Locksmith Costs In London 2023

Most people will need locksmith services at some point. Both at home and in the workplace, hiring a locksmith is meant to ensure that you can retain access to your property or safeguard it. Whatever the situation, these specialist locksmith services must come at a price. Here we will look at what kind of locksmith costs you can expect when seeking these services in London, in 2023.

Various factors can impact the locksmith costs you may incur whenever you seek service. These factors can include:

·    Location

·    Type of service

·    Need for parts

·    Type of lock

·    Timing

We will go over each of the locksmith price factors and how they can impact the average prices that consumers can expect to pay professional locksmiths.

Location

While we are focused on what locksmith costs in 2023 can be expected, you will probably want to know why the pricing differs from what you are charged in other parts of the country. Location can play a big role in influencing what kind of locksmith prices you can expect. According to Checkatrade, on average, locksmith costs in London currently come to about £163.47.

This is on the higher side of the spectrum due to the other costs that most locksmiths often have to contend with in such a busy city including parking fees and the congestion in traffic that drives up fuel costs. However, even those in rural areas may find themselves being charged high locksmith prices due to their remoteness and the cost involved in getting to their location.

This means that location and distance will both play a role in determining what kind of locksmith cost to expect. Seek out local trusted locksmiths who have to travel a shorter distance to serve you.

If the cost quoted by the locksmith is high, try to find alternatives and compare the pricing to secure the best deal. When comparing locksmith prices, ensure it is on the same service and that you have also factored in the time of day.

Type of service

Locksmith services are charged at an hourly rate. Therefore, the simpler the job that does not require having to wait or go out for special tools, spare parts or other materials, the cheaper the locksmith cost. Services like extracting a broken key or regaining entry after being locked out are typically amongst the fastest to resolve and thus cheaper.

Keep in mind that some locksmiths may be able to quote you a fixed price for a job rather than an hourly rate. When shopping around for the best deal, ensure you clarify if they are offering an hourly rate or a fixed price for the job.

If you have a big job, like installing locks on all the doors of a new house, you may want to consider hiring a locksmith that will offer you a fixed price. This will allow you to better control the cost of the project and can encourage the locksmith to work faster in completing the job.

Need for parts

If the job requires parts to be replaced, expect to pay for these new parts when hiring a locksmith. Taking apart the lock to make the replacement will also mean more time being devoted to the job.

As said, with hourly rates, the longer the job, the more you can expect to pay. Your professional locksmith should be able to examine the condition of your lock and advise you as to whether or not a replacement will be required.

The job can often be completed faster if the locksmith carries along a stock of door locks and other parts in his work van. Having the parts on hand means they can immediately make the replacement without having to put things back together and wait till the parts are delivered. This will ensure the job is completed quickly and the locksmith cost is reduced.

However, in cases where the parts may be rare or expensive, or you require approval from your insurer, this service may take longer to complete and thus prove more expensive. If the locksmith is also not well equipped with the necessary tools and has to wait for their delivery to execute the job, you can again expect a longer wait.

For instance, when needing to take apart an anti snap lock on a uPVC door, specialist tools are needed that many locksmiths do not often travel with, thus likely driving up the locksmith prices.

Type of lock

Different types of locks have different mechanisms and other design features. The more complex and high security the lock, the longer it can take to figure out the problem and source for replacement parts. The cost of the parts will also likely be higher. While high security locks tend to be highly durable, they can still be damaged and require professional locksmith services to fix.

However, with a basic cylinder lock, like a budget euro cylinder, you can often have repairs done quickly. Pricier mortice locks are more complex and may require additional work to be done on the door. This will likely cost more to replace or repair. Depending on the type of lock, its brand and security standard, you will find that the locksmith prices for service can vary widely.

Timing

This refers to both the time of day and the day of the week when you call for locksmith services. If outside of normal hours and on bank holidays, then you can expect to pay extra for inconveniencing the locksmith out of hours. Locksmith prices and their hourly prices will tend to go up between 8 pm to 6 am. This timing may however vary from one locksmith company to the other.

This is also why emergency locksmith services tend to be more expensive. The locksmith is forced to rush to your aid quickly and sometimes during odd hours or days of the week.

Depending on the locksmith and the nature of your emergency, you may find that you charged an additional call out charge. This is why it is smart to call around to get several quotes before choosing a locksmith.

Common locksmith services and their pricing for 2023

Depending on the particular locksmith service you are seeking, you will find that pricing can vary greatly. Even when there is no need to make replacements or repairs, you will have to cover the labour charge. How many locks that are being worked on will also matter. Here is what you can expect to pay for these services in 2023. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate as the exact cost may vary based on such factors as location and timing.

Lock replacement

For lock replacement services you can expect to pay at least £85 for a basic lock cylinder and as much as £115 or more for a mortice deadlock. The type and brand of lock will matter. The more complex the design, the longer it will take to work on than with standard locks.

The type of door and if it will require some rework will also matter. This is often the case when you are replacing locks that are of a different size than the original. The more time needed to install the new lock will drive up replacement costs.

If you change locks outside of normal working hours or on bank holidays, the price will also be higher. Lock replacement costs are generally also higher in London than in most other parts of the country, more so if you choose a locksmith that is not locally based.

When replacing a lock, you have to consider not just labour costs, but also the cost of the new lock. The cheapest locks tend to be budget euro cylinder locks, 3-lever mortice deadlocks, and rim locks that can cost upwards of £30. Multipoint anti snap lock strips for uPVC doors and Yale locks are more complicated and thus expensive.

High security standard locks, such as those that conform with BS3621 will likely also cost more than standard options. The same goes for those that have auto deadlocking and anti snap features. Some brands of locks are also more expensive than others. Some of the high-end brands you can expect to pay more for include Yale, Mul-T-lock, and DOM.

Unlocking door

If you have locked yourself out of your home or office and need to regain entry, then you will likely call for a locksmith. This service is typically charged from about £70 but may vary depending on the type of lock and timing. If the lockout is due to a key being broken in the lock or lost keys, you may also be charged extra for the extraction or making replacement keys respectively.

Lock repair

If you have a lock that is damaged and can be repaired to normalcy without changing locks, you can expect a London locksmith to charge from £69 for an interior door and from £89 for an exterior door. The price of repair jobs may vary depending on the type of lock, how long it takes to execute repairs, any need for spare parts and timing. Most repair cases will have labour as the most expensive cost component.

Emergency Locksmith

Emergency locksmith services occur when a client needs attending outside of normal working hours. Emergency locksmith prices will often include an upfront call out charge. This call out charge will often range between £50 to £150.

The locksmith's hourly rate will also likely be higher than what they charge during regular business hours. Locksmith out-of-hours rates can be double or more than their regular hourly rate. Given the wide disparity, it is advisable to shop around and seek quotes on emergency locksmith prices from different emergency locksmiths to find the best deal.

When it comes to lockouts during odd hours and during holidays, you can expect to pay at least £110 to regain entry. This is the basic fee for standard mortice deadlock and rim locks. If there is a broken key in the lock that needs to be extracted, you can expect to pay at least £90 for labour alone on such emergency locksmith jobs.

Emergency boarding up services are needed when there has been a break-in, vandalism or weather calamity that has damaged the locks on the property. Boarding up allows for the entryways to be secured as you wait to go ahead with more extensive repairs. Emergency boarding services are charged from about £200.

Difference between call out and labour rate

Call out rates are a fee some professional locksmiths charge just for turning up on-site. The labour rate applies to the time they spend working on the problem to fix it. They are separate charges, even from the cost of parts.

When seeking quotes, ensure that the locksmith has detailed what you can expect to pay for each one. Note that not all locksmiths charge a call out fee.

However, since a call out charge is a possibility, you will want to get a quote for services or verify if such a fee is applicable before asking for the locksmith to visit your location. Thankfully, you can get in touch with locksmiths through phone, email or online chat to verify before asking for service. Also, be sure to ask bout cancellation fees, and terms and conditions for service.

Hourly rates for London locksmiths usually range from £75 per hour. Often, those locksmiths that do not charge a call out fee will charge a higher labour rate. You can also expect the hourly price in London to be higher than in other parts of the UK. This is partly due to the traffic congestion and parking charges they have to deal with.

How to limit the cost of locksmith services

The locksmith industry is not heavily regulated meaning that locksmiths are at liberty to charge whatever they want for their services. Here are a few ways you can aim to limit the cost you will be subjected to when hiring a locksmith.

1. Stick to locals

Finding the right locksmith can be difficult given how many providers advertise themselves, even just in the London area. However, even if they indicate London prices, try to focus on those that are locally based in your vicinity. As said, distance is a factor when it comes to pricing. Most locksmiths will have a local area that they will attend to free of charge. If you are outside their operating area, you can expect to pay more to cover their travel costs.

2. Shop around

Once you have identified a few local locksmiths, ask them to provide you with detailed quotes so you can compare their pricing. Focus not just on the final cost, but also on the components. You may find that although one locksmith has a call out charge, the others have much higher hourly rates to cover the same.

If you have multiple windows and doors you want worked on, consider a fixed price that may be cheaper than hourly rates. It is generally advised to get at least three quotes for a good comparison.

3. Query the advertised fee

Whether you have picked your locksmith choices from the local paper or the internet, chances are they will have indicated their pricing. Do not take what is indicated in the advertisement as gospel. Ask for a proper quote that provides clear details. Often the advertised locksmith charge will just be the call out charge that does not cover the cost of the actual service.

4. Give ample details

Be as detailed as possible when calling a locksmith to get a quote. The last thing you want is to miss out on something that will significantly increase the cost of their services once they arrive on site. Describe your problem comprehensively so they have a full understanding of what is going on and if there will be a need to purchase parts.

If parts are needed, it will also give you a chance to shop around for them yourself and compare this with what the locksmith is quoting. Some locksmiths are in a better position to source parts at a cheaper cost from manufacturers and wholesalers. If you can source for your own lock cheaply then you will only need to be concerned about the labour cost.

5. Choose accredited locksmiths



While there is no regulatory body that supervises this industry, there are a few associations that offer reputable accreditations like the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA). These accreditations can help in reassuring clients that they are dealing with qualified professionals that are in good standing.