Locksmith prices: Cost breakdown 2025

Whether you get locked out of the house or you just want to upgrade your door locks, a locksmith can help. Here, we'll break down the average locksmith prices in the UK and the common jobs you might need them for.

Locked out of your home? Need to replace your door locks? Or fancy a security upgrade?

A qualified locksmith can ensure your locks meet insurance standards, operate smoothly, and help restore your peace of mind.

Read on to discover the average locksmith prices for 2025 alongside some handy tips so you don't get overcharged.

How much does a locksmith cost in 2025?

Locksmith prices in the UK start from around £65 per hour on average, during standard working hours. However, costs will vary based on your location, the type of lock, and whether it's an emergency locksmith callout.

Front door lock replacement costs in the UK

• Average cost to change a Yale lock: £100 per lock

• Changing a standard uPVC door lock: Around £125 per lock

• Changing an anti-snap uPVC lock: Around £150 per lock

These costs reflect the typical rates charged during normal business hours and include materials and labour.

Emergency locksmith costs

• Emergency locksmith callout charge: In the region of £50–£150

• Emergency locksmith hourly: Averages around £80–£200

• Emergency locksmith prices will always be higher than non-urgent work carried out during normal business hours.

• Most locksmiths will charge an upfront emergency callout fee, but in addition to this, their hourly rate could be up to double their usual rate, sometimes even more.

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How much do locksmiths charge per hour?

The average locksmith hourly rate can vary depending on the time of day (or night) that you need them. A locksmith's hourly rate between 8am–6pm is£65 per hour on average in the UK.

How much do emergency locksmiths charge per hour?

If you need an emergency locksmith out of hours, then many locksmiths will charge a tiered hourly rate. Here are some of the rates you might expect to pay based on the time you call:

• Emergency locksmith hourly rate between 6 am–8 am / 6 pm–8 pm: Averages around £75 per hour

• Emergency locksmith hourly rate between 8 pm–midnight: Averages around £85 per hour

• Emergency locksmith hourly rate between Midnight–6am: Averages around £120 per hour

It’s worth knowing that there’s no government licensing for locksmiths. This means emergency locksmiths can charge however much they like. So, where possible, always gather multiple quotes to help ensure you receive a fair and competitive rate.

Out-of-hours locksmith cost

The average cost for a locksmith working out-of-hours ranges between £75 per hour–£200 per hour in the UK. This includes work done in the evening, at weekends, and on bank holidays.

Locksmith cost: Job estimator tool

Use our job estimator tool below to help calculate how much a locksmith would cost you.

Popular locksmith services

The most common job that British homeowners need a locksmith for is to replace the locks – whether that's one lock or all the locks on your property. Why? This could be because you've bought a new home, your old locks are wearing out, or you want to upgrade your property's security.

Cost of removing a broken key

Has your key snapped off in the lock? To remove a broken key from a lock without replacing the cylinder, you're looking at an average cost of £90. This is for labour only, so bear in mind you may also have to budget for parts and materials on top.

Cost to regain entry to a property

Being locked out is a real pain, but a locksmith can easily help you get back into your home. The average cost of regaining entry to your property is about £110. This is based on opening one standard mortice lock and one standard rim lock.

Cost for emergency boarding up

If you’ve been locked out and had to force entry to your home, or if you’ve suffered a burglary with damage caused, you’ll need your property boarded up. The average cost for emergency boarding up is around £200.

Emergency locksmith near me

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Popular lock types in the UK

Not sure what kind of lock you have or need? No problem. Our guide to exterior door lock types can help. Or just ask your locksmith to recommend which kind of lock is best suited to your doors, security needs, and budget.

Here's a quick breakdown of the most common types of locks you're likely to find in the UK:

• Mortice locks are among the most common types of locks in British homes and sit flush within the door structure

• Nightlatches are often referred to as ‘secondary locks’ and come in standard and deadlock versions. Popular Yale locks are mainly nightlatches

• Anti-snap uPVC locks prevent locks from snapping. They’re difficult to break in and are used predominantly on UPVC doors

Multi-point locking systems have a minimum of three locking points that lock simultaneously. As they’re most commonly used on uPVC doors, they’re commonly known as uPVC locks

Regional locksmith prices

The average cost of a locksmith will vary slightly depending on your location.

These average locksmith prices are broken down by location in the UK and are calculated from customer feedback sent to us at Checkatrade.

Bear in mind that these jobs may vary in complexity. However, the figures should give you a general idea of what an average job costs.

• Locksmith cost Bolton: Locksmith prices in Bolton average around £140

• Locksmith cost Carlisle: Locksmith prices in Carlisle average around £131.38

• Locksmith cost Edinburgh: Locksmith prices in Edinburgh average around £100

• Locksmith cost Exeter: Locksmith prices in Exeter average around £102.54

• Locksmith cost Glasgow: Locksmith prices in Glasgow average around £142.14

• Locksmith cost Leeds: Locksmith prices in Leeds average around £149.32

• Locksmith cost London: Locksmith prices in London average around £163.47

• Locksmith cost Sheffield: Locksmith prices in Sheffield average around £135.22

Factors affecting the cost of a locksmith

There are several factors that can affect locksmith costs, including:

• The type and number of locks you need help with

• The time of the callout

• The quality of the locks

• The cost of any materials required for replacing locks, keys or parts

Generally speaking, bigger and better locks cost more to fix or replace. And the more locks you need fixing, the higher the cost. This is because the job will take longer.

Hidden costs to watch out for

Whatever the job is, always ask the locksmith for a breakdown of their quote before hiring them.

That way, you know what you’re paying for, you’ll avoid unexpected costs, and you can more easily compare the quotes you receive.

Here are some questions to ask:

• Is the quote an estimate or a fixed price for the job?

• If it's an estimate, which parts of the price could change?

• Does the price include VAT?

• Is labour extra, and how is it charged

• If labour is charged at an hourly rate, how long is the job likely to take?

• Is there an additional callout charge?

• Does the callout charge include any work onsite?

• Will you carry out the work yourself or subcontract?

Cost of hiring a locksmith vs DIY

If you're looking to save on locksmith prices, you might be considering changing your locks yourself. There's nothing stopping you from changing your own locks from a legal standpoint. In fact, many locks are DIY-friendly.

That said, the security of your home generally isn't something worth skimping on:

• Fit the wrong lock or fit a lock incorrectly, and you could be putting your property at risk of being burgled

• Installing the wrong-sized lock could lead to your key snapping

• Replacing locks yourself could even invalidate some home insurance policies

Ultimately, unless you're extremely knowledgeable about locks and British Standards, it’s wise to hire a qualified locksmith for a job done right. They'll ensure your locks are fitted correctly, keeping your home and everything in it safe and secure.

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Locksmith cost FAQs

How much do locksmiths charge in the UK?

Locksmiths will charge around £65 per hour during standard working hours. How much locksmiths charge in the UK can vary widely depending on the job, type of lock, callout time, and location.

Can a locksmith open a locked door?

Yes, a locksmith should easily be able to open a locked door. Normally, locksmiths will use non-destructive methods to open locked doors so that they don't damage your door or lock.

How much does it cost to change front door locks?

The cost to change locks on a front door will vary depending on the type of lock you have.

• The average cost to change a Yale lock is around £100 per lock (materials and labour)

• The cost to change a standard uPVC door lock is around £125 per lock

Bear in mind that these prices are for standard business hours. An emergency or out-of-hours callout will normally cost significantly more.

How much does it cost to get locks changed?

Looking for the cost to change locks? It depends on the number of external doors and windows your property has. Having said that, the cost to change a set of locks will typically be around £500, assuming that your property has two external doors and multiple windows.

How much does a locksmith cost near me?

Locksmith prices vary slightly depending on location. At the lower end of the scale, the average locksmith job in Edinburgh costs around £100, while the average locksmith cost in London tends to be around £163.47.