Why two lock changes on the same street can cost very different amounts — and the questions to ask so there are no surprises.
"How much to change a lock?" is the question we get most — and the honest answer is "it depends", because a five-minute cylinder swap and a new insurance-rated mortice lock are very different jobs. Here's what actually moves the price, so you can picture which end of the scale you're at and ask the right questions.
The type of lock matters most
Swapping a euro cylinder (the type in most uPVC and composite doors) is quick and the part is inexpensive. Fitting a new five-lever mortice deadlock into a wooden door — chiselling out the timber, fitting the keep, lining everything up — takes longer and the lock itself costs more. A high-security, anti-snap or British Standard lock costs more than a basic one, but it's the difference an insurer and a burglar both notice.
The door makes a difference
A like-for-like swap is straightforward. Fitting a different lock type, repairing a misaligned uPVC mechanism, or working around a warped or painted-shut door all add time. Older doors sometimes hide surprises once the old lock is out.
How many locks, and how many keys
Doing the front and back together is more efficient than two separate visits. If you want both doors keyed alike — one key for everything — that's worth mentioning up front. And extra keys are cheap when we're already there.
Time of day
A planned daytime visit is the most economical. A midnight emergency after a break-in is a different service with a different rate — understandably. If it isn't urgent, booking a daytime slot keeps the cost down.
How to avoid overpaying
- Get the price agreed before work starts — a trustworthy locksmith is happy to quote on the phone.
- Be wary of very low online prices from national call centres; the figure on your doorstep is often higher.
- Ask whether the lock is British Standard / insurance-approved — paying slightly more for the right lock can lower your insurance premium.
- Do the front and back in one visit if you can.
- Make sure the old hardware is removed and disposed of, and you're shown how the new lock works.
When you're ready, here's what a lock change with us includes — or just call and describe the door.
Lock changes & upgrades
Need a hand with this?
Two Keys is a father-and-son locksmith team in Egham — UKLA Trusted & Vetted, DBS-checked, fully insured. Straight prices, agreed before we set off.
We cover Egham · Staines-upon-Thames · Weybridge · Guildford and the wider Surrey, west London and east Berkshire area — see full coverage.