Guide
What a locksmith costs in DC
No one publishes DC locksmith prices, so these are national ranges from price surveys, with the source on every line. Fixr puts the average locksmith job at about $150, with most between $100 and $200 (January 2025). Use them to test a quote, not as a promise.
One DC locksmith business gives its name and the total before any work. Look up a DC license · Who pays us
The common jobs
| Job | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| House lockout | $50 to $175 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| House lockout | $169 to $205 | This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Car lockout | $80 to $150 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Car locksmith, any job | $117 to $259 Up to $456 after hours | Thumbtack, Aug 2026 |
| Rekey | $70 to $160 per job About $20 to $30 per extra cylinder | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Rekey | $191 to $225 About $18 per keyhole | Thumbtack, Oct 2026 |
| Change locks | $150 to $550 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| New lock installed | $203 to $240 | Thumbtack, Oct 2026 |
| Smart lock | $50 to $350 hardware, about $50 labor | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Smart lock | $144 to $226 hardware, $106 to $291 labor | This Old House, Mar 2026 |
| Car key replacement | $70 to $250 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Transponder key | $125 to $250 Part plus programming | Kelley Blue Book, Jul 2025 |
| Switchblade (flip) key | $150 to $300 | Kelley Blue Book, Jul 2025 |
| Smart key (push-to-start) | $200 to $400 | Kelley Blue Book, Jul 2025 |
| Key fob or transponder programming | $50 to $200 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Trip or service-call fee | $25 to $100 trip; $100 to $200 service call | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Emergency or after-hours surcharge | $150 to $250 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Key copy | $10 to $25 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Mailbox lock replacement | $75 to $200 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Safe opening by manipulation | $140 to $200 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Safe drilling | $200 to $250 fire safe; $350 to $450 money safe | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
The call-out fee
Fixr puts a trip fee at $25 to $100 and a full service call at $100 to $200; Thumbtack's service-call range is $30 to $150. That fee pays for getting to you. It isn't the price of the job. A phone quote of $19 or $29 is almost always the trip fee alone, and the FTC and the BBB both describe that low number as the opening move in the classic locksmith overcharge.
Why the bill climbs
- The hour. Fixr's after-hours surcharge is $150 to $250.
- The lock. A high-security cylinder or an old mortise lock takes longer than a builder-grade deadbolt.
- The key. A push-to-start car key is $200 to $400 by Kelley Blue Book's figures, because it has to be programmed.
- Getting to you. Downtown garages and buildings with security desks both add time.
How to get one honest number
- Describe the lock or the car exactly. A photo by text helps.
- Ask: "What is the total with travel in it, if it goes the way you expect?"
- Ask what would change it, and by how much.
- If the price at the door is higher, you can say no and pay only what you agreed to for the trip.
Questions people in DC ask
Do DC locksmiths charge sales tax?
Ask for the total including any tax on parts, so the invoice matches the phone price.
Sources
- Fixr: Locksmith Prices (updated January 31, 2025)
- Thumbtack: Locksmith Prices (updated October 20, 2026)
- This Old House: How Much Does a Locksmith Cost? (updated March 10, 2026)
- Kelley Blue Book: Key Fob Replacement (July 14, 2025)
- FTC Consumer Information: Finding a Locksmith (archived copy, February 2013)
- Better Business Bureau: BBB Scam Alert, Locked out? Don't fall for a locksmith scam (July 24, 2020)