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Locksmith cost in San Francisco, CA — 2026

Typical U.S. range (Fixr/Angi/eLocal, 2026); local rates from listed locksmiths are added as they share them

What a locksmith should cost in San Francisco, CA: Home lockout $50–$200; Car lockout $60–$150; Rekey $50–$130 per lock; Lock change $100–$550 per door; Key-fob programming $50–$200; Safe opening $140–$450. After-hours uplift $50–$250 extra. Trip or service-call fee $25–$100. Payment: ask which methods are taken before anyone is sent; cards and a written invoice are normal, a cash-only demand at the door is not.

Locksmith price bands for San Francisco

Locksmith price bands for San Francisco, CA
ServiceRangeBasis
Home lockout$50–$200Typical U.S. range (Angi, Fixr, eLocal)
Car lockout$60–$150Typical U.S. range (Fixr, eLocal)
RekeyEach extra lock in the same visit is usually far less: eLocal lists $10–$28.$50–$130 per lockTypical U.S. range (Angi, eLocal)
Lock changeThe low end is a basic lock installed; the high end is a replacement lock fitted.$100–$550 per doorTypical U.S. range (Angi, Fixr, eLocal)
Key-fob programmingA whole new smart-key remote costs more: eLocal lists $150–$250.$50–$200Typical U.S. range (Fixr, eLocal)
Safe openingDrilling a money safe or an in-floor safe is the top of the range.$140–$450Typical U.S. range (Angi, Fixr)
After-hours upliftAdded on top of the job price at night, weekends and holidays.$50–$250 extraTypical U.S. range (Angi, Fixr, eLocal)
Trip or service-call feeSome locksmiths fold this into the job price; ask whether it is included.$25–$100Typical U.S. range (Angi, Fixr, eLocal)

Last updated: October 27, 2026. HireLocksmiths does not set or guarantee these prices; each locksmith sets its own.

Is a $15–40 locksmith quote a scam?

Almost always, yes. Public price guides put a real house lockout at about $50 at the very bottom and $200 at the top (Angi, Fixr and eLocal, 2026), and a trip fee at $25–$100 on its own. A $15–$40 phone quote is a teaser: it does not cover the job. The usual sequence is a low number on the phone, a technician who arrives in an unmarked car, an announcement that the lock "must be drilled", a new price near $300, and a demand for cash. Before you agree to anything in San Francisco: ask for the company's legal name and street address; ask for the total, including the trip fee and any after-hours charge; ask the technician to show ID; and say no before work starts if the price changes. Paying by card leaves a record you can dispute.

Does California license locksmiths?

California licenses locksmith companies and registers their employees through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Ask for the company's BSIS license number and the technician's registration card, then ask for proof of insurance and photo ID.

A contractor license, general or specialty (an Arizona ROC number, for example), covers construction trades and is not a locksmith license. A locksmith license or registration exists only in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Virginia, plus county permits in Nevada and city or county licenses in New York City and Nassau County; where none applies, the checks that remain are business registration, insurance and the technician's photo ID.

What to ask before they come

  1. What is the total price, all in?Ask for the trip fee, labor, parts and any after-hours charge as one number before anyone is sent to San Francisco.
  2. What is the company's legal name and street address?A real local business gives both. "Locksmith service" with no name is a dispatcher, and the person who arrives may not work for the company you called.
  3. What is your California license number?Check it with the state, and ask for a certificate of insurance. The technician should show photo ID and arrive in a marked vehicle.
  4. If the lock has to be drilled, why, and what will it cost?Most home and car lockouts do not need drilling. Agree on the new price before the drill comes out, and ask whether you can pay by card and get an itemized receipt.

Who's listed in San Francisco

Listings are audited on a rolling basis for a real local business and a phone number that is the business's own; those that fail are removed. Price, arrival time and availability are not listed, so ask each business for an all-in price by phone. Figures labelled "Public reviews" are shown as reported on the business's public profile; HireLocksmiths does not write reviews.

More about San Francisco and locksmith pricing