Rekeying vs replacing locks in Brisbane

By the WTD team · Updated October 2026

Rekeying a Brisbane lock costs $45–$120 per lock in our Brisbane table, typically $65, so a whole 3 to 4 lock home comes to about $195–$260 at that typical rate (3–4 locks × $65). Replacing is $120–$350 for each basic lock — which is why rekeying is the right answer far more often than people expect.

Quick answer — rekey vs replace pricing in Brisbane

Rows from our Brisbane locksmith table. The whole-home line is 3–4 locks × the per-lock re-keying row, low to high.

What rekeying actually does

The locksmith strips the cylinder and swaps the internal pins so a brand-new key works and every old key is dead. The hardware on your door — the part you paid for — stays put. Done properly it is exactly as secure as the lock was the day it was fitted, and it is the cheapest way to take control of who can open your doors. Most cylinders on the same job can also be keyed alike, so one key runs the whole house.

When rekeying is the right call

Just settled on a place in Coorparoo or Camp Hill and have no idea how many keys the previous owner handed out. Lost a keyring with anything identifying on it. A tenant or housemate has moved out. Or you are simply sick of carrying four keys and want everything on one. In all of those cases the existing hardware is fine — you are paying for new pins and labour, not new locks.

When replacement wins

Replace when the hardware itself is the problem: a latch that sticks or grinds, visible corrosion, damage from an attempted break-in, or an upgrade — a proper deadbolt where there is only a flimsy knob set, or a smart lock. One south side caveat runs the other way: in older Queenslanders around Annerley, Yeronga, and Moorooka, period mortice locks and character hardware can be hard to match. Rekeying or servicing the original is often both cheaper and better-looking than hunting down a lookalike replacement.

A settlement-day rekey — the rows in our Brisbane table

Rows from our Brisbane locksmith table. A separate call-out fee isn't priced there, so ask for the all-in figure.

Three locks rekeyed and four new keys cut come to about $243 at the typical rates (3 × $65 + 4 × $12) — one key for the whole house, and every key the previous owner ever cut now useless, for less than replacing a single basic lock ($220) plus fitting a deadbolt ($250) at theirs.

Frequently asked questions

Is a rekeyed lock as secure as a new one?

Yes — rekeying replaces the pins inside the cylinder, which is the part a key actually operates. As long as the lock body is sound, a rekeyed lock is exactly as secure as it was when new. Old keys stop working immediately.

Does keying everything alike cost extra?

Only marginally — most locksmiths charge a small per-cylinder amount on top of the rekey to pin multiple locks to one key, and many include it. The convenience of one key for the whole house is usually the best-value part of the visit.

I am renting — can I rekey the locks?

In Queensland a lock change generally needs the agreement of both lessor and tenant, with limited exceptions such as domestic violence provisions. Talk to your property manager first — landlords rarely object to a like-for-like rekey, especially if you supply them a key.

How long does rekeying take?

About 15 to 20 minutes per cylinder once the locksmith is at the door, so a typical 3-lock home is comfortably under an hour on site, including cutting the new keys.

Can every lock be rekeyed?

Most pin-tumbler locks — the standard Australian entrance sets and deadbolts — can. Some very old, damaged, or budget-grade locks cannot be economically rekeyed, in which case replacement at $120 to $350 per lock is the honest recommendation.