Rekeying is usually the least expensive way to make sure old keys stop working, but there is no single flat price. What you pay depends on how many lock cylinders need new pins, what kind of locks they are, and when the work is done. This guide explains each factor so you can understand a quote before you agree to it. For our current residential pricing, see the lock rekeying service page.

Want a quote right away? Call (613) 707-4884 and have your cylinder count ready.

What You Are Paying For When You Rekey

Rekeying keeps your existing lock hardware on the door. The technician removes each cylinder, takes out the old pins, and installs a new set of pins that match a newly cut key. The old keys will no longer turn the lock. A rekeying quote is normally built from four parts:

  • Labour per cylinder. Every keyed cylinder — front door knob, front door deadbolt, back door, garage entry door — is a separate job.
  • Pins and parts. Usually a small cost, unless a worn or damaged cylinder has to be replaced.
  • New keys. Most quotes include a key or two; additional copies are extra.
  • The service call. A mobile visit to your home or business.

The Factors That Change the Price

1. How many cylinders you have

This is the biggest variable. Count the keyed locks, not the doors: many Ottawa homes have a knob and a deadbolt on both the front and back doors, plus a garage-to-house door, which can add up to five or more cylinders.

2. Lock type and brand

Common residential pin-tumbler locks are quick to rekey. High-security or restricted-keyway locks take longer, may need key blanks that are only available through an authorized dealer, and cost more per cylinder. Smart locks and keypad deadbolts often still have a keyed backup cylinder that can be rekeyed — and their codes should be reset at the same time.

3. Whether you have a working key

Rekeying is simplest when the current key is available. If it is lost, the cylinder may first need to be opened or decoded, which adds time.

4. Keying everything to one key

Having every door work with the same key is popular, but it only works when the locks share a compatible keyway. If one door has a different brand, that cylinder may need to be swapped rather than rekeyed, which costs more.

5. Residential or commercial

Commercial doors often use mortise cylinders, rim cylinders or interchangeable cores, and many businesses run a master key system that has to be planned and documented. That design work makes commercial rekeying a different kind of quote from a house.

6. Scheduled or urgent

Booking rekeying at a convenient time is usually cheaper than an urgent visit after hours — for example after a break-in or the same night keys go missing.

7. The condition of the locks

Rekeying a sticking, worn or damaged lock does not fix it. If a cylinder is failing, the better value may be to replace that lock. Our guide to rekeying versus replacing locks explains when each option makes sense.

What a Clear Quote Should Include

Before any work starts, you should know:

  • The number of cylinders being rekeyed and the price for each.
  • How many keys are included and the cost of extra copies.
  • Any service-call, after-hours or travel charge.
  • Whether any lock needs repair or replacement instead, and why.

If a quote is just one vague total over the phone with no cylinder count, ask for the breakdown.

How to Keep Rekeying Costs Down

  • Count your keyed cylinders before you call so the quote is accurate.
  • Have a working key ready if you still have one.
  • Rekey all exterior locks in one visit instead of several separate calls.
  • Book ahead when the situation is not urgent, such as the week you take possession of a new home.
  • Decide in advance how many keys you need so they can be cut on the same visit.

For a quote on your home or business, call (613) 707-4884 and tell us how many locks you have and what type they are.