When Should You Rekey Your Locks?

Rekeying is one of the most useful home security services that most homeowners have never heard of. Instead of replacing your locks, a locksmith changes the internal pin configuration of each lock cylinder so that your old keys no longer work and a brand-new key does. The hardware on your door stays exactly the same. It is faster and far cheaper than swapping out every lock in the house, and for most security situations, it accomplishes exactly what you need.

The number one moment to rekey is the day you move into a new home. You have no idea how many copies of those keys exist or who holds them: previous owners, their relatives, a former house cleaner, the contractor who remodeled the kitchen three years ago, a neighbor who watered plants once. Rekeying on move-in day is cheap peace of mind, and it is the single most recommended security step by locksmiths and real estate professionals alike. Do it before you unpack, not after you have settled in.

Lost or stolen keys are the next obvious trigger. If your keys vanished at the gym, the park, or anywhere with an ID tag or address attached, assume someone could connect them to your front door. Even if they turn up later under a car seat, the window of uncertainty is reason enough. The same logic applies after a breakup or when a roommate moves out. Changing the locks after a relationship ends is not about distrust; it is about making sure access to your home matches the life you are living now.

Landlords and property managers should rekey between every tenancy, no exceptions. It is inexpensive, it is fast, and it eliminates any question about who might still have a key to a unit with new occupants. The same principle applies to service providers. If a contractor, cleaner, or dog walker had a key and you no longer use their services, rekey rather than hoping they threw the copy away. After any attempted break-in, rekeying is also wise, since you cannot be sure what the intruder learned or took.

People often confuse rekeying with replacing, so here is the distinction. Rekey when your existing locks are in good shape and you simply want new keys to control access. Replace when the hardware itself is the problem: worn cylinders, loose handles, outdated locks you want to upgrade, or a style change during a remodel. Rekeying typically costs $20 to $50 per lock cylinder, with most whole houses landing between $100 and $200 total, while full replacement runs significantly more once you add hardware costs.

The job itself is quick. A locksmith can usually rekey an entire house in under an hour, and most will key all your locks alike so one key opens every door, which is a small daily convenience you will appreciate immediately. This is also the perfect time to reset any keypad codes on smart locks and the garage door opener, since those are separate systems that rekeying does not touch. Think of move-in day as a full access reset: new pins, new codes, one key.

Could you rekey yourself with a kit from the hardware store? Technically yes, for certain common lock brands, but the kits are fiddly, brand-specific, and one lost pin spring turns a Saturday project into a locksmith call anyway. A professional gets it right the first time, verifies every lock operates smoothly with the new key, and can spot worn hardware that should be replaced instead. For a service that costs about as much as a pizza night and protects everything you own, it is worth having done properly.