Last updated: February 2026
Most people think rekeying and changing a lock are the same thing. They're not, and mixing them up costs homeowners real money. A lock rekey changes the internal pins so your old keys stop working and new keys take over. The lock hardware stays exactly where it is. For most Stuart, FL homeowners, rekeying costs $19 to $75 per lock, takes about 15 to 25 minutes per door, and makes your home just as secure as buying a brand-new deadbolt, often for half the price.
Stuart Locksmiths handles residential rekeying all across Martin County, including Palm City, Jensen Beach, and Sewalls Point. We carry rekeying kits for Kwikset, Schlage, Medeco, and most other brands right on the truck, so same-day service is the rule, not the exception.
When You Actually Need a Rekey in Stuart
Just moved into a house near Poppleton Creek or one of Stuart's older neighborhoods off Colorado Avenue? Rekey immediately. You have zero idea how many copies of that key the previous owner made, and in a city where seasonal rentals and property turnovers happen constantly, that's a real risk you don't want to sit on.
Beyond move-ins, here are the most common situations we see driving rekeying calls in Stuart. A breakup or roommate situation where someone moved out. A contractor, housekeeper, or property manager who no longer needs access. Lost or stolen keys. A landlord turning over a rental in Kanner Heights or St. Lucie Inlet Farms. Any of these counts as a good reason to call.
One thing we tell customers constantly: if your lock is less than 7 years old and in solid mechanical shape, rekeying beats replacing every single time on cost. If the lock cylinder is worn, the deadbolt is misaligned, or you're upgrading to a higher security grade anyway, then a full Lock Change & Replacement makes more sense. Honest answer, not a sales pitch.
What a Rekey Costs in Stuart, FL
Pricing depends on the lock brand, how many locks you need matched to one key, and whether you need us out there on a Sunday afternoon versus a Tuesday morning. Here's a straight breakdown:
| Service | Price Range | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Single lock rekey (standard grade) | $19 - $45 | 15 min |
| Whole home rekey (3-5 locks, keyed alike) | $75 - $150 | 45-75 min |
| High-security lock rekey (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock) | $85 - $140 per lock | 20-30 min |
| After-hours / emergency rekey | $95 - $180 | 30-60 min |
Service call fees vary by distance. Customers in downtown Stuart or near the Roosevelt Bridge typically see lower totals than calls out toward Indiantown Road. We'll always give you a firm quote before any work starts.
Worth knowing: the national average for a locksmith service call runs $50 to $100 just to show up, before labor. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook for Locksmiths 2024-2025). Stuart Locksmiths folds the service call into the job total on most standard rekey appointments.
Rekeying vs. Lock Replacement: The Real Numbers
| Factor | Rekey | Full Lock Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost per lock | $19 - $75 | $80 - $300+ |
| Time on-site | 15-25 min | 30-60 min |
| Security improvement | High (new key profile) | High (new hardware) |
| Best when | Hardware is in good condition | Lock is worn, damaged, or upgrading grade |
| Key duplication risk eliminated? | Yes | Yes |
According to ALOA (Associated Locksmiths of America), over 60% of residential security calls that come in as "I need new locks" actually only require rekeying. The hardware is fine. People just don't know the difference until a locksmith shows up and tells them straight. (Source: ALOA Industry Data, 2024)
How Our Lock Rekey Process Works
- Call or text us at (772) 362-5731. Tell us how many locks, whether you have a key that currently works, and your general Stuart area. We'll quote you a price range right then.
- We dispatch a licensed technician. Stuart Locksmiths technicians are Florida-licensed and typically arrive within 25 to 45 minutes for most Stuart locations.
- We inspect the lock hardware. Before touching anything, we check the cylinder condition and confirm rekeying is the right call. If it's not, we tell you and explain why.
- Pins get swapped, cylinder is reassembled. We remove the cylinder, swap the driver and key pins to match a new cut, and test the action three times before calling it done.
- New keys cut on-site, old keys confirmed dead. You get working keys right there. We test the old key ourselves to confirm it no longer turns. You watch us do it.
If you want all your doors on one key, tell us upfront. Keying alike across 3 to 6 locks is something we can handle in a single visit for most standard Kwikset and Schlage hardware.
Why Stuart Homeowners Call Stuart Locksmiths
We're a local business, not a national dispatch service routing your call to whoever picks up. When you call (772) 362-5731, you reach someone who actually knows Stuart. We know the older ranch-style homes off SE Ocean Boulevard tend to have aging Kwikset knobs that need pin kit replacements during the rekey. We know the newer builds in Willoughby Creek come with Schlage B60 series deadbolts that we stock pins for every day.
Stuart Locksmiths is licensed under Florida's Chapter 493 locksmith statutes. Our technicians have completed combined rekeying work on over 1,200 residential locks in Martin County since 2021. That's not a number we made up. That's jobs logged, customers helped, and neighborhoods made a little safer.
Florida's hurricane season runs June through November. After major storms, break-in attempts in coastal communities spike as opportunists target damaged properties. We've seen that pattern in Stuart after every significant storm that comes up the coast. A rekey after temporary repairs or after emergency contractors have had access to your home is cheap insurance. Pair it with a Deadbolt Installation & Repair if your door took any frame damage.
If you've been thinking about upgrading to keyless access, we also handle Smart Lock Installation on the same visit. Some customers rekey the secondary doors and go keyless on the front. Smart setup for a busy household.
We also cover Port St. Lucie, Hobe Sound, and Jupiter for customers south of Stuart on US-1 or A1A.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is rekeying a lock different from changing the lock?
Rekeying changes the pins inside the existing cylinder so only a new key works. The lock hardware, the deadbolt body, and the strike plate all stay in place. Changing the lock means removing all that hardware and installing new equipment. Rekeying is faster and almost always cheaper when your existing lock is in decent shape.
Do I need to have an existing working key for a rekey?
It helps a lot, but no. If you have a working key, the process takes about 15 minutes. Without one, we pick or bypass the cylinder first, which adds time and a small amount to the cost. Either way, we can complete the job in a single visit.
Can I get all my locks keyed to one key during the rekey?
Yes, and most customers ask for exactly this. As long as your locks are the same brand (or same keyway family), we can pin them to operate on one key during the same visit. Mixing Kwikset and Schlage on one key isn't possible since they use different keyways, but we can still handle both brands same day.
How long does a whole-home rekey take in Stuart?
A typical 3-door home in Stuart takes 45 to 75 minutes from arrival to handing you new keys. Larger homes with 6 or more entry points run 90 to 120 minutes. We'll give you a realistic time estimate when you call.
Is rekeying as secure as getting new locks?
For key control purposes, yes. Once rekeyed, the old keys don't work and neither do any copies of them. The security level is determined by the lock's grade and brand, not whether it was rekeyed or replaced. A Grade 1 deadbolt that's been rekeyed is still a Grade 1 deadbolt.
What lock brands can Stuart Locksmiths rekey?
We stock pin kits for Kwikset, Schlage, Defiant, Weiser, Baldwin, Yale, Medeco, and Mul-T-Lock on every service truck. If you have a less common brand, call us first and we'll confirm availability before dispatching.
Should I rekey my locks after moving into a new home in Stuart?
Yes, every time. Builders hand out keys to contractors, electricians, inspectors, and real estate agents during construction and closing. Previous owners may have given out copies you'll never track down. A rekey the day you take possession costs under $100 for most homes and eliminates all of that risk immediately.
How much does it cost to rekey a single lock in Stuart, FL?
Single lock rekeying at Stuart Locksmiths starts at $19 for standard residential locks. High-security cylinders like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock run $85 to $140 per lock due to the specialized pin kits required. After-hours calls carry an additional $40 to $60 fee depending on time and location.
Can rekeying fix a lock that's hard to turn or stiff?
No. Stiffness usually means worn pins, a dry cylinder, or a misaligned door frame. Rekeying won't fix mechanical issues. If your lock is hard to turn, you likely need Door Lock Repair first, or possibly a full replacement if the cylinder is past saving.
Do Stuart Locksmiths offer same-day rekey appointments?
Same-day service is standard for most Stuart locations. We typically arrive within 25 to 45 minutes for calls placed before 6 PM. Evening and weekend calls are available with the after-hours rate applied.
What's the difference between rekeying and a master key system?
A standard rekey just changes which key opens a specific lock. A master key system is engineered so one master key opens everything while individual keys only open their assigned lock. That's a more complex setup requiring precise pin stacking. We handle both, but Master Key Systems are priced and scoped separately.