Locksmith Prices & Cost Estimates in the UK 2025
Understanding locksmith costs can be challenging with varying prices across companies, job types, and required parts. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about locksmith pricing in the UK, helping you make informed decisions and avoid unexpected costs.
Research & Sources: This guide has been compiled in collaboration with Keytek Locksmiths, drawing from their extensive industry experience and pricing data to provide accurate, up-to-date information for UK consumers.
Please note: These are estimated prices based on recent UK locksmith jobs and industry data. Final costs may vary depending on your specific situation, parts required, location, and chosen locksmith.
Quick Locksmith Pricing Overview
Standard services (8am – 6pm, Monday – Friday)
- Hourly labour rate: From £96
- Emergency lockout: From £100
- Changing basic euro cylinder: From £125
- Changing high-security euro cylinder: From £150+
- Changing a mortice lock: From £125+
- Changing a yale cylinder: From £119+
Emergency Services (Evenings, Weekends, Holidays)
- Premium rates apply: 30-65% surcharge depending on time
- Average labour rate between 5pm – 8am: £124
Locksmith Service Pricing
| Service Type | Parts Cost** | Start from price* |
|---|---|---|
| Gaining entry (locked out) | n/a | £100 |
| Euro cylinder replacement | £35-£55 | £120 |
| Mortice lock replacement | £35-£60 | £125 |
| Nightlatch replacement | £25-£75 | £140 |
| Emergency boarding up | Dependent on situation | £200 |
| Changing all property locks | Depending on number of locks needed | £350 (based on 2/3 locks) |
*Prices estimated based on averages. Can change depending on time of day, parts required and location.
**Depends on size, make and model.
Factors That Affect Pricing
- Time and date: Base rates tend to apply Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with out of hours work (evenings, weekends and bank holidays) having a premium rate.
- Job complexity: Different locksmith services require different parts and time spent on site which can affect the overall rate.
- Lock type and security level: Basic locks are lower cost than higher security models, which may be required to meet insurance requirements.
Door Specific Pricing
uPVC Doors
uPVC doors typically use euro cylinders with a multi-point locking system. Common services and average part prices include:
- Cylinder replacement: £35 – £55
- Multi-point mechanism: £110 – £150
- Handle replacement: £20 – £50
Wooden Doors
Most wooden doors use Yale locks; also known as nightlatches, rim cylinders, and mortice locks. Common services and average part prices include:
- Rim cylinder replacement: £25-£45
- Complete Yale (nightlatch) replacement: £25 – £75
- Mortice lock replacement: £35 – £55
Money Saving Tips
- Where possible book during standard hours to avoid surcharges
- Maintain your locks to prevent costly emergency repairs unnecessarily
- Check insurance requirements to ensure you meet your policy terms and conditions
Red Flags to Watch Out For
1. Unusually Low Quotes
Be wary of locksmiths advertising extremely low starting prices (commonly known as “£49ers” for their “from £49” marketing). While these base rates may be legitimate, unusually cheap quotes often signal:
- Hidden fees and surcharges
- Use of substandard parts or materials
Before booking, request a comprehensive breakdown of all potential charges. While most reputable locksmiths cannot provide fixed prices without assessing your specific lock type and condition, they should clearly explain their pricing structure. A transparent quote might look like: “No call-out fee, £96 hourly labour rate, lock replacement costs £35-£55 depending on your requirements, plus VAT.”
2. Pressure Tactics
Legitimate locksmiths never rush you into decisions. Be cautious of:
- Demands for upfront payment before they arrive
- Aggressive pushing of unnecessary lock replacements
- Evasiveness when asked for clear pricing
Take time to research the company and read customer reviews before committing to any service.
3. No Reviews
In today’s digital landscape, established businesses typically have an online footprint. Choose locksmiths with:
- Multiple customer reviews across different platforms
- Third-party verified reviews (such as Trustpilot or Google)
- A mix of feedback that includes honest responses to any negative reviews
This transparency allows you to make an informed decision based on genuine customer experiences.
Insurance Considerations
Many insurance policies require:
- British Standard locks on external doors
- Professional installation
- Specific security ratings
Always check your policy requirements before choosing locks to ensure continued coverage.
While locksmith prices vary significantly, understanding these factors helps you budget appropriately and choose the right service. Remember that security is an investment in protecting your property and family—don’t compromise on quality to save a few pounds.
For emergency situations, focus on response time and reliability. For planned work, take time to compare quotes and choose a reputable, certified locksmith who meets your insurance requirements.
About This Guide: This pricing information has been developed with input from Keytek Locksmith, one of the UK’s leading locksmith service providers. Their industry expertise and comprehensive pricing data have helped ensure this guide reflects current market rates and practices across the UK.
Last updated: 2024 | Prices subject to change and regional variation | Data compiled with Keytek Locksmith industry insights
Some companies will give you an all-in price; others will give you a breakdown of the different elements of the overall cost, both of which will only ever be estimates until you have a Locksmith on site. Before calling anyone out you should always understand the elements of the quote, they are giving you.
Different Locksmiths will have different meanings of what their labour cost covers and does not cover. It is best to always be clear as to what is included when labour cost is explained.
Some Locksmiths charge a call out charge just to attend the property regardless of whether they can fix the problem or not, always ask up front whether they have a call out charge to avoid an unexpected addition later down the line.
It is near impossible to give an exact quote without seeing the issue in person, purely because it is not possible to guarantee the work that will be needed over the phone. Therefore, most Locksmiths should give you a detailed estimated quote to help give the best guidance possible before calling them out. A guaranteed fixed price could lead to unexpected costs down the road if situations are not included in the guarantee, so it is always best to double check.
Different makes and models of locks have different prices, and the overall cost of the job will depend on what is needed for your door or window. There are many variables that can occur when attending a job, but a good Locksmith should always keep you updated with developments as they happen.
The NGCL operate on the regulations that a customer’s security is always the priority; therefore, whatever parts we install will always be to the same security or higher as the one we are replacing. This may not be the case across all Locksmiths so it is always useful to understand the security level you will get from replaced parts and how it might affect you.
In the rare case that the correct part isn’t carried onboard, what are the procedures that will ensure that your home is secure? In the rare case that this happens on a NGCL job, the part is ordered to arrive within 48 hours, if not sooner, and your property is secured until our engineer can come back to fit the correct part. For your peace of mind, it is always better to understand all the possibilities and how they will be dealt with.
Some Locksmith can take cash, cards and cheques, some others might only take cash or cards, and some don’t take cheque. Always discuss the payment terms before calling someone out so you’re able to plan out how you will pay and create the simplest way to complete the job.
If something was to go wrong with a new lock, or unfortunately it turns out to be faulty, what guarantees will you have that it will be sorted? We at The NGCL offer a full year guarantee on any parts supplied, so should they not be working correctly we will come out free of charge to sort it out.
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