Rekey or Replace Locks? How to Decide

When keys go missing, a tenant moves out or you buy a new place, the question is the same: do you need new locks, or will rekeying do? Both options stop old keys working. They differ in cost, in what they fix, and in what they leave behind. This guide walks through the decision the way we do it on site in Lidcombe and the surrounding suburbs, so you can understand any recommendation you are given.

The short version

• Rekey when the locks are in good condition, suit the door and are secure enough, and the problem is simply that you do not trust the existing keys.
• Replace when the locks are worn, damaged, low quality or the wrong type for the door, or when you want a feature the current lock does not have.

Everything else in this article is detail behind those two lines.

What each option actually does

Rekeying

Rekeying changes the pins inside the lock cylinder so that a new key operates it. The lock body, bolt, handle and strike stay in place. Every previous key stops working. Our lock rekeying page describes the process.

What rekeying does not do:

• It does not make the lock physically stronger.
• It does not fix a worn bolt, a broken spring or a loose body.
• It does not change the lock's design, so a lock that can be slipped can still be slipped.

Replacement

Replacement removes the old lock entirely and fits new hardware. It can fix almost anything: wear, damage, poor security, the wrong type of lock, or a lock that cannot be keyed to match the rest of the house. Our lock replacement page covers what is involved.

What replacement costs you that rekeying does not is the price of the new hardware, plus any extra work if the new lock needs different cut-outs in the door.

Question 1: What condition is the lock in?

This is the first thing we check. A lock in good condition operates smoothly with the key, the bolt moves fully and freely, and the body is firm on the door.

Warning signs that rekeying is poor value:

• the key is hard to insert or turn even with a fresh key;
• the bolt sticks or only partly extends;
• the lock body moves when you push it;
• there is visible corrosion, often seen on doors facing weather;
• parts are cracked or missing.

Rekeying a worn lock gives you new keys for a lock that may fail soon. In that case we recommend replacement and say why.

Question 2: Is the lock secure enough for the door?

Some locks are fine mechanically but simply not very secure. Common examples around Lidcombe:

• Old spring latches and rim locks on front doors of older houses, with no deadbolt at all.
• Cheap entrance sets where the latch has no deadlocking plunger and can be slipped.
• Sliding door hooks that can be lifted off their keeper.

Rekeying these keeps the same weakness. If the door is your main entry, a better lock, a deadbolt, or a reinforced strike plate is usually the better spend. Our article on deadlocks and deadlatches explains the difference.

Question 3: Can the lock be rekeyed at all?

Most standard residential cylinders can. Some cannot:

• sealed or low-cost locks with no serviceable cylinder;
• locks whose pins or parts are no longer available;
• some electronic or proprietary locks that are re-coded rather than re-pinned.

If a lock cannot be rekeyed, replacement is the answer by default.

Question 4: Do you want one key for everything?

If your front door, back door and screen all use different keys, both options can help:

• If the locks share a compatible keyway, rekeying them alike is usually the cheapest way to one key.
• If they come from different brands with incompatible keyways, you may need to replace one or more cylinders to bring them onto the same system.

Question 5: Do you need control over key copies?

Standard keys can be copied at any key-cutting kiosk. If you need to control who can make copies, for example in a shop with staff or a rental with a property manager, a restricted key system is the answer. That normally means new cylinders, so it falls under replacement. See security locksmith and commercial locksmith.

Question 6: What is the budget?

Rekeying is usually cheaper because you are not buying new hardware. But a cheaper job that has to be repeated is not cheaper. A sensible approach on a tight budget is often:

1. Rekey the locks that are in good condition now.
2. Replace the one lock that is weakest, usually the main entry.
3. Plan the rest for later.

Our locksmith cost guide explains what drives the price of each.

Common situations and what we usually recommend

You have just moved in

You do not know how many keys the previous owners, tenants, agents, cleaners or tradespeople had. If the locks are sound, rekey everything. If the front door has only a spring latch, add a deadbolt at the same time.

A key has been lost

If the key was lost somewhere it could be linked to your address, such as with your licence or in your letterbox, act quickly. Rekeying is usually enough. If you were locked out as a result, we can rekey on the same visit.

A tenant or housemate has left

Rekey between tenancies. It is quick and keeps the existing hardware. In NSW, check the tenancy rules first; our landlord and tenant lock rules guide explains the basics.

After a break-in

If a lock or door was forced, the damaged hardware needs replacing. Undamaged locks can often be rekeyed, especially if keys were taken. See emergency locksmith.

A staff member has left your shop

Rekey the locks they had keys to. If this happens often, consider a restricted key system so you control copies.

The lock is stiff or sticky

That is a repair question first. Often the lock is fine and the door has moved. See lock repair.

A note on DIY rekeying kits

Some lock brands sell rekeying kits for their own products. They can work for a confident DIYer on a matching lock, but small parts are easy to lose and a cylinder reassembled incorrectly can jam. If you try it and it goes wrong, call before forcing anything.

How we make the recommendation

On site we inspect each lock, check the door and frame, and ask what you want to achieve. Then we give you a fixed price for the options that make sense, and you choose. We will not replace a lock that only needs rekeying, and we will not rekey a lock we think will fail.

Get a recommendation

Send photos of your locks to [email protected], use the quote form, or call 02 4503 6922. We serve Lidcombe, Auburn, Berala, Regents Park, Homebush and Strathfield, and we are open 7 days, 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM.