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Locksmith technician installing a deadbolt on a historic Boston Beacon Hill brownstone door at dusk

Boston Locksmith Services Guide

Everything you need to know about residential, commercial, automotive, and emergency locksmith services in Greater Boston, including what each service costs and what to expect.

Locksmith working on a brass residential deadbolt at a Boston home
Service Type 1

Residential Locksmith Services

Residential locksmith services in Boston cover everything a homeowner, renter, or condo owner needs for door hardware. Boston's mix of historic brownstones, modern condos, and multifamily rental buildings means locksmiths here work across a wide range of door styles and hardware types.

What's Included

Lockout service: gaining entry when keys are lost or locked inside
Deadbolt installation: Grade 1 recommended for exterior doors in Boston
Lock rekeying: changing pins so old keys no longer work
Lock replacement: full hardware swap when existing locks are damaged
Brownstone retrofitting: modern security hardware in historic door preps
Mailbox and storage lock service for apartments and condos

Typical Boston Pricing

Lockout: $95-$175 | Deadbolt install: $100-$250 | Rekey per lock: $50-$100 | Full home rekey: $150-$400

Commercial access control keypad installation at a Boston Seaport office building
Service Type 2

Commercial Locksmith Services in Boston

Commercial locksmith services support Boston's businesses, offices, retail stores, healthcare facilities, universities, and multi-tenant office buildings. Commercial work is more complex than residential and typically costs more due to specialized hardware and access control systems.

What's Included

Access control installation: keypads, card readers, fob systems
Master key systems: one key controls multiple locks in a hierarchy
Panic bar installation: required on certain commercial exit doors by MA code
High-security cylinders: Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy for sensitive areas
Commercial lockout response for office buildings and retail
Door closers and exit devices: ADA compliance adjustments

Typical Boston Pricing

Commercial lockout: $150-$300 | Master key system: $400-$2,000+ | Access control per door: $300-$1,200 | Panic bar: $350-$800

Automotive locksmith with key programmer next to a sedan in Boston parking garage
Service Type 3

Automotive Locksmith Services in Boston

Auto locksmith services cover situations where you are locked out of your vehicle, need a replacement key, or have an ignition issue. In Boston, where parking is scarce and car theft is a concern, automotive locksmiths also see significant demand for transponder key programming, which is often cheaper through a locksmith than through a dealer.

What's Included

Car lockout: gaining entry to locked vehicles without damage
Transponder key programming: coding a new chip key to your vehicle
Key fob replacement: programming proximity keys and smart fobs
Ignition repair: replacing damaged ignition cylinders
Broken key extraction: removing snapped keys from locks or ignitions

Typical Boston Pricing

Car lockout: $125-$225 | Transponder programming: $175-$350 | Key fob: $150-$300 | Ignition cylinder: $250-$500

Emergency lockout response - locksmith arriving at Boston brownstone at night
Service Type 4

Emergency Lockout Response in Boston

Emergency lockout services mean a licensed MA locksmith responds as quickly as possible to get you access. Boston locksmiths typically post response time estimates, though actual arrival depends on traffic, distance, and demand.

Residential lockout: gain entry to your home or apartment
Vehicle lockout: access your car in a parking lot or on a Boston street
Office lockout: get back into your business after hours
Always confirm the locksmith's MA license number before calling them out
Ask for a price estimate over the phone before they arrive
Important: Emergency lockout prices in Boston are typically higher than standard-hours service. Always confirm if there is an after-hours or emergency surcharge before authorizing work.
Service Types 5 & 6

Rekeying and Smart Lock Installation

Rekeying Services

Rekeying changes the internal pins of an existing lock cylinder so that previous keys no longer work. The lock body and hardware stay the same, but new keys are cut to match the new pin configuration.

Cost per lock$50-$100
Full home (avg)$150-$400
Best forNew residents, lost keys
Hardware conditionMust be functional
Time15-30 min per lock
Smart Lock Installation

Smart locks replace your existing deadbolt with a keypad, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, or Wi-Fi enabled lock. Popular in Boston condos and newer construction. Requires compatibility check for brownstone doors.

Installed cost$200-$450
Popular brandsSchlage Encode, August
Best forRentals, tech-forward users
Door compatibilityCheck with locksmith
Time1-2 hours with setup

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