Overview: Locksmiths
People call a locksmith in a hurry or with a plan. The hurry is a lockout on a January night, a key snapped in the cylinder, or a door that needs securing after a break-in. The plan is the day you take possession of a house and want every outside door on keys nobody else holds. Rekeying the cylinders usually does that without new hardware.
The trade's rules change at the provincial border. British Columbia and Alberta license locksmiths under their security services laws. Quebec's Bureau de la sécurité privée issues permits for locksmithing and keeps a public register of holders. Where your province issues a licence, ask for it before anyone starts work.
Winter makes its own calls. Frost shifts door frames, and a deadbolt that needs a shove in February usually means the door has moved, not that the lock has failed. Renting changes who decides. In Ontario and British Columbia, a tenant needs the landlord's consent to change the locks, and a landlord who changes them has to give the tenant new keys.
Our listings show what each provider states on its own website. Pick your province, then your city, to find locksmiths who take calls there.
What do locksmith services cost in Canada?
Compare the full visit cost, including attendance and the work. Home locks, car openings and programmed vehicle keys need different quotes.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Home locks | ||
| Residential lockout | C$100–C$240per completed visit | Standard residential lock opened during regular hours, with normal local attendance included.This is the opening visit, not a dispatch-only fee. Confirm the total before attendance; drilling, replacement hardware and after-hours service change the scope.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Dispatch and opening labour; Non-destructive method where feasible Budget separately or confirm: Replacement hardware; After-hours surcharge |
| Rekey one standard lock cylinder | C$100–C$140per completed one-cylinder visit | Existing serviceable cylinder rekeyed during regular hours, with local attendance and two ordinary keys.A knob and a deadbolt can be two cylinders. Ask for the complete visit minimum; the per-cylinder add-on rate is not the total for one lock.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Rekeying and two ordinary keys; Normal local attendance Budget separately or confirm: Restricted or high-security key systems; New lock hardware and additional cylinders |
| Replace a standard deadbolt | C$100–C$400per installed lock | Compatible existing door preparation; named lock model and hardware grade.Standard replacement on a compatible door, including ordinary hardware and local attendance. New holes, frame repair and premium security hardware need separate pricing.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified deadbolt; Installation Budget separately or confirm: Door repair; Additional drilling |
| Fit a customer-supplied smart lock | C$150–C$375per installed lock | Compatible customer-supplied smart lock on a prepared door; standard fitting and setup.Installation labour only: supply the compatible lock or add its purchase price. Confirm whether local attendance, app setup and door adjustments are included.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Fitting labour; Basic lock programming Budget separately or confirm: Lock hardware and separate callout if charged; Door alterations and network troubleshooting |
| Vehicle access and keys | ||
| Car door opening | C$80–C$200per completed regular-hours visit | Standard passenger vehicle; non-destructive door opening and normal local attendance.Provide make, model and year. Confirm the complete opening price and any roadside-assistance coverage before dispatch.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Vehicle door opening; Normal local attendance Budget separately or confirm: Replacement keys or ignition repairs; After-hours or extended travel |
| Conventional car key cut and programmed | C$180–C$440per mobile key job | One conventional chipped key for a supported car; vehicle details and existing-key status agreed.Give the make, model, year and whether any working key remains. Request a total including the key, cutting, programming and travel; all-keys-lost work must be stated separately.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified key, cutting and programming; Normal local attendance Budget separately or confirm: Proximity smart fobs and unsupported luxury systems; Ignition repairs or additional all-keys-lost work unless included |
What changes the price
- Lock type, number of cylinders, door condition and the chosen hardware.
- Vehicle make, model, year, key type and whether a working key remains.
- Regular versus overnight service, travel distance and the visit minimum.
Ask before accepting a quote
- What is the full total including attendance, labour, hardware or key, and any evening or holiday charge?
- For home locks, can the existing cylinders be rekeyed, and how many cylinders and keys does the quote cover?
- For the vehicle, does this price include key supply, cutting and programming for my exact model, including any all-keys-lost work?
Confirm the complete visit price
- An advertised attendance fee does not necessarily include opening a lock or making a key. Approve the complete scope and total before work starts.
- If a lock works properly and you only need old keys to stop working, ask whether rekeying is possible before buying new hardware.
Canadian context
For a rental or condo, confirm who may authorise a lock change and whether a building key system affects the work.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tenant change the locks without asking?
Not in Ontario or British Columbia. Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act says a tenant needs the landlord's consent, and a landlord who changes a lock must give the tenant new keys. In British Columbia, the landlord's permission has to be in writing, or you need an order from the Residential Tenancy Branch. A new BC tenant can ask for the locks to be changed if the landlord hasn't done it, at no charge.
How can I check a locksmith's licence?
It depends on the province. In Quebec, search the public register of permit holders kept by the Bureau de la sécurité privée. British Columbia licenses locksmiths as security workers, and Alberta licenses both the workers and the businesses, so ask to see the licence. Where no licence exists, a real business address and a written price matter even more.
How do I avoid a lockout scam?
Watch for the pattern. A rock-bottom phone quote, an unmarked car, a sudden claim that the lock has to be drilled, then a bill far above what you heard. Get the total price before anyone drives out. Ask for the company's legal name and, in Quebec, British Columbia or Alberta, its licence or permit. Pay by credit card rather than cash, so there's a record.
Are smart locks worth installing?
They're handy for giving a code to a dog walker or a contractor instead of a key. Cold is the catch here. Batteries drain faster on an outside door in a deep freeze, and some keypads get sluggish, so pick a model rated for low temperatures and change batteries before winter. Keep a mechanical key somewhere off the property, and make sure the deadbolt itself is solid.
Can a locksmith cut a car key?
Many can cut the blade, fewer can program the chip. Modern car keys have to be paired with the vehicle's immobilizer, which takes equipment and software a general locksmith may not have. Ask whether they program keys for your make. In Alberta, opening locked cars falls under its own licence class, called automotive lock bypass. Expect to show your registration and photo identification before anyone codes a key.
