TL;DR — Locked-Out Service Cost At A Glance
- Most people pay £60–£150 inc VAT to be let back into a home during standard hours, rising to £90–£220 in London and the South East.
- Out-of-hours call-outs — evenings, nights and weekends — typically run £80–£200, and more in the capital.
- A skilled locksmith uses non-destructive entry on most locks, so no new lock is needed and the door is undamaged.
- The price depends on the lock type, the time of day, how fast you need entry and whether the lock is damaged.
- If a lock has to be drilled or has failed, a replacement (£75–£170+ fitted) is added on top.
- A trustworthy locksmith gives a fixed price up front with no call-out fee — get the quote before they set off.
Get a fixed price with no call-out fee to get back in — check prices and book a vetted locksmith or call for fast, non-destructive entry.
Add to Preferred Sources How Much Does A Locked-Out Service Cost In 2026?
Getting back into your home after a lockout costs £60–£150 inc VAT during standard hours, rising to £90–£220 in London and the South East. Out-of-hours — evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays — a locked-out call-out typically runs £80–£200, and higher in the capital.
The good news is that most lockouts are resolved by non-destructive entry: a skilled locksmith picks, bypasses or manipulates the lock open without damage, so there is nothing to replace and no repair bill. That keeps the cost to labour only. The price rises if the lock is a high-security type that takes longer, if the door has to be drilled as a last resort (meaning a new lock), or if you call outside standard hours. What you are paying for is speed, skill and getting in without wrecking the door.
Here is what a locked-out service typically costs across the UK:
| Situation | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Standard non-destructive entry (daytime) | £60 – £120 | £90 – £160 |
| Out-of-hours / night entry | £80 – £200 | £120 – £220 |
| Entry plus lock change (lock drilled) | £130 – £280 | £180 – £360 |
| High-security lock, complex entry | £120 – £220 | £160 – £300 |
Figures include VAT and reflect 2026 market rates. A new lock is only needed if the lock is damaged or drilled. Your exact price depends on the lock and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Locked-Out Cost: Standard Vs Out-Of-Hours
The same lockout costs more late at night than in the working day. This table shows the typical difference by scenario:
| Scenario | Standard hours | Out-of-hours |
|---|---|---|
| Slammed door, key inside (uPVC/night latch) | £60 – £110 | £90 – £170 |
| Lost or stolen keys (entry only) | £70 – £130 | £100 – £190 |
| Broken key in the lock | £70 – £140 | £110 – £190 |
| Entry plus lock change (lost keys) | £130 – £250 | £170 – £320 |
| High-security lock entry | £100 – £200 | £140 – £280 |
Where it is safe to wait until standard hours, doing so avoids the out-of-hours premium of roughly £40–£90.
What Affects The Cost Of A Locked-Out Service?
1. Time Of Day
The clearest driver. Standard daytime labour is around £65–£95 per hour; out-of-hours rises to roughly £110–£130 per hour. A midnight lockout costs more than the same job at midday.
2. The Lock Type
A standard night latch or euro cylinder is quick to open. High-security, anti-pick and anti-bump locks take longer and more skill, raising the price.
3. Non-Destructive Vs Drilling
Most lockouts are opened without damage, so the cost is labour only. If a lock is faulty, or genuinely cannot be opened any other way, drilling is a last resort — and that means a replacement lock on top.
4. Lost Keys Vs Slammed Door
A slammed door with keys inside just needs entry. Lost or stolen keys often mean changing the lock too, so no missing key can be used — which adds parts and labour.
5. Response Speed
A guaranteed fast arrival reserves the locksmith's time and can carry a slightly higher rate than a booked visit later the same day.
6. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 15–30% higher than the North of England, Wales and Scotland, and rural addresses can carry a travel element.
What's Included — And What's Not
Typically included in a locked-out quote:
- Rapid attendance at your address (no call-out fee with a fixed-price provider)
- Non-destructive entry wherever possible
- Opening the door without damage to the lock or frame
- A test that the lock still works once you are back in
Usually charged separately:
- A replacement lock if the lock is drilled or has failed
- A lock change after lost or stolen keys
- Security upgrades fitted while the locksmith is there
- The out-of-hours premium on evening and weekend call-outs
Get the price confirmed before the locksmith travels. A reputable provider quotes on the phone, not after opening the door.
Can You Do It Yourself?
Before calling anyone, run through the obvious checks: try every other door and any ground-floor window, ask whether a partner, housemate or neighbour holds a spare, and check whether a letting agent or landlord has one. If you keep a spare in a key safe, this is the moment it pays for itself.
What to avoid is forcing entry. The card-in-the-door trick only works on a basic spring latch and rarely on modern doors, and trying to lever a uPVC door or kick it in usually damages the frame, the multi-point mechanism or the glazing — turning a modest locksmith fee into a major repair. If there is no safe way in, a professional locksmith will almost always open the door without damage, faster and far more cheaply than any forced-entry attempt. Where a child or a vulnerable person is locked inside, or something is on the hob, treat it as an emergency and call 999.
How To Save Money On A Locked-Out Service
- Keep a spare key with a trusted neighbour or in a key safe — the cheapest insurance against a lockout.
- Call in standard hours where it is safe to wait, to avoid the out-of-hours premium.
- Ask for non-destructive entry and a fixed price before the locksmith sets off.
- Check for another way in first — an open window or back door saves the call entirely.
- Only change the lock if keys are lost — a simple slammed-door lockout needs entry, not a new lock.
- Use a local, vetted provider — long travel distances can add to the bill for rural addresses.
How To Hire A Good Locksmith
Lockouts are a favourite target for rogue traders, so vetting matters. Choose a locksmith who is a member of, or approved by, the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA), which vets, inspects and requires its members to be qualified and insured. Confirm public liability insurance, look for genuine reviews, and insist on a fixed price with no call-out fee — not a vague "from £39" headline that jumps once they arrive.
Warning signs include a locksmith who drills the lock straight away when non-destructive entry is possible, one who only quotes after the door is open, or a call centre that dispatches an unvetted subcontractor. Save a trusted local number before you ever need it. With Fantastic Services, you get vetted, insured locksmiths, fast attendance and a fixed price agreed up front, so you are back inside without a nasty bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Locksmith To Open A Door?
Opening a door after a lockout costs £60–£150 inc VAT during standard hours, or £90–£220 in London. Out-of-hours call-outs run £80–£200. Most doors are opened without damage, so no new lock is needed.
Will A Locksmith Damage The Door To Get In?
Rarely. A skilled locksmith opens most locks using non-destructive entry, leaving the lock and door undamaged. Drilling is a last resort for faulty or high-security locks that cannot be opened any other way, and only then does a replacement lock apply.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Back Into Your House At Night?
An out-of-hours locked-out call-out typically costs £80–£200 inc VAT, and more in London. The premium of roughly £40–£90 over the daytime rate reflects the higher evening, night and weekend labour rates.
Do You Need To Change The Locks If You Lose Your Keys?
It is wise. If keys are lost or stolen, changing the lock (or at least the cylinder) ensures no missing key can be used to get in. A slammed-door lockout, where the keys are safely inside, only needs entry — no lock change.
How Quickly Can A Locksmith Get You Back In?
In urban areas, many locksmiths aim to arrive within 30–60 minutes, and most non-destructive entries take only a few minutes once they are there. Rural addresses can take longer and may carry a small travel element.
Is There A Call-Out Fee For A Locked-Out Service?
With a reputable fixed-price locksmith, no — attendance is built into the quoted price. Always confirm this before the locksmith travels, as some traders add a call-out charge on top of the labour.
