About This Site
Who runs this site, where the price data comes from, and how we keep it accurate and unbiased.
Our Purpose
Why We Built This Resource
Locksmith pricing is one of the least transparent service categories in the US economy. Advertised prices are often disconnected from actual prices. The absence of standardized licensing in many states creates wide quality and pricing variation. Aggregator directories frequently feature the worst actors, not the best.
This site exists to give consumers the data they need to evaluate a quote before authorizing work—and to recognize when a price is outside the legitimate range for their region and service type.
Data Collection
How We Collect Price Data
Quote request sampling
We contact licensed locksmiths across target cities and request quotes for standardized service scenarios: a residential deadbolt lockout, single-lock rekey, transponder key for a 2019 Toyota Camry, and smart lock installation. We request firm all-in quotes, not "starting from" rates.
Consumer submission verification
We collect price reports from site visitors who have received actual invoices. Each submission includes: service type, city, time of day, lock brand/vehicle make, and the final invoiced amount. We cross-reference with our direct quote data and discard outliers that cannot be corroborated.
Quarterly review and update
All price ranges are reviewed quarterly. When inflation, labor cost changes, or significant market shifts affect a region or service category, we update the affected ranges with a dated changelog. We do not retroactively alter historical data without noting the change.
Standards
Editorial and Data Standards
What We Will Not Do
- Accept advertising from locksmith companies (compromises data independence)
- Publish "best locksmith" recommendations (we are a price reference, not a directory)
- Affiliate with lead-generation services (financial incentive to recommend certain providers)
- Publish ranges without disclosed data sources and methodology
- Accept referral fees from any locksmith company or directory
BSIS Licensing Reference
Our methodology references California's BSIS (Bureau of Security and Investigative Services) licensing framework as the strictest state-level standard. BSIS requirements include background checks, training minimums, and ongoing license renewal. We use this as a quality benchmark when describing "licensed" locksmith services nationally.
Scope and Limitations
What This Site Does Not Cover
Individual provider recommendations
We do not recommend specific locksmith companies. Our data is for calibrating quotes, not for finding a specific provider. Use your state licensing board, BBB, and review platforms for provider research.
Real-time pricing
Prices on this site reflect quarterly survey data, not real-time rates. Individual companies may price above or below our ranges at any given time. Use our data as a calibration tool, not a guarantee.
International pricing
All data on this site is US-only. Locksmith pricing in other countries follows entirely different regulatory and labor frameworks and is not comparable to US data.
Contact
Data Corrections and Submissions
If you have received a locksmith invoice that significantly differs from our published ranges, we want to hear about it. Consumer submissions strengthen our dataset and help identify regional pricing shifts.