Published 2026-05-01 · First Coast Lock
How Much to Rekey a House in Jacksonville: Real Costs vs Replacement
Quick answer: A standard Jacksonville home rekey of 4 to 6 cylinders runs $150-$300. Per-cylinder, the math is $20-$40 each plus a service call. Rekey beats full lock replacement when the existing hardware is in good shape. Replacement usually wins when the cylinders are old, corroded, or you want an upgrade. We service Duval County and the surrounding First Coast.
What "rekey" actually means
Rekey means re-pinning the existing lock cylinder to work with a new key. The locksmith removes the cylinder, pulls out the existing pins, drops in a new pin combination, cuts a new key to match, and reinstalls the cylinder. The lock itself does not get replaced. The result is a working lock that no longer opens with the old key. Done in 5 to 10 minutes per cylinder.
The benefit over replacement is cost and speed. Cheaper. Faster. A new Schlage residential deadbolt runs $40 to $120 for the hardware alone, plus install labor. Rekeying the existing one costs $20 to $40 per cylinder plus a service call. For a 4-to-6-cylinder house, that math saves $200 to $400 versus replacement.
Full Jacksonville rekey pricing
| Scenario | Cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard home rekey (4-6 cylinders) | $150-$300 | Most Jacksonville homes fit this |
| Per-cylinder rekey | $20-$40 each | Plus a $50-$75 service call |
| High-security rekey (per cylinder) | $35-$60 each | Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Primus |
| Mortise-lock rekey (historic homes) | $45-$80 per cylinder | Riverside, Avondale, St. Augustine |
| Apartment / condo rekey | $100-$200 | Usually 2-3 cylinders only |
| Rental turn-day rekey (per unit) | $95-$175 | Block pricing available |
| Master-keyed rekey (small system) | $300-$600 | Commercial scope, see master key page |
| After-hours premium | +$50-$100 | 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., weekends, holidays |
When rekey is the right call
Five clear scenarios. You just bought the house and you want to reset the access list. You lost a key and are not sure who might have picked it up. A roommate or ex-partner moved out and you want their key invalidated. You gave keys to a contractor and want them inactive after the project. You hired a cleaner and want to rotate keys for security on a quarterly cadence. In all five scenarios, the locks themselves are fine. You just want different keys controlling them.
The cost math here is decisive. A full home rekey lands at $150 to $300. Full lock replacement on a 4-to-6-cylinder house with comparable hardware runs $400 to $900. The savings are real, and the security outcome is identical because the old keys no longer work.
When replacement beats rekey
The locks are old enough that the cylinder pin chambers are worn. The hardware is corroded from salt air (a big factor in the Beaches communities). You want to upgrade to higher-security hardware like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock. You want to add a smart lock to one or more doors. The current hardware is failing intermittently (stuck bolt, key that requires jiggling, cylinder turning without retracting the bolt). The current hardware has been compromised by an attempted break-in. In those cases, replacement is the right call because you would be putting good pins into a failing cylinder.
A locksmith walks the hardware with you before quoting. Dollars matter, but they are not the whole story. The real question is whether the existing cylinders are worth saving for the next decade of use, or whether they are at end of life and a new lock would last longer at a better cost-per-year. We tell you both options on site and let you pick.
How a Jacksonville rekey appointment actually goes
The tech arrives with a pinning kit, key blanks, a few replacement springs and top pins, and a mobile key-cutting machine. They walk the house with you and inventory the cylinders. They unscrew the cylinder retainer on each lock, pull the cylinder, change the pinning, cut a new key to the new combination, test the lock from inside and outside, and move to the next one. A standard 4-to-6-cylinder home takes 30 to 45 minutes start to finish.
You get two cut keys at the end. Additional keys cut on the spot are $3 to $8 each for standard cylinders, $10 to $20 each for high-security or restricted keyways. We label keys by door (front, back, garage) so you do not have to test five keys to find the right one.
Jacksonville-specific rekey factors
Historic neighborhoods change the math. A 1920s Riverside bungalow with original mortise hardware costs more to rekey because mortise cylinders need a different pinning approach and the parts are sometimes hard to source. Avondale and Springfield have the same issue. St. Augustine homes in the Old City often need full restoration work rather than rekey because the cylinders themselves are 100-plus years old.
Beach communities run the opposite direction. Salt air corrodes pin chambers, so a 10-year-old Beaches deadbolt may not rekey reliably. The tech checks for corrosion before pulling pins. If the cylinder is too far gone, replacement is the better call. Mandarin, Arlington, and the Southside corridors run newer construction with Schlage or Kwikset deadbolts that rekey reliably.
Need a Jacksonville rekey now?
Call (904) 454-8942. We schedule same-day for most rekeys, and same-hour for urgent scenarios. See the rekey service page for service details. The cost guide has the full pricing context.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost to rekey a house in Jacksonville?
A standard 4-to-6-cylinder home rekey runs $150 to $300 in Jacksonville. That covers the trip plus the labor for each cylinder. Per-cylinder, the math is $20 to $40 per cylinder plus a $50 to $75 service call. High-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Schlage Primus) cost more per cylinder, usually $35 to $60.
When should I rekey vs replace the locks entirely?
Rekey when the locks themselves are in good shape and you just want new keys. Replace when the locks are old, corroded, worn, or you want an upgrade to higher-security hardware. Salt-air corrosion on Beaches-area deadbolts often pushes the decision toward replacement because the cylinders are at end-of-life anyway. A locksmith walks the hardware with you before quoting.
Can I rekey the locks myself with a kit from Home Depot in Jacksonville?
On Kwikset SmartKey hardware, yes, the kit works and is fast. On Schlage or higher-security brands, you need a pinning kit and a follower tool, plus pins matched to your existing cylinders. A locksmith does the whole house in 30 to 45 minutes. A DIY attempt without the right pinning kit usually ends with one cylinder partially rekeyed and a frustrated homeowner.
Why do new Jacksonville homeowners often rekey on move-in?
Because the previous owner gave keys to neighbors, cleaners, contractors, and dog walkers, and none of those people gave them back. A move-in rekey resets the entire access list to people you actually trust. Rekey beats lock replacement here because the locks themselves are usually fine; you just want different keys.
Does Florida heat affect lock rekey decisions?
Sometimes. Smart locks in direct Jacksonville sun can develop electronic issues that a rekey does not fix. Mechanical deadbolts handle the heat fine. Beaches-area homes with salt-air corrosion sometimes need replacement rather than rekey because the cylinder pin chambers are corroded. The tech checks each cylinder before pulling it for rekey.
Can you rekey rental properties in Jacksonville between tenants?
Yes. Rental rekeys between tenants are a common scheduled job, and we offer block pricing for property managers who handle multiple units. The work happens on the unit's between-tenant turn day, takes 30 minutes per unit, and we leave you with two cut keys per cylinder. Many First Coast property managers schedule rekeys as a standard turn-day line item.
Last updated: 2026-05-01.