Cost guide
Safe opening prices in the UK
Alan Morgan Master Locksmiths prices opening a domestic plate safe from £250, and Fantastic Services' 2026 guide gives £100 to £300 per safe. Higher-grade safes that have to be drilled and repaired cost more, and repairs, new locks and keys are priced on top: safe keys start at £23.25 on the MLA's 2026 list.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A price depends on the lock, the door and the hour.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Opening a domestic safe (Fantastic Services, 2026) | £100 to £300 |
| Opening a domestic plate safe (Alan Morgan Master Locksmiths) | from £250 |
| Safe key cut (MLA list, 2026) | from £23.25 |
| Out-of-hours surcharge, locksmith work (MyJobQuote) | £50 to £100 on top |
Figures from Fantastic Services' 2026 guide, Alan Morgan Master Locksmiths' published prices, the MLA's 2026 key cutting list and MyJobQuote, checked 2 October 2026; they are ranges and starting prices, not quotes.
What moves the price
- The safe's grade. Cheap electronic safes are quicker to open than higher-grade safes built to resist attack.
- The method. A safe opened without damage costs less than one that has to be drilled and repaired.
- Repairs. A new lock, a code reset or new keys after opening are priced on top; safe keys start at £23.25 on the MLA's 2026 list.
- Where it is. A safe bolted into a cramped cupboard or under a floor takes longer to work on.
- Timing. Out-of-hours locksmith work carries a £50 to £100 surcharge on MyJobQuote's figures.
Who quotes for it
4 of the 1,224 locksmiths listed on this site take on safe opening.
Where they are: Barnet (1), Blackpool (1), Lowestoft (1), Sunderland (1).
Questions about safe opening
How much does it cost to open a locked safe?
£100 to £300 per safe in Fantastic Services' 2026 guide; Alan Morgan Master Locksmiths prices domestic plate safes from £250. Drilling, repair and a new lock or keys add to that, so ask for the total first.
Is it cheaper to open a safe or replace it?
For a cheap electronic safe, replacing it can cost less than an opening and repair. For a heavier, higher-grade safe, opening and repairing it can cost less than buying and fitting a new safe of the same rating. Ask the safe engineer to price both before work starts.
Check a quote More about safe opening Find a locksmith near you