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If you have ever wondered what the cost is likely to be for engaging the services of a locksmith, then this article is for you. It should help you to determine if a price being quoted by a locksmith is about right and will help you to work out how much you should pay for a locksmith.
This article focuses on a locksmiths labour costs (and not on the cost of any parts/locks that might be needed).
Be aware that the locksmith profession in the UK is not regulated and, consequently, there are plenty of people operating as a so-called ‘locksmith’ without having to follow any guidelines and best practices regarding conduct, professionalism, standards and pricing.
There are unfortunately many anecdotal stories out there of people being ripped off and paying too much. So hopefully this article will provide some useful information and tips to enable you to understand what is a fair and reasonable cost for a locksmith. For more information read my article on how find a good locksmith.
In order to estimate the cost of a locksmith, you should take note of the variables that may influence the price of the job:
Each one of these factors will now be explained in more detail
In terms of labour costs, you are paying for the time of a locksmith. So the price you will pay depends on the time taken for the task. In the vast majority of cases, the task will take less than an hour if the locksmith knows what they are doing, e.g. replacing existing parts or gaining entry through a lock. But obviously if you want several locks fitted as new, it can take several hours.
Most locksmiths will charge more than usual for coming out to do a job if it is outside of normal working hours. The more unsociable the time, the more a locksmith is likely to charge. So if you can request a time during normal working hours, then this will be the best time to get reasonable prices.
Locksmith’s will likely charge a premium for weekends and bank holidays. So where possible, you should request the job to be done on a normal working day.
Some unscrupulous ‘locksmiths’ will try to exploit urgent/emergency situations. It is an unfortunate fact that people will take advantage in a stressful situation where you are locked out of your home for example.
Whilst you might expect to pay more in such an urgent situation, the charge should still be reasonable and fair. If it is not urgent, then take your time and get at least three prices from separate locksmiths/locksmith organisations.
You obviously want to use a reliable and capable locksmith. But this is normally very hard to really ascertain in advance unless you have a recommendation from someone you trust. In terms of pricing however, there are two groups of locksmiths that most homeowners should try to avoid. Firstly and most importantly, avoid rogue locksmiths as, although they may quote cheap initially, they will do everything possible to push up the price, and they often do not have the necessary skills and can do a bad job causing more damage and costing more money in the long run. Then to get the best price, the bigger firms operating with Master Locksmiths should be avoided as they have high overheads and need to make high profits. The local professional locksmith operating as a sole trader or part of a small local company will generally give the best value for money.
The longer a locksmith has to travel, the more time it will take. They will factor in this time and convert it to cost to make it worth it for them. Always try to find someone local. Ask them where they are based. It is recommended that the locksmith you choose should (if possible) not have to travel more than 30 minutes – and the less the better.
It is better to select small local locksmith. The larger companies will have higher overheads to cover. Although it may be difficult to ascertain the size and type of company you are contacting, there are certain signs you should look out for and avoid:
There are regional differences in pricing. For example, you can expect to pay more in London compared to rural locations. However, an important point here is the level of competition in a certain area. Generally, the economic rules of competition state that prices should be at the optimum where more locksmith compete to win work. Whereas, if you are in a remote location with little coverage and only one locksmith, then that locksmith may be at liberty to inflate their prices. Most urban areas will have multiple options as there is generally a high level of competition in the profession. So take advantage of this and shop around.
Locksmiths are likely to charge you a mark-up on the cost of any parts. This is normal, although this cost should not exceed the RRP (Recommended Retail Price). Ask what part the locksmith is planning to use and do a quick internet search to make sure they are not greatly exceeding the average price you can see.
Whilst searching for a locksmith and getting prices, you are likely to come across organisations like the Master Locksmith Association, Checkatrade, Trust A Trader, Yell, etc. Remember that these organisations charge those businesses that appear to be members and they feature those that pay more to advertise. So the businesses that appear on these directories have to charge more to their customers to cover the outlay of membership and advertising. Some of these organisations also lack any in-depth checks they do on locksmiths, and they even promote national companies who incorrectly appear as local on their portals.
A guideline labour cost of a local professional locksmith in the UK for a job taking 1 hour or less:
It is recommended not to pay more (or less) than these amounts.
The locksmith you choose to engage is crucial. If you select a reputable local professional locksmith, then you should normally be charged a fair price. Read these articles for more advice and guidance on this:
How to Identify a Rogue Locksmith and Keep It Local.
I hope this article on How Much Should You Pay for a Locksmith has been useful.
For further information, advice or even to check if a price sounds right, please feel free to contact me.
Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.