Lock Rekey Service in NYC

Old keys still work on your lock, and that's the problem. A lock rekey service swaps the pins inside your existing cylinder and cuts you a fresh set of keys, so every key that used to open that door stops working immediately — without tearing out the hardware. Basics Plus has rekeyed doors across Manhattan since 1988, from a single apartment lock to a full building on turnover day. Most jobs finish in one visit, at your door or over the counter at one of our three storefronts.

Call (347) 549-9077 to book, or read on for how the job actually works.

What Happens When We Rekey a Lock

Rekeying is a cylinder-level fix, not a hardware swap. We take the cylinder out of the door, swap the small pins inside to a new combination, and cut keys to match. The lock body, the face plate, and the door itself stay exactly as they are. The moment we're done, every key that used to open that lock — a former roommate's copy, a lost key, a contractor's spare — is dead. You get a straight quote before we start, and nothing gets touched until you agree to it.

Rekey or Replace?

Rekeying is the right call when the hardware is sound and the problem is who holds a key. We recommend replacing the lock instead when the cylinder is worn or damaged, the key drags, the deadbolt was forced, or you want to move up to a high-security cylinder with keys that can't be copied at a hardware store or kiosk. We look at the door first and tell you which one it actually needs.

Where We Rekey Locks

Basics Plus covers New York, NY locksmith calls out of three real storefronts, so a shop is never far from the door:

• Basics Plus On Broadway — 2315 Broadway at 83rd Street (covers the Upper West Side)
• Basics Plus Midtown — 845 2nd Avenue (covers Midtown Manhattan)
• Basics Plus Union Square — 121 University Place at 13th Street (covers Greenwich Village and downtown)

Walk into any shop with a key in hand, or call and a licensed locksmith comes to you. Shop hours are Mon to Sat, 8:00am to 7:00pm; emergency lockouts are handled 24/7.

Common Reasons People Call for a Rekey

• You just moved in. The last tenant, their friends, and anyone who borrowed a key over the years may still have one.
• A roommate moved out. Changing the pins is cleaner than trying to collect every copy that got cut.
• Keys were lost or stolen. A bag taken on the subway often holds a key and an address — rekeying makes the missing key useless.
• A relationship ended. Quiet, quick, no drama at the door.
• A contractor had a copy. After renovations, painters, movers, a cleaner, or a dog walker, reset the lock to a key only you hold.
• A tenant turned over. Landlords and managing agents rekey between tenants — we handle single units and whole floors.

Buildings, Offices, and Storefronts

Rekeying isn't only an apartment job. We rekey office suites on staff turnover, storefront gates after a lease change, and building master key systems where one key opens the front door and a separate key opens each unit. Bring your key card or building paperwork if the system uses a restricted keyway — see our high-security key page for details on Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, and Schlage Primus.

Why Manhattan Calls Basics Plus

• 35+ years serving Manhattan, since 1988
• 3 real storefronts you can walk into — not a dispatcher with a rotating list of subcontractors
• Licensed and certified locksmiths on staff, insured
• Fair, transparent pricing — quoted before any work starts, no hidden charges
• 24/7 emergency lockout response, if the missing key is also a locked door right now

FAQ

What is a lock rekey service? It's changing the pins inside your existing lock cylinder and cutting new keys to match, so every previously working key stops opening that door. The lock itself doesn't change — only the combination of pins and the keys that fit it.

How much does it cost to rekey a lock in NYC? Cost depends on the type of cylinder, how many doors or units are involved, and whether it's a standard or high-security keyway. We look at the lock and give you a straight quote before any work starts — call [YOUR_PHONE_OR_347-549-9077] or stop by any shop for a number specific to your door.

Should I rekey or replace my lock? If the hardware works and turns smoothly, rekeying is usually faster and keeps the lock your building already approved. Replace it if the cylinder is worn, forced, or you're upgrading to a restricted, high-security key.

How long does a rekey take? Most apartments are finished in a single visit, either at your door or over the counter at one of our shops.

Do you rekey locks in offices and buildings, not just apartments? Yes. We handle single-apartment rekeys as well as whole-floor and whole-building jobs for landlords and managing agents, including one key per door or one key for an entire building.

Can you rekey high-security cylinders like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock? Yes. Pre-war and mortise cylinders, Segal jimmy-proof deadbolts, Medeco, and Mul-T-Lock are all rekeyable. High-security systems use restricted keys, so bring your key card or building authorization if your system requires one.