A whole-house rekey price is driven by how many cylinders need new pins, whether those cylinders match, and whether any hardware must be replaced instead. The lock hardware stays in place when a rekey is possible. Only the internal pins change, which is why this is often the access reset people want after a move-in or a lost key.

Swift Key San Diego is a referral service. It does not set prices or complete the work. The independent licensed locksmith inspects the doors, quotes an itemized total, and performs the rekey under their own terms. Ask for that total before work begins.

Count cylinders before you ask for a number

Every lock rekey quote should start with a cylinder count, not a room count.

A standard exterior deadbolt is usually one cylinder. A keyed knob or lever on the same door can be a second. Garage entry doors, side gates, and a detached unit add more. A studio with one keyed door is a different job from a house with front, back, garage, and gate cylinders.

Walk the property and list:

  • Each keyed exterior door
  • Whether the door has a deadbolt, a keyed knob, or both
  • Gates, sheds, and garage-to-house doors
  • Smart locks that still have a physical key cylinder
  • Padlocks you want included

Bring that list when you call. The locksmith may still find extra cylinders on site.

What belongs on the itemized quote

Ask the locksmith to separate:

  • Trip or service call charge, if any
  • Per-cylinder rekey
  • Extra keys beyond the set included in the job
  • Any cylinder that cannot be rekeyed and must be replaced
  • High-security or restricted cylinders that need different parts or authorization
  • After-hours or weekend terms, if you are requesting them
  • Mailboxes only if the hardware is a private box they are allowed to service

High-security brands can take different pinning tools and authorization. Mixed brands (Schlage on one door, Kwikset on another) cannot share one key without replacing some hardware first. Those facts change the quote more than a “typical house” label.

Do not accept a single lump sum with no cylinder list. Do not assume a discount for doing several doors at once unless the locksmith writes it down.

The real win: keyed-alike consolidation

Many homes use a different key for the front door, back door, garage, and gate. If the locks are the same brand and keyway, a locksmith can often re-pin every compatible cylinder to one new key.

Keyed-alike does not add a separate product when the locks already match. If brands are mixed, you replace some locks to match, then rekey. For the decision between re-pinning and new hardware, see rekeying versus replacing locks.

What can raise the quote

High-security cylinders. Restricted or high-security hardware may require specific pins, blanks, and dealer authorization.

Smart lock key cylinders. Rekeying the mechanical cylinder, if the model allows it, is separate from deleting old keypad codes. Say whether you also need codes cleared.

Mailboxes and padlocks. Include them only when you control that lock. USPS cluster boxes are a postal process, not a standard residential rekey.

Failing hardware. If a cylinder is corroded or binds, the locksmith may refuse to rekey it and quote replacement instead. Coastal exposure can speed corrosion; inspect rather than assume.

Mixed brands. One-key convenience across Kwikset and Schlage usually means lock replacement on some doors, then a rekey of the matching set.

DIY rekey kits

Some Kwikset SmartKey cylinders are designed for owner rekeying with the manufacturer’s tool. Basic pinning kits exist for other cylinders. Limits are real:

  • A kit for one brand will not re-pin a different brand.
  • A dropped spring or a wrong pin height can leave the lock unusable.
  • Restricted and high-security cylinders are not DIY jobs.

If every lock is the same owner-rekeyable model and you follow the manufacturer’s steps, DIY can be reasonable. For mixed brands, worn hardware, or any cylinder you cannot identify, have a locksmith inspect it.

When rekeying is the wrong call

A rekey makes sense when the lock hardware works. If the lock is stiff, loose, or visibly worn, changing pins does not fix the mechanism.

You also cannot rekey incompatible brands onto one key. And if you are switching to a keypad-only entry, you are replacing the unit, not rekeying the old one.

For move-in timing and owner versus renter authority, see the rekey vs. replace moving-in guide.

Move-in timing

For owners, the useful time to rekey is as soon as you control the doors, because prior keys keep working until the pins change. You do not know who received a spare from the previous occupant. Renters should get written management approval first.

A whole-house rekey is often one visit when the cylinder count is known and the hardware is serviceable. The locksmith confirms that after seeing the doors. Do not treat “one visit” as a completion promise before the inspection.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to rekey a whole house in San Diego?

The independent locksmith sets the price after counting cylinders and inspecting brands. Ask for an itemized total before work begins. Swift Key does not publish or collect that fee.

Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?

Rekeying is often less expensive when the hardware is sound, because you are not buying a new lock for every door. Replacement can cost less in the long run if several locks already fail. Compare itemized quotes for the same openings. See rekey versus replacement.

How long does a whole-house rekey take?

The locksmith re-pins each cylinder, cuts keys, and tests every lock. Duration depends on cylinder count and condition. Ask them how they plan the visit.

Can I include my mailbox and padlocks in the same rekey visit?

Private padlocks and private mailboxes with standard keyways may be includable. USPS cluster boxes usually are not. Confirm authorization and hardware with the locksmith.

What if I have Kwikset locks on some doors and Schlage on others?

You can rekey each brand to its own new key. You cannot make both brands work on one key without replacing some locks first.

Does rekeying affect the warranty on my locks?

Warranty terms belong to the lock manufacturer and to the locksmith’s own service agreement. Ask both before work starts. Swift Key does not warrant locksmith work.

Call Swift Key San Diego at (858) 400-4082 for a referral. The matched locksmith assesses every cylinder, quotes the job in writing, and sets the terms.