Rekeying is almost always the smarter first move. A licensed locksmith opens your existing lock cylinder, swaps the internal pins to a new combination, and cuts you fresh keys. The lock stays put. Old keys stop working. The bill is roughly half what a full lock change costs. LockAtlas dispatches a Brooklyn rekeying technician in about 22 minutes with the price quoted upfront — no upsell to "you really need new locks" once they arrive.
When rekeying is the right call in Brooklyn
- New tenant moves into a rental — Williamsburg, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Park Slope, Bay Ridge, anywhere
- Lost or stolen keys — neutralize the old keys without buying new hardware
- Bought a new home or condo — you have no idea who else has copies
- Roommate moved out without returning their key
- Contractor or housekeeper had a key and the arrangement ended
- Want all locks to use one key — "keying alike" included in the per-cylinder price
When you should replace instead of rekey
If the lock is old, damaged, has been physically tampered with, or is a bargain-grade brand more than 10 years old, replacement makes more sense. Your LockAtlas technician will tell you honestly and re-quote in the app before any work starts. We don't earn more by selling you new hardware — the marketplace incentive is a fast, correct, transparent job.
Brooklyn rekeying pricing
- Single cylinder rekey (one lock): $100–$175 including new keys
- Each additional cylinder same visit: $60–$90
- "Keyed alike" — multiple locks to one key: included in the per-cylinder price
- High-security cylinders (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Schlage Primus): $200–$300 each (restricted keys, special pinning)
The quoted price is what you pay. No after-arrival surcharges.
Brooklyn neighborhoods covered
Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Red Hook, Gowanus, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Ditmas Park, Midwood, Kensington, Borough Park. Every neighborhood with the same pricing.
What to expect during the visit
Most rekeying jobs take 10–15 minutes per lock. The technician removes your existing cylinder with a single screwdriver, opens it on a small workbench (often the kitchen counter), swaps the internal pins to a new combination, cuts new keys on a portable machine, reinstalls the cylinder, and tests it. A typical Brooklyn apartment with two locks is about 30 minutes total. You get the new keys, your old keys go in the trash.
If you're rekeying after a security concern — break-in, dispute, lost keys — tell the technician through the app and they'll prioritize getting on-site fast and check the rest of your hardware while there.