Emergency Locksmith · Middle Tennessee
Lock Drilling When Nothing Else Will Open It
When a lock cannot be opened any other way, Instant Locksmith TN drills it out for a standard price of $200 plus the service call. If a lockout ends in drilling, you pay the service call plus $200 only, with no lockout fee on top. Drilling is always the last resort: we try non-destructive methods first, explain why drilling is needed, and get your approval before the drill touches the lock.
- $200 standard price + service call
- Non-destructive methods tried first
- Open 24/7/365
Lock drilling is a last resort, not a shortcut
Instant Locksmith TN provides lock drilling across Middle Tennessee for homes, businesses and some safes, but only when the lock truly cannot be opened another way. Most lockouts never get this far. Picking, bypass tools and the hardware's own release usually get the door open with the lock still working.
Drilling destroys the cylinder, so the lock has to be replaced or re-cored afterward. That is why we treat it as the final option and why you hear the reason, the price and the next step before we start. If a locksmith reaches for a drill before trying anything else on an ordinary lock, treat it as a warning sign; our guide to locksmith scams explains why.
Situations where drilling is the right call
Broken internal parts
A cam, tailpiece or spring has snapped inside the lock. Even the right key turns freely or not at all, because nothing connects it to the bolt anymore.
Seized cylinder
Corrosion, debris, a jammed-in foreign object or old damage has locked the plug in place so it will not rotate for a key or a tool.
High-security lock, no key
Some high-security cylinders are built to resist picking for a long time. With no key and no bypass the hardware allows, drilling may be the only practical way in.
Lock damaged in a break-in
A pried, punched or partly drilled lock often can't be operated normally. Drilling out what remains is sometimes the most practical way to free the door and secure it again.
Some safes
A safe with a failed lock or lost combination may need a precise drill point and repair. That's specialized work; start with our safe lockout service.
Why we try non-destructive entry first
A lock opened without damage keeps working with your existing keys, and you avoid the cost of new hardware. For most lockouts that is the whole job. On a house lockout or a business lockout, the technician works through the methods the hardware allows before drilling is even discussed.
If those methods fail, or the lock is clearly broken inside, the technician stops and tells you what they found. You decide whether to go ahead.
What drilling involves, in plain terms
Most door locks hold the plug in place with pins or wafers that line up only when the correct key is inserted. Drilling targets the area where those parts block the plug, destroying them so the plug can turn and the bolt can be retracted. The damaged cylinder is then removed from the door.
A trained locksmith picks the drill point and bit for the specific lock so damage stays inside the cylinder rather than the door. High-security cylinders often include hardened inserts that make this slower. We don't publish a how-to, and you shouldn't try it yourself: a missed drill point can ruin the door, the frame or the bolt, which turns a lock problem into a carpentry problem.
- Order and describe the lock. Use the online order form or call. Tell us the door, the lock brand if you know it, and what's happening (key won't turn, lock spins, no key at all).
- Authorization is confirmed. The technician confirms you're authorized to enter before anything is opened.
- Non-destructive methods first. The technician tries what the hardware allows and checks other entry points you control.
- Explain and approve. If drilling is the only option, you hear why, the price, and what the replacement will cost, then you approve before we drill.
- Drill, open and secure. The lock is drilled and removed, and with your approval a new lock or cylinder goes in so the door locks again before we leave.
We verify authorization before drilling anything
A drilled lock is a door someone can't lock until the hardware is replaced, so authorization matters even more here than on a routine lockout. Instant Locksmith TN does not necessarily require a utility bill or lease, which are often locked inside, but we do confirm you're entitled to enter before opening anything.
Our access to investigative verification resources gives us an unusual additional capability when identity or ownership needs to be confirmed. If authorization can't be confirmed, we won't drill. Read our verification policy. Instant Locksmith TN is insured, and every technician is background-checked.
After the lock is drilled: replace or re-core
A drilled cylinder can't be reused. Depending on the hardware, you'll need a new cylinder (common on mortise and many commercial locks) or a whole new lockset. The parts or new lock are priced separately and approved before installation; drilling price does not include them.
- Homes: residential lock replacement or a new deadbolt installation.
- Businesses: commercial lock replacement, including mortise and storefront cylinders.
- Keep one key for every door: we can rekey the new lock to match your other locks.
What does it cost to drill out a lock?
Standard price: $200 + service call. Online orders pay the $15–$25 service call at checkout as the deposit: $15 inside city limits, $25 outside (plus a 4% online processing fee). It is a flat fee added to the service price, and the time-of-day multipliers never apply to it. Details are in our Payment & Deposit Policy.
- Standard rate: orders placed 7 AM–8 PM
- After hours (orders placed 8 PM–7 AM): 1.5×
- Federal holidays (calendar date and observed date): 2×
- Federal holiday, after hours: 3×
- No weekend surcharge
- Mileage: $1.25/mile beyond 5 miles from the city center
| When | Rate | Drilling, inside city limits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (order placed 7:00 AM–8:00 PM) | 1× | $200 + $15 = $215 |
| After hours (order placed 8:00 PM–7:00 AM) | 1.5× | $300 + $15 = $315 |
| Federal holiday (calendar or observed date) | 2× | $400 + $15 = $415 |
| Federal holiday, after hours | 3× | $600 + $15 = $615 |
Outside city limits, add $10 to each total (the $25 service call instead of $15). Mileage of $1.25 per mile beyond 5 miles from the city center is added when it applies. Multipliers apply to the drilling price and any parts or hardware, but never to the service call or mileage. Holidays are U.S. federal holidays, billed on both the calendar date and the observed weekday. There is no weekend surcharge. The replacement lock or cylinder, and any parts, are priced separately and approved before installation.
If a lockout ends in drilling, you pay the service call plus the $200 drilling price only; there is no lockout fee on top. If the lock opens without drilling, you pay for the service you actually received, such as a lockout, not the drilling price. See every published price and rate rule.
Lock Drilling FAQ
Is the $200 drilling price the total I'll pay?
No. The $200 standard price covers drilling the lock. The $15 (inside city limits) or $25 (outside) service call is added, and a replacement lock or cylinder is priced separately and approved before installation.
Do you charge the drilling price if you open the lock another way?
No. The drilling price applies only when the lock is actually drilled. If non-destructive entry works, you're billed for the service performed, such as a house or business lockout. If a lockout ends in drilling, you pay the drilling price and service call only, not the lockout fee as well.
Can my lock be repaired after it's drilled?
The drilled cylinder can't be reused. On many locks only the cylinder needs replacing; on others the whole lockset does. We tell you which before you approve the drilling.
Will drilling damage my door?
Done correctly, the damage stays inside the lock cylinder. The door and frame should be unharmed. Doors already damaged by a break-in or forced entry may need separate repair.
Can I refuse drilling once the technician recommends it?
Yes. Nothing is drilled without your approval. If you decline, you pay only the service call, and we can talk through other options such as a different entry point you control.
Does the after-hours rate apply to drilling?
Yes. The $200 standard price becomes $300 for orders placed between 8:00 PM and 7:00 AM, $400 on a U.S. federal holiday, and $600 for a holiday order placed after hours. The service call and any mileage stay flat.
Lock won't open no matter what?
Order online to see the service call and drilling price up front, or call and describe the lock. We try every non-destructive option first.
