Door Lock Replacement Cost (2026): Keypad, Smart & Deadbolt
Replacing a door lock costs $25–$60 for basic hardware and $150–$350 for a smart lock, plus $75–$250 if you hire a locksmith. See 2026 prices by type.
Typical cost ranges
| Item | Low | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deadbolt (hardware) | $25 | $60 | Replaces an existing deadbolt with no door modification. |
| Keypad deadbolt (hardware) | $90 | $180 | No hub or app needed. Best value if you just want keyless entry. |
| Fingerprint door lock (hardware) | $80 | $250 | Biometric entry; most also keep a keyway as backup. |
| Wi-Fi smart lock (hardware) | $180 | $350 | App control, guest codes, remote access. |
| Handleset / entry set (hardware) | $60 | $300 | Replaces the handle and deadbolt together. |
| Professional installation | $75 | $250 | Per door. DIY is realistic for most deadbolts. |
| Re-bore or modify the door | $75 | $300 | Only if the new lock does not match the existing cut-out. |
| Full door replacement (for comparison) | $300 | $1,500 | Sometimes cheaper than extensive repair on a damaged slab. |
Ranges are typical U.S. market estimates for 2026 and vary by region, home, and contractor. Always confirm a written quote before work begins.
Replacing a door lock costs $25–$60 for a basic deadbolt and $180–$350 for a Wi-Fi smart lock. If you hire someone, add $75–$250 per door. It is one of the few home jobs where doing it yourself is genuinely the norm rather than a compromise: a deadbolt-to-deadbolt swap reuses the same holes and takes about 20 minutes.
The only real complication is a bore mismatch, where the new lock does not fit the existing cut-out. That adds $75–$300 to have the door modified, and it is the one scenario where you should stop and call someone.
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Door lock prices by type, 2026
| Type | Hardware cost | DIY time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard deadbolt | $25–$60 | ~20 min | A dependable basic lock |
| Keypad deadbolt | $90–$180 | ~20 min | Keyless entry without Wi-Fi |
| Fingerprint lock | $80–$250 | ~25 min | Several people coming and going |
| Wi-Fi smart lock | $180–$350 | ~30 min | App control and guest codes |
| Entry handleset | $60–$300 | ~30 min | Matching deadbolt and handle |
| Professional install | +$75–$250 | — | Bore mismatch or awkward doors |
What drives the price
Three things, in order of impact:
- The features. A mechanical deadbolt is a machined cylinder and a bolt. A smart lock adds a radio, a motor, a keypad, firmware and an app. That is most of the $25-to-$350 spread.
- Whether the cut-out matches. A standard US deadbolt uses a 2-1/8 inch bore. If the existing door uses that, any standard lock drops in. If not — older doors, non-standard hardware, or a previous owner’s improvising — you pay $75–$300 for re-boring.
- Who installs it. $75–$250 per door for a locksmith. Worth it for a bore mismatch or a jammed door, unnecessary for a straight swap.
DIY vs a locksmith
| You should DIY when | You should hire when |
|---|---|
| Swapping a deadbolt for a deadbolt | The new lock does not fit the cut-out |
| The existing bore is standard | The door is damaged, swollen or misaligned |
| You have a screwdriver and 20 minutes | You are locked out right now |
| You are adding a keypad or smart lock | You need several doors keyed alike |
The DIY job is genuinely straightforward: two screws on the interior plate release the two halves of the lock, and the new lock goes in the same way. The only step people get wrong is forcing a bolt that does not line up, which is a sign the strike plate needs adjusting rather than the lock being wrong.
Choosing between keypad, fingerprint and smart
Each step up adds convenience and complexity, and you should only pay for the step you will use.
- Keypad ($90–$180). The best value in the category. No hub, no app, no Wi-Fi. You enter a code and the door opens. If your goal is to stop carrying a key, this is where you should stop.
- Fingerprint ($80–$250). Convenient, and most models keep a keyway as backup. Slightly higher failure rate than a keypad because the sensor faces the weather.
- Wi-Fi smart lock ($180–$350). Worth it if you need to give and revoke access remotely: a cleaner, a dog walker, a rental guest, a contractor. If you do not, you are paying for an app you will not open.
A useful test: have you given anyone a spare key in the last year? If yes, a Wi-Fi lock earns its price. If you live alone and never issue keys, a keypad model is the rational buy.
Security is the frame, not the lock
A lock is only as strong as what it latches into. The bolt itself matters, but these three things matter as much:
- A reinforced strike plate, secured with 3-inch screws that reach the wall stud. The plate that comes in the box is held by half-inch screws into soft trim. Upgrading it is a few dollars and is the single highest-value security improvement.
- A solid-core door. A hollow door gives way around the lock, whatever the lock is.
- A full-length bolt. Look for a hardened steel bolt that extends at least one inch, not a short spring latch.
Replacing the lock alone, without the strike plate, is the most common security upgrade that stops short of actually helping.
How to compare quotes
If you are hiring, ask for these specific things so quotes are comparable:
- Per door or per hour? Pricing models differ, and per-door is easier to compare.
- Is the call-out included? $75–$150 often, and frequently credited.
- Is re-boring in the quote? It is the most common surprise charge.
- Is the hardware included, and which model exactly?
- What happens if it does not fit? Get the answer before the work starts.
Common mistakes
- Paying for installation on a straight swap. It is a 20-minute screwdriver job.
- Forcing a bolt that will not seat. Adjust the strike plate instead.
- Skipping the strike plate upgrade. It undermines the lock you just bought.
- Buying a smart lock for the features rather than the use case. Most owners use codes and nothing else.
- Re-boring the door yourself. It is irreversible, and a mistake means a new door.
- Not checking the bore size before ordering. Measure the backset and cross bore first.
Bottom line
Replacing a door lock costs $25–$60 for a deadbolt, $90–$180 for a keypad, and $180–$350 for a Wi-Fi smart lock, plus $75–$250 if you hire someone. Most swaps reuse the existing holes and take 20 minutes.
Choose the keypad model if you only want to stop carrying a key, and go smart only if you actually need remote access. Then spend the small extra on a reinforced strike plate, because that is what makes the lock secure.
For the installation walkthrough, see our smart lock installation guide, and for repairs see Schlage lock repair cost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a door lock?
A standard deadbolt costs $25–$60 in hardware, a keypad model $90–$180, and a Wi-Fi smart lock $180–$350. If you hire someone, add $75–$250 per door. Most replacements reuse the existing door cut-out and take about 20 minutes with a screwdriver, so professional installation is rarely necessary.
Can I replace a door lock myself?
Yes, for most deadbolt-to-deadbolt swaps. The new lock is designed to fit a standard 2-1/8 inch bore with a 1 inch cross bore. Remove two screws from the interior plate, pull both halves apart, then fit the new lock the same way. If the new lock does not match the existing bore, stop and call a locksmith rather than enlarging the hole yourself.
How much does a keypad door lock cost?
A keypad deadbolt runs $90–$180 for the hardware, and needs no hub, app, or Wi-Fi to work. That makes it the cheapest way to stop carrying a key. Adding professional installation brings it to roughly $165–$430 per door.
Are fingerprint door locks worth it?
They are convenient for households where several people come and go, and most models keep a keyway as a backup for when a finger is wet or dirty. Fingerprint models run $80–$250. The trade-off is a slightly higher failure rate than a keypad, because the sensor is exposed to weather and wear.
How much does a locksmith charge to replace a lock?
Expect $75–$250 per door on top of the hardware, with a call-out fee of $75–$150 that many locksmiths credit toward the work. If the door needs re-boring to fit the new lock, add $75–$300. Get at least two quotes, and ask whether the call-out is included.
Do I need to replace both the deadbolt and the handle?
Only if one is worn, or if you want a matching finish. A deadbolt and a handle are independent parts, and replacing just the deadbolt is the normal, cheaper route. A combined handleset at $60–$300 is worth it when the existing handle is loose, damaged, or visually mismatched.
What is the most secure door lock?
Security comes from the whole assembly rather than the lock alone: a solid deadbolt with a full-length hardened steel bolt, a reinforced strike plate secured with 3-inch screws into the wall stud, and a solid-core door. A high-security cylinder helps, but a deadbolt is only as strong as the frame it latches into.
How long does it take to replace a lock?
About 20 minutes per door for a straightforward deadbolt swap, plus a few minutes in the app if it is a smart lock. Allow an hour if the strike plate needs adjusting or the new lock does not sit flush.