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Rekey your locks when they still work well and you only need the old keys to stop working. It is usually the lower-cost choice. Replace them when they are damaged, worn or forced, or when you want a smart lock or a stronger grade. Most Phoenix-area homes end up with a mix of both.
Written by the locksmiths at Diamondback Lock and Key: licensed, bonded and insured, an ALOA member, and serving the Valley since 2009.
Key takeaways
- Rekeying changes the pins inside the lock, so old keys stop working. The hardware stays the same.
- Replacing swaps the whole lock. It is the right call for damage, wear, a break-in or an upgrade.
- Both options can put every door in your home on one key.
- Most standard home locks can be rekeyed. A lock that is seized or broken should be replaced.
Rekey or replace: the side-by-side
Both options give you new keys and lock out every old copy. The difference is whether the lock itself is worth keeping.
| Rekey | Replace | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | The pins inside the cylinder | The whole lock |
| Old keys | Stop working | Stop working |
| Look of the door | Unchanged | New style or finish |
| Security level | Same lock, same grade | Can move up a grade, or go keyless |
| Best for | Moving in, lost keys, a tenant or roommate moving out | Damage, wear, a break-in, smart locks, a new look |
| Cost | Usually the lower-cost option | Hardware plus installation |
What rekeying actually does
A standard home lock opens when the cuts on a key lift a row of small pins to exactly the right height. When we rekey a lock, we take the cylinder apart and swap those pins for a new set that matches a new key. The old key no longer lines the pins up, so it no longer turns.
Nothing on the outside of the door changes. That is why rekeying is quick, and why it is usually the lower-cost choice when the lock itself is in good shape. You can read more about what drives the cost in our guide to the factors that influence the cost of rekeying locks.
Which one fits your situation?
- You just moved in. You do not know how many copies of the old keys exist. Previous owners, builders, agents and contractors may all have one. Rekey every exterior door, including the door from the garage. See our rekey service.
- You lost your keys, or a key was stolen. Rekey the locks that key opens. If you are locked out right now, start with house lockout service and rekey once you are back inside.
- A tenant, roommate or employee moved out. Rekeying is the standard step between occupants.
- Someone broke in, or tried to. Replace any lock that was forced, and check the door, frame and strike plate. Rekey the rest.
- The lock sticks, wobbles or the key is hard to turn. Worn hardware should be replaced, not rekeyed. See lock replacement, and our guide to options for changing the locks in your home.
- You want keyless entry or a smart lock. That is a replacement. Start with keyless entry and our look at the most secure keyless locks.
- You are tired of carrying five keys. We can rekey locks from the same brand and keyway to one key.
Can every lock be rekeyed?
Most standard residential locks from brands such as Kwikset and Schlage can be rekeyed. Kwikset’s SmartKey locks can even be rekeyed by the homeowner with the SmartKey tool and a working key. Many smart locks also keep a backup key cylinder that can be rekeyed.
A lock is a better candidate for replacement when it is seized, cracked, missing parts, or a low-grade lock on an exterior door. The industry grades locks from Grade 1, the strongest, to Grade 3, a basic residential lock. Most homeowners are well served by Grade 2 or better on exterior doors. If you are upgrading, our guide to the cost of home door lock replacement explains what affects the price.
Don’t forget the mailbox
New homeowners often rekey the front door and forget the mailbox. In many Valley neighborhoods, mail goes to a cluster box. Whether the post office or your HOA handles a new lock depends on who owns the box, so ask your HOA or your local post office first. When the compartment lock is yours to change, we can replace it. See mailbox lock repair and replacement.
What a rekey visit looks like
Tell us which doors you want done and whether you want them all on one key. We confirm the job and the price before any work starts. A technician comes to you, rekeys or replaces each lock, tests every new key in every door, and hands you the keys.
Diamondback serves homes across the Phoenix area, including Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert, Phoenix and Glendale. See our pricing page for how we quote, or contact us to book.
Is it cheaper to rekey or change locks?
Should I rekey my house after buying it?
Is rekeying as secure as new locks?
Can all my doors use the same key?
Can a mailbox lock be rekeyed?
Sources
- Kwikset, SmartKey Security: rekey your lock yourself
- Allegion, Understanding ANSI grades for locks
- U.S. Postal Service, Centralized delivery: cluster box units (section 632)