Lock Cylinder Replacement
Changing the cylinder is the middle option between rekeying and replacing the lock. You keep the handle, the bolt and the finish, and swap only the part the key goes into.
It makes sense when the existing cylinder is worn or wrong: the wrong length, no anti-snap protection, or a keyway you want to move away from because too many copies exist.
Every door gets measured before the cylinder is ordered or fitted. A cylinder that protrudes past the escutcheon can be snapped by hand, which is one of the most common forced-entry methods there is.
What the job involves
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Hardware and finish stay put
Only the cylinder changes, so the door looks unchanged.
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Measured per door
No protruding cylinders, which are a snap point.
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Upgrade path
Anti-snap or high-security profiles fit the same hole.
Change Lock Cylinder: what it costs
Typical Austin-metro ranges. Your exact number is quoted on the phone.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Cylinder replacement, per lockLabour plus a standard cylinder | $65 – $145 |
| High-security cylinder fittedPatented key, restricted duplication | $110 – $280 |
| Rekey, per cylinderTwo keys included per keyway | $20 – $35 |
| Extra keys cut on siteWhile the technician is with you | $3 – $8 each |
| Service call / dispatchCharged once per visit, never per lock | $29 – $49 |
| Nights, Sundays & holidaysQuoted on the phone before a van is sent | +$25 – $65 |
These are the ranges most jobs in the Austin metro land between. The exact number is quoted on the phone before a technician is dispatched, and it is the number on the invoice. Parts are itemised separately and priced from a rate card, not invented at the door.
Common questions
How is this different from rekeying?
Rekeying re-pins the cylinder you already have. Changing it puts a different cylinder in, which is what you want if the old one is worn or the wrong specification.
Will a new cylinder fit my existing handle?
In most cases yes, once it is measured. That is precisely why cylinder formats are standardised.
Can it match my existing key?
Yes, if you want it keyed alike with the rest of the property.
Part of our Lock Rekeying & Installation work. Covering Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Georgetown, Leander, Lakeway, Kyle, Buda, Hutto, Manor and Dripping Springs.
What Austin says
about us
Reviews left by customers across Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park and Pflugerville.
Locked myself out at eleven at night with a toddler asleep upstairs. Quoted me on the phone, arrived in half an hour, had the door open in under five minutes without a scratch on it. Charged exactly what was quoted.
Marisol Trevino
Homeowner, Mueller
We turn over about forty units a year and they handle every rekey. Invoiced to the office, keying schedule emailed the same day, never had to chase them.
Dwayne Whitfield
Property manager, North Austin
Dealer wanted a tow plus two days for a lost Kia key. These guys did it in my driveway in about an hour for a lot less. Two keys, both tested before he left.
Priya Raghunathan
Driver, Cedar Park
Panic bar failed on a Friday during service. They came out after close, fixed it properly and talked me through what the inspector would be looking for.
Ben Ostrowski
Restaurant owner, East Sixth
Locked out? We answer the phone at 3 a.m.
One call gets a licensed, insured technician rolling to you anywhere in the Austin metro.
