security move a homeowner can make.

2. Lost or unaccounted-for keys

You handed a copy to your last contractor and never got it back. You think you dropped your spare somewhere downtown. Your kid lost their key on a school trip. If you can’t account for every copy of your key, rekey is fast, cheap, and just as secure as a full lock change.

3. Family or roommate change

Divorce, separation, departing roommate, ex-employee with a key, old nanny who no longer works for you. Anyone who had legitimate access — and shouldn’t anymore — is a reason to rekey.

4. Post-break-in (when locks weren’t damaged)

If a break-in happened through a window or unlocked door but the locks themselves are fine, rekey is sufficient. This is often the case when burglars enter through unlocked sliding doors or basement windows.

5. You want one key for multiple locks

If you have several different keys for different doors and want to consolidate to a single key, rekeying lets us match all your locks to one key. Cheaper and simpler than buying matching new locks.

When to choose lock change

Some scenarios make a full lock change the better choice:

1. The lock itself is damaged

Forced entry attempts, vandalism, key broken off in the cylinder, worn-out internal mechanisms — once the hardware is compromised, rekeying just puts new pins in a broken lock. Replace it.

2. You have low-grade hardware

The big-box-store $15 deadbolts that came with your house are not security hardware. If you’re on a budget, rekeying them at least invalidates old keys — but if you can spend the $250–$500 per lock for a real high-security deadbolt (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Schlage Primus), this is the upgrade moment.

3. You want a smart lock

You can’t rekey a mechanical lock into a smart lock. If you want Wi-Fi, keypad, Bluetooth, app-based access, or proximity unlock, you’re changing locks. (We install all the major brands — August, Yale, Schlage Encode, Kwikset Halo, Level, Ultraloq.)

4. The lock is incompatible with rekeying

Some older or proprietary lock cylinders can’t be rekeyed because the pin chambers are damaged, the cylinder is sealed, or rekey pin kits don’t exist for that model. If we open the lock and find this is the case, we’ll tell you on-site before doing the work.

5. You’re upgrading after a real security incident

If someone broke in and you want a serious security upgrade — not just invalidating old keys — change to high-security hardware (drill-resistant deadbolts, reinforced strike plates, anti-pry hardware). This is more expensive but appropriate after a real threat.

Decision table

Situation	Best choice	Why
Just moved in	Rekey	Cheapest way to invalidate every old key
Lost a key	Rekey	Same as above — fast and cheap
Family change	Rekey	Same logic
Post-break-in (locks fine)	Rekey	Hardware is OK; just need to invalidate keys
Hardware is damaged	Lock change	Can’t rekey a broken lock
Have $15 hardware-store locks	Lock change	Worth the upgrade to real security hardware
Want a smart lock	Lock change	Can’t rekey into a smart lock
Want one key across many doors	Rekey	We match all locks to one key during rekey
Lock cylinder is sealed / incompatible	Lock change	No choice

What we do when you call us

When you call American Best Locksmith and ask whether to rekey or change, we walk through:

What hardware do you currently have? (Brand, age, condition)
Why are you calling? (Move-in, lost key, family change, break-in, upgrade)
What’s your security goal? (Just invalidate old keys? Upgrade to better hardware? Smart lock?)
What’s your budget range?

Based on those four answers, we recommend rekey or lock change with an exact price quote — before we dispatch a technician. No “$29 service call” that becomes a $400 bill once the tech is at your door.

Bottom line

Most homeowners default to “I need new locks” because that’s the most familiar option. But for the most common reasons people call a locksmith — move-in, lost keys, family changes, post-break-in cleanup — rekeying is faster, cheaper, and just as secure as a full lock change. We tell our customers to default to rekey unless one of the lock-change scenarios above applies.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Texas — same advice in every market we serve. Family-owned since 2007.

Rekey vs Lock Change: Which Should You Choose?