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How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in Washington, D.C.?
Lock installation in Washington, D.C. typically runs $120 to $340 per lock depending on hardware grade, while rekeying a single lock costs $65 to $110. Most row houses and condos in the District have three to five exterior locks, so a routine move-in rekey usually lands between $210 and $480. A full high-security install with Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, or Abloy hardware runs $300 to $750 per door, including labor.
Those ranges are for 2026, and they hold across Capitol Hill, Petworth, Shaw, and the Southwest Waterfront. The gap between the low and high end isn’t arbitrary. It tracks hardware grade, door type, and how much retrofit work a 1920s rowhouse frame demands.
Key Takeaways
- Rekeying one lock: $65 to $110. Installing a new standard deadbolt: $120 to $340.
- High-security hardware (Medeco, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock, Sargent) installs at $300 to $750 per door.
- Most D.C. move-in rekeys cover three to five locks and cost $210 to $480 total.
- Brand and hardware choice move the price more than neighborhood does.
- Coral Locksmith works across Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, Baldwin, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Sargent, and Abloy, so the quote matches the lock you actually have.
Lock Installation & Rekey Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what each piece of the job costs in Washington, D.C. this year. Prices include labor and standard hardware where noted. High-security cylinders and specialty hardware are priced separately because the lock body is the biggest single line item.
| Service | Typical D.C. Price (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rekey, single cylinder (standard) | $65 – $110 | Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, Baldwin |
| Rekey, single cylinder (high-security) | $95 – $165 | Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy require registered key blanks and specialty pins |
| Rekey, whole house (3 – 5 locks) | $210 – $480 | Most D.C. rowhouses and condos fall here |
| Install standard deadbolt (hardware + labor) | $120 – $340 | Kwikset, Schlage, Yale |
| Install premium residential deadbolt | $220 – $420 | Baldwin and comparable Grade 2 hardware |
| Install high-security deadbolt | $300 – $750 per door | Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Sargent Grade 1 |
| Install mortise lock (existing door cut) | $280 – $620 | Common on older Capitol Hill and Georgetown homes |
| New door prep (boring, mortising) | $75 – $180 | Added when the door has no prior lock |
| Key duplication, standard | $4 – $12 per key | Restricted high-security keys run higher |
| Commercial-grade install (per door) | $180 – $550 | Depends on hardware and door count |
Two things push a quote toward the top of these ranges in D.C. The first is door age. Metal-clad doors on mid-century apartment buildings and solid-wood doors on pre-war rowhouses both resist standard boring, and a locksmith may need to cut a fresh mortise instead of dropping in a replacement. The second is hardware tier. A Kwikset deadbolt and an Abloy deadbolt are both “a deadbolt,” but the Abloy cylinder alone can cost more than a full standard install. That’s not a markup. It’s the cost of a key that can’t be copied at a hardware store.
Rekeying stays cheaper than replacing in nearly every case. You keep the lock body, swap the pins, and walk away with a key no prior tenant or contractor holds. We lean on that principle whenever a customer asks whether to replace. If the existing lock is a Schlage or Baldwin in good shape, rekeying is the right move nine times out of ten. If it’s a builder-grade cylinder that’s already sticking, installing a Grade 2 replacement pays for itself in a couple of years.
What Affects Lock Installation & Rekey Pricing in Washington, D.C.
Neighborhood doesn’t change the price, but door construction and building type do. Here’s what moves the number up or down.
- Door and frame construction. A steel-clad door in a Dupont Circle condo takes ten minutes to rekey. A solid-oak door in a 1910 Georgetown rowhouse, where the mortise has shifted a half-inch over a century of settling, can take four times as long. That labor difference shows up in the quote.
- Lock brand and tier. Kwikset, Schlage, and Yale sit at the accessible end. Baldwin moves into premium residential. Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Sargent Grade 1 hardware requires key control, registered blanks, and specialty pin kits, which is why those installs cost more and why they’re harder to find a locksmith for.
- Number of locks. A single-family home in Petworth might have three exterior doors and a garage entry. A one-bedroom condo in Shaw might have one. Whole-house rekeys average $60 to $80 per lock once you’re past the first three.
- Rekey vs. replacement. Rekeying always costs less than a fresh install. The only time replacement wins on value is when the existing cylinder is broken, corroded, or a lock grade that shouldn’t protect an exterior door.
- Key control requirements. If your building is managed, or you’re a rental property owner on Capitol Hill, the certified keyway on Medeco or Abloy hardware gives you restricted duplication. That costs more up front, but the ongoing control is the point.
- Urgency. Emergency locksmith work at 11 p.m. carries a premium over a scheduled appointment. Budget a modest add-on for after-hours calls, and always ask for the total before work begins.
One pattern worth naming: in D.C., a lot of “installation” calls turn out to be rekeys once we look at the door. A renter in Columbia Heights moving into a building with 2000s-era Schlage hardware doesn’t need new locks. They need the pins changed, which is faster and cheaper. We say so. The reverse happens too. A homeowner in Brookland with a 1960s builder-grade lock discovers the cylinder won’t take a rekey because it’s too worn. In that case, installing a new Grade 2 deadbolt is the honest answer.
How to Save on Lock Installation & Rekey
You don’t need to cut corners to keep the bill down. A few practical moves shave real dollars without compromising the door.
- Rekey, don’t replace, when the lock is sound. If the hardware is Schlage, Baldwin, or any solid Grade 2 cylinder, rekeying gives you a fresh key set for roughly half the cost of a new deadbolt. Save the replacement budget for doors that actually need it.
- Bundle the whole house in one visit. A locksmith coming out to rekey three locks charges less per lock than three separate trips. Have all the doors ready, and confirm which key should open everything.
- Pick hardware before the appointment. Telling us up front whether you want a standard Kwikset or a high-security Medeco cylinder means the locksmith shows up with the right parts. That avoids a second trip and a second fee.
- Ask about master-key systems for rentals. If you own a rental or manage units in a D.C. multi-unit building, a single master key that opens every door but leaves individual keys restricted is cheaper than installing separate locks per tenant turnover.
- Schedule before you lose a key. Planned rekeys at a normal appointment rate cost less than emergency calls. If you’re moving in, book the rekey for the day you get keys.
Ask for a free estimate before committing. Call (855) 382-1343 and describe the doors and locks; a locksmith can usually give you a firm range on the phone. When you want the broader picture on rekeying, our Lock Installation & Rekey in Washington, D.C. page covers how the service works door by door.
How Does D.C. Housing Stock Change Lock Costs?
Washington, D.C. has an unusual mix of door types packed into a small footprint, and that changes what a lock job actually involves. In Georgetown and Capitol Hill, many homes still have original mortise locks, which take longer to service than modern cylinder deadbolts. In Petworth and Brookland, the typical rowhouse has a front door with a storm door in front and a rear door with a deadbolt added sometime in the 1980s. In Shaw and Navy Yard, newer condo buildings use Schlage and Kwikset hardware that’s straightforward to rekey or replace. The cost follows the door, not the zip code.
Two edge cases come up constantly. First, a lot of D.C. row houses have a rear security door or a metal basement entry that needs a different cylinder than the front. We carry parts for the range of brands because a Kwikset key won’t open an Abloy cylinder, and a locksmith who only stocks one brand has to make a second trip. Second, rowhouse side entrances and alley gates often have padlocks or surface-mounted deadbolts. Those are easy to rekey but require different hardware than a standard door, so it’s worth mentioning on the phone.
Should You Rekey or Install New Locks?
Rekey when the lock body is solid and the keyway is still serviceable. Install new when the cylinder is worn or the door’s current hardware doesn’t meet the security level of an exterior entry. In most D.C. homes, a rekey is enough for a move-in, a room rental turnover, or a lost key. A new install makes more sense when you’re upgrading from a builder-grade lock to a Grade 2 or high-security cylinder for the first time. A quick look at the lock face plate tells you which tier you’re on.
Why Choose Coral Locksmith for Rekey and Installation?
We work across eight lock manufacturers because that’s what a real locksmith has to do. Schlage and Kwikset on a rental property, Baldwin on a historic home, and Medeco or Abloy where the key control is the whole point. That range means we give the right recommendation for the door in front of us, not the one we happen to stock. For high-security hardware especially, the training and key control requirements mean you want someone who installs these systems regularly. Specialized locks carry real security weight, and a bad install defeats the purpose.
We also know that a lock job is often part of a bigger transition. New homeowners, renters, property managers rotating tenants, and small-business owners all end up calling us for the same reason: they want the keys going forward to be theirs. When you’re the one keeping the building secure, our job is to make that straightforward. You can start from our home page to see the three core services, or call and describe the situation in plain terms.
FAQs – Lock Installation & Rekey Cost
How much does it cost to rekey a lock in Washington, D.C.?
Rekeying a single standard lock in D.C. costs $65 to $110 in 2026. High-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy) run $95 to $165 because the pins and key blanks are specialty parts. A whole-house rekey with three to five locks typically lands between $210 and $480. Call (855) 382-1343 for a firm quote.
How much does a locksmith charge to install a new lock in D.C.?
Installing a standard deadbolt runs $120 to $340 including hardware and labor. Premium residential hardware like Baldwin runs $220 to $420. High-security Grade 1 installs (Medeco, Sargent, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock) cost $300 to $750 per door. The hardware grade drives more of the price than the labor does. A free estimate will pin down the exact number for your door.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?
Rekeying is cheaper, usually by $55 to $150 per lock. You keep the existing hardware and change only the pins. The only time replacement makes sense is when the cylinder is worn out, the lock is below Grade 2 on an exterior door, or you’re upgrading to a high-security system. If you’re not sure, ask for an estimate; call (855) 382-1343 and describe the lock.
What does a high-security lock installation cost in Washington, D.C.?
High-security installs in D.C. run $300 to $750 per door for hardware and labor. Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Sargent are the brands that fall in this tier, and each requires verified key control. That’s why they cost more and why fewer locksmiths service them. A free estimate will tell you whether your existing door can accept the hardware without modification.
Can you come today for a lock install or rekey?
Often, yes. Same-day lock and rekey appointments are usually available, and emergency locksmith work is available for urgent situations. Pricing for same-day scheduled work is the standard rate; after-hours emergency calls carry an add-on. Call (855) 382-1343 and we’ll tell you the soonest window.
Pricing reflects the Washington, D.C. market as of 2026. Coral Locksmith offers free estimates – call (855) 382-1343.
What Our Customers Say
"Does good work. Card payment was a bit of a production, so have another option handy."
— Lamont Boyd"Commercial job, panic bar and a master key system for a small office. Clean install and clear documentation of which key opens what."
— Holly Barrett"Programmed a transponder key for a 2014 model that the dealership wanted an absurd amount for. Same key, fraction of the price, took him twenty minutes in my driveway."
— Alicia Robinson