Rekeying is priced per lock and is the cheaper, faster job on the 3 to 5 exterior doors of a typical Tacoma house; replacing a deadbolt costs more because it includes new hardware. Rekey when the hardware is sound and you simply need old keys to stop working.
Replace when the lock is worn, damaged, builder-grade, or you want a smart lock or a higher security grade. Peak Locksmith does both on the same visit.
Most homeowners in Pierce County face this question at four moments: moving into a new house, after a roommate, tenant, or partner leaves, after a lost keyring, or after a break-in attempt. Here is how to decide.
What Rekeying a Lock Means
A pin tumbler cylinder has five or six pin stacks. Rekeying replaces the bottom pins with a new set of different lengths, so a new key with different cuts operates the lock and every old key stops working. The deadbolt, knob, lever, and strike stay exactly where they are. The visible result is a new key; the invisible result is that nobody who held the old key can get in.
A locksmith can also key alike during the same visit, so one key runs the front door, back door, garage side door, and detached shop. Most Tacoma houses use either Schlage or Kwikset keyways; locks on the same keyway can share a key, and mixed brands cannot without changing cylinders.
What Replacing a Lock Means
Replacement removes the whole lockset and installs new hardware: new cylinder, new bolt, new trim, new strike, new keys. It is the right move when the lock itself is the weak point rather than the key. It is also the only route to a smart lock, a Grade 1 deadbolt, or a change of finish to match a remodel.
Cost Factors in Tacoma, WA
| Service | What you pay for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Rekey an existing lock | Labor per cylinder; the hardware stays | Lowest |
| Rekey a whole house (3 to 5 exterior locks) | One service call plus a per-cylinder charge | Low |
| Replace with a standard Grade 2 or 3 deadbolt | New hardware plus installation | Moderate |
| Replace with a Grade 1 or high-security deadbolt | Heavier hardware, hardened inserts, restricted blanks | Higher |
| Install a smart lock | Hardware, installation, app setup | Higher |
| Add spool (bump-resistant) pins during a rekey | Small per-cylinder add-on | Minimal |
The service call is the fixed part; the per-door price is the variable part. That is why rekeying five doors in one trip costs far less per door than rekeying one door on five separate days. It is also why we suggest making the list of every exterior door before you call.
Is a Rekeyed Lock as Secure as a New One?
Yes, if the hardware is in good condition. Rekeying changes which key works; it does not change the lock’s strength, its pick resistance, or its grade. A rekeyed Grade 1 deadbolt is still a Grade 1 deadbolt. A rekeyed builder-grade knob is still a builder-grade knob.
That is the real question underneath rekey versus replace: is the hardware you own worth keeping? Read the stamp on the bolt face or the box. Grade 1 and Grade 2 with a one-inch throw is worth keeping. A hollow knob lock with no deadbolt above it, common in South Tacoma and Fern Hill ramblers built between 1950 and 1975, is worth replacing regardless of who has the key. Our guide to choosing a deadbolt explains the grades.
When Rekeying Is the Right Call
- You just bought or rented a home. The seller, the agent, the inspector, the painter, and the previous owner’s dog walker may all have keys. Rekey the same day you get possession. This is the single most common job we do in Northeast Tacoma and Puyallup’s South Hill subdivisions on closing day.
- Someone with a key has left. A former roommate, tenant, contractor, or partner. Rekeying is faster and less awkward than asking for keys back and hoping there were no copies.
- You lost a keyring. If the ring had anything identifying on it, or you lost it near home, rekey. If it had a car key, see our car key replacement guide as well; we can handle both in one trip.
- Too many keys. Keying alike turns five keys into one and costs the same as a rekey.
- Rental turnover. Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RCW 59.18.060) requires landlords to provide and maintain locks and keys. It does not mandate a rekey between tenants, but a per-cylinder rekey is cheap insurance against a claim that a prior tenant let themselves in. Under RCW 59.18.575, a tenant with a protection order can require a lock change, and the landlord must act promptly.
When Replacing Is the Right Call
- After a break-in or attempted entry. Even if the door held, the bolt, cylinder, or strike may be bent. Replace the deadbolt and reinforce the strike plate with 3-inch screws into the stud at the same time.
- The lock is worn. A key that must be jiggled, a bolt that hangs up, or a knob that spins loose are mechanical wear, and new pins will not cure them.
- Builder-grade hardware. Many Tacoma homes built before 2000 still carry the original Grade 3 deadbolt. Upgrading to Grade 1 or 2 costs more than a rekey and roughly doubles the force the door resists.
- You want a smart lock. Keypad and app locks require new hardware. Choose a model rated for the weather; a lock on a north-facing porch in Tacoma sees rain from October to April and cold enough in January to drain alkaline batteries.
- Corrosion. Homes near Commencement Bay, Ruston Way, and Browns Point live in salt air. A pitted, green cylinder is past saving.
- Remodel. Matching finishes across a new entry usually means new hardware, and a locksmith can key the new set alike with any locks you keep.
Can You Rekey Locks Yourself?
Kwikset SmartKey cylinders can be rekeyed by the owner with the reset tool and a working key in about a minute, and that works well when nothing has gone wrong. Traditional cylinders need a pinning kit, a plug follower, and a key cut to the new pinning; a mistake leaves the plug locked in place. Most homeowners find that a professional rekey costs about the same as the kit and blanks, arrives with security pins available, and comes with the lock working the first time.
What to Expect on the Day
A residential rekey in Tacoma is a single-visit job for a typical three- to five-door house. The technician checks each lock’s condition first and tells you if any door is a candidate for replacement instead. Cylinders are pulled, repinned to a new key, tested, and reinstalled. You receive the number of keys you ask for, usually two to four, cut on the spot. Dispatch is local, with same-day service on most calls in Tacoma, Lakewood, University Place, Fife, Puyallup, and Federal Way. See our home rekeying guide for a room-by-room checklist.
When to Call Peak Locksmith
Call (253) 262-5630 for same-day rekeying or lock replacement anywhere in Tacoma, University Place, Lakewood, Puyallup, Federal Way, Fife, and Pierce County. Tell us how many exterior doors you have and the brands on the locks, and we will give you a price range before dispatch. Our residential locksmith technicians carry Schlage and Kwikset cylinders, Grade 1 deadbolts, and smart locks on the van, so a rekey that turns into a replacement gets finished in the same visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rekey a house in Tacoma?
A typical Tacoma house with three to five exterior locks is quoted as one price: a service call plus a per-cylinder charge. Keying all doors alike is included in that price. Adding bump-resistant spool pins is a small per-cylinder add-on. Peak Locksmith quotes the full price by phone before dispatch.
How long does it take to rekey locks?
A single deadbolt or knob is quick. A whole house with three to five exterior doors is finished in one visit, from arrival to handing over the new keys. Dispatch in Tacoma is fast and local, and the work is done at your door, not in a shop.
Should I rekey or replace when moving into a new home in Washington?
Rekey, unless the locks are visibly damaged, worn, or builder-grade Grade 3 hardware. Rekeying removes every unknown copy of the old key at a modest per-cylinder price. If the inspection shows a hollow knob lock with no deadbolt, replace that door’s hardware with a Grade 1 or 2 deadbolt and rekey the rest to match.
Can every lock be rekeyed?
Most pin tumbler deadbolts, knobs, and levers from Schlage, Kwikset, Baldwin, and similar brands can be rekeyed. High-security patented cylinders such as Medeco or Mul-T-Lock can be rekeyed only by an authorized locksmith with the right pins and blanks. Keypad and smart locks without a traditional cylinder are reprogrammed rather than rekeyed.
Does a rekeyed lock stay as secure as a new lock?
Yes. Rekeying changes only which key operates the lock. The grade, bolt strength, and pick resistance are unchanged, so a rekeyed Grade 1 deadbolt performs like a new one. Security only drops if the hardware itself is worn or low grade, which is exactly when replacement rather than rekeying is the better use of money.
Do Washington landlords have to rekey between tenants?
Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, RCW 59.18.060, requires landlords to provide and maintain locks and furnish keys, but it does not require a rekey at every turnover. RCW 59.18.575 does require a lock change when a tenant with a protection order requests one. Most Pierce County landlords rekey anyway because a cylinder rekey is inexpensive.
