Almost every homeowner who calls us is dealing with one of four situations, and each of them is normally resolved in a single visit on the same day.
- Locked out of the houseWherever the lock allows it, our technicians pick the mechanism open instead of drilling through it, so you keep the hardware you already paid for.
- You have just moved inA rekey rearranges the pins inside your existing locks so that every previous key stops working immediately, and it costs considerably less than replacing the hardware. Residential rekeys begin at $79.99.
- A key is lost or stolenThe remedy is identical, although the urgency is greater. Treat it as an emergency if the missing key carried anything that identifies your address.
- A lock sticks or feels wornA key that needs jiggling is an early warning of a failing cylinder. Replacing that cylinder on an ordinary weekday afternoon is considerably cheaper than an emergency callout at midnight.
The properties and jobs we cover
Our residential work covers houses, apartments, condominiums and mobile homes, together with the small offices that are often attached to them. Individual jobs range from copying a single key to replacing the hardware on every exterior door of the property.
The most frequent requests are emergency unlocking, rekeying and lock changes, followed by deadbolt installation, strike plate reinforcement, broken lock repair, high security cylinders and bump proof hardware. Landlords who manage several properties can have every unit rekeyed so that one master key operates all of them.
How to choose a locksmith you can actually trust
This industry has a genuinely poor reputation in some cities, so it is worth understanding what to verify before you allow anyone to touch your door.
Confirm that the company is licensed, bonded and insured, and ask for the license number rather than accepting a general reassurance. Ours is City of Las Vegas license P64 00012. Establish the price before the work begins, because a quotation that increases once the technician is standing at your door is the oldest complaint in this trade.
Finally, ask how the locksmith intends to open the door. An experienced technician picks the lock. Drilling is a last resort, since it commits you to buying replacement hardware on top of the original callout charge.
What residential lock work costs
You receive the price before any work starts. The final figure depends on the lock, the condition of the door and the time of day, so we confirm the number once we understand which of those we are dealing with.
Residential rekeys begin at $79.99. Evenings, weekends and public holidays cost more than a weekday afternoon, which is true of every trade that gets out of bed for a customer. The important part is that you hear the figure beforehand rather than discovering it on the invoice.
If you are locked out right now
Call and tell us the address, which door you are standing outside, and roughly what the lock looks like. We answer the phone 24 hours a day, and a technician normally reaches you within 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic and which part of the valley you are in.
While you wait, please do not force a window, and do not let anyone persuade you to drill a lock that could be picked open instead. If a child or a pet is shut inside the property, say so immediately when you call and we will prioritize the job as a genuine emergency.
House Lockouts by Area
Locked out right now? Pick your part of the valley for local details. The number is the same everywhere.
A residential locksmith does more than open doors. The real work is deciding which lock jobs protect your home and which ones just spend money. This guide covers the jobs Las Vegas homeowners, landlords and property managers ask about most, in the order that tends to make sense, with third party prices so you can judge any quote.
We start with rekeying because it is the cheapest way to cut off old keys. Then we move through deadbolts, smart locks, garage entry doors and sliding patio doors, and finish with HOA and rental turnover and how to check any locksmith.
The short version
These are the points to remember before you call anyone.
- Rekey before you replaceA rekey changes the pins inside a working lock so old keys stop working. Ours start at $79.99, and a new lock with installation averages about $400 in Yelp's October 2026 cost guide.
- Match the grade to the doorFront and back exterior doors deserve a strong deadbolt. Schlage explains that BHMA rates hardware from C to A for security, durability and finish, with AAA at the top.
- Screws matter as much as the lockA strike plate held by short screws fails first. Locksmith guides recommend 3 inch screws that reach the framing behind the jamb.
- Smart locks need a backup planPick one with a key override or a power port, keep fresh batteries on hand and know the code for the app.
- Garage entry and slider doors are the quiet weak spotsThese two doors get skipped in most home security plans, and both have simple fixes.
- Verify who you hireAsk for the license number. Ours is City of Las Vegas Locksmith License #P64 00012, and you can check it at our license page.
Rekeying a home
Start with rekeying, because it fixes the most common worry. If you moved in, lost a key, ended a roommate situation or just do not know who has a copy, a rekey makes every old key useless. The lock stays on the door, the finish stays the same and only the inside changes.
Yelp's cost guide for rekeying, updated October 2026, lists an average rekey cost of $140 with the minimum fee and labor included. It adds that a locksmith may lower the per lock rate when you rekey several locks at once. That is why a whole house rekey is usually cheaper per door than doing one at a time.
Some locks let you do part of the job yourself. Kwikset's SmartKey system works with your current working key, a tool that comes in the packaging and a new key. Kwikset's SmartKey page says only one key cut works at a time, the cylinder cannot be master keyed and the system works only with Kwikset products. If the key is lost and you do not have the current key, you need a locksmith.
Replace the lock instead when it is worn, damaged or you want better hardware. Our guide on rekeying versus replacing locks walks through the choice.
Deadbolts and lock grades
A deadbolt is your main protection, so the grade matters. Schlage's page on security grades explains that BHMA rates residential hardware in three categories, security, durability and finish, with C as good, B as better and A as best. It says all Schlage mechanical deadbolts are certified AAA.
Strong hardware still fails when the door around it is weak. ACME Locksmith's door reinforcement guide recommends replacing the short screws in the strike and the hinges with 3 inch screws, six in total, and using a deadbolt with at least a 1 inch throw. It also suggests a grade 2 lock at minimum and a door wrap around the latch area.
Here is how a pro works a deadbolt job. Check that the door closes and seals properly and that the bolt lines up with the strike before the lock goes in. A deadbolt that has to be forced into place wears out early. If you are shopping, our guide to which locks are worth buying is a good start.
Smart locks and keypads
Smart locks solve lost keys and shared access, but they add batteries, wifi and software. Before you buy one, check three things. Does it have a physical key or a power port for backup? Can you set guest codes without giving out a key? What does the manual say about the temperature range?
Schlage's smart lock page describes backup access with either a physical key or a jumpstart port for temporary power, and says its locks are designed to alert you before the batteries die. Those features are what keep a dead battery from becoming a lockout.
Las Vegas heat deserves a note here. Current Results, using NOAA climate normals for 1991 to 2020, lists the average July high at 105 degrees and the low at 82. A keypad on a door that faces the afternoon sun lives in that heat, so look up your lock's rating in the manual and set a battery reminder for the start of summer. Ask us about a keypad or smart lock when you call.
Garage entry doors
The door from the garage into the house is easy to forget. It was fitted by the builder and it is rarely changed. If you gave a garage code to a cleaner, a contractor or a roommate, that door is a way in.
Treat it like an exterior door. Fit a deadbolt, use 3 inch screws in the strike and change the garage keypad code when people come and go. Rekey the cylinder if you do not know how many copies of the key exist.
Sliding patio doors
Many Las Vegas homes have a slider that opens to a patio or pool. Sliders need a different kind of protection than a hinged door, so most upgrades add something extra. Bob Vila's tested guide to door security bars, dated September 2026, covers bars that fit between the wall and the sliding door, some with brackets screwed into the frame and door.
One of the products in that guide, the Ideal Security patio door bar, mounts in the middle of the door and has a childproof lock that stops the bar from being lifted. The guide also warns that a lightweight aluminum bar can bend under sideways force. A bar helps when you are home. A secondary lock on the frame helps when you are not.
Ask about a secondary lock for the slider when you call, and rekey the other doors at the same time so one set of keys covers the house.
HOA, gated communities and rental turnover
If you live in an HOA or a gated community, tell your technician the gate code or the guard house name. Your association's documents set the rules about visitors and exterior changes, so check them before you swap a visible lock. A new deadbolt on a front door usually looks the same as the old one, but a keypad may be treated differently.
Landlords and property managers need a turnover routine. Between tenants, rekey every exterior lock and change garage and mailbox keys. We can rekey a set of units so one master key opens all of them, and you keep control of who holds it. Kwikset's SmartKey cylinders cannot be master keyed, so a master key system calls for a different lock.
Tenants have rights too. Under NRS 118A.345, a tenant in certain domestic violence situations can require the landlord to install a new lock if the tenant pays for it. The landlord can meet that by rekeying a lock that is in good working condition. Our page on rekeying when you move explains the move in checklist.
What residential lock work costs
Silver State publishes a rekey price of $79.99 as a starting point. The rest of the market looks like this according to Yelp's cost guide, updated October 2026. A trip fee averages $75 and can be $150 or more if you live far from the service area. A lockout costs $125 to $200 in normal hours. After hours and holiday calls run about $95 more on average, and a new lock with installation averages about $400.
These figures are a yardstick, not a quote. The type of lock, the condition of the door and the hour of the call change the real number, which is why you should ask for the price on the phone and ask what could change it.
Yelp cost guide for rekeying, updated October 2026, read Oct 28 2026
What to tell us on the phone
Give the address and the cross street. Tell us what you need, such as a rekey, a deadbolt, a smart lock, a garage entry door or a slider lock. Say how many doors are involved and whether the lock brand is Kwikset, Schlage or something else if you know.
If it is a lockout, say which door and whether keys are lost or inside. If you are a landlord, tell us how many units and whether you want one master key. Mention gate codes and any HOA rules. We will confirm the price on the phone before we set out. For emergencies, see our house lockout service.
How to check any locksmith
Ask for the license number and look it up. The City of Las Vegas has a business license search, and our own license is covered on the verification page linked above. Ask for the price before work starts and ask the technician to explain any change before it happens.
Our guide to locksmith scams lists the warning signs. If a locksmith overcharges you, the Nevada Attorney General accepts reports on its complaint page and the FTC takes them at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. When you are ready, contact us to plan your home lock work.
Watch Us Work
Installing a Privacy Deadbolt
Questions We Get Asked
Is rekeying cheaper than changing the locks?
In almost every case it is. Rekeying reuses the lock you already own and simply rearranges the pins inside it, which stops the previous keys from working. Replacement hardware only becomes the sensible option when the existing lock is worn, physically damaged or you specifically want to upgrade it.
Will you damage my door or my lock?
Wherever the mechanism allows it we pick the lock open, which leaves both the door and the lock exactly as they were. A small number of locks genuinely have to be drilled, and when that is the situation we explain it before starting rather than presenting you with the news afterwards.
Will you check that the property is actually mine?
We will ask, and you should expect that question from any locksmith who takes the job seriously. Identification showing the address is the simplest answer. If you have only just moved in and your documents have not caught up yet, a lease or a closing statement is normally sufficient.
Do you really come out during the night?
Yes. The telephone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. Overnight visits cost more than daytime appointments, and we will always confirm that price with you on the phone before dispatching a technician.
Can you rekey a Kwikset SmartKey lock for me if I lost the key?
Yes. Kwikset says the do it yourself method needs your current working key and the SmartKey tool, so with no key you need a locksmith. We can rekey or replace the cylinder and cut new keys.
How many exterior doors should I rekey after moving in?
All of them. That means the front door, back door, garage entry door and any slider or side door with a key. Do the garage and mailbox keys too, since you do not know who holds copies.
Is a smart lock safe in the Las Vegas heat?
It depends on the lock, so check the temperature range in the manual. Las Vegas averages a July high of 105 degrees according to NOAA normals reported by Current Results. A keypad on a door in full afternoon sun faces more heat than the average, so keep fresh batteries on hand.
Do I need a locksmith to reinforce a door frame?
Often you can swap short strike screws for 3 inch ones yourself, as ACME Locksmith suggests. A locksmith helps when the frame is cracked, the bolt does not line up or the door does not close right. Fix those first so the upgrade works.
Can landlords have one master key for several rentals?
Yes. We can rekey a set of units to a master key system, which suits property managers. Not every lock allows it, since Kwikset says SmartKey cylinders cannot be master keyed.
Home is only part of what we do. We also handle car and van locks, shops and offices, safes and which locks are worth buying. Whatever you are locked out of, the number is the same.
Locked Out? We Can Help, Day or Night
Silver State Locksmith is available 24/7 across the Las Vegas valley. Fast response, transparent pricing, licensed & insured technicians.
Call (725) 280-5051 Now Request Service