Smart locks
House lockouts
Re-keying
Deadbolt upgrades
Schlage
Kwikset
Car keys & fobsNon-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Get your free estimateTrusted Rekey Locks for Irvine Homeowners
Rekeying a lock in Irvine costs between $75 and $280 depending on how many locks you need and whether you choose keyed-alike or keyed-different configurations. Most Rekey Locks – Irvine jobs take 20 to 45 minutes per lock once our tech arrives. We handle residential and commercial hardware, from a single Kwikset deadbolt to a full Medeco system, and we quote the complete price before we dispatch anyone. Call (877) 358-5506 for an exact number on your specific locks.
Lock Rekey
Lock rekey is the process of changing the internal pin configuration inside your existing lock cylinder so the old key no longer works. You keep the same hardware, same finish, and same exterior look, but a new key operates the mechanism. This matters when you buy a home, end a lease, lose track of a spare key, or have a roommate move out. True Blue Locksmith performs lock rekey on Schlage, Kwikset, Baldwin, and Medeco locks daily, and we carry pin kits and OEM parts for each brand so the job is done in one visit. In Irvine, most residential lock rekey work runs $75 to $140 for a single cylinder depending on brand and key type.
After a Move or Tenant Change
Anyone who previously had a key – previous owners, tenants, cleaners, contractors – retains access until the lock is rekeyed. The walkthrough is the wrong time to start thinking about it. We can rekey every exterior lock on a typical Irvine single-family home in under an hour.
Lost or Unreturned Keys
If a key went missing or a friend never returned the spare, rekeying is cheaper than replacing hardware and eliminates the question entirely. A Kwikset cylinder rekeys in about 20 minutes and costs less than a quality new lockset.
Styles & brands we work with
Locksmith Rekey
Locksmith rekey is the service we perform when a customer needs existing locks made to work with new keys without swapping out the entire lockset. This is the most common request we get from Irvine homeowners after a purchase, and from property managers between tenants. True Blue Locksmith has performed locksmith rekey work across Irvine neighborhoods for years, and we carry pin depth kits for Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and Medeco hardware so we can handle what’s already on your door, including Rekey Locks – Tustin requests when coverage overlaps. Expect $75 to $110 for the first cylinder and $20 to $35 for each additional cylinder when they’re done in the same visit.
Same-Day Availability
We schedule rekey appointments around your availability, including evenings and weekends when standard locksmith shops have closed. If a tenant just left and you want the property secured before morning, call us before noon and we can usually accommodate.
One Tech, One Trip
Because we work across residential, commercial, and high-security hardware, one tech can rekey every lock on the property including garage side doors, gate locks, and storage doors. You won’t get rebooked for a second visit because we didn’t carry the right pins.
Rekey Door Lock
Rekey door lock service covers any lock on an exterior entry door, interior door, side gate, or sliding door that uses a pin tumbler cylinder. When we rekey a door lock in Irvine, we disassemble the cylinder, replace the pins with a new configuration matched to a fresh key, and test the mechanism with the key both ways before we leave. The cost to rekey door lock hardware runs about $75 for the first lock and $20 to $30 for each additional lock in the same job, with minimal savings for keyed-alike configurations.
Front Door and All Entry Points
Your front door might be a Baldwin mortise lock with a different keyway than the garage side door’s Schlage. We can rekey both in one visit and give you distinct keys or set them all keyed alike, whichever fits how you use the doors.
Sliding Doors and Gate Locks
Sliding patio doors and yard gates often get overlooked in a rekey, which leaves a second access point on the old key. We’ll inspect and rekey those too, and tell you honestly if the hardware is too worn to rekey and should be replaced instead.
Rekey Service
Rekey service is what you ask for when you want the locks you already own changed so old keys stop working and new keys start working. True Blue Locksmith offers rekey service as a standalone job or as part of a broader security assessment, which is how we typically troubleshoot problem doors in Irvine and nearby areas seeking our Rekey Locks in Aliso Viejo. We quote the full price over the phone after asking how many locks you have and what brand they are, so there’s no surprise line item when the tech arrives. A single-lock rekey service starts around $75, and whole-home rekey service for three to four exterior doors typically lands between $160 and $240.
Why Rekey Instead of Replace
Replacing a good quality lock costs more than rekeying it and usually buys you hardware that isn’t as solid as what your home already has. If your existing deadbolts are Schlage or Medeco, the cylinder is worth keeping and we’ll tell you that plainly. We only recommend replacement when the lock is failing mechanically, and we’ll show you the wear before you spend anything.
Commercial and Multi-Unit Work
We rekey offices, retail units, and small multi-family properties across the Irvine area. For a multi-unit building, we can set up a master key system so the property manager’s key opens all units while each tenant key opens only their own.
Keyed Alike
Keyed alike means setting multiple locks to accept the exact same key, so one key opens your front door, back door, garage side door, and gate. It’s the most popular rekey configuration for Irvine single-family homes because it cuts a five-key ring down to one or two. True Blue Locksmith keys locks alike for no additional charge when we’re already rekeying multiple cylinders, which keeps the total keyed alike job in the $140 to $250 range for most Irvine houses.
One Key for the Whole House
We match every cylinder to a single key bitting, which requires new pins in each lock but keeps your existing hardware in place. Most homes with three entry points finish in about an hour from start to cleanup.
Keyed Alike with a Keyed Different Option
Some customers want one key that opens all exterior doors and a separate key that only opens the interior garage door or guest room. We can do that too, and we’ll map out the keying diagram before we turn a single screw so you know exactly what opens what.
Rekey Deadbolt
Rekey deadbolt service is exactly what it sounds like: we re-pin the deadbolt cylinder only, leaving the knob or lever as-is if you’re satisfied with it. Deadbolts are the primary security point on an Irvine exterior door, and they wear faster than passage knobs because they get more use. Rekey deadbolt cost for a single cylinder runs $75 to $90, and when paired with a rekeyed entry knob in the same door, the combined job averages $100 to $120.
Deadbolt-Only After a Security Concern
If a neighbor returned a key or a garage remote went missing, the deadbolt is what actually stops someone from walking in. We can rekey just that deadbolt and have it done in under a half hour.
Deadbolt Inspection During Rekey
While we have the cylinder out, we check the bolt throw, strike plate screws, and alignment. A deadbolt that doesn’t fully extend can be defeated with a credit card on some older doors, and we’ll tighten that up as part of the job rather than leaving it for later.
Rekey House
Rekey house service covers every lock on the property in a single visit, typically all exterior doors, the garage entry, and any gate or shed with a keyed lock. This is the service Irvine real estate agents and home buyers book most often the day escrow closes, though we also handle Santa Ana Rekey Locks for properties across the county. A full rekey house job usually costs between $150 and $280, depending on how many locks are keyed and whether you want everything keyed alike or different keys for different doors.
Move-In Rekey for New Homeowners
Closing day transfers keys, but not a record of who made copies. Rekeying the whole house in one appointment means every old key is worthless before you move the first box inside. We’ve done move-day rekeys all over Irvine, from University Park to Woodbridge to Quail Hill.
Rental Turnover Preparation
Between tenants, rekeying the house protects both you and the incoming occupant. We provide dated documentation of the rekey for your records, and we can install keyed-alike locks so the property manager and tenant are clear on who holds keys.
Brands We Service
True Blue Locksmith stocks pin kits, key blanks, and OEM parts for Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Abloy. Those are the four brands we see most often on Irvine doors, and they range from consumer-grade deadbolts to high-security restricted keyways. A Kwikset rekey takes minutes because we carry their standard pin depths and keying charts on the truck. A Medeco or Abloy job takes longer because those cylinders require specialized pins and sometimes factory-level verification, but we handle them in-house rather than sending you to a commercial specialist.
Schlage and Kwikset cover the majority of residential hardware in the area, and we’ve serviced thousands of both. If your home has a Baldwin or Yale entry set, we carry those blanks and pin kits too. Whether you have Kwikset or Abloy on your doors, we’ll tell you upfront what it costs to rekey and whether the hardware is worth rekeying at all.
Signs You Need a Pro Right Now
- You just closed on an Irvine home. Every prior owner, tenant, or family member who had a copy of that key still has it. Rekeying before move-in is the single cheapest way to reset access.
- A tenant moved out and didn’t return keys. You don’t know how many copies exist or who holds them. Rekeying every exterior lock eliminates the question instead of trusting a returned key count.
- You lost a key or your car was broken into with house keys inside. If your address is anywhere near the car, that key is a direct route in. Rekey immediately, not after the weekend.
- Your locks are old but still mechanically solid. Older Schlage and Baldwin hardware is often higher quality than what’s sold new today. Rekeying preserves it and gives you fresh key control for a fraction of replacement cost.
- You’re giving a contractor, cleaner, or dog walker a key. A rekey to a dedicated key that you can stop handing out later is smarter than sharing your only key and hoping it comes back.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call and describe your locks. We’ll ask what brand they are, how many, and whether they’re deadbolts, knobs, or mortise locks. That lets us confirm we have the right pins and key blanks loaded before we head out.
- 2
We quote the full price on the phone. The number we give you is what you pay. No dispatch fee added at the door, no “minimum service charge” surprise. If we arrive and find something unexpected, we’ll show you and re-quote before any extra work.
- 3
We disassemble, re-pin, and lubricate each cylinder. Using the brand’s correct pin depth chart, we rebuild the cylinder to the new key’s bitting. We clean and lubricate the core so the key doesn’t stick or grind.
- 4
We test each lock with the new key and the old key. The new key should turn smoothly both directions. The old key should not turn at all. We do this at every door before we pack up.
- 5
We hand you the new keys and a keying diagram. You’ll know how many keys were cut, which doors they open, and what keying configuration we set. If you want more copies later, the code is on file with us.
How Much Does Rekey Locks Cost in Irvine?
A typical rekey locks job in Irvine runs $75 to $280. The single biggest factor is how many locks you’re rekeying in one visit. The first cylinder is the most expensive because it covers the tech’s time to your door, the re-pin labor, and key cutting. Each additional cylinder costs less because we’re already on site with the pin kit open.
Other factors that move the price: high-security brands like Medeco and Abloy use restricted pins that cost more than standard Kwikset or Schlage pins. Mortise cylinders take longer than simple tubular deadbolts. Keyed-alike configurations don’t add cost, but master key setups for multi-unit properties do, because the pinning math is more involved. Our phone quote includes everything, and the price we give you before dispatch is the price on the invoice.
To avoid overpaying, be wary of locksmith quotes that seem low but grow once the tech arrives. That’s the industry’s most common bad practice, and it’s the reason we quote the full job upfront. Our free estimate covers the locks you have, the configuration you want, and the keys you’ll receive.
Our Service Area Near Irvine
True Blue Locksmith handles Rekey Locks in Irvine and the surrounding cities daily. We schedule across Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, North Tustin, Newport Beach, and Tustin, plus the communities around Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, and Fountain Valley. If you’re in San Joaquin Hills or Tustin, we can usually reach you the same day you call. Timing depends on how many jobs are already scheduled, so mornings are best for same-day rekey work.
Serving Irvine, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Irvine 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 About Rekey Locks in Irvine
Rekeying locks means changing the internal pins inside the lock cylinder so a new key operates it and the old key stops working completely. The lock hardware itself stays on your door with no visible change. It’s faster and cheaper than replacing a lock, and it resets control over who can access your home.
Most single-lock rekey jobs take 20 to 30 minutes of hands-on time once our tech is at your door. A whole-house job with three to four locks typically takes 45 to 90 minutes including testing each door. Call (877) 358-5506 and we’ll give you a realistic window for your specific lock count.
Expect $75 to $280 depending on the number of locks, brand, and whether you want keyed-alike or keyed-different configurations. High-security brands like Medeco cost more per cylinder than standard Kwikset or Schlage. We quote the full price on the phone before anyone is dispatched, and that’s the price on your invoice.
Yes, True Blue Locksmith services Medeco and Abloy high-security systems, along with Schlage, Kwikset, Yale, and Baldwin. Most residential locksmiths in the area send Medeco and Abloy work to commercial specialists. We handle it in-house, which means one visit and no referral runaround.
We take urgent rekey calls outside standard business hours when time matters, like after a break-in or a lost key that leaves your door unsecured. Evening and weekend availability depends on scheduling, so call (877) 358-5506 and tell us what happened. We’ll tell you honestly whether we can get there today or if morning works better.
Every rekey we perform is tested with both the new key and the old key before we leave, and we guarantee the new key operates smoothly on every cylinder we touch. If a rekeyed lock gives you trouble within a reasonable period, call us and we’ll make it right at no charge. The specifics are explained plainly during your phone quote.
Have all the locks you want rekeyed accessible and any old keys handy so we can confirm they stop working. Clear the area around each door so we can work quickly. If you have a keyless entry pad or smart lock integrated with the door, mention it on the phone so we bring what’s needed to handle both.
Schedule Your Rekey Locks Service in Irvine Today
Call (877) 358-5506 and tell us what you have on your doors. We’ll quote the whole job over the phone, schedule a time that works, and rekey every lock you want changed. No dispatch surprises, no upsell on hardware you don’t need, just your locks, our expertise.
Written by Noel Carrasco, Owner at True Blue Locksmith, providing straight answers on locks and keys since day one.