How Much Does a Locksmith Cost?

Honest 2026 UK Price Guide

30-min response · No call-out fee · Prices from £49 · Fixed quote before any work begins

Locked out in the middle of the night? Snapped key in a uPVC door? Need every lock changed before you move in? The first question is always the same: how much is this going to cost?

We’re a family-run locksmith covering Birmingham, the West Midlands, the South East and the South West — and unlike the national call-centre brokers who dominate Google, we publish honest price guidance up-front. No hidden fees, no inflated “emergency surcharges,” no being told a different price when the van arrives. Every job is quoted before we leave the depot, in writing if you want it.

📞 Call now: 07486 889391 — talk to a working locksmith, not a call-centre agent.

Locksmith Price List (2026)

All prices include labour + standard parts. Fixed quote given on the phone before we dispatch. The price you’re quoted is the price you pay.

Emergency Lockouts

Out-of-hours = 18:00–08:00 weekdays, all day weekends, all day bank holidays.

Lock Replacements & Upgrades

uPVC & Composite Door Repairs

Security & Burglary Repairs

💬 Not sure which job you need? Send a photo of your lock or door to our WhatsApp and we’ll give you an instant diagnosis and a fixed price — no obligation.

Our Zero Call-Out Fee Guarantee

Most national locksmith brokers charge £60–£120 just to send a van — before they’ve touched your door. We don’t.

You pay for the work, not the journey. No travel fee, no fuel charge, no “site visit” cost, no minimum charge for jobs we can’t fix. If we can’t solve your problem, you don’t pay. That’s it.

This is possible because we’re a genuine local locksmith — not a call-centre operation paying 30% commission to a national broker on every job. Every pound you save by avoiding the franchise middlemen is a pound that stays in your pocket.

How Much Does a Locksmith Cost on Average in the UK?

Across the wider UK market, most domestic locksmith jobs cost between £80 and £250 in 2026 — but because we’re a genuine local independent with no franchise overheads, our prices start much lower, from just £49. Here’s how the typical national market breaks down:

• Simple jobs (lockouts, basic cylinder change, key extraction) — most firms charge £70–£130; we start at £49
• Mid-range jobs (uPVC gearbox repair, anti-snap upgrade, dropped door fix) — £100–£200
• Larger jobs (full multipoint mechanism, multi-door lock change for new homeowners, post-burglary secure-up) — £150–£350
• Specialist work (smart lock installation, commercial master-key systems, automotive locksmithing) — £199+

If you’ve been quoted dramatically more than this for a standard domestic job, you’re almost certainly talking to a national call-centre broker, not a local independent. Hang up and call us instead.

What Affects the Final Price?

Five factors determine your quote. We’re upfront about all of them on the phone:

1. Time of day. Out-of-hours jobs (evenings, nights, weekends, bank holidays) carry a modest premium — typically £20–£30 extra on top of the daytime rate. This is the industry standard and reflects unsocial-hours labour costs. We don’t add a “panic premium” just because you’re stressed.

2. Lock type & security grade. A basic Euro cylinder costs around £15 trade. A 3-star Avocet ABS or Brisant Ultion anti-snap, anti-pick, anti-bump cylinder costs £45–£90 trade. We carry both on the van — you choose. We’ll explain the difference, but we’ll never pressure you into the premium option.

3. Door type & complexity. Wooden doors with a standard mortice lock — quickest job, lowest price. uPVC doors — depend on whether the gearbox alone has failed, or the full multipoint mechanism needs replacing. Composite doors — usually need genuine high-security cylinders. Aluminium/commercial doors — typically more complex, longer job time.

4. Damage already done. If you’ve tried to force the door, or if a previous “locksmith” (or burglar) has damaged the lock, we may need to replace components we’d otherwise have repaired. We’ll show you the broken parts before fitting new ones.

5. Travel distance to the very edge of our coverage. We cover a wide area — Birmingham, Black Country, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, Dudley, Luton, Milton Keynes, St Albans, Telford, Bath, Bristol, Swindon, Cheltenham and Gloucester. For jobs at the absolute edge of our coverage map, a small travel adjustment may apply. We always tell you this on the phone — never after we arrive.

Why Are Some Locksmiths So Expensive? (How to Spot a Scam)

If you Google “locksmith near me” you’ll see dozens of slick websites promising £49 lockouts. Most of them are not real locksmiths. They’re national lead-generation companies that buy Google Ads, take your call, sell your job to a sub-contractor for a 30–50% cut, and pad the final invoice to cover their commission.

Warning signs of a scam locksmith:

• A vague company name with no physical address (“ABC Locksmith Services Ltd”)
• A van with no branding
• The quoted price doubles or triples on arrival (“oh, your lock is more complex than expected”)
• They insist on cash payment
• They want to drill your lock immediately instead of attempting non-destructive entry
• No ID, no DBS check, no insurance documentation

Signs of a real locksmith (us, and others like us):

• Fixed price quoted on the phone, in writing if you ask
• Branded van, ID badge on arrival
• DBS Police-Checked engineer
• Public liability insurance you can verify
• Non-destructive entry attempted first
• Card payment available, full written invoice provided
• Verifiable reviews on Checkatrade, Google or Trustpilot

How to Pay — Easy & Secure

Emergencies don’t happen at convenient times. You shouldn’t have to scramble for an ATM at 2am. We accept:

• 💳 Visa, Mastercard, American Express
• 📱 Apple Pay and Google Pay (contactless, on the doorstep)
• 💷 Cash (if you genuinely prefer)
• 🧾 BACS transfer for commercial accounts (invoiced)

Every van carries a secure mobile card terminal. You only pay once the job is complete and you’re satisfied. We never ask for payment up front.

What’s Included in Every Price

Every quote includes:

• ✅ No call-out fee — ever, no exceptions
• ✅ All travel, fuel and time to reach you
• ✅ Non-destructive entry attempted first on every lockout
• ✅ 12-month parts guarantee on every component supplied
• ✅ 90-day workmanship guarantee on every job
• ✅ Full written invoice suitable for insurance claims
• ✅ No hidden fees — the quote on the phone is the price you pay

Areas Where Our Pricing Applies

We provide the same transparent, no-call-out-fee pricing across every area we cover — from the West Midlands to the South West and the Home Counties.

Birmingham & Central

City Centre, Digbeth, Edgbaston, Harborne, Erdington, Moseley, Aston, Sparkbrook, Selly Oak, Bournville, Stechford

Sutton Coldfield, North & East (B72–B76)

Sutton Coldfield, Four Oaks, Mere Green, Boldmere, Walmley, Castle Bromwich, Tamworth, Lichfield, Aldridge

South Birmingham & Solihull

Solihull, Shirley, Kings Heath, Selly Oak, Redditch, Bromsgrove

The Black Country

Dudley, Walsall, West Bromwich, Oldbury, Stourbridge, Halesowen, Tipton, Wednesbury, Smethwick, Brierley Hill, Great Barr, Wolverhampton

Telford & Shropshire

Telford, Wellington, Madeley, Newport

Luton, Milton Keynes & St Albans

Luton, Milton Keynes, St Albans and surrounding Home Counties areas

Bristol & North Somerset (BS7, BS9, BS16, BS30, BS31, BS37)

Horfield, Bishopston, Filton, Westbury-on-Trym, Henleaze, Stoke Bishop, Sea Mills, Fishponds, Downend, Frenchay, Staple Hill, Mangotsfield, Emersons Green, Bitton, Warmley, Oldland Common, Longwell Green, Hanham, Keynsham, Saltford, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Iron Acton

Bath & West Wiltshire (BA1, BA2, BA4, BA6, BA9, BA12–BA15)

Bath, Lansdown, Weston, Larkhall, Combe Down, Odd Down, Bathampton, Widcombe, Shepton Mallet, Glastonbury, Street, Wincanton, Bruton, Castle Cary, Warminster, Mere, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Trowbridge, Hilperton, Bradford-on-Avon, Winsley

Swindon & North Wiltshire (SN8–SN16)

Marlborough, Ramsbury, Aldbourne, Pewsey, Burbage, Devizes, Potterne, Market Lavington, Melksham, Seend, Corsham, Box, Rudloe, Chippenham, Marshfield, Castle Combe, Lyneham, Calne, Malmesbury, Sherston, Crudwell

Gloucestershire & Cheltenham (GL1–GL3, GL6–GL9, GL50–GL54)

Gloucester, Kingsholm, Tredworth, Quedgeley, Hardwicke, Tuffley, Hucclecote, Churchdown, Brockworth, Innsworth, Cheltenham, Pittville, Montpellier, Prestbury, Charlton Kings, Battledown, Hesters Way, Up Hatherley, Stroud, Painswick, Nailsworth, Minchinhampton, Cirencester, Fairford, Lechlade, South Cerney, Tetbury, Badminton, Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, Winchcombe, Andoversford

Not sure if we cover your street? Call us free on 07486 889391 — we’ll confirm in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a locksmith cost to open a door in the UK?

A standard non-destructive lockout typically costs between £49 and £130 in 2026, depending on the lock type, the time of day, and your location. Our rate starts at just £49 for a daytime job in our core coverage area. You’ll get a fixed quote on the phone — no surprises on the doorstep.

Do locksmiths charge a call-out fee?

Many do — typically £40–£120 just for the van to arrive, on top of the actual labour. We don’t charge a call-out fee. You only pay for the work carried out, plus any parts supplied. If we can’t solve your problem (extremely rare), you pay nothing.

Is a locksmith more expensive at night?

Slightly, yes. Out-of-hours work (18:00–08:00 weekdays, all weekend, bank holidays) typically carries a £20–£30 supplement on labour. We don’t apply a “panic premium” or inflate prices based on urgency — the night rate is a fixed, published difference.

How much does it cost to change a lock?

A standard Euro cylinder replacement on a uPVC or composite door costs from just £49 plus parts (basic cylinder £15–£25, high-security 3-star anti-snap cylinder £45–£90). A British Standard BS3621 mortice lock on a wooden door costs from £99 plus parts. A complete moving-house lock change covering 3 doors is from £149 all-in.

Why are some locksmith quotes so different?

The locksmith industry in the UK is largely unregulated, and the search results are dominated by national call-centre brokers who add a 30–50% commission on every job they pass to a sub-contractor. Independent local locksmiths (like us) don’t pay those commissions, so our prices are typically 30–50% lower than the call-centre quote for the same work. Always ask if you’re speaking to the actual locksmith or a dispatch agent.

How much does it cost to fix a uPVC door that won’t lock?

The most common uPVC failure is the multipoint gearbox — the central mechanism that drives the hooks and bolts. A gearbox repair costs from just £99 plus parts (gearbox £30–£80). If the full mechanism strip needs replacing, from £149 plus parts. Cheaper than buying a new door — which is what some companies will try to upsell you.

Do you offer a guarantee on your work?

Yes. Every job comes with a 12-month manufacturer’s guarantee on parts and a 90-day workmanship guarantee on labour. If anything we fit fails within that period under normal use, we’ll come back and fix it at no charge.

Can I get a written quote before you start?

Absolutely. We provide a verbal fixed quote on the phone, and on request we’ll send a written confirmation to your email or WhatsApp before we travel. You can also ask for an itemised written invoice on completion — useful for insurance claims after a burglary.

Are your locksmiths insured?

Yes. We carry £2 million public liability insurance, every engineer is DBS Police-Checked, and every job is documented with a written receipt. We can show you our insurance certificate on request.

What if I don’t have cash on me?

No problem. Every van carries a mobile card reader accepting Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay and Google Pay. You only pay once the work is complete.

Get an Honest Quote in 60 Seconds

Tell us what’s wrong. We’ll tell you what it costs. That’s it.

📞 Call: 07486 889391 — 24 hours, 7 days, including bank holidays

💬 WhatsApp: Send us a photo — we’ll quote instantly from the image

Prices from £49 · 30-min response · No call-out fee · DBS checked · 5-star rated