Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing lock so a new key operates it and every old key stops working. It keeps your hardware, costs far less than replacement, and takes about ten minutes per lock. It is the right move after buying a home, a tenant turnover, or lost keys. We rekey on-site anywhere in San Diego County, usually the same day you call.
What you get
- New keys that work, old keys that do not, same locks on the door
- Most homes finished in 30 to 60 minutes on-site
- Kwikset, Schlage, Baldwin, Emtek, Weiser and most other brands
- One key for every door when the keyways match
- Price confirmed before any work starts
What rekeying actually does
Most residential locks are pin tumbler locks. Inside the cylinder is a row of five or six spring-loaded pin stacks, each cut to a height that matches one specific key. When the right key is inserted, every pin lines up at the shear line and the plug turns.
Rekeying pulls the plug, removes those pins, and drops in a new set cut to a new key. The old key no longer lines anything up, so it stops working instantly. The lock body, the deadbolt, the handle and the finish all stay exactly where they are.
That is why rekeying is the default answer when the hardware is fine and the only problem is who has a key. It is also why it takes minutes, not hours. For the full comparison, read rekey vs. change locks.
Rekey or replace: how we decide on your doorstep
We look at three things before touching a lock. First, does the bolt throw fully and retract smoothly by hand? Second, is the cylinder in good shape, or is it corroded, wobbly or previously drilled? Third, does the lock actually do the job you need, for example a Grade 1 deadbolt on a front door versus a builder-grade knob lock.
- Rekey when the hardware works and you want new keys, old keys dead, or one key for everything.
- Replace when the lock is worn, damaged, rusted through, or you want to move up to a stronger deadbolt or a smart lock.
- Do both when one door needs new hardware and the rest just need matching keys.
You get a clear answer and a price before we start. See lock replacement and deadbolt installation for the replacement side.
Need lock rekeying today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
When San Diego homeowners rekey
The reasons are the same across the county, but the timing differs by neighborhood. Buyers in Carmel Valley and Eastlake rekey on closing day. Landlords near SDSU rekey every summer turnover. Military families rekey the week they arrive on PCS orders.
- Just bought or moved into a home, and the seller, agents and contractors all had keys.
- Tenant moved out or a roommate left without returning a key.
- Keys were lost or stolen, especially with an ID or address in the same bag.
- A remodel wrapped up and the contractor's crew held a key for months.
- A breakup or a roommate moving out, a fired house cleaner, a dog walker who stopped showing up.
What we rekey
If it has a cylinder and a key, we can almost certainly rekey it on-site. We carry pin kits and blanks for every common residential keyway plus most designer hardware.
Standard pin tumbler locks
Kwikset (KW1 keyway), Schlage (SC1), Weiser, Defiant, Baldwin, Emtek, Yale, Master and most others. Deadbolts, knobs, levers, handlesets, mortise locks, rim cylinders, padlocks and cabinet locks.
Kwikset SmartKey
SmartKey cylinders use sliders instead of pins and reset with a learn tool. When the working key is gone or the reset failed, we reset or replace the cylinder. Details on the Kwikset SmartKey rekey page.
Designer and mortise hardware
Older homes in Mission Hills and La Jolla often have heavy Baldwin or Emtek mortise sets that are worth keeping. We rekey the cylinder in place and keep the original hardware on the door.
How a rekey visit goes
- You tell us how many doors and which brands if you know them. We give you a price by phone or text.
- We arrive, confirm you have authority over the property, and walk the doors with you.
- Each cylinder comes off, gets new pins, and goes back on. About ten minutes per lock.
- We cut your new keys on the truck, test every door with you, and hand over the set.
- Old keys are now useless. If you want spares, we cut them before we leave.
Most single-family homes with three to five exterior locks are done in under an hour. What that costs, and how San Diego locksmiths price it, is laid out in what rekeying costs in San Diego.
One key for everything
While we are rekeying, we can pin every lock to the same key so you carry one key instead of four. The only rule is the keyway: a Kwikset KW1 key will never fit a Schlage SC1 cylinder, so mixed houses need a cylinder swap or a matching lock on the odd door. Everything else is straightforward. Read more on the keyed alike page.
For rentals with several units, keyed alike is the wrong tool. A small master key system lets you carry one key while each tenant's key opens only their own door.
Other jobs we handle on the same visit
A rekey visit is a good time to sort out the smaller locks people forget. We replace mailbox locks on private cluster boxes, apartment mailbox banks and locking home mailboxes, and we fix sliding glass door locks and side-yard gate latches, often putting the gate on the same key as the house.
If you book rekeys for other people, we have pages written for your workflow: real estate agents arranging a closing-day rekey for a buyer, and property managers running turnovers, keyed-alike units and master key systems across a portfolio.
Rekeying across San Diego County
We are mobile, so there is no shop to drive to. Same-day appointments are normal from Oceanside to San Ysidro and out to El Cajon and Ramona. Central neighborhoods like North Park, Clairemont and Pacific Beach are usually the quickest for us to reach.
Browse the full list on our service areas page, or check pricing and send a quote request with your door count.
Lock Rekeying: common questions
How long does it take to rekey a house?
Most single-family homes with three to five exterior locks take 30 to 60 minutes on-site, including cutting your new keys and testing every door. Larger homes with gates, casitas and garage side doors run a bit longer. Condos with one or two doors are often done in 20 minutes.
Does rekeying make my locks less secure?
No. A rekeyed lock uses the same mechanism with fresh pins, so it is exactly as secure as the day it was made. If anything, security goes up, because every unknown key copy stops working. While we are there we can also swap the short strike plate screws for 3-inch screws that bite into the framing.
Can you rekey my locks to match a key I already have?
Usually, yes. If the key fits the same keyway and is not badly worn, we can pin the other locks to it. A worn key is a bad master to copy from, so in that case we cut a fresh key and pin everything to that instead.
Do I need to be home, and what do you need from me?
Someone with authority over the property needs to be there: the owner, a tenant on the lease, or a property manager. We ask for ID and, for a recent purchase, something showing the address is yours. This protects you as much as anyone else.
Can you rekey a smart lock?
Most smart locks with a physical keyway, such as the Schlage Encode or Kwikset Halo, can be rekeyed like any other lock. Key-free models have no cylinder, so instead we reset the codes and the app. See our smart lock rekey and reset page for specifics by brand.
What if my locks are different brands?
Each lock can still be rekeyed to its own new key. If you want a single key for all of them, locks on the same keyway (all Kwikset or all Schlage, for example) can be matched. For the odd one out we swap the cylinder or replace that one lock so the whole set matches.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Rekey vs. Change Locks: Which Do You Actually Need? – Rekeying keeps your locks and kills old keys. Replacing swaps the hardware. Decide in two minutes with costs, timing and San Diego examples.
- How Much Does It Cost to Rekey a House in San Diego? (2026) – 2026 San Diego rekey costs: service call, per-cylinder fees, keyed alike, examples for a condo, house and rental, and how to avoid surprise pricing.
- Should You Rekey After Buying a Home in San Diego? – Yes, rekey on move-in day. Which doors to rekey, what to do about the garage, gates and mailbox, HOA and ADU quirks, and a San Diego move-in checklist.
- Rekey After a Breakup, Divorce or a Roommate Moving Out – An ex or former roommate still has a key. When a rekey is the right move, the legal line for renters and co-owners, and the full access checklist.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.