How Much Does It Cost to Change Locks in NYC?

By Basics Plus · Updated September 25, 2026

Basics Plus doesn't quote a flat rate for changing locks because the honest price depends on whether the job is a rekey or a full hardware replacement, what type of cylinder is involved, and whether it's a single apartment door or a commercial storefront. A licensed locksmith looks at the lock and quotes the price before any work starts — call (347) 549-9077 for a straight number on your door.

Why There's No Single Price for "Changing Locks" in NYC

Searches for a flat cost almost always lead to ads, not real answers — because the job itself isn't one thing. Basics Plus doesn't advertise a rock-bottom rate; instead, every job is assessed in person or at the counter, then quoted before anyone touches the lock. What changes the scope — and therefore the price — includes:

• Rekey vs. replace. Rekeying keeps your existing cylinder and swaps the pins inside — usually the faster, simpler option. Replacing means new hardware entirely: worn cylinders, forced deadbolts, or a move up to a restricted high-security cylinder. These are different jobs with different scopes.
• Standard vs. high-security keys. Standard house and building keys are cut on the spot. Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy restricted keys require a key card or building paperwork and involve a different process than a standard cut.
• Residential vs. commercial scope. A single apartment deadbolt is a different job than a storefront roll-down gate, a panic bar, or a master key system for an office building with a dozen tenants on one keyway.
• Emergency vs. scheduled. A 24/7 lockout call is dispatched immediately from whichever storefront is closest; a scheduled key-cutting or rekey visit happens during shop hours, Mon–Sat, 8:00am–7:00pm.
• Safe and vault work. Combination changes and installation on a residential floor safe are a different scope than commercial vault work.

Rekey or Replace? How That Decision Affects the Job

As a general rule: rekey when the cylinder is in good shape and turns smoothly, but you don't know who holds a working key — new tenant, ex-roommate, lost keys, a contractor who had a copy. Replace when the cylinder is worn, the key drags, the deadbolt was forced, there's no deadbolt at all, or you want to move up to a restricted, high-security cylinder that can't be copied at a hardware-store kiosk.

If you're not sure which applies to your door, tell the shop what's happening when you call and they'll tell you straight which job it actually is before quoting anything.

What's Included in Every Job

Whatever the scope, the process at Basics Plus is the same:

1. You describe the door, lock, or safe — over the phone, through the contact form, or standing at the counter with a key in hand.
2. A licensed locksmith assesses the job — in person for lockouts and installs, or at the counter for key cutting.
3. You hear the price before anything starts.
4. Non-destructive entry — picking, not drilling — comes first, with drilling only as a last resort on a seized or high-security cylinder.

Every job is done by Basics Plus's own trained, licensed staff — not a dispatcher pulling from a rotating list of subcontractors. That matters for price transparency: a subcontracted "locksmith" can show up, quote a different number at the door, and hold your lock hostage until you pay it. Basics Plus quotes the price up front and sticks to it.

Manhattan Hardware Basics Plus Prices and Installs

Manhattan doors are their own category, and the hardware on the door affects the job:

• Pre-war and mortise cylinders — old brass cylinders common in tenement doors, rekeyable far more often than people expect.
• Segal, Medeco, and Mul-T-Lock — common on NYC apartment doors and rekeyable; high-security cylinders use restricted keys, so bring a key card or paperwork if the system requires one.
• Co-op and condo rules — many buildings have approval requirements for hardware; tell Basics Plus the building and they'll work within its rules.
• Storefront gates and commercial doors — roll-down gates, panic bars, and rekeying after staff turnover.
• Master key systems — one key for the manager, one per door, on a restricted keyway, for buildings and offices.

Where This Work Happens

Basics Plus operates from three real Manhattan storefronts, so a locksmith is never far from your door:

• Basics Plus On Broadway — 2315 Broadway at 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024 (Upper West Side)
• Basics Plus Midtown — 845 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10017
• Basics Plus Union Square — 121 University Place at 13th Street, New York, NY 10003 (Union Square / Greenwich Village)

Shop hours are Mon–Sat, 8:00am–7:00pm, with emergency lockouts covered 24/7. Basics Plus has served Manhattan since 1988 — 35+ years at the bench, from storefronts you can walk into with a key in hand.

FAQ

How much does it cost to change locks in NYC? There's no flat number — it depends on whether the job is a rekey (keeping the existing cylinder) or a full replacement, what type of lock is involved (standard vs. high-security), and whether it's residential or commercial. Basics Plus quotes the price before any work starts. Call (347) 549-9077 for a straight quote on your specific door.

Is rekeying cheaper than replacing a lock? Rekeying keeps the existing cylinder and swaps the internal pins, which is usually the faster, simpler of the two options. Replacing involves new hardware and is a bigger job — worn cylinders, forced deadbolts, or an upgrade to a restricted high-security cylinder all call for replacement instead.

Does a high-security lock cost more to change than a standard one? Standard house and building keys are cut on the spot as a routine job. Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy restricted keys require a key card or building paperwork and represent a different scope of work than a standard cut — bring your documentation when you call.

Do commercial lock changes cost more than residential? Commercial jobs — storefront gates, panic bars, master key systems for a building with a dozen tenants — are a different scope than a single apartment deadbolt. Basics Plus quotes each type separately based on what the door and building actually need.

Will I get a price before the work starts? Yes. A licensed locksmith assesses the job — in person for lockouts and installs, at the counter for key cutting — and quotes the price before anything starts. Non-destructive entry (picking, not drilling) is used first.

Does an emergency lockout cost more than a scheduled visit? A 24/7 lockout call is dispatched immediately from whichever of the three storefronts is closest. A scheduled key-cutting or rekey visit happens during shop hours, Mon–Sat, 8:00am–7:00pm. Call (347) 549-9077 either way for a quote before dispatch.