Non-destructive entry first, always - and we re-key Schlage, Kwikset, and Baldwin locks on the spot while you watch
You get a price before we start. It does not change when we arrive. No surprises.
Trusted Lock Installation & Rekey for New York City Homeowners
Lock installation and rekeying in New York City typically costs between $95 and $285 per lock depending on the hardware grade and cylinder type, and most residential jobs are completed the same day we arrive. Novak Lock & Security has installed or serviced more than 60,000 locks and keys since 2002, and every single job started with a written price before any work began. That includes work in Manhattan walk-ups, Brooklyn brownstones, Queens co-ops, and Bronx pre-war buildings where door hardware ranges from original 1920s mortise bodies to brand-new smart locks.
We answer our phones with a live person around the clock, and the dispatcher quotes a firm price under Haven Standard Clause 1: the price on the phone is the price on the invoice. The technician who arrives is background-checked, uniformed, and not permitted to change that number at your door. Call (331) 310-8471 and you will speak with someone who can give you a real price, not a range and a shrug.
Key takeaways:
- Written price before any work starts, on every job, since 2002
- Same-day service across NYC, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx
- Factory-authorized work on Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Baldwin, and Schlage hardware
- Documented photo record of every visit, included as standard
- 365-Day Done Right Promise on all lock installation and rekey work
What Our Lock Installation & Rekey Service Includes
New York City door hardware is not like suburban hardware. We see solid-core doors, mortise locks that predate the Empire State Building, and high-security cylinders protecting apartments where a single key controls access to multiple common areas. Our installation and rekey work covers the full hardware range, from a simple Kwikset cylinder swap to a full Medeco high-security conversion on a Park Slope co-op. Here is what we actually do under each service category.
Smart Lock Installation
A smart lock replaces your deadbolt or lever with a motorized lock that opens via an app, a code, or a fingerprint, and it needs to be installed on a door that already has proper alignment. In New York City, we regularly retrofit smart locks onto warped pre-war doors, which requires adjusting the strike plate and sometimes the latch bore so the motor does not fight the frame. We install smart locks from Schlage, Yale, and Kwikset, and every installation includes a walkthrough of the app, a demonstration of the manual key override, and a written record of the installation.
Keyless Entry
Keyless entry means opening your door without a physical key. For most NYC apartments and houses that means a keypad deadbolt or a lever with a built-in pin code. We install keyless entry systems that still include a hidden key cylinder as a backup, because a dead battery in February should not leave you standing in a hallway. We stock replacement batteries, show you where the backup key cylinder is, and log the installation with a photo record you keep.
Keypad Lock
A keypad lock is a deadbolt or handle set that unlocks with a numeric code instead of a key. The real question for New York buildings is whether the door alignment and latch fit allow the keypad bolt to throw cleanly every time. We test each code entry and the manual key override before we leave, and we program the lock in front of you so you know the master code, the user code, and how to change them yourself. Keypad locks from Schlage and Kwikset are the most common units we install in NYC rental conversions and single-family homes.
Biometric Lock
A biometric lock reads a fingerprint and unlocks when it recognizes you. These units are popular in Manhattan apartments where owners want access without carrying keys, but they require clean, dry fingers and a properly aligned door to work consistently. We install biometric deadbolts and handle sets, enroll your fingerprint and your backup code in front of you, and explain the cold-weather and dry-skin limitations that the packaging does not. Every biometric install includes a backup mechanical key and a written record of the programming sequence.
Electronic Lock
An electronic lock uses a keypad, card, or fob instead of or in addition to a traditional key, and it is the standard choice for NYC apartment building entrances and commercial suites. We install electronic locks as standalone units or integrated with existing access control, and we replace batteries, reprogram codes, and test every entry method before the job closes. If your electronic lock is failing intermittently in a Brooklyn storefront, we will tell you whether it is the latch, the board, or the alignment, and give you a written price to fix or replace it.
Key Duplication
Key duplication sounds simple, but New York City is full of restricted keyways and patent-protected mats where the corner hardware store simply cannot cut a working copy. We duplicate standard keys, high-security Medeco and Mul-T-Lock keys, and restricted keys that require a signed authorization card from the property owner. Every duplicate is cut on a calibrated machine and tested in the lock before it goes in your hand. If a key is marginal, we will tell you, and we will not charge you for a key that doesn’t work.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Lock Installation & Rekey
We hold factory authorization for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Baldwin, and Schlage, which means we can order restricted keyways, cut high-security keys, and source OEM parts that non-authorized shops cannot. Medeco work is a significant share of our New York City volume. We rekey Medeco M3 and Biaxial cylinders, cut and register new keys, and maintain the key control log that Medeco requires for its restricted systems. When a Manhattan co-op loses a Medeco key and wants to rekey the whole building, we issue a written scope with a per-cylinder price and a timeline before we touch the first mortise.
On the residential side, we install and service Baldwin and Schlage hardware regularly, from Baldwin mortise locks on Upper East Side pre-wars to Schlage Connect and Encode smart locks in newer Brooklyn and Queens construction. Yale smart locks are another common request, especially in rental apartments where tenants want keyless entry without replacing the entire door. We stock common parts and we are honest about lead times when a lock needs to be ordered. Whether your door has a Medeco high-security cylinder or a builder-grade Kwikset knob, we can service it, and we will name the price before we start.
Signs You Need Lock Installation & Rekey Right Now
- The lock is getting harder to turn. A cylinder that binds or a latch that scrapes usually means a misaligned door or worn internal parts, not a lack of lubrication. The binding will eventually force the key to snap or the tailpiece to fail, and that happens when you are trying to get in, not when you are ready for it.
- You moved in and do not know who else has a key. This is the single most common rekey request we see in New York City. Contractors, dog walkers, previous tenants, ex-roommates, building staff. If you didn’t change the cylinders when you moved in, you don’t actually know who can walk through your door.
- A key broke off in the lock. If you managed to pull the broken piece out, you got lucky. The event itself tells you the cylinder was already failing or the key was worn thin. We can extract a broken key without damaging the lock, then cut a fresh key from the code if the old one is too worn to duplicate.
- The deadbolt doesn’t fully throw. A deadbolt that stops halfway is not securing anything. In NYC apartments the usual cause is a strike plate that was never aligned to the new door or a door that has sagged over decades. We can correct the alignment and rekey the cylinder in the same visit.
- You want one key for every door. This is a security and convenience upgrade we do constantly in brownstones and townhouses. We rekey all exterior cylinders to a single key, which typically costs less than replacing every lock and leaves you with a cleaner keyring and a documented key control record.
Our Lock Installation & Rekey Process - Step by Step
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You call and get a real price. A live dispatcher answers, asks about your door type, lock brand, and what you need, and quotes you a firm written price under Haven Standard Clause 1. That number does not change at your door. We will also schedule a window that works, and we hit it.
- 2
A uniformed, background-checked technician arrives. You will see a Novak Lock & Security van, a uniformed tech with an ID, and a written work order that matches the price you were quoted on the phone. The tech assesses your door, confirms the hardware, and walks you through the scope before opening the first screw.
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We show you what we found. This is the part that separates a real trade shop from a call-out operation. We will tell you the grade of your existing hardware, whether the door alignment is causing the issue, and what the key control situation actually is. If you need less work than quoted, the price goes down. Not up.
- 4
We install or rekey, and we test it in front of you. Each new cylinder is pinned to code, each new lock is mounted and tested through ten full cycles, and every key is tried in the door before we call it done. For rekey jobs, we keep the key code on file and give you a written record of exactly how many keys were cut and who received them.
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You get a documented photo record and the 365-Day Done Right Promise. We photograph the work before we leave and leave the record with you, along with the written warranty. If the work is not done right, the Promise means we make it right, on every lock installation, rekey, or emergency call. That is the standard we have run on since 2002.
How Much Does Lock Installation & Rekey Cost in New York City?
A standard cylinder rekey in New York City runs $35 to $65 per cylinder, and a standard deadbolt or knob installation typically runs $95 to $185 per lock including labor and hardware. Smart lock installation usually lands between $150 and $285 per lock depending on the unit and whether the door needs strike plate adjustment. High-security rekey work on Medeco or Mul-T-Lock cylinders costs more because the keys and cylinders are factory-controlled, but we give you a per-cylinder price in writing before we start. Here is the breakdown:
| Service | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Standard cylinder rekey (per cylinder) | $35-$65 |
| Standard deadbolt or knob installation (per lock, including hardware) | $95-$185 |
| Smart lock installation (per lock) | $150-$285 |
| High-security rekey (Medeco or Mul-T-Lock, per cylinder) | $75-$150 |
| Key duplication (standard key) | $3-$8 per key |
| Key duplication (restricted or high-security key) | $15-$45 per key |
What affects the price is the cylinder type, the number of locks, and the condition of the door. A 1920s mortise lock in a pre-war building often requires more labor than a modern cylindrical deadbolt, and we will tell you why on the walkthrough. The way to avoid overpaying in this trade is simple: get a firm price on the phone from a shop that is contractually bound not to change it at the door. We are. And every estimate we give is free and comes with a written scope.
If you have a competing written estimate, bring it to us and we will review it at no charge. That is not a gimmick. It is part of the Haven Standard.
Lock Installation & Rekey Near New York City - Our Service Area
We run lock installation and rekey calls across all five boroughs, and our typical response window is 45 to 90 minutes in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx. Common calls come from Upper West Side renters, Williamsburg condo owners, Astoria landlords, and Riverdale homeowners, and all of them get the same written price before we dispatch anyone. For reference on how we operate beyond the city, see our home page or our service pages for Lock Installation & Rekey in Los Angeles and Lock Installation & Rekey in Chicago. Our New York City hub is here at Lock Installation & Rekey in New York City.
Serving New York City, NY - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the New York City area and know this community well, and we also offer our Lock Installation & Rekey in Los Angeles. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Lock Installation & Rekey in New York City
Lock installation means mounting new hardware on your door, and rekeying means changing the pins inside an existing cylinder so the old keys no longer work. Rekeying is usually the cheaper and faster way to secure a door after a move or a lost key, while installation is the right move when the hardware itself is worn, broken, or not up to the security level you need. We do both, and we quote a firm per-lock price in writing before we start, just as we do with Lock Installation & Rekey in South Gate.
A standard rekey takes 15 to 30 minutes per cylinder, and a standard deadbolt installation takes about an hour per door. Smart lock installation can run 60 to 90 minutes if the door needs strike plate adjustment and app configuration. We tell you the timeline when we schedule, and the technician walks you through the work as it happens.
Standard rekeying runs $35 to $65 per cylinder, standard lock installation runs $95 to $185 per lock, and smart lock installation runs $150 to $285 per lock. The price you get on the phone is the price on the invoice under Haven Standard Clause 1. Call (331) 310-8471 for an exact quote, and you will get a written number before anyone is dispatched.
Yes. We are factory-authorized for Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Baldwin, and Schlage, and we service restricted keyways and high-security cylinders that most NYC locksmiths cannot touch. If you have a Medeco cylinder in your building, we can rekey it, cut new keys, and maintain the key control log. We also install Baldwin mortise locks and Schlage smart locks, and we carry common OEM parts in the van.
Yes. We run same-day lock installation and rekey calls across all five boroughs, with 24/7 live answering and emergency response, plus Lock Installation & Rekey in Huntington Park. Our phone is answered by a real person around the clock, no voicemail queue and no callback window. If you are locked out or a lock has failed on a storefront door, call (331) 310-8471 and we will give you a firm arrival window and a firm price.
Every lock installation and rekey is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise, including Lock Installation & Rekey - Bell. If the work is not done right, we make it right. That promise applies to every job since 2002, and it is written into the documentation we leave with you on every visit, along with a photo record of the finished work.
Have the door accessible, know roughly what lock brand you have if you can see a name on the faceplate or key, and gather any keys you want duplicated or matched. If you are in a co-op or condo, check whether your building requires a specific keyway or has a key control policy, because that affects the cylinder we can install. Beyond that, you do not need to do anything. We bring the tools, the parts, and the written scope.
Schedule Your Lock Installation & Rekey Service in New York City Today
Call (331) 310-8471 and you will get a live person, a firm price, and a written scope before anyone is dispatched. No estimate is vague, no price changes at the door, and every visit ends with a documented photo record. We have been doing it that way in New York City since 2002, and we are happy to show you the paperwork to prove it.
Written by Daniel Novak, Owner at Novak Lock & Security, serving New York City since 2002.