Summary

Lock changes look like a simple, quick job — and the fitting time often is quick — but pricing them badly is one of the easiest ways for a locksmith or general tradesperson to leave money on the table or, worse, expose a customer to an invalidated insurance claim. The job splits into two very different pricing categories: planned lock changes (a customer moving into a new property, upgrading security, or replacing a worn mechanism) and reactive lockouts (a customer locked out, often stressed, often willing to pay a premium for a fast, non-destructive response). Both need a clear rate card, because quoting them the same way either underprices the emergency work or overprices the routine work.

The trap most tradespeople fall into is treating "change the lock" as one job. A tenant asking for a cylinder swap after losing a key, a landlord asking for a master key system across an HMO, and an insurance-driven upgrade to an anti-snap cylinder are three completely different jobs with different parts costs, different labour times, and — critically — different compliance obligations. A locksmith (or a carpenter, handyman, or property maintenance tradesperson doing occasional lock work) who doesn't separate these in the price list either loses margin on the complex jobs or looks expensive on the simple ones.

The compliance angle is where a locksmith adds genuine, chargeable value rather than just fitting hardware. Most UK home insurance policies specify a minimum lock standard — commonly BS 3621 for a wooden door's mortice deadlock, or TS007 3-star (or an equivalent 1-star door plus 2-star cylinder combination) for a euro cylinder on a UPVC or composite door. Flagging this to the customer, and pricing the compliant option clearly against the cheaper non-compliant option, is a genuine value-add that justifies the price difference — not just an upsell.

Key Facts

Quick Reference Table

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Job type TS007/BS rating Typical labour time Parts (trade cost) Price to customer (ex VAT)
Standard euro cylinder swap (non-anti-snap) None 15–30 min £10–£25 £45–£80
Anti-snap euro cylinder swap TS007 3★ (or 1★+2★ combo) 20–30 min £25–£45 £70–£120
Sold Secure Diamond cylinder upgrade SS312 Diamond 20–30 min £40–£70 £90–£150
BS 3621 five-lever mortice lock replacement (existing mortice) BS 3621:2020 30–45 min £25–£60 £90–£150
BS 3621 mortice lock replacement (new mortice cut) BS 3621:2020 60–90 min £25–£60 £140–£180
Multi-point locking mechanism (gearbox) replacement, UPVC/composite BS 3621/PAS 24 depending on cylinder fitted 1–2 hrs £60–£150 £150–£320
Smart lock installation Varies — see smart lock installation pricing guide 0.5–2.5 hrs £120–£380 £180–£650
Emergency lockout, daytime, non-destructive entry — 20–45 min on site Callout only £80–£150
Emergency lockout, evening (6pm–10pm) — 20–45 min on site Callout only £120–£200
Emergency lockout, night/weekend/bank holiday — 20–45 min on site Callout only £150–£300+
Master key system setup, small (up to 10 doors) Usually TS007 3★ or BS 3621 masterable cylinders Design + per-door fit £45–£90 per door + design fee £300–£600 setup + per-door fit
Master key system setup, larger multi-let (20+ doors) As above, commercial-grade Design + per-door fit Scales with door count £800–£2,000+ setup

Detailed Guidance

Pricing routine lock changes by hardware type

The parts cost difference between a standard euro cylinder and a TS007 3-star anti-snap cylinder is small — typically £15–£25 — but the price difference to the customer should reflect the security uplift, not just the parts cost. Most locksmiths price the anti-snap upgrade at roughly 1.5–2x the standard cylinder price, which is easily justified: a standard cylinder can be snapped and the door opened in under a minute using a simple tool, while a 3-star cylinder is specifically tested against that attack. Always present the anti-snap option as the default recommendation on any UPVC or composite door, not an optional extra.

BS 3621 mortice lock pricing depends heavily on whether the existing mortice pocket in the door edge matches the new lock body. A like-for-like replacement (same lock case size, same backset) is a 30–45 minute job. Where the existing mortice doesn't match — common when a customer wants to upgrade from a cheap non-standard lock to a BS 3621 kitemarked unit — cutting or extending the mortice with a lock mortiser or chisel adds 30–45 minutes and should be priced as a separate line, quoted as "measured on site" rather than a fixed price if you haven't seen the door.

Multi-point mechanism replacement — the job that catches out flat pricing

Replacing the full gearbox in a UPVC or composite door's multi-point locking system is a different job entirely from a cylinder swap, and pricing it the same way is the single biggest margin leak in routine locksmith work. The mechanism must match the door manufacturer's backset, case length, and hook bolt spacing — getting this wrong means a wasted part and a second visit with no way to charge the customer for the error. Always confirm the case length (measured between the top and bottom fixing screws) and backset (centre of the cylinder to the door edge) before ordering, or quote it as "supply and fit price confirmed after measurement" if working from a phone enquiry.

Where the existing mechanism has failed due to door sag or misalignment (very common on timber-framed composite doors after a few years of seasonal movement), check whether the fault is the mechanism itself or the door hanging before quoting a full replacement — see door hanging for adjustment techniques that can sometimes avoid the cost of a new gearbox entirely.

Emergency lockout and non-destructive entry pricing

Emergency callout pricing should be structured in clear time bands, not negotiated on the doorstep. A typical UK structure is: daytime (8am–6pm) at the standard rate, evening (6pm–10pm) at roughly 1.3–1.5x, and night/weekend/bank holiday (10pm–8am, Sundays, bank holidays) at roughly 1.75–2.5x the daytime rate. Publish these bands clearly — a stressed, locked-out customer at 11pm is in a vulnerable position, and transparent, pre-published pricing avoids the reputational damage of being seen to exploit that.

Decide upfront whether the callout/attendance fee stands alone or is credited against a subsequent lock replacement, and say so on the quote. The common and customer-friendly approach: the callout fee covers non-destructive entry attempt and diagnosis; if entry is gained without further work, that's the full charge; if a lock replacement follows immediately (for example, the lock mechanism has failed and caused the lockout), credit some or all of the callout fee against the replacement job rather than charging both in full. If destructive entry (drilling) becomes necessary after non-destructive methods are exhausted, this should be explained and agreed with the customer before proceeding, since it mandates a lock replacement as a follow-on cost.

Master key systems for landlords and multi-let properties

Master key systems are a strong repeat-revenue category for locksmiths working with letting agents, HMO landlords, and small commercial multi-let buildings. Pricing has two components: the design/setup fee (working out the master suite hierarchy — which keys open which doors, and the master key's escalation) and the per-door hardware and fitting cost, which is typically higher than a standard lock because masterable cylinders or mortice locks cost more than non-masterable equivalents.

For a small system (up to around 10 doors — a typical converted HMO), quote a design/setup fee of £300–£600 plus £45–£90 per door for masterable TS007-rated cylinders or BS 3621 masterable mortice locks, fitted. For larger portfolios, the setup fee scales with complexity (how many levels of master/sub-master hierarchy are needed) rather than linearly with door count — a 30-door single-level master suite is simpler to design than a 15-door system with three sub-master tiers for cleaning staff, maintenance, and management access. Always keep a secure record of the keying schedule (which key numbers correspond to which doors and hierarchy level) and agree with the landlord who holds the master key and any spares — this is a security liability question as much as a technical one.

What to include in the quote

Every lock change quote should state, explicitly: whether the price is inc. or ex. VAT (and whether the tradesperson is VAT-registered at all — many sole-trader locksmiths are not); whether the callout/attendance fee is separate from or absorbed into the job price; the specific standard the replacement hardware meets (BS 3621, TS007 star rating, or "standard, non-compliant" if the customer has specifically chosen a cheaper non-insurance-grade option); and whether strike plate/keep replacement is included or a separate line if the existing fixing is found to be inadequate on site. Leaving any of these ambiguous is the most common source of a dispute on an otherwise simple job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I always recommend the insurance-compliant lock, even if the customer just wants the cheapest option?

Yes — flag it clearly, in writing, even if the customer ultimately chooses the cheaper non-compliant option. State on the quote which standard (if any) the fitted hardware meets, and note that the customer should check their home insurance policy's lock requirement before proceeding with a non-compliant choice. This protects the customer from an unpleasant surprise at claim time and protects the tradesperson from being blamed for a lock that "voided the insurance" — the decision and the disclosure should be the customer's, made with the facts in front of them.

How do I price a job where I don't know what's wrong with the lock until I'm on site?

Quote a fixed callout/diagnosis fee that covers the attendance and assessment, then a separate, clearly itemised price for whatever repair or replacement is needed once diagnosed. Avoid quoting a fixed "lock change" price over the phone without having seen the door — mismatched mechanisms, non-standard backsets, and damaged strike plates are common enough that a phone-only fixed price risks under-quoting the job or having to renegotiate on the doorstep, which damages trust.

What's the difference in price between fitting a cylinder to an existing multi-point system versus replacing the whole mechanism?

A cylinder swap (£45–£120 depending on rating) only replaces the key-operated barrel and is a 15–30 minute job. A full mechanism replacement (£150–£320) replaces the entire gearbox that drives the hook bolts, rods, and latch, and is needed when the mechanism itself has failed — jammed hooks, a worn cam, or a door that won't lock fully. Always check which has actually failed before quoting; customers often assume "the lock is broken" means the cylinder when it's actually the mechanism, or vice versa.

Do I need to charge VAT on a small lockout job?

Only if registered for VAT. Many sole-trader and small locksmith businesses fall below the current VAT registration threshold and do not charge VAT — but this must be stated clearly, since a customer comparing a £120 quote against a £120 + VAT quote from a VAT-registered competitor is not comparing like for like. Check the current threshold on GOV.UK, as it is reviewed periodically.

Regulations & Standards