Trusted Lock Installation & Rekey for New York City Homeowners
Lock Installation & Rekey in New York City typically costs $89-$450 depending on hardware and complexity, and most jobs are completed same day. Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. has served New York City homeowners for over 42 years with flat prices quoted on the phone, background-checked technicians who show ID at your door, and every job backed by our written 90-Day Done Right Promise. Call (877) 691-7931 and a live person will answer, day or night.
We’ve been called to brownstones in Park Slope where the same key has worked three doors since 1987, and to pre-war co-ops in Gramercy Park where the superintendent retired and nobody knows who has copies. In a city where door hardware outlasts most mortgages, knowing who holds your keys matters. We rekey locks so old keys stop working, install new hardware when the mechanism has had enough, and do both at a price we quote before the truck rolls for Lock Installation & Rekey - Manhattan and beyond. No bait, no switch, no surprise charges on the invoice.
Our technicians carry Schlage, Medeco, Yale, and Baldwin hardware on every truck, along with the tools to rekey most standard cylinders on the spot. We work in walk-ups, doorman buildings, and townhouses from Brooklyn Heights to Long Island City. If you’re a senior or veteran, we apply a permanent 5% discount automatically. And if you’ve got a written estimate from another locksmith, we’ll give you a free second opinion.
What Our Lock Installation & Rekey Service Includes
Smart Lock Installation
A smart lock replaces your deadbolt or lever with a device you control by phone, keypad, or fingerprint. New York City homeowners in neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Hell’s Kitchen increasingly want keyless entry for adult children, dog walkers, or housekeepers without copying physical keys. We install and configure August, Yale Assure, Schlage Encode, and other leading smart locks, then walk you through the app until you’re comfortable. We also make sure your Wi-Fi reaches the door reliably, which is a common failure point in pre-war buildings with thick plaster walls.
Keyless Entry
Keyless entry systems use a code, card, or fob instead of a traditional key, which eliminates the risk of lost or copied keys entirely. This matters in New York City rental properties, brownstones converted to multi-family use, and homes where caregivers or service providers need regular access. We install standalone keyless deadbolts for single doors and integrated systems for buildings with multiple entry points. Every installation includes programming your first codes and showing you how to add or delete users.
Keypad Lock
A keypad lock is the simplest form of keyless entry: punch in a code, the bolt retracts. These are popular with New York City homeowners who want to stop hiding keys under the mat but aren’t ready for smartphone integration. We install mechanical keypad locks that need no batteries, as well as electronic models with backlighting for dark entryways. In our experience, keypad locks hold up well in New York City’s humidity swings and salt air, especially the marine-grade models we recommend for waterfront properties in Greenpoint and Red Hook.
Biometric Lock
Biometric locks read fingerprints to grant access, offering the highest level of personal verification short of a guard at the door. These units have become reliable enough for residential use in the last several years, and we now install them regularly for New York City clients who want absolute control over who enters. We fingerprint-enroll up to 100 users during installation, set administrative overrides, and show you how to delete a fingerprint instantly if someone should no longer have access. The fingerprint sensors we use are capacitive, not optical, so they work when your fingers are cold or slightly damp.
Electronic Lock
Electronic locks encompass any lock powered by electricity, including magnetic locks, electric strikes, and motorized deadbolts. In New York City, we see these most often in buildings with intercom systems, home offices with controlled access, and properties where remote unlocking from a desk or bedside is essential. We wire electronic locks to existing door frames where possible, or install battery-powered alternatives when building wiring is inaccessible. Our technicians test voltage, amperage, and fail-safe versus fail-secure operation to match the lock behavior to your safety requirements.
Key Duplication
Key duplication creates working copies from an existing key, which is straightforward for standard house keys and more complex for high-security restricted keys. We duplicate standard Kwikset, Schlage, and Yale keys while you wait at your New York City home, and we can order factory-authorized duplicates for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and other restricted-keyway systems. For homeowners in Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope with vintage mortise locks, we also duplicate bit keys and skeleton keys from our reference collection of antique blanks. Every duplicated key is tested in the lock before we leave.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Lock Installation & Rekey
We’ve installed and serviced hundreds of Medeco high-security cylinders in New York City co-ops and townhouses, and we stock their patented key blanks and pinning kits. Medeco’s angled key cuts and sidebar mechanism resist picking and bumping, which is why so many insurance companies offer discounts for homes protected by them. We are also factory-authorized to duplicate Medeco keys, which requires a signature card on file.
Yale has been building locks since 1840, and their modern residential line blends that heritage with contemporary smart-home compatibility. We install Yale Assure smart locks weekly in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and we maintain a supply of their modular cylinders for quick rekeying without removing the entire lock body. Baldwin hardware is the choice when the lock is part of the architecture, not just security. Their solid brass and bronze handlesets age beautifully on Park Slope brownstones and Gramercy Park townhouses, and we have the specialty tools to install and adjust their mortise mechanisms without marring the finish. Mul-T-Lock offers some of the most pick-resistant cylinders available, with telescoping pin technology that we see increasingly in New York City buildings where management wants to control key duplication absolutely. We carry their Interactive and MT5+ key blanks and can rekey these systems on site.
Whether you have Medeco, Yale, Baldwin, Mul-T-Lock, or any other make, we can help. Our trucks carry the tools and parts to service virtually every residential lock sold in the United States.
Signs You Need Lock Installation & Rekey Right Now
- Your keys stick, jam, or require jiggling to turn. This usually means worn pins inside the cylinder or accumulated grit from New York City street dust. A lock that fights back every time is a lock that’s about to stop working entirely, possibly with your key broken off inside.
- You’ve lost track of who has copies of your keys. Previous owners, former housekeepers, dog walkers, contractors, real estate agents. In a city where apartments change hands constantly, this is more common than people admit. Rekeying costs a fraction of replacing the hardware and instantly invalidates every old key.
- Your lock was forced, picked, or tampered with. Even if it still works, the internal mechanism may be damaged or compromised. We inspect for sheared pins, bent springs, and evidence of bypass attempts, then recommend repair or replacement based on what we find.
- You’re moving into a new home in New York City. This is the most overlooked security step in residential real estate. Rekeying before you unpack ensures that only your family has working keys. We can meet your movers, rekey between closing and move-in, or coordinate with your building’s management office.
- Your hardware is more than 20 years old and showing corrosion. New York City’s humidity, salt air, and temperature swings accelerate wear on lock internals. External rust is often the tip of the iceberg; we’ve opened locks that looked fine outside but had frozen tumblers inside.
Our Lock Installation & Rekey Process - Step by Step
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Call for a flat price. When you call (877) 691-7931, a live person answers. You describe your lock, your location in New York City, and what you need. We quote a flat price before scheduling. The price on the phone is the price on the invoice.
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Technician arrival with ID. Our technician arrives in a marked Strongbox vehicle, in uniform, and presents identification at your door. We do not send unmarked subcontractors. You know exactly who is entering your home.
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On-site diagnosis and confirmation. The technician examines your existing hardware, confirms the scope of work matches what was quoted, and explains any variables before beginning. If we discover something unexpected, we discuss it with you and agree on any adjustment before proceeding.
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Professional installation or rekeying. We use manufacturer-specified tools and techniques: pinning kits calibrated to .001 inch for rekeying, torque-controlled drills for new installations, and door jamb reinforcement plates where the strike needs strengthening. We protect your floors and finishes while we work.
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Testing, cleanup, and written guarantee. Every key is tested in every position. The work area is cleaned. You receive a written invoice and our 90-Day Done Right Promise. If anything isn’t right, we come back. No paperwork to file, no argument.
How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in New York City?
A standard rekey of one to three locks in New York City typically runs $89-$180, depending on cylinder type and whether we need to replace worn pins. New lock installation ranges from $150-$450 per door, with smart locks and high-security hardware at the higher end. Key duplication is $4-$15 for standard keys, and $25-$75 for restricted-keyway systems like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock.
| Service | Typical Range in New York City | What Affects Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rekey (1-3 locks) | $89-$180 | Cylinder type, pin count, condition |
| New deadbolt installation | $150-$280 | Brand, door material, prep work needed |
| Smart lock installation | $220-$450 | Wi-Fi setup, app configuration, hardware brand |
| High-security cylinder install | $280-$450 | Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, or equivalent; key control setup |
| Key duplication (standard) | $4-$15 | Blank type, quantity |
| Key duplication (restricted) | $25-$75 | Authorization requirements, factory ordering |
Several factors push prices higher or lower. Pre-war doors in neighborhoods like the East Village or Greenwich Village often need additional prep work, mortise adaptation, or strike reinforcement. Converting from a simple knob to a deadbolt-plus-knob setup requires two bore holes instead of one. Smart locks need reliable Wi-Fi at the door, which sometimes means troubleshooting your network before installation begins.
The Best Lock Installation & Rekey in New York City, NY way to avoid overpaying is to get a flat quote on the phone before anyone dispatches. The $19-ad locksmiths we compete against routinely invoice $400-$800 for work quoted at $19. Our price is the price. We also offer a free second opinion on any written estimate you’ve received, and seniors and veterans receive a permanent 5% discount.
Every estimate we provide is free and carries no obligation. Call (877) 691-7931 for an exact quote on your specific locks.
Lock Installation & Rekey Near New York City - Our Service Area
We serve all five boroughs and the immediate surrounding area, with typical response times of 30-60 minutes in Manhattan below 96th Street, 45-75 minutes in Brooklyn and Queens, and 60-90 minutes for Lock Installation & Rekey in Chinatown and Lock Installation & Rekey in Financial District during peak traffic. We regularly work in East Village, Brooklyn Heights, Gramercy Park, Hoboken, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Park Slope, Hell’s Kitchen, and Long Island City. If you’re unsure whether we cover your building, call and we’ll tell you honestly. We don’t promise what we can’t deliver.
Serving New York City, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the New York City area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Lock Installation & Rekey in New York City
Lock installation puts new hardware on your door; rekeying changes the internal pin configuration so old keys no longer work while keeping your existing hardware. Rekeying is faster and less expensive when your locks are in good condition. Most New York City homeowners rekey when moving or after losing key control, and install new hardware when the mechanism is worn or they want upgraded security features.
A standard rekey of one to three locks takes 20-40 minutes on site. New lock installation typically takes 45-90 minutes per door, depending on door condition and hardware complexity. Smart lock installations with Wi-Fi configuration run closer to 90 minutes. We schedule specific arrival windows and call when we’re 15 minutes out, so you’re not waiting all day.
Rekeying runs $89-$180 for most homes; new installation ranges $150-$450 per door depending on hardware. Smart locks and high-security cylinders cost more. We quote flat prices on the phone before dispatching, and every estimate is free. Call (877) 691-7931 for an exact quote on your specific situation.
Yes. We install, repair, and rekey all four brands regularly, and we stock key blanks and OEM parts for each. We are factory-authorized to duplicate restricted Medeco and Mul-T-Lock keys. If you have one of these brands, or any other, we can service it.
Yes. A live person answers our phones 24 hours a day, including nights, weekends, and holidays. If you’re locked out, have a broken key, or need Emergency Lock Installation & Rekey in New York City, NY after a break-in or lost keys, we dispatch as quickly as traffic allows. Emergency rates apply for after-hours calls, and we tell you the exact price before sending a technician.
Every job is backed by our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If the lock doesn’t function as intended, if keys stick, or if any aspect of our work fails, we return and correct it at no charge. No paperwork to file, no argument, no expiration date games. We stand behind it because we plan to be serving New York City for decades.
Have your current keys available, clear the area around the door, and ensure someone 18 or older is present. If you live in a doorman building, let the desk know we’re coming. For smart lock installations, have your Wi-Fi network name and password ready. We’ll handle everything else, including protecting your floors and cleaning up when finished.
Schedule Your Lock Installation & Rekey Service in New York City Today
Call (877) 691-7931 now and a live person will answer, 24 hours a day. We’ll ask about your locks, quote a flat price, and schedule a technician at your New York City home. Every job carries our written 90-Day Done Right Promise, and your estimate is free with no obligation. Strongbox Lock & Safe Co. has served this city for over 42 years. We’re not going anywhere.
Written by Frank Bellomo, Owner at Strongbox Lock & Safe Co., serving New York City since 1982.