How locksmith pricing works
See what goes into a locksmith bill, from the service call fee to parts and labor. Cairn serves the Las Vegas valley and provides a written price before work.
- $39 service call fee on every visit
- Starting prices before parts
- Your approval before work starts
Answered day and night
A Cairn dispatcher answers every day of the year.
Licensed and insured
Employee technicians carry photo ID and a police work card.
Your price comes first
Approve the written price on a tablet before work begins.
What determines your locksmith bill
Two jobs that sound alike on the phone can require different work. These six factors explain how the technician arrives at the price.
The service call fee
The $39 fee pays for travel to the job and inspection. It applies to every visit and is separate from the charge for the work.
Labor
The work required depends on the lock's condition, the number of locks involved and whether a cylinder, latch or other component needs attention.
Hardware and parts
A new deadbolt, cylinder, smart lock or replacement component adds to the job when needed. The hardware selected affects the total.
Time of day
A $45 after-hours fee applies from 9 PM to 7 AM, on Sundays and on major holidays.
Job location
The regular service call fee applies within the service area, with an additional $25 travel charge for Boulder City.
Inspection and written price
The technician examines the job, lists every charge on a tablet and gets your approval before starting.
Starting prices for common jobs
Use this table to understand typical starting charges for lockouts, rekeying, key work and installations. The condition and type of hardware affect the final amount.
| Service | Typical price before parts | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Service call fee | $39 | Charged on every visit; $25 more for Boulder City |
| After-hours fee | $45 | 9 PM to 7 AM, Sundays and major holidays |
| Home lockout | from $75 | Lock type and condition |
| Business lockout | from $95 | Door and hardware type |
| Car lockout | from $65 | Vehicle type |
| Rekeying | $22 per lock cylinder | How many cylinders |
| Deadbolt installation | from $85 per door plus the lock | Fresh boring, the lock chosen |
| Broken key extraction | from $65 | Where the key broke |
| Standard car key, cut and programmed | from $120 | Year, make and model |
| Smart key or proximity fob | from $220 | Key technology, all keys lost |
| Safe opening | Quoted after inspection | The safe and its lock |
These are typical demonstration prices before parts; the service call fee is separate, and the technician's written price after inspection is the price.
The visit and the work are separate
Your bill separates the cost of sending a technician from the work performed after the lock, door or vehicle has been inspected.
What the $39 service call fee covers
The $39 service call fee covers the technician’s travel to your location and inspection of the problem. It is charged on every visit, whether the job is a lockout, a rekey or a hardware repair. It is not a deposit and is not credited toward the work. The dispatcher explains this charge before sending a van. Boulder City visits have an additional travel charge. The fee does not include labor, replacement hardware or parts.
How labor is set
Labor depends on what the technician finds. A cylinder that can be rekeyed is different from a seized lock that needs replacement. A deadbolt installation can also involve correcting a latch or strike alignment problem. For a business, the number of doors and their condition affect the amount of work required.
The technician examines the hardware and prepares a written price on a tablet, separating the work from the parts required. You review and approve that amount before work begins. Drilling, cutting or replacing hardware requires separate approval. If inspection or the work reveals another problem that changes the price, the technician stops and obtains approval for the revised amount.
How parts affect the final price
Hardware is priced separately where needed and carries its manufacturer's warranty. The technician checks what can stay and what needs replacement.
Standard locks
A worn deadbolt or damaged cylinder may need replacement. Lock grade, finish and the chosen hardware affect the parts charge.
High-security cylinders
Restricted keys use patented keyways, blanks sold only to the contracted locksmith, and stamped, logged keys. Lock type and grade affect price.
Smart locks
The chosen keypad or connected lock affects material cost. Customer-supplied locks carry Cairn's labor warranty only.
Keys and fobs
Vehicle year, make, model and key technology affect pricing. Keys and fobs Cairn supplies and programs have a 90-day warranty.
Extra charges outside regular hours
Emergency dispatch is available beyond scheduled service hours. These charges are explained before a technician is sent.
Night and Sunday visits
A $45 after-hours fee is added for service between 9 PM and 7 AM and for visits on Sundays.
Major holidays
The emergency line remains answered on major holidays. Holiday service carries the same $45 after-hours fee.
Boulder City travel
Boulder City adds $25 to the service call fee. Emergency coverage runs from 7 AM to 9 PM, with overnight calls taken when a van is available.
Prices for homes, businesses and vehicles
The kind of property or vehicle changes what the technician needs to inspect and which parts may be required.
Residential
Lock grade, cylinder condition, door alignment and the number of doors affect rekeying, repairs and deadbolt installation.
Commercial
Door count, exit devices, storefront hardware, master key requirements and access-control components influence the proposal.
Automotive
Year, make, model, key type and whether a working key remains determine the work. Some vehicles require dealer-only programming.
You see the price before the work
The phone conversation starts the estimate. The technician's inspection establishes the amount you decide whether to approve.
A range on the phone
Describe the lock, door or vehicle and what happened. Dispatch explains the service call fee and the expected range for the work.
Inspection at the job
The technician examines the hardware, checks its condition and identifies whether repair, rekeying or replacement is suitable.
A price on the tablet
The technician shows you the written price with the applicable charges. Work begins only after you approve it.
New approval if work changes
If the job changes, work stops. The technician explains the additional work and gets approval for a revised price before continuing.
Payment, offers and workmanship
These policies explain what appears on your bill, how payment works, which offers may apply and what Cairn warrants after the job.
Written charges
Every charge appears on the written price before work starts. The final itemized invoice separates the service call, labor and each part.
Payment options
Pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or cash. Business checks and approved net 30 accounts are accepted. No financing is offered.
Current offers
$20 off new home rekey; $25 off second car key/fob at same visit; 10% off labor for seniors, military, veterans, first responders; free commercial walkthrough.
Workmanship warranty
For 12 months, if a lock we installed, rekeyed or repaired stops working correctly because of our work, a technician returns and fixes it at no charge.
Questions about what you will pay
A few details can change the bill. These answers explain when charges apply and what happens if the work is different from expected.
Call (702) 000-0000All questionsDo I still pay the service call fee if I decide not to have the work done?
Yes. The $39 service call fee pays for travel and inspection and applies to every visit. You can review the technician’s written price before deciding whether to authorize the work.
Can you tell me the full price over the phone?
Dispatch can give a range for some work, but not every job can be priced by phone. Safe opening is quoted only after inspection, never by phone. The technician inspects the lock, door or vehicle and provides a written price before work begins.
How much does it cost to rekey four locks?
Rekeying is $22 per lock cylinder, plus the separate $39 service call fee. The new home offer takes $20 off when 4 or more locks are rekeyed within 60 days of closing or move-in. The technician checks each cylinder can be rekeyed before writing the price.
Is it more expensive to have a locksmith come at night?
A $45 after-hours fee applies from 9 PM to 7 AM, on Sundays and on major holidays. It is added to the applicable service call and work charges.
Does drilling a lock cost extra?
Drilling is a last resort for high-security cylinders, failed or seized locks and some damaged locks. A drilled lock needs replacement. The technician gives the replacement lock price first and gets your approval before drilling.
Why does replacing a lost car key cost more than making a spare?
With all keys lost, the key must be originated by code or by decoding the lock, and the vehicle’s computer is programmed from nothing. A spare is copied and added while a working key is present, so it takes less work.
Can I use two offers on the same job?
Only one offer applies per job, and offers cannot be combined. The current offers expire December 31, 2026, and must be mentioned when arranging the service.
When do I pay, and will I get a receipt?
Payment is collected when the work is complete, except for approved commercial accounts with net 30 terms. You receive an itemized invoice by email or on paper showing the service call, labor and parts.
Get a price for the work you need
Call for an urgent lock or key problem in the Las Vegas valley. For planned work, send a request with the job details and our office will respond within one business day.