House lockouts
Re-keying
Deadbolt upgrades
Smart locks
Schlage
Kwikset
Car keys & fobsNon-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
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How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in Portland?
In Portland, OR, a standard rekey typically runs $25 to $45 per lock when you bring us multiple cylinders at once, and full lock installation on an existing door usually lands between $120 and $260 per door depending on hardware. A single lockout rekey done as a standalone visit tends to cost more per lock, around $95 to $150, because you’re paying for the trip as much as the work. Brand and security tier drive the biggest swings: a Kwikset entry-level cylinder sits at the low end, while a Medeco or Abloy high-security deadbolt can push installation past $400 per door in hardware and labor combined.
Those are real Portland numbers, not national averages copied from a template. Portland’s housing stock skews old, and that changes the math. A 1920s bungalow in Sellwood with a mismatched set of original mortise locks costs more to rekey than a 2015 townhome in the Pearl with four matching Schlage deadbolts, because old hardware takes more careful handling and sometimes needs a cylinder swap rather than a simple pin change.
Lock Installation & Rekey Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s how the line items break down for the Portland market heading into 2026. Ranges cover both a straightforward job and one with complications.
| Service | Typical Portland Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rekey, one lock (on-site visit) | $95 – $150 | Trip charge dominates a single-lock job |
| Rekey, per lock (2+ locks, same visit) | $25 – $45 | Best value when you batch multiple cylinders |
| Rekey, whole house (4 – 6 locks) | $120 – $210 | Common after a lease change or move-in |
| Standard deadbolt installation (existing door) | $120 – $200 | Includes hardware at the entry level |
| Deadbolt installation (new bore hole) | $180 – $260 | Cutting a new hole adds labor |
| High-security cylinder install (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy) | $280 – $450+ | Brand authorization and specialized tooling |
| Mortise lock service (older Portland homes) | $150 – $300 | Original hardware needs careful handling |
| Knob-to-lever conversion (ADA-friendly) | $75 – $160 per door | Hardware plus install |
What pushes a Portland job up? Old doors that have settled, which throws off the strike plate and forces us to adjust the hardware before anything fits. Multi-unit properties, where a landlord wants every unit on a different key but managed sensibly. High-security brands like Abloy and Medeco, which cost more in hardware and require the right tooling to service correctly. What pulls it down? Batching. One visit for six locks is far cheaper per lock than six separate visits, and it’s why we tell people to gather every cylinder in the house before we arrive.
What Affects Lock Installation & Rekey Pricing in Portland
- Old housing stock and settled doors. Portland has a deep bench of pre-war homes, and in neighborhoods like Irvington or Laurelhurst we routinely find doors that have shifted enough that a new deadbolt won’t sit flush without adjustment. That prep work is real labor, and it shows up in the quote.
- Hardware brand and security tier. A Kwikset or Schlage cylinder is a quick, economical job. A Sargent, Baldwin, or Medeco cylinder is a different animal, requiring brand-specific knowledge and tooling that not every locksmith carries. The price reflects that capability, not markup.
- Number of locks and whether you batch them. This is the single biggest lever. Two locks in one visit per-lock cost is dramatically lower than two separate visits, because you’re paying the trip cost only once.
- Lockout vs. scheduled work. A rekey you plan for is cheaper than a rekey triggered by a lost key at an inconvenient hour. Emergency calls carry a premium because of the trip and timing.
- Wet-season wear. Portland’s rainy season puts real stress on exterior locks. We see more sticking and corrosion-related failures from November through March, which sometimes means a cylinder replacement rather than a simple rekey.
- Rental turnover timing. Landlords rekeying between tenants in the tight Portland rental market often need it done on a schedule that fits a move-out date. We work around that, but short-notice scheduling on multiple units can affect the per-unit price.
How to Save on Lock Installation & Rekey
Batching is the honest answer. If you’re moving into a rental in Northeast Portland or buying a home in Hawthorne, walk the property and count every exterior lock before you call. Six locks rekeyed in one visit at $25 to $45 each beats six separate service calls every time.
Second, know when a rekey is enough and when you actually need new hardware. Rekeying costs a fraction of replacement and delivers the same result if the existing locks are solid: you get fresh keys and the old ones stop working. We only steer people toward new hardware when the existing cylinder is genuinely worn, damaged, or below the security level they want. From Kwikset to Abloy, the right lock for the right door is often the one already there.
Third, have your hardware ready if you’re supplying it. Some homeowners price out their own Schlage or Baldwin sets and have us install, which can trim the overall bill. Just confirm the door thickness and backset first so the hardware actually fits.
Free estimates are how this starts. Call (855) 341-3373 and describe the locks you’ve got, and we’ll give you a straight range before anyone shows up.
FAQs – Lock Installation & Rekey Cost
How much does it cost to rekey a house in Portland?
Rekeying a typical Portland house with four to six locks runs $120 to $210 total when done in one visit. Per-lock pricing drops to $25 to $45 once you’re past the first lock, so a whole-house rekey is one of the more economical security upgrades available. Call (855) 341-3373 for a free estimate based on your exact lock count.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace locks?
Rekeying is cheaper in almost every case, often by half or more. A full lock replacement costs hardware plus labor, while a rekey reuses the cylinder you already own. You only replace when the hardware is worn out or you’re upgrading security tier, say from a builder-grade Kwikset to a Medeco or Mul-T-Lock. Our Lock Installation & Rekey in Key page walks through that decision in more detail.
Why does high-security lock installation cost more in Portland?
High-security cylinders from Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy run $280 to $450+ per door installed, compared with $120 to $200 for a standard deadbolt. The gap is hardware cost plus the specialized training and tooling those brands require. Not every local locksmith can correctly service them, and the ones who can charge for that capability. If you need that tier of protection, it’s worth paying for a proper install.
How much does a single lock rekey cost?
A single lock rekey in Portland typically runs $95 to $150 because the trip cost dominates. If you have other locks you might want done, it’s almost always worth adding them to the same visit, since each additional lock only adds $25 to $45. Call (855) 341-3373 and we’ll tell you whether batching makes sense for your property.
Can you come today for a lock installation or rekey?
Often, yes. Reach out early in the day and we can usually schedule same-day rekeying and standard installations around the Portland metro. Emergency and automotive lockouts are handled as a separate priority. Call (855) 341-3373 to check availability for today.
Getting a Straight Number in Portland
Northfield Lock & Key handles three things in-house without subcontracting: rekeying, emergency response, and on-site car key replacement. That matters when you’re trying to get one clear price instead of being bounced between providers. Whether you’re a renter in St. Johns rekeying after move-in, a landlord cycling units in Gresham, or a homeowner in West Hills stepping up to an Abloy deadbolt, the estimate is free and the range is honest up front. Call (855) 341-3373 for yours.
Pricing reflects the Portland market as of 2026. Northfield Lock & Key offers free estimates – call (855) 341-3373.
What Our Customers Say
"Installed a smart lock and actually set up the app and the codes with me instead of leaving me to figure it out from a leaflet."
— Kurt Doyle"Got me back in and the price was fair for the hour. He did arrive closer to 45 minutes than the 20 he estimated, which felt long standing outside, but he was honest that traffic was the problem."
— Rafael Mendoza"Key snapped off in the deadbolt. He extracted it without damaging the cylinder, which I did not think was going to be possible."
— Travis Sutton