KEY COPYORLANDOGuide · Orlando locksmith · updated 2026
Rekeying and lock changes are the two most common fixes for improving security — but they solve different problems at very different price points. Rekeying re-pins your existing cylinder so a new key works and old keys stop. A lock change replaces the whole assembly with new hardware. This guide covers when each makes sense, what each costs in Orlando, and how to choose.
Rekey, per lock$15–35
Change, per lock$75–300+
Rekey time10–20 m
Change time15–30 m
Typical saving60–80%
Lock rekeying adjusts the internal pin configuration inside a cylinder so the lock works with a new key and every previous key stops working. The hardware stays on the door — only the mechanism changes, which takes 10–20 minutes per lock. It works on any pin-tumbler lock, covering most residential deadbolts, knob locks and lever handles in Orlando homes and apartments. Lock body, strike plate and exterior trim are untouched, so both the appearance and the existing security grade are preserved.
A lock change replaces the entire assembly — cylinder, housing, strike plate and exterior trim — with a new unit that arrives with its own keys. That is what lets you raise the security grade, switch style or brand, or add features your current hardware cannot support: smart lock connectivity, bump-resistant pins, high-security restricted keyways. Budget 15–30 minutes per lock depending on hardware compatibility and door preparation.
Terms worth knowing — tap one
Pin-tumbler lock
The standard mechanism in most residential locks: stacked pins that a correctly cut key lifts to the shear line. Because the pins are replaceable, these are the locks that can be rekeyed.
Keyed alike
Rekeying several locks to one shared key — front, back, garage side-door and mailbox all opening with the same key. Far cheaper than buying a matched hardware set.
ANSI grade
A durability and strength rating from 1 (highest, commercial-level) to 3 (builder basic). Upgrading grade requires new hardware — rekeying keeps whatever grade you already have.
Restricted keyway
A patented keyway — Medeco, Mul-T-Lock and similar — whose blanks cannot be copied at a hardware store. Requires a completely new lock system.
Bump resistance
Security pins and machining that defeat bump-key attacks. Older cylinders lack it, which is one of the better reasons to change rather than rekey.
Still unsure?
Describe your door and we will tell you the cheapest correct fix before quoting a dollar.
Call (407) 255-5714Same outcome for old keys — very different cost, and only one of them upgrades your security.
Swipe to compare
Find your situation, get the answer. If two apply, the more cautious answer wins.
Swipe the scenarios
01
Rekey. Your locks are likely fine — you just need every old copy to stop working.
02
Change. Mechanical failure means the hardware itself is the problem; new pins will not fix it.
03
Change. Even if the lock looks intact, internal damage from forced entry is common.
04
Rekey. No need to replace working hardware — just turn off the missing key.
05
Change. Older locks lack modern bump and pick resistance. Upgrade the hardware.
06
Rekey. Keyed alike: every lock rekeyed to match a single key, far cheaper than replacing them.
07
Rekey between tenants. Change only when hardware is worn or you want an upgrade.
08
Change. New technology needs new hardware — a cylinder swap cannot add connectivity.
Rekeying is typically 60–80% cheaper because the hardware stays on the door — new pins are a few dollars in parts, a new lock is a purchase. National averages miss local reality: vacation-rental turnover in the Kissimmee–Champions Gate corridor, gated-community access protocols that add service time, and humidity-accelerated corrosion on exterior doors.
Rekey, per lock$15–$35
Standard 3-lock home rekey$50–$100 incl. service call
Lock change, per lock$75–$300+
Basic deadbolt replacement$75–$150 incl. hardware
High-security or smart hardwareQuoted per door
Rekey vs change saving60–80% less
Straight answers
Cost, break-ins, smart locks, keying alike, and what to do after buying a house.
Want it assessed on site?
A locksmith inspects your locks, explains the options, and quotes before any work begins.
Call (407) 255-5714Yes. Rekeying runs $15–$35 per lock in Orlando because the existing hardware stays installed; a lock change is $75–$300+ per lock because you are buying and installing new hardware. Rekeying is typically 60–80% less expensive. See the full pricing overview.
Change them. A break-in can damage internal components you cannot see from outside — even a lock that still operates may be compromised. New hardware is the safe choice.
Most pin-tumbler locks can: standard deadbolts, knob locks and lever handles. Some electronic, smart and proprietary-mechanism locks cannot be rekeyed and need replacement. We inspect and confirm before quoting.
Yes, and it is a common combination — upgrade the front door deadbolt while rekeying functional side and back door locks, with everything set to the same new key.
Yes. Any pin-tumbler lock can be rekeyed to work with a key you already have. It is called keying alike, and it is how you get one key for a whole home or business.
Rekeying takes 10–20 minutes per lock; a lock change takes 15–30 minutes per lock depending on hardware compatibility and door prep. Both are done on site.
Strongly recommended. Previous owners, realtors, contractors, cleaning crews and neighbours may hold copies. Rekeying every exterior lock right after closing closes that gap — it is the single most common rekey we perform.
Rekey between every tenant; change hardware every 5–7 years or when you see wear, corrosion or mechanical trouble. Orlando humidity degrades exterior locks faster than the national average, so managers in the Kissimmee and Orlando corridors replace exterior hardware more often.
Both services across the whole Orlando metro — Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Sanford and every city inside the 50-mile radius, 24/7 including nights, weekends and holidays.
Describe it on the phone and we will tell you the cheapest correct fix before quoting a dollar.
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