Service

Emergency locksmith

A daytime lockout costs £90 to £160 in the Master Locksmiths Association's and MyJobQuote's 2026 price guides, with £50 to £100 more at night or at weekends on MyJobQuote's figures. Most nightlatches and uPVC doors open without drilling. Agree the total on the phone, before anyone sets off, and have ID ready.

Illustration: a front door with a lever handle and letterbox

What this covers

What it costs. A lockout where the lock has to be drilled and replaced costs £180 to £300 or more on MyJobQuote's September 2026 figures, against £90 to £160 for a daytime lockout opened without damage (MLA, MyJobQuote). Full cost breakdown.

What the job covers

Getting back into a house or flat after a lockout, without damage where the lock allows
Taking out a key that has snapped in the lock
Securing a door that will not lock at night
Changing a lock after keys have been lost or stolen
Making a door safe after a break-in until a full repair can be done

What is involved

An emergency locksmith takes the jobs that cannot wait: a lockout, a key snapped in the lock, a door that will not lock at night, keys lost or stolen, or a door left insecure after a break-in. Keytek's figures from more than 350,000 jobs show lockouts peaking around 7pm and nearly doubling on Sundays, which is when out-of-hours rates apply.

Most lockouts are opened without damage. A nightlatch, or a uPVC door that has only been pulled shut, can usually be opened with specialist tools and no harm to the lock. A locked mortice deadlock or a high-security cylinder may take more work, and occasionally a lock does have to be drilled and replaced. If someone says the lock must be drilled, ask why, and what the replacement costs, before they start. Drilling a lock that could have been opened is behind many complaints: the MLA recorded 402 complaints of suspected overcharging in 2025, its highest yet.

The price should be agreed on the phone. Ask for the total: labour, any call-out fee, parts, VAT, and whether a night or weekend rate applies. The MLA says most emergency locksmiths charge no separate call-out fee. Take care with a low phone quote from a number that does not name the business, or a call centre that cannot say who is coming.

A careful locksmith asks for ID and proof of address before opening a door, or checks with a neighbour or landlord where the papers are inside. If keys were stolen along with anything showing your address, change the locks rather than only getting back in.

Choosing someone for the job

Ask for the total before anyone sets off: call-out, labour, parts and VAT, and whether a night or weekend rate applies. A locksmith based near you can give a range on the phone. Ask the name of the business and of the person coming, and check the number is a landline or mobile rather than a national line. Have ID and proof of address ready, or someone who can vouch for you; a careful locksmith asks before opening anything. If they say the lock must be drilled, ask why and what the new lock costs before they start.

Common questions

What should I do if I am locked out of my house?

Check every door and window, and whether a landlord, housemate or neighbour holds a spare. If not, call a locksmith based near you and agree the total before they set off. Have ID and proof of address ready, or someone who can vouch for you, because a careful locksmith asks.

Will a locksmith have to drill my lock?

Usually not. Most nightlatches, and uPVC doors that have only been pulled shut, are opened without damage. A locked deadlock or a high-security cylinder may take longer, and some locks do need drilling. If someone says yours must be drilled, ask why and what the replacement costs before they start.

What can I do if a key snaps in the lock?

Leave the broken piece where it is and do not push it further in. A locksmith can usually extract it with specialist tools and cut a new key, or replace the cylinder if the lock is worn. A key that snaps is often a sign of a worn key or lock, so ask for the lock to be checked.

Do I need to change the locks if my keys are stolen?

If the keys were taken with anything showing your address, yes. Otherwise it is still worth thinking about, since you cannot know where the keys went. A euro cylinder can be swapped without changing the rest of the lock, and your insurer may ask what was done.

Find a locksmith near you Describe your job