Locks & Rekeying · Middle Tennessee
Lock Rekeying: Make Old Keys Useless Without Replacing Your Locks
Rekeying changes the pins inside your existing lock so a new key works and every old key stops working. Your hardware stays on the door. Instant Locksmith TN rekeys locks on-site at homes across Middle Tennessee.
- Keep your hardware, change the key
- One key for every door, if compatible
- Upfront price before work
What rekeying actually does
Most home locks are pin-tumbler locks. Inside the cylinder sit small spring-loaded pins of different lengths. Your key lifts each pin to exactly the right height so the cylinder can turn.
To rekey, the locksmith removes the cylinder, takes out the old key pins and installs a new set sized to a new key. The knob, lever or deadbolt on your door stays the same. Old keys no longer line up the pins, so they won't turn the lock.
Instant Locksmith TN provides mobile lock rekeying throughout Middle Tennessee, so the work happens at your door rather than at a shop counter.
When rekeying makes sense
You just moved in
Previous owners, their relatives, contractors, dog walkers and real estate agents may all have had keys. Rekeying on move-in day closes that gap.
Keys lost or stolen
If a key went missing with something that shows your address, such as a wallet or a bag with mail in it, rekeying stops that key from working.
Too many keys on the ring
Locks that share the same keyway can often be pinned to one key, so the front door, back door and deadbolts all use the same key.
Roommate or tenant changes
Someone moved out and didn't return every copy. Rekeying resets access for the people who live there now.
After a relationship ends
When an ex or former household member still has a key, a quick rekey restores control of who can get in.
Contractors finished
Renovation crews and cleaners often get copies. Rekey once the job wraps up.
Can every lock be keyed alike?
Keying several locks to one key works when the locks share a compatible keyway. Two common residential keyways are Kwikset's KW1 and Schlage's SC1, and a Kwikset key won't fit a Schlage cylinder. If your front door is one brand and your back door another, the locksmith can tell you the options: rekey within each brand, swap a cylinder, or replace one lock so everything matches.
Some locks are designed for owner rekeying with a special tool, such as Kwikset SmartKey. Those can usually be reset as well, though the method differs from a traditional pinned cylinder. Tell us the brand when you order and we'll confirm before dispatch.
When to replace instead
Rekeying only changes the key. It won't fix a lock that's worn out, cracked, hard to turn because of internal damage, or too low a grade for the door. If a lock was forced during a break-in, or you want a stronger deadbolt or a smart lock, replacing the lock or upgrading the deadbolt is the better move. The locksmith will tell you honestly if a cylinder isn't worth rekeying.
- Count your locks. Note every exterior lock: knobs, levers, deadbolts, the garage service door, and any patio door with a keyed cylinder.
- Order. Request rekeying online with the number of locks and brands if you know them.
- Confirm the price. You'll see the price before work begins. Extra cylinders or a mixed-brand surprise are explained and approved first.
- Rekey on-site. Each cylinder is removed, re-pinned to the new key and tested on the door.
- New keys in hand. You get working keys before the locksmith leaves. Need more copies? Ask about extra keys.
What does lock rekeying cost?
Standard price: quoted before dispatch. Cost mostly depends on how many cylinders need to be rekeyed, whether locks share a keyway, and whether any lock needs a part replaced. Rates by time of call:
- Before 8 PM: standard
- After 8 PM: 1.5×
- Federal holidays: 2×
- Federal holiday after 8 PM: 3×
Multipliers apply to the standard service price only; the $15 (inside city limits) or $25 (outside city limits) service call stays flat at any hour. Holidays are U.S. federal holidays.
Rekeying is rarely an emergency, so scheduling during normal hours usually costs less. Review our pricing and rate rules.
Lock Rekeying FAQ
Will my old keys still work after a rekey?
No. Once the pins are changed, the old keys won't turn the cylinder. Only the new keys will work.
Can you rekey my house so one key opens every door?
Usually, if the locks share a compatible keyway, such as all Kwikset or all Schlage. Mixed brands may need a cylinder swap or one replacement lock. We'll tell you the options before doing any work.
Should I rekey a house I just bought?
It's one of the most common reasons people rekey. You don't know how many copies of the old keys exist, and rekeying ends that uncertainty without buying new hardware.
Can a smart lock be rekeyed?
Many smart locks have a standard key cylinder as a backup, and that cylinder can often be rekeyed. Changing the digital codes is a separate step done in the lock's settings or app.
I rent. Can I rekey my apartment?
Check your lease first. Many leases require landlord permission for lock changes, and the landlord may need a key. Landlords can see our rental property lock change service.
Does rekeying make my lock more secure?
It controls who has a working key, but it doesn't make the lock harder to pick or force. For stronger hardware, look at a deadbolt or lock upgrade.
Moved in or lost a key? Rekey today.
Order online with the number of locks, and we'll confirm the price before the locksmith starts.
