How to Rekey Your Locks: What It Means, What It Costs, and When You Need It

Rekeying is one of the most misunderstood locksmith services. Most people think “changing locks” is their only option when they want new keys. But rekeying is faster, cheaper, and just as secure. Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is Rekeying?

Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration of your existing lock so that old keys no longer work and a new key does. The lock stays on the door. The hardware doesn’t change. Only the pins inside the cylinder get rearranged.

Think of it this way: your lock is a puzzle, and your key is the solution. Rekeying changes the puzzle so only a new solution (new key) works. The old solution (old key) becomes useless.

How Rekeying Works

Here’s what happens when a locksmith rekeys your lock:

Remove the lock cylinder. The technician takes out the cylinder (the part your key slides into) from the lock body. This takes about 30 seconds.
Disassemble the cylinder. The cylinder contains a series of spring-loaded pins at different heights. These pins are what make your specific key work.
Replace the pins. The technician swaps out the existing pins for a new set that matches a different key. The new pins are selected from a standard kit.
Reassemble and test. The cylinder goes back in, and the technician tests the new key to confirm everything works smoothly.

The whole process takes 10 to 20 minutes per lock. If you’re rekeying your entire house (5 to 6 locks), a skilled locksmith can do it in about an hour.

When Should You Rekey?

You Just Moved Into a New Home

This is the number one reason people rekey. When you buy a house, you have no idea how many copies of the key exist. The previous owner, their family, their dog walker, their cleaning service, their contractor, their real estate agent: any of those people might still have a key.

Rekeying the day you move in costs a fraction of what a break-in costs. It’s one of the cheapest security upgrades you can make.

You Lost Your Keys

If you lost a key and it had any identifying information (like your address on a keychain tag), rekey immediately. Even without an address, a lost key is a security gap.

After a Breakup or Roommate Change

When someone who had key access no longer lives with you, rekeying removes their access without an awkward conversation about returning keys. Even if they return the key, you don’t know if they made copies.

After a Break-In

If someone broke into your home, rekey everything, even locks that weren’t compromised. A break-in means someone has been inside your home and could have accessed spare keys, garage door openers, or copied keys from a hook by the door.

You Want One Key for All Your Locks

Most homes accumulate different locks over the years, each with its own key. Rekeying lets you set all locks to match a single key. One key for the front door, back door, garage entry, and side gate. This is called “keying alike” and it’s a common request.

What Does Rekeying Cost?

In the Salt Lake City area, expect to pay:

Service	Typical Cost
Single lock rekey	$50 to $100
Per lock (when rekeying multiple)	$25 to $50
Whole house (5-6 locks)	$200 to $350
Keying all locks alike (same key)	Same as above, no extra charge
High-security lock rekey	$75 to $150 per lock

At GoKey Locksmiths, we quote a specific price before starting. No hourly rates, no surprise charges.

Can You Rekey Locks Yourself?

Technically, yes. Kwikset sells a “SmartKey” system that lets homeowners rekey without removing the lock. You insert the current key, use a special tool (included with the lock), then insert the new key. Done.

But there are limitations:

Only works with SmartKey-compatible Kwikset locks. If you have Schlage, Baldwin, or another brand, this won’t work.
You need the current working key. If you’ve lost the key, you can’t use the SmartKey system.
It doesn’t work across brands. You can’t make your Kwikset front door and Schlage back door use the same key with a DIY rekey.

For most people, calling a locksmith is faster and ensures all locks get rekeyed to match. A professional can also inspect your locks during the process and flag any that are worn, damaged, or need replacement.

Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks

This is a common question, so here’s a quick comparison:

Factor	Rekeying	Replacing
Cost	$25-$100 per lock	$100-$300+ per lock
Time	10-20 minutes per lock	20-45 minutes per lock
Security improvement	Same (old keys won’t work)	Same, unless upgrading lock grade
When it makes sense	Locks are in good condition	Locks are old, damaged, or low-grade
Hardware changes	No	Yes, new lock and hardware

Bottom line: if your locks are in good shape and you just need to change key access, rekey. If your locks are old, damaged, or you want to upgrade to a better grade, replace.

We cover this topic in more detail in our rekeying vs. changing locks guide.

GoKey Locksmiths: Professional Rekeying in Salt Lake City

Whether you just moved in, lost your keys, or want all your locks on one key, GoKey Locksmiths handles rekeying quickly and affordably across the Salt Lake City metro area, including Riverton, South Jordan, Draper, Herriman, Sandy, and West Jordan.

Call (801) 512-4658 for a quote. We’ll tell you the exact cost before we start, and we’ll have your locks rekeyed the same day.

Veteran-owned, family-operated, and trusted by 200+ customers with a 4.9-star rating since 2015.