How we price — and why there's no sticker
Every locksmith price is built from the same handful of factors. We explain them on the phone at (213) 577-1366, and the technician confirms the exact price at your door before any work starts. If a number ever surprises you, we've failed — that's the standard.
The seven things that actually move the price
- The job itself. A lockout, a rekey, a fresh installation, and a safe opening are different amounts of work with different tooling.
- Lock type and condition. A standard pin-tumbler rekeys quickly; high-security cylinders, mortise bodies, and worn or damaged hardware take longer and may need parts.
- How many doors or keys. Each cylinder is its own work; keyed-alike setups and extra copies add cutting time.
- Vehicle specifics. Car keys range from plain metal blades to smart fobs needing programming — and a handful of makes are genuinely dealer-only, which we tell you up front.
- Time of day. Overnight, weekend, and holiday dispatches cost more than business-hours visits.
- Distance. We dispatch from Westwood (10740 Wilshire Blvd); the far edges of our two-county area are a longer roll than the Westside.
- Parts you choose. If hardware is being replaced, the grade and brand you pick is the biggest variable — we'll lay out options honestly.
Pricing questions, answered straight
Why don't you publish flat prices online?
Because they'd be wrong for most jobs. The honest cost of a lockout or rekey depends on the lock, the door, the hour, and the distance — a flat number online either overcharges simple jobs or hides fees on complex ones. We quote your actual job, before work starts.
When exactly do I learn the price?
On the phone we explain what drives the price for your situation and what the realistic shape of the job is. On site, the technician confirms the exact price after seeing the lock or vehicle — before any work begins. If you don't want to proceed, say so.
Does calling at night cost more?
Time of day is one of the honest cost factors — a 3am dispatch is a different job than a Tuesday-noon one. We tell you this on the phone, not after the work.
What's the classic locksmith scam I should avoid?
The 'nineteen-dollar service call' ad. A dispatcher quotes a teaser price, an unmarked car arrives, the tech declares your lock 'high security,' drills it unnecessarily, and the bill lands at ten times the quote. Any quote that sounds impossibly cheap is the start of that script.
Do you charge for a visit if no work happens?
If we told you a service-call basis on the phone, that's what applies and you'll have heard it before we rolled a van. No surprise line items.
Curious what a specific job involves? Every service page has its own "what affects the price" section for that exact kind of work.
Want your actual number? Describe the job — takes two minutes.
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366