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.
Locksmith in Boston, MA
Residential locksmith work in Boston means working on hardware that is, in many cases, older than the city’s subway system. Brownstones in Back Bay and triple-deckers in Dorchester carry original mortise locksets from the late 1800s, and when those fail, the fix is rarely a quick cylinder swap. We’re Novak Lock & Security, and we handle that spectrum: from a 25-minute residential lockout in Jamaica Plain to a full commercial master-key system across an Allston apartment building, with the price always in writing before anyone turns a cylinder. Call (331) 310-8471 and you’ll get a live person, a firm quote, and a technician who arrives in a marked van with documentation at the end.
Why Boston Homes Are Different
Boston’s housing stock is among the oldest in the country, and it shows up in the locks. Beacon Hill and Back Bay brownstones built between the 1840s and 1890s frequently still contain their original mortise lock bodies, which require specialty tools and parts that a big-box store will not carry. When those locks fail, the answer is not a standard bored-lock replacement; it is a mortise retrofit or a custom-fit modern mortise cassette.
The triple-decker wood-frame multi-families concentrated in Dorchester, East Boston, and Jamaica Plain add another layer. These buildings dominate the rental market, which means landlords are constantly cycling tenants, rekeying units, and upgrading to master key systems. The wooden frames in these century-old structures swell and shift with Boston’s freeze-thaw winters, so a deadbolt that aligned perfectly in September may not throw fully in February. We see this every January: a wave of lockouts and misaligned bolts caused by the same cold snap. Road salt and coastal moisture accelerate cylinder corrosion on exterior doors, especially in the Fenway and Mission Hill neighborhoods where buildings sit closer to the Charles River and the harbor’s weather patterns.
Our Main Boston Services
Two jobs dominate the calls we get from Boston homeowners: planned lock work and unplanned lockouts. Here is what each involves.
Lock Installation & Rekey in Boston
Installation and rekey work in Boston means matching new hardware to old doors, which is rarely a drop-in job. A rekey on a mortise lock requires disassembling the lock body, not just swapping pins in the cylinder, and many Back Bay and South End buildings have specific hardware expectations from condo associations. We quote per cylinder in writing, including the labor to align strike plates on swollen wood frames. Boston homeowners planning this work will want the full breakdown on our Lock Installation & Rekey in Boston page.
Emergency Locksmith in Boston
A lockout in Boston in January is not a minor inconvenience. When the temperature drops and you are locked out of a triple-decker on a narrow Dorchester side street, you need a technician who can get there quickly and open the door without destroying the frame or the hardware. We answer calls live around the clock, quote the full price before dispatch, and send a background-checked technician with the tools to handle both modern and antique locks. Read the details on our Emergency Locksmith in Boston page.
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.
Residential Locksmith in Boston
Residential locksmith work in Boston is shaped by two things: the age of the housing stock and the September 1st lease cycle. When a landlord in Allston needs a three-unit building rekeyed before the moving trucks arrive, or a homeowner in West Roxbury discovers the original 1920s mortise lock has finally seized, the job requires parts and knowledge you will not find at a hardware store. This is the core of our Residential Locksmith service, and every job gets a written price before work begins. A standard lock rekey in Boston typically runs $65 to $150 per cylinder, with the price on the phone matching the invoice exactly.
Lock Rekey
Signs you need it
You have moved into a new Boston apartment or home, or a key has gone missing and you cannot account for every copy.
What it costs in Boston
Rekeying a standard cylinder in Boston runs $65-$150 per cylinder, and a full home rekey of 3-5 cylinders typically lands between $195 and $500.
How we do it
We disassemble each lock, swap the pins to a new key code, test every existing key to confirm it no longer works, and leave a written record of the new key counts.
Lock Change
Signs you need it
The existing hardware is visibly failing, you have lost all copies of the key, or you want to upgrade from builder-grade locks to something with real security.
What it costs in Boston
A standard deadbolt replacement in Boston runs $85-$185 per lock including the hardware and labor, and high-security deadbolts run $150-$350 per lock.
How we do it
We remove the old lock, prep the door for the new hardware, install and align the strike plate, and photograph the finished work before we leave.
Deadbolt Installation
Signs you need it
Your door only has a knob lock, or the existing deadbolt does not fully throw because the frame or strike plate has shifted in a Boston freeze-thaw cycle.
What it costs in Boston
Deadbolt installation in Boston runs $85-$185 for a standard deadbolt and $150-$350 for a high-security model.
How we do it
We bore or ream the door as needed, install the deadbolt, mortise the strike into the jamb, and test the throw against the frame’s current alignment.
Residential Lockout
Signs you need it
Keys are inside the house, the lock will not turn from the outside, or a key broke off in the cylinder during a Boston cold snap.
What it costs in Boston
A residential lockout in Boston runs $75-$180 depending on time of day, location, and lock type, with the full price quoted before dispatch.
How we do it
We arrive in a marked van, verify you have authority to enter, open the door using non-destructive methods where the hardware allows, and document the entry with photos.
What Residential Locksmith Costs in Boston
| Item | Typical range in Boston |
|---|---|
| Rekey (per cylinder) | $65 - $150 |
| Deadbolt installation (standard) | $85 - $185 |
| Residential lockout | $75 - $180 |
How much should a rekey cost in Boston?
A single-cylinder rekey in Boston runs $65 to $150, and a full home of 3 to 5 cylinders runs $195 to $500. The price you get on the phone from us is the price on the invoice, with no call-out surcharge added on arrival.
Do I need to rekey when I move into a new Boston apartment?
Yes, and it is one of the most common calls we get during the September 1st moving surge. You do not know how many key copies previous tenants distributed. A rekey takes about 20 to 30 minutes per lock. Call (331) 310-8471 for a firm quote before you schedule.
Commercial Locksmith in Boston
Commercial locksmith work in Boston has a different rhythm than the residential side. Landlords with triple-deckers in Dorchester and East Boston cycle tenants every September, and property managers in the Back Bay and Financial District need master key systems that survive constant turn-over without a security gap. This is the Commercial Locksmith work we do, with a written scope and a flat per-lock price before any work begins. A standard commercial rekey in Boston runs $75 to $200 per cylinder, and a master key system for a small to mid-size building typically runs $900 to $2,500.
Master Key System
Signs you need it
Your building has grown past a single key, tenants change frequently, or staff turnover means you can no longer track who holds which key.
What it costs in Boston
A master key system for a small to mid-size Boston building runs $900-$2,500, depending on cylinder count and key hierarchy.
How we do it
We survey every door, design the key hierarchy, rekey or replace each cylinder to the new system, and deliver a written key schedule.
Commercial Lockout
Signs you need it
A storefront, office, or common door will not open, a key snapped in the lock, or an employee departure leaves you without a reliable key.
What it costs in Boston
Commercial lockout service in Boston runs $95-$220 depending on lock type and time of day, quoted in full on the phone.
How we do it
We arrive with commercial opening tools, verify your authority to enter, open the doors without destroying the hardware where possible, and rekey on site if you want the old key retired immediately.
What Commercial Locksmith Costs in Boston
| Item | Typical range in Boston |
|---|---|
| Commercial rekey (per cylinder) | $75 - $200 |
| Master key system (small-mid building) | $900 - $2,500 |
| High-security cylinder (per lock) | $125 - $300 |
How long does a master key system take to install in Boston?
Most small to mid-size Boston buildings are done in one to two days, assuming the existing hardware is in serviceable shape. We schedule around your tenant calendar. Call (331) 310-8471 for a written scope and a flat per-lock price.
Do commercial locksmith prices in Boston include parts?
Yes, our per-cylinder pricing includes parts and labor, and the full amount is quoted in writing before any work starts. No call-out surcharge is added on arrival, and you get a documented photo record when the job is done.
Automotive Locksmith in Boston
Automotive locksmith calls in Boston come from all over the city, but there is a pattern: car lockouts spike in January and February when drivers are bundled up, rushed, and the cold slows everything down. Transponder key and fob programming calls, on the other hand, are steady year-round because Boston’s older garage-and-alley parking means more cars sit outside in salt and moisture. Our Automotive Locksmith service covers the full range, from a simple car lockout to a full transponder key replacement, each with a written price before we dispatch.
Car Lockout
Signs you need it
Keys are locked inside the vehicle, the door lock is frozen from a Boston cold snap, or the key will not turn in the ignition or door cylinder.
What it costs in Boston
A car lockout in Boston runs $70-$150 for a standard unlock, with the full amount quoted on the phone.
How we do it
We arrive with non-destructive opening tools, verify ownership of the vehicle, open the door, and document the unlock with photos.
Transponder Key
Signs you need it
You have lost all working keys, the car will not start because the transponder chip is no longer recognized, or the key turns but the engine will not fire.
What it costs in Boston
Transponder key replacement in Boston runs $145-$350 for most vehicles, including the key, chip programming, and cutting.
How we do it
We cut and program the new transponder key on site, verify the vehicle starts, test all functions, and leave a written record of the new key count.
What Automotive Locksmith Costs in Boston
| Item | Typical range in Boston |
|---|---|
| Car lockout | $70 - $150 |
| Car key replacement (standard) | $95 - $225 |
| Transponder key replacement | $145 - $350 |
How much does a car key replacement cost in Boston?
A standard car key in Boston runs $95 to $225, and a transponder key runs $145 to $350 including programming. The total depends on the vehicle’s year, make, and key type. Call (331) 310-8471 for an exact figure. Estimates are free.
Can you replace a car key at my Boston apartment if the car is parked on the street?
Yes, we cut and program most car keys on site wherever the vehicle is in Boston, no towing required. Just have the vehicle’s registration or another ownership document ready when we arrive, verification is required before we cut a key.
Brands We Service in Boston
We carry a full range of hardware for Boston jobs: standard Schlage and Kwikset cylinders for same-day repair work, and Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Baldwin hardware for high-security installations that need to be ordered with a lead time of one to three days. For details on the full lineup, visit our brands page.
Pricing for Locksmith in Boston, MA
| Service | Typical range in Boston |
|---|---|
| Residential lockout | $75 - $180 |
| Rekey (per cylinder) | $65 - $150 |
| Deadbolt installation (standard) | $85 - $185 |
| High-security deadbolt | $150 - $350 |
| Commercial rekey (per cylinder) | $75 - $200 |
| Master key system (small-mid) | $900 - $2,500 |
| High-security cylinder (commercial) | $125 - $300 |
| Car lockout | $70 - $150 |
| Car key replacement (standard) | $95 - $225 |
| Transponder key replacement | $145 - $350 |
Two factors push Boston prices up fast: hardware age and accessibility. A mortise lock from 1920 takes longer to service than a modern bored lock, and a car parked on a narrow Beacon Hill street with a tight angle adds time. What does not change is the number we quote on the phone: that is the number on your invoice, per Haven Standard Clause 1, and it includes the full price before anyone is dispatched.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Boston
Our Boston dispatch covers the entire city, with technician response times averaging 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and the time of day. We work regularly in:
- Back Bay and Beacon Hill
- Dorchester and Roxbury
- Jamaica Plain and Mission Hill
- Allston and Brighton
- South End and Fenway
Service Area - Cities Near Boston
We also handle locksmith work in the cities directly around Boston. That includes Somerville, MA, Cambridge, MA, Chelsea, MA, and Everett, MA. Each has its own housing stock and its own quirks, but the pricing rule is the same: written quote before work begins.
Serving Boston, MA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Boston area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Locksmith in Boston
Most Boston neighborhoods have a technician on site within 30 to 45 minutes. Traffic on the Mass Pike, the bridges, and the downtown grid is the biggest variable. Every call gets a live person on the phone, and the dispatch time is included in the written quote before we send anyone out.
Replacing or rekeying your own locks does not require a city permit in Boston. However, if you are in a condo or co-op building, the association may have specific hardware requirements, especially on exterior doors, so check your documents first. We work with whatever the association specifies. Call (331) 310-8471 if you need help interpreting those requirements.
Yes. The price quoted on the phone is the price on the invoice, with no call-out surcharge added on arrival. This has been our rule since 2002, and it applies to every job in Boston regardless of time of day, weather, or lock age. If the technician finds something unexpected, the change is written, explained, and approved by you before any additional work starts.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local locksmith pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Boston Customers Say
"Honest. Told me the existing deadbolt was good quality and only needed the strike plate reinforcing."
- Sal V."Fast, polite, and carried identification without being asked. Would use again."
- Grant W."Locked out at eleven at night. A person answered, gave me a time and a name, and both were right."
- Franklin D.