How Do You Rekey a Door Lock: Complete Guide for Homeowners

After closing on a house, the first call most people make is to a locksmith. A locksmith charges $80 to $150 per lock for rekey service, and a typical home has 4 to 8 exterior locks. How do you rekey a door lock yourself becomes a fair question once you see the bill. The honest answer is that the DIY version takes 15 minutes per lock, costs $12 to $20 in parts, and uses tools most homeowners already own.

What Rekeying Actually Changes

Rekeying replaces the small spring-loaded pins inside the lock cylinder so the lock accepts a different key. The lock itself, the deadbolt, and the strike plate all stay in place. Only the internal pin combination changes. The old key stops working, the new key works smoothly, and you save the cost of a full lock replacement.

Rekeying does not improve security. If you want a more pick-resistant lock, replace the cylinder or upgrade to a Grade 1 ANSI/BHMA-certified lock. Rekeying simply changes who can open the existing hardware.

Kwikset SmartKey: The Easy Path

If your existing locks are Kwikset SmartKey models (the round logo on the cylinder face), rekeying takes 30 seconds and requires no disassembly. The process uses the SmartKey learn tool and a new key blank.

1. Insert the current working key and rotate 90 degrees clockwise.
2. Insert the SmartKey learn tool into the small slot below the keyway. Push and hold.
3. Pull out the working key while continuing to hold the tool.
4. Insert the new key, rotate 180 degrees back, and remove. The lock now responds to the new key only.

SmartKey blanks at Home Depot cost $3 to $6 each. A multi-key set with the SmartKey tool runs $10. This is the fastest rekey method available and works on any Kwikset SmartKey lock from 2008 onward.

Standard Pin-Tumbler Rekeying for Schlage and Kwikset

Locks without SmartKey use a traditional pin-tumbler mechanism. Rekeying requires disassembly, swapping pins for a new combination, and reassembly. A Kwikset or Schlage rekey kit at Home Depot ($15 to $25) contains 50 to 200 spare pins in sizes 1 through 8 and the necessary tools.

Tools You Need

• Phillips screwdriver and flathead screwdriver
• Rekey kit (Kwikset 83263 or Schlage 40-101)
• Plug follower (included in kits)
• Cap removal tool (included in kits)
• Tweezers
• Two clean new keys cut to your chosen pattern
• Towel or tray to catch tiny springs

Step-by-Step: Rekeying a Schlage Deadbolt

1. Remove the deadbolt from the door. Two screws on the interior thumb-turn side release it.
2. Push the latch through the door so the cylinder slides free.
3. On the cylinder, find the C-clip on the back tail piece. Remove it with a flathead.
4. Insert the working key, rotate slightly, and pull the cylinder plug out using the plug follower to keep the top pins and springs in place.
5. Tip out the bottom pins. Note their order. They are tiny, so work over a towel.
6. Insert the new key into the plug.
7. Use the rekey kit chart to identify the new pin sizes that match the new key cuts. Drop in the correct pins in the correct order.
8. Carefully slide the plug back into the cylinder, pushing the follower out. The new pins now align with the new key cuts.
9. Reinstall the C-clip, then the cylinder, latch, and deadbolt back into the door.
10. Test the new key for smooth turning. Test the old key to confirm it no longer works.

Brand Spotlight: Kwikset vs Schlage

Kwikset is the more common residential brand, found in the Smart Series, Kevo, and basic SmartKey lines at Home Depot and Lowe’s. The SmartKey rekey system is the easiest in the industry. Downside: SmartKey is more susceptible to bumping attacks than traditional pin-tumbler.

Schlage uses traditional pin-tumbler in all consumer locks. Reputable Grade 2 and Grade 1 ANSI/BHMA certifications make it the security-first choice. The B60N and B62N residential deadbolts are the most common home models. Rekeying requires disassembly, but the lock itself is more pick-resistant.

For a security upgrade and DIY-friendliness combined, many homeowners step up to Schlage Encode or Yale Assure Lock 2 smart deadbolts. These offer keypad entry, optional Z-Wave or Wi-Fi, and easy code management without ever touching a physical key.

Rekeying All Your Locks to One Key

Multiple Kwikset or multiple Schlage locks of the same brand and series can usually be rekeyed to the same key. Bring all the locks to a single work session, follow the same pin pattern, and verify each one with the same key. Mixing brands (Kwikset and Schlage on the same key) is not possible because the keyways are different. If your home has both, plan to replace one brand or live with two key types.

Locksmiths charge $20 to $40 per additional lock when rekeying to a master key. DIY brings the same outcome at $0 in additional cost beyond the initial pin kit.

When to Replace Instead of Rekey

• The lock body is rusted, sticky, or showing wear marks.
• The deadbolt is Grade 3 builder-grade (replace with Grade 1 or 2 for security).
• You want keyless entry, smart-home integration, or audit logs.
• The strike plate has been kicked or pried in a break-in attempt.
• You plan to sell soon and want to disclose new hardware.

Cost Comparison

Locksmith rekeying for 6 locks: $480 to $900 depending on travel and per-lock pricing. DIY rekey for 6 Kwikset SmartKey locks: $30 to $60 in blank keys and one SmartKey tool. DIY rekey for 6 Schlage pin-tumbler locks: $25 for a Schlage rekey kit plus $20 for new cut keys at Ace Hardware. Total time invested: 90 minutes to 3 hours depending on confidence and lock count.

Safety and Common Mistakes

The top mistake is losing the tiny top pins and springs because they pop out when the plug exits without the follower. Always use the plug follower included in the kit, and work over a tray. The second mistake is mixing up the pin order, which causes the lock to bind on the new key. Lay the pins out left to right in the order they came out and the order they go back in. The third is forgetting to test before reinstalling. Test the new key on the bench before reinstalling the lock in the door. Five minutes of bench testing saves an hour of frustration at the door.