Rekey or replace the locks after moving in?

November 5, 2026

By the Pink Locksmiths editorial team. Updated November 4, 2026.

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Rekey if the locks are in good shape and you only want new keys; replace them if they are worn, broken or too cheap to trust. The closing is done and the agent hands you a ring of keys. What nobody hands you is a list of who else has a copy. The previous owners, a dog walker from three years ago, a contractor, the neighbor who watered the plants. None of them mean any harm, most likely. You still have no idea how many keys to your house are out there.

That is why changing the locks is usually on the first-week list after a move. The real question is whether to rekey or replace.

Rekeying versus replacing

A pin tumbler lock opens when the right key lifts a stack of small pins to exactly the right height. Rekeying means taking the cylinder apart and swapping those pins for a new set that matches a new key. The lock body, the handle and the deadbolt stay on the door. Old keys stop working.

Replacing means taking the whole lock off and fitting a new one.

Rekey when the locks are in good shape and you like them. It is less hardware, less waste, and a locksmith can usually key every lock in the house to one key while they are at it.

Replace when a lock is worn, sticky or cheap, when you want a better grade on the front door, or when you want to move to a keypad or smart lock anyway. There is no point paying to rekey a deadbolt you plan to throw out next month.

Count every lock, not just the front door

People rekey the front door and forget the rest. Walk the house once and write down every keyed lock:

• Front and back doors, both the knob and the deadbolt
• The door from the garage into the house, which is easy to forget and may have a key hanging in the old owners’ car
• Side doors, basement doors, a gate
• The garage door keypad code and any remotes you did not receive
• Mailbox, shed, and any lockbox the sellers left behind

The garage keypad and remotes are not a lock job, but they are the same problem. Reset the keypad code and reprogram the opener so old remotes stop working. The opener’s manual explains how; it usually involves a “learn” button on the motor unit.

Doing it yourself, if your locks allow it

Traditional cylinders need a locksmith or a rekeying kit with pinning tools and some patience. Kwikset’s SmartKey locks are the exception. They are designed so the owner can rekey them in a few minutes with a tool that comes with the lock and a key that already works.

For anything else, a locksmith visit is usually the better deal. Ask for a price per cylinder and whether they charge a trip fee, then compare two quotes.

Keep a spare where you can find it

New keys are exactly when people lock themselves out, because the spare that used to live under a planter no longer fits. Decide where the new spare goes on day one. A trusted neighbor works. So does a combination lockbox like the Master Lock 5400EC mounted out of sight. Set your own code; never keep the factory one.

If you are renting

Most leases do not allow tenants to change locks without permission. Ask the landlord in writing whether the locks were rekeyed after the last tenant. Many states have rules about this, and many landlords will do it if asked.

When you are ready to book someone, you can browse locksmiths by state and city in our directory. Call two, ask for the full price on the phone, and get it in writing.