What a lock change should cost in the UK in 2026 — per lock type, all-in
Fair-range costs by lock type
All figures are all-in (parts + labour + VAT). Ranges reflect straight like-for-like replacements; a security upgrade fitted in the same visit is quoted as a separate line.
| Lock type | Parts | Labour | All-in total |
|---|---|---|---|
Euro cylinder — standard (no anti-snap) The most common UK front-door lock, fitted to uPVC and composite doors. Straight like-for-like swap. | £15 – £40 | 15 – 20 min | £70 – £150 |
Euro cylinder — anti-snap upgrade (Ultion, Avocet ABS, Brisant) The upgrade insurers increasingly expect on uPVC front doors. Adds sacrificial-cut and hardened-pin protection against snapping. | £30 – £90 | 20 – 30 min | £110 – £220 |
uPVC multi-point mechanism — full replacement The whole gearbox strip inside the door, not just the cylinder. Needed when the handle spins freely or the door will not deadlock. | £70 – £180 | 45 – 90 min | £200 – £400 |
Mortice deadlock — 5-lever BS3621 (insurance grade) The British Standard BS3621 5-lever mortice is what most UK home insurers require on wooden final-exit doors that lock with a key. | £30 – £90 | 30 – 60 min | £120 – £260 |
Nightlatch (Yale-type rim latch) The classic surface-mounted latch above a mortice on wooden doors. Legitimate cheap-and-quick UK job when it stands alone. | £20 – £60 | 15 – 30 min | £85 – £180 |
Rim latch + deadlock combination on a wooden door Two lock changes in the same visit. Combined pricing is lower than the sum of each done separately. | £40 – £150 | 30 – 60 min | £120 – £280 |
Rekey (same locks, new pins — no parts) Where the existing locks are still fit for purpose but you want to invalidate the old keys. Labour only. | £0 (no parts) | 30 – 60 min | £60 – £150 |
Smart-lock installation (Yale Linus, Nuki, August) Motorised retrofit on an existing euro cylinder plus a phone-controlled bridge. Setup and configuration counts toward labour. | £150 – £350 | 30 – 60 min | £220 – £450 |
Ranges triangulated from published 2026 UK price guides (Checkatrade, Fantastic Services, MyBuilder) and typical UK retail parts prices from lock manufacturers (Yale, ERA, Union, Chubb, Ultion, Avocet, Brisant).
Rekey or replace — which one do you actually need?
The locksmith replaces the pins inside the existing cylinder so the old keys stop working. The visible hardware stays the same.
- The existing locks are recent and in good condition.
- They already meet your insurance specification.
- You want the old keys invalidated (lost keys, break-up, moving in).
A new lock (and often new keys), fitted from scratch.
- The lock is old, damaged, or worn.
- The lock is below the standard your insurer requires (see next section).
- There has been a break-in or attempted break-in.
- You are moving in and do not know how many keys are in circulation.
UK home insurance: the BS3621 requirement
Most UK home insurance policies require locks that meet BS 3621 (thief-resistant locks) on any final-exit door that locks with a key. In practice that means:
- •Wooden final-exit doors — a 5-lever mortice deadlock stamped BS 3621, or a rim automatic deadlock stamped BS 3621.
- •uPVC and composite doors — the built-in multi-point mechanism is generally accepted, but many insurers now expect an anti-snap euro cylinder on top (Ultion, Brisant, Avocet ABS or equivalent).
Installing a lock that falls short of your policy’s specification is worse than a bad price: it can void a future burglary claim. Read your own policy schedule (search for “locks” or “BS 3621”) before you agree to any lock change, and ask the locksmith to confirm in writing that the lock they will fit meets your policy.
If your quote is above the range for the lock type
Ask for the specific technical reason in writing before you agree. A named unusual lock brand, an unusual door frame, remedial work uncovered on inspection — these are legitimate. A vague “it’s a difficult one” on a standard uPVC front door is not.
If you have already been charged and think the amount is unfair, run the dispute-strength check, or if you paid on a credit card go straight to the Section 75 letter builder.
For the call-out fee itself (separate from the lock parts and labour above), see average UK locksmith call-out fees, 2026, by city. For the labour minutes, see fair labour time for a UK lockout.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to change locks in the UK in 2026?+
What is the difference between changing the cylinder and changing the whole lock?+
Do I need a British Standard BS3621 lock for my UK home insurance?+
Should I rekey or replace after losing keys or a break-up?+
How can I tell if a lock-change quote is fair before I agree?+
What is a fair labour time for a UK lock change?+
Sources and useful contacts
- BSI — BS 3621 standard for thief-resistant locks
The British Standard for keyed final-exit door locks that most UK home insurers reference in policy schedules.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 — section 51 (reasonable price)
Where no price is fixed, only a reasonable price is payable. The ranges above are the evidence a UK court would treat as reasonable.
- Citizens Advice — consumer helpline
Helpline: 0808 223 1133 (England and Wales), Mon–Fri 9am–5pm.
Related: before you call anyone, run the 60-second verification checklist and the verify-by-name tool. Watch for the 8 red flags that mean a locksmith is a scam, and the honest explainer of the “no-call-out-fee” headline.
Ranges are updated annually. This edition is for 2026 and reflects UK market rates and parts prices as of that year. A specific quote for your job depends on your address, the door type, the lock brand, and any remedial work needed — get the total in writing before the trader sets off.
The itemised quote before any work starts
LockSafe shows the assessment fee for each verified locksmith upfront, then delivers the itemised quote to your phone before any work starts. Parts, labour and VAT split out — no headline that turns into a different number on completion.