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Car keys & fobsNon-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Get your free estimateTrusted Rekey Locks for Washington, D.C. Homeowners
Rekeying a lock in Washington, D.C. typically costs between $45 and $95 per cylinder for most residential hardware, including labor and new keys, and it means changing the internal pins so the old keys stop working entirely. It’s the fastest and most cost-effective way to secure a new home, unit turnover, or lost-key situation without replacing hardware. Coral Locksmith handles rekeying for Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, Baldwin, Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Sargent, with most jobs completed the same day in Washington, D.C. Call (855) 382-1343 for a precise quote based on your actual locks.
Our lead technician Russell Tapp has rekeyed everything from Capitol Hill row houses to high-security commercial suites in downtown D.C. We keep OEM pins and components for all eight brands on our service vehicles, so the job gets done in one visit, not two. Whether you’ve just closed on a condo near Logan Circle or you’re turnover-cleaning between tenants in Shaw, we can have the old keys useless before dinner.
Lock Rekey
Lock rekey is the process of disassembling a lock cylinder, removing the old pins, and installing new pins matched to a new key, which permanently invalidates every previous key that worked the lock. You need this whenever keys change hands: after buying a house, ending a lease, firing a property manager, or discovering a key went missing. Coral Locksmith performs lock rekey in Washington, D.C. for $45-$95 per cylinder, and we can rekey multiple locks to work from a single new key at no extra programming charge.
What Actually Changes Inside the Lock
We remove the cylinder, swap the split pins for new ones cut to match your new key’s cuts, and reassemble the lock. The lock itself stays in your door, the cylinder stays, and the only difference is that your old key no longer turns. It takes under ten minutes per lock for standard Kwikset and Schlage hardware.
When Rekeying Beats Replacing
If the lock is mechanically sound and you only need to control who has a working key, rekeying is almost always the cheaper move. A quality Grade 2 deadbolt runs $60-$120 to replace plus labor; rekeying that same deadbolt runs under $100 in most cases. We only suggest replacing when the lock is worn, damaged, or you want to upgrade to Grade 1 hardware.
Styles & brands we work with
Locksmith Rekey
Locksmith rekey is the professional version of what we just described: a trained locksmith with pin kits, key-cutting equipment, and brand-specific tools rekeys your locks correctly the first time, including rare pin profiles on high-security cylinders. Coral Locksmith’s technicians are certified to rekey Medeco, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock and Sargent systems that require registered key blanks and proprietary tools. A locksmith rekey in Washington, D.C. through Coral runs $45-$95 per cylinder depending on the brand.
High-Security Cylinders Need a Specialist
Medeco and Abloy cylinders use angled cuts, sidebar mechanisms, and restricted keyways that big-box hardware stores cannot pin. We maintain the factory pinning kits and cutting machines required to originate keys for these systems. If another locksmith tells you to replace the whole cylinder, call us: we can typically rekey high-security locks for a fraction of replacement cost.
Why Our Van Carries More Than Pins
Russell’s service truck carries OEM pinning kits for eight manufacturers, key blank inventories by manufacturer, and decoding tools for locks without a known key. That’s why we can quote on the phone and finish on-site without a second trip. A general handyman with a Kwikset pin kit cannot say the same thing.
Rekey Door Lock
To rekey door lock hardware means to change the internal pin configuration of the lock cylinder so a new key works and all previous keys stop working, whether that hardware is a knob, lever, deadbolt, or mortise cylinder. Coral Locksmith rekeys door locks throughout Washington, D.C. for $45-$95 per cylinder, and we include new keys with every rekey. This applies to entry doors, interior passage locks with keys, sliding doors, and commercial storefront cylinders.
Entry Doors Versus Interior Doors
Exterior entry doors should always be on your rekey list after any turnover event. Interior locking doors like bedroom/bath privacy locks with keyed entries also get rekeyed if they share a keyway or someone may have retained a copy. We check every keyed lock on the property during a rekey service call and advise you on what actually needs changing versus what can stay.
Matched Keys Across All Doors
One of the biggest conveniences we offer is matching all your exterior entry doors to a single key. If your front and back doors currently take different keys, a rekey door lock visit can unify them. You carry one key, and we hand you fresh copies for family, trusted neighbors, or your property files.
Rekey Service
A rekey service is a scheduled appointment with a licensed locksmith who rekeys your specified locks, cuts new keys, and verifies that old keys are fully disabled before leaving the property. Coral Locksmith provides this as a core offering in Washington, D.C., priced at $45-$95 per cylinder, which includes labor, pins, and new keys. We quote the full price over the phone before we dispatch, and that’s the price on your invoice.
What a Rekey Service Includes
Every rekey service with Coral includes disassembly and pin replacement, cutting of new keys, testing the rekeyed lock in both directions, and collecting your old keys (we hand them back or dispose of them as you prefer). We also lube and adjust the lock while it’s apart. If we find a worn part, we’ll show you and quote a fix before doing anything.
Rental Turnovers and Property Managers
Landlords and property managers in Washington, D.C. use our rekey service between every tenant. We bill per cylinder with itemized invoices, work on scheduled timeframes rather than dispatch windows, and can set up unit-specific key systems. For multi-unit buildings, we can also create a master key system during the rekey so you carry one key for all units.
Keyed Alike
Keyed alike means configuring multiple locks so they all operate from the same key, whether that’s two locks on one door or every lock across multiple doors in a Washington, D.C. property. Coral Locksmith provides keyed alike service at the same $45-$95 per cylinder rate as standard rekeying; the only difference is the pinning pattern used. Many customers ask for this when they want one key for front door, back door, and garage side door.
One Key for the Whole House
Most homes in Washington, D.C. have three to five keyed entry points. Having them keyed alike means you stop fumbling with a keychain of near-identical brass keys. We pin every cylinder to the same bitting during your rekey service, and then cut as many copies as you need.
Keyed Alike Is Not Master Keyed
These two get confused often, so here’s the difference: keyed alike means the same key works every lock. Master keyed means every lock has its own key plus a master that opens all of them. If you’re managing multiple units in a co-op or small commercial building, we can set up either system, but we’ll clarify which one actually fits your situation before we start.
Rekey Deadbolt
To rekey deadbolt hardware means changing the cylinder inside the bolt assembly so the existing mechanical deadbolt stays in place but works on a new key, and we charge $45-$95 per deadbolt in Washington, D.C. Deadbolts are the primary protection on most exterior doors, which makes them the first thing we rekey on any new address. All Coral technicians are trained on single-cylinder and double-cylinder deadbolts.
Single-Cylinder Versus Double-Cylinder
A single-cylinder deadbolt has a key on the outside and a thumb-turn on the inside. A double-cylinder requires a key on both sides. Rekeying costs the same for either, but we’ll talk with you about local D.C. fire code considerations before recommending or servicing double-cylinder hardware on exit doors.
Grade 1 Deadbolts Stay Put
If you paid for a Grade 1 deadbolt like a Schlage B60 or a Baldwin deadbolt, rekeying preserves that investment. We don’t sell replacement when a rekey is the right call. The only time we recommend replacing a deadbolt instead of rekeying is when the bolt itself is bent, the cylinder is seized, or the strike plate is damaged.
Rekey House
A rekey house service means rekeying every keyed lock on a residential property in one visit, not just the front door, so that the entire home is secured under new keys at once. Coral Locksmith charges $45-$95 per cylinder for a whole-house rekey in Washington, D.C., and we can typically complete a three-bedroom rowhouse with two entry doors in under an hour. This is the most common service we provide for new homeowners.
What Gets Rekeyed Inside the House
We check every exterior door, any interior doors with keyed locks, and any lockable windows or French-door hardware that uses a key cylinder. You’d be surprised how many previous owners leave keys floating around with neighbors, contractors, house sitters, and dog walkers. A rekey house appointment cuts all of those loose ends at once.
Move-In Checklist for D.C. Homeowners
When you close on a house in Washington, D.C., rekeying should be scheduled before you move furniture in. We recommend pairing the rekey with a check of every exterior door’s alignment and deadbolt throw. Russell often finds that sellers handed out six or more copies of the front door key over the years, none of which are recoverable.
Brands We Service
Coral Locksmith carries OEM pins, key blanks, and service documentation for Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, Yale, Baldwin, Mul-T-Lock, Sargent, and Abloy. We’ve serviced hundreds of Yale and Baldwin units across Washington, D.C., including Baldwin’s custom finish mortise locks that require hand-filing of pins to avoid damaging the trim. Our technicians are trained on Kwikset’s SmartKey system for both traditional rekey and SmartKey reset, and we stock Schlage-compatible security pins to prevent bumping.
For high-security hardware, we are certified by Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy to originate keys and rekey cylinders that other locksmiths won’t touch. We also service Sargent mortise locks common in older D.C. government and commercial buildings. Whether you have a Baldwin front entry set, a Mul-T-Lock deadbolt, or any other make, we can help.
Signs You Need a Pro Right Now
- You just closed on a new home. The previous owner, their family, their cleaning service, and their contractor may all have keys. A rekey on day one eliminates every unknown key from circulation.
- A tenant moved out and didn’t return all keys. Even one missing key on a rental unit means you can’t prove who has access. Rekeying between tenants is standard practice for D.C. landlords, and it’s far cheaper than a security incident.
- You lost a key with your address on it. A lost key attached to a mailer, lease document, or work ID tells anyone who finds it exactly where to go. Rekey the affected locks the same day.
- You can’t account for every copy ever made. Most homeowners lose track of how many keys a door has seen over a decade. If the count is fuzzy, the fix is the same: new pins, new keys, new start.
- Your lock is stiff, loose, or the key turns roughly. That’s often worn pins or a failing cylinder, which rekeying can resolve along with the new key. If we find mechanical damage during the rekey, we’ll show you and quote the repair.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Phone quote. You call (855) 382-1343 and tell us your address, how many locks you want rekeyed, and what brands they are if you know. We quote the full price before anyone is dispatched, and that’s the number on the invoice.
- 2
On-site inspection. Our technician arrives, identifies each lock’s brand and cylinder type, and confirms the key blank required. This is where we catch issues like seized cylinders, stripped set screws, or misaligned strikes before we start.
- 3
Rekeying. We remove each cylinder, replace the pins to match your new key’s cuts, and reassemble the lock. For high-security brands like Medeco and Abloy, we decode the existing key or cylinder and originate new keys from our vehicle equipment.
- 4
Testing and adjustment. Every rekeyed lock gets tested in both directions with the new key, then again with the old key to confirm failure. We also lube the cylinder, check the deadbolt throw, and tighten any loose hardware we find.
- 5
Keys and documentation. We hand you the new keys, collect the old ones (or return them if you prefer to keep them as souvenirs), and provide an itemized invoice. If you want matched keys across all doors, this is the point where we confirm that setup.
How Much Does Rekey Locks Cost in Washington, D.C.?
A typical rekey in Washington, D.C. runs $45 to $95 per lock cylinder, so a home with two entry doors and a deadbolt on each usually totals between $180 and $380 including new keys. High-security brands like Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy fall at the higher end because they require proprietary pins and registered key blanks. The final price depends on how many cylinders you have, whether we need to originate keys without an existing copy, and whether the locks are standard residential or commercial mortise cylinders.
Factors that affect your quote: the brand of lock, the number of locks, whether you want them all keyed alike, and whether any locks have existing damage that needs addressing. To avoid overpaying anywhere, get a quote over the phone before anyone is dispatched, and confirm that labor is included. Coral Locksmith has no call-out surcharge, no per-key markup beyond what we state upfront, and the price we quote is the price on your invoice.
Our free estimates work like this: you call, we walk through your lock details, and we give you a firm price range before a single tool leaves the van. If we arrive and the job is simpler than expected, the price goes down, never up. If you want to ask about this service directly, call (855) 382-1343.
Our Service Area Near Washington, D.C.
Coral Locksmith is based in Washington, D.C. and services the surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs. In addition to our core home service area across the District, we regularly rekey locks in Shaw, Adams Morgan, Bloomingdale, and Friendship Village. We also serve nearby communities including Rosslyn, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Mount Rainier, Brentwood, Chillum, and Colmar Manor. Most rekey appointments in these areas are completed the same day you call or the next morning at the latest. See our full service area here: Rekey Locks in Washington, D.C.
Serving Washington, D.C., DC — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Washington, D.C. area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rekey Locks in Washington, D.C.
Rekeying means changing the pins inside an existing lock cylinder so a new key operates it and all previous keys stop working. The lock hardware stays in place; only the internal configuration changes. It’s the standard procedure after moving into a new Washington, D.C. home or ending a rental lease. Call (855) 382-1343 for a rekey quote on your specific locks.
Most residential rekey jobs in Washington, D.C. take 30 to 60 minutes for two to four locks. High-security brands like Medeco or Abloy can add 15-20 minutes per cylinder due to the precision pinning involved. We complete most jobs in a single visit, and you get a firm time estimate when you call.
Expect $45 to $95 per cylinder for most residential locks, with high-security brands at the upper end of that range. A full house rekey with two entry doors and matching deadbolts typically runs $180 to $380. We quote the full price over the phone before dispatch, and it’s the same on the invoice. Call (855) 382-1343 for an exact figure.
Yes, Coral Locksmith is certified to rekey Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Sargent high-security cylinders, in addition to Kwikset, Schlage, Yale, and Baldwin. We carry the OEM pin kits and key blank inventories required for these restricted systems. If another locksmith can’t handle your high-security hardware, we can.
We keep same-day appointments for urgent rekey situations in Washington, D.C., such as a lost key or a tenant who hasn’t returned keys. Call (855) 382-1343 and we’ll tell you the soonest available window for your address. We don’t promise a response time we can’t guarantee, but most urgent rekeys are scheduled within the same day.
Our rekey service carries a workmanship warranty covering the pins and installation. If a rekeyed lock fails due to our work, we return and fix it at no charge. Wear and tear on the existing lock hardware itself is not covered, which is why we inspect each cylinder before we start.
Gather all existing keys for the locks you want rekeyed, including copies in drawers, cars, or with neighbors if you can retrieve them. Have a list ready of which doors need rekeying. And decide in advance how many new keys you want cut, since we cut them on-site. That’s it; we handle everything else.
Schedule Your Rekey Locks Service in Washington, D.C. Today
Your old keys are a liability until they’re rekeyed, and that’s a 30-minute fix. Call (855) 382-1343 for a free, no-obligation estimate on rekeying your Washington, D.C. home, rental, or business. Russell Tapp and the Coral Locksmith team can have every lock on your property under new keys today, with the price confirmed before we dispatch.
Written by Russell Tapp, Owner at Coral Locksmith, serving Washington, D.C. and surrounding communities.