"How much does a locksmith cost?" is the first question we get on almost every call. It is a fair question. You are stressed, you need help, and you do not want to be ripped off.
This page lists what Locksmith Magic actually charges for our most common services in San Diego in 2026. No fine print. No bait pricing. We are a licensed local company (License #LCO7479), our average response time is 15-30 minutes, and every starting price below is real. We honor it when we show up to your door.
One thing to keep in mind. A locksmith call has a few moving parts. The job itself, the parts, how far we drive to you, and the time of day. The starting prices below cover the base service. The final number depends on those four things, and we tell you the full price on the phone before we send a technician out.
Locksmith Prices in San Diego at a Glance
Here is what our most common services start at. Final price depends on lock type, parts, distance from our San Diego base, and the time of day.
| Service | Starts from |
|---|---|
| Car or house lockout | $85 |
| Rekey a lock | $49 |
| Lock change (existing hole) | $85 |
| Fresh lock installation (new hole) | $130 |
| Key fob programming (existing fob) | $95 |
| Car key replacement | $95 |
How Much Does a Locksmith Charge for a Lockout in San Diego?
A car or house lockout in San Diego starts at $85 with Locksmith Magic. Same price for both. Most lockouts land between $85 and $125 once you factor in the trip and the time of day.
Why the range? A daytime lockout 10 minutes from our base is usually the $85 starting price. A late-night call in a far neighborhood like Poway or Carmel Valley may add a service fee, because the technician is driving longer and working outside of standard hours. We will tell you the full price on the call before dispatch.
If a company quotes you $19 or $29 for a lockout, that is bait pricing. They show up, find a reason to charge $250, and most people pay because they are stuck. A real San Diego locksmith will quote you a fair range upfront and stick to it.
Read more about our car lockout service and our house lockout service.
How Much Does It Cost to Rekey a House in San Diego?
A house rekey starts at $49 per lock at Locksmith Magic. If you are rekeying every lock in the house, the per-lock price is the same. You are paying for the work on each cylinder, not a flat house rate.
A typical San Diego house has 3 to 5 locks (front door, back door, side door, garage door). At $49 per lock, that puts a standard house rekey somewhere between $147 and $245, plus a small service fee if you are far from our base. For bigger jobs of 6 or more locks at once, ask about our volume discount. The per-lock price drops below $49 when you rekey that many locks at the same time.
Rekeying is almost always cheaper than replacing the locks. Same security boost (the old keys stop working), much less money. It is the right move when you move into a new place, after a roommate moves out, or when keys go missing.
More on our rekey service in San Diego.
How Much Does a Locksmith Charge to Change a Door Lock?
A standard lock change starts at $85. That covers swapping out an existing lock (using the existing hole in the door) for a new one. The lock itself is separate. We can install a lock you bought, or we can supply a Grade 1 or Grade 2 lock from our van.
If the door does not have a hole yet (you are adding a deadbolt to a door that only has a knob, for example), that is fresh installation. Fresh installation starts at $130 because we are drilling the hole, installing the strike plate, and lining everything up by hand.
What Influences the Price of a Lock Change in San Diego?
Four things move the price up or down:
- Lock grade. Standard residential locks are cheaper than Grade 1 commercial or high-security locks like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock.
- Door material. Wood doors are quick. Metal doors take longer to drill cleanly.
- How many locks. Bigger jobs cost more in total, but the per-lock price drops on multi-lock changes.
- Time and distance. Standard hours close to our base = starting price. Late nights, rush hour, or far neighborhoods may add a service fee.
How Much Is Deadbolt Installation in San Diego?
Replacing an existing deadbolt is the standard $85 lock change. Adding a brand-new deadbolt where one did not exist before is the $130 fresh installation price. Smart deadbolts (Schlage Encode, August, Yale, Kwikset Halo) install the same way as standard deadbolts. You just pay extra for the lock itself.
More on our lock change and installation service.
How Much Does a Locksmith Charge for Car Key Replacement in San Diego?
Car key prices depend on the type of key, not just the year and model. Here is what each type of key costs, with programming always included.
| Key type | Price (programming included) |
|---|---|
| Remote or key fob only | $95-$150 |
| Transponder key (chip key) | $120-$180 |
| Remote key (with built-in buttons) | $140-$230 |
| Flip key (folding blade) | $160-$260 |
| Smart key (push-to-start) | $200-$425 |
Which Key Type Do You Have?
- Remote or key fob only. You still have the metal key, you just need a new remote programmed to your car.
- Transponder key. A metal key with a small chip inside the head. Most cars from 1996 to about 2015 use this style.
- Remote key. A metal key with the lock and unlock buttons built into the head.
- Flip key. The key blade folds into the remote like a switchblade.
- Smart key. A small fob with no metal blade. You press a button to start the car.
We come to you in a fully stocked mobile van, cut the key, program it to your car, and you drive away. No tow truck needed.
Our prices are typically 40-60% less than what a dealership charges for the same key. A Honda transponder at the dealership runs $300-$400 once you pay for the key, the programming, the dealer trip fee, and often a tow. Our same job is usually $120-$180, and we come to you.
For high-end vehicles like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, Land Rover, or Maserati, give us a call for a custom quote. Luxury cars use specialty keys with extra security layers, so the price depends on the exact make, model, and year.
More on our car key replacement service.
Service Fees and Trip Fees Explained
A lot of locksmiths charge a flat trip fee no matter what. We do not. Our starting prices include the trip when you are within a normal distance from our San Diego base and we are coming during standard hours.
A service fee may apply in two cases:
- Distance. If you are in a far area like Poway, Carmel Valley, Imperial Beach, or the edges of the county, we may add a service fee to cover the longer drive.
- Time of day. Rush hour traffic and late-night calls take more of our technicians' time. A small surcharge may apply during those windows.
The exact amount depends on where you are and when you are calling. We tell you the full price on the phone before we dispatch the technician. The price you hear is the price you pay.
Why We Quote on the Phone Instead of Online
Every locksmith job has details that change the price. The make and year of your car. The grade of lock you want. How many locks you need rekeyed. Where you are. What time it is.
A real locksmith asks those questions, then gives you a real number. A scam operation throws out a low number to get you on the hook, then changes the price when they show up.
When you call (619) 416-2467, we ask three or four quick questions and quote you a real total. You decide before we dispatch a technician. Nothing changes when we arrive.
Get a Real Locksmith Price in San Diego
Locksmith Magic is a licensed San Diego locksmith (License #LCO7479) serving the whole county since 2017. Family-owned, fully insured, and every job comes with a 6-month warranty on the work and the parts.
If you need a price for a locksmith service not listed here, call (619) 416-2467. We give honest, upfront quotes on the phone, and we usually get to you within 15 to 30 minutes.