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 Burlingame, CA
Residential locksmith work in Burlingame runs headfirst into two local realities: 1920s-1940s homes with original mortise lock sets that modern hardware stores don’t stock parts for, and bayfront salt air that seizes exterior deadbolts years before they’d fail inland. We send background-checked, uniformed technicians who carry mortise lock components alongside current Schlage and Baldwin hardware, and we quote a firm price on the phone before anyone gets in a van. Call (331) 310-8471 and you’ll talk to a live person, not a menu.
Why Burlingame Homes Are Different
The Easton Addition is ground zero for a locksmith problem most Peninsula cities don’t have. Those 1920s and 1930s Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Colonial Revivals were built with mortise lock bodies, not modern cylindrical drilled hardware. Homeowners in that neighborhood are deliberately preserving original door sets, which means a lock replacement is often a lock restoration, and the technician needs to know how to source period-appropriate face plates and keeper strikes rather than reach for a standard Kwikset from the truck.
The climate adds a second layer. Burlingame sits directly on San Francisco Bay, and the fog that rolls through Burlingame Avenue carries enough salt to pit brass cylinders and seize steel strike plates within a few seasons. We routinely extract corroded set screws and frozen latch bolts from ocean-facing deadbolts that are only four or five years old. Inland cities like Redwood City simply don’t see this failure pattern at the same rate. The fix is usually a full hardware swap to marine-grade or at minimum a higher-grade stainless body, plus a dry-film lubricant routine we recommend to every bayfront homeowner.
The condensed commercial corridor along Airport Boulevard and Bayshore Highway, dense with SFO-serving hotels, creates its own demand pattern that we address in the commercial section below.
Our Main Burlingame Services
Homeowners in Burlingame call us most often for two jobs: rekeying a newly purchased property, and getting back in after a lockout. Both deserve their own detailed treatment below.
Lock Installation & Rekey in Burlingame
When a Burlingame house changes hands, the new owner rarely knows how many copies of the front door key are floating around from the previous owner, their cleaners, their contractors, or their tenants. A rekey resets every cylinder to a new key without replacing the visible hardware, which matters in the Easton Addition where the hardware is original to a 1930s door. For older mortise sets we source matching cylinders and rekey them in place. For owners who want a visible upgrade or a deadbolt added, installation is quoted per lock, in writing, before work starts. Full details live on our Lock Installation & Rekey in Burlingame page.
Emergency Locksmith in Burlingame
A lockout at 11pm on a foggy Burlingame night shouldn’t mean sleeping in a car or breaking a window. Our dispatchers answer live around the clock, and the person who takes the call gives you the price before a technician is dispatched. That price is the price on the invoice, no exceptions. Emergency response covers residential lockouts, commercial after-hours entries, and automotive lockouts across Burlingame. Read exactly how we handle after-hours calls on our Emergency Locksmith in Burlingame 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 Burlingame
Residential locksmith work in Burlingame means knowing the difference between a 1930s mortise lock body and a 2020s smart lock retrofit, and being honest about which one the house actually needs. The Easton Addition’s Craftsman stock is full of original rim locks and mortise sets that a big-box replacement will never sit flush in. Across the city, salt air from the bay eats at exterior hardware faster than homeowners expect, so a deadbolt that worked fine last autumn can be frozen solid by March. Our Residential Locksmith work always starts with a written price and ends with a documented photo record of the work done.
Lock Change
Signs you need it
A key turns roughly, the deadbolt doesn’t fully throw, or someone who shouldn’t have a key still might.
What it costs in Burlingame
Lock change in Burlingame typically runs $95-$190 per standard lock, plus the hardware itself, quoted in writing before we start.
How we do it
We remove the old lock body, inspect the door prep, install the new hardware, and test the full throw of both latch and deadbolt before we leave.
Residential Lockout
Signs you need it
You’re standing outside your door and the key is on the other side, or the lock just refused to open.
What it costs in Burlingame
A standard residential lockout in Burlingame ranges $85-$160 for a simple entry, quoted on the phone before dispatch.
How we do it
We confirm you’re authorized for the property, pick the lock or use a bypass tool matching the hardware, and get you in without drilling whenever possible.
Deadbolt Installation
Signs you need it
The front door has only a knob lock, or the existing deadbolt is loose, pitted, or seated in a rusted strike plate.
What it costs in Burlingame
Deadbolt installation in Burlingame runs $110-$250 per lock including basic hardware, with high-security cylinders quoted separately in writing.
How we do it
We bore or widen the cross-bore as needed, set the strike plate with proper screwholes into the framing, and test both throw and alignment under load.
Lock Rekey
Signs you need it
You just moved in, a contractor’s key is still out there, or you can’t account for every copy of a key.
What it costs in Burlingame
Rekeying in Burlingame typically runs $20-$35 per cylinder in labor, with hardware-grade cylinders running $10-$45 each, all quoted in writing before work starts.
How we do it
We remove each cylinder, replace the pins to match a new key, reassemble, and hand you the new keys along with a count of every cylinder rekeyed.
Window Lock
Signs you need it
Ground-floor windows have no secondary lock, or existing sash locks are loose, painted over, or corroded from bay air.
What it costs in Burlingame
Window lock supply and installation in Burlingame runs $45-$150 per window depending on lock type and sash condition, quoted beforehand in writing.
How we do it
We match the lock to the sash and frame material, set it with proper screws into solid wood or metal, and test the engaged position twice.
What Residential Locksmith Costs in Burlingame
| Item | Typical range in Burlingame |
|---|---|
| Lock change (standard lock, labor) | $95-$190 per lock |
| Residential lockout | $85-$160 |
| Lock rekey | $20-$35 per cylinder + hardware |
Does a rekey make sense for an older Burlingame mortise lock?
Yes. If the mortise body is sound, we rekey the cylinder in place for the same per-cylinder rate as modern hardware. If the body is worn beyond service, we’ll show you the wear in the photo record and quote a replacement before any work proceeds.
Will my new deadbolt survive the bay air?
Standard steel or zinc hardware will eventually pit. We recommend stainless or marine-grade deadbolts for any exterior door within a few blocks of the bay, and we note the dry-film lubricant schedule in your written job record.
Commercial Locksmith in Burlingame
Commercial locksmith work in Burlingame is dominated by the hotel corridor along Airport Boulevard and Bayshore Highway. Those properties run electronic key card systems, master key hierarchies, and access control infrastructure that demands different tools and credentials than a storefront deadbolt replacement. Our Commercial Locksmith technicians are factory-authorized on the electronic platforms used in hospitality, and every commercial job starts with a written scope and a flat per-lock price.
Commercial Lockout
Signs you need it
A manager’s key snapped, an access card won’t authenticate, or a morning shift arrives to a door that won’t open.
What it costs in Burlingame
Commercial lockout service in Burlingame typically runs $95-$190 for standard entry, with electronic or high-security entries quoted per job before dispatch.
How we do it
We identify the lock and access platform first, then open without damage using bypass methods appropriate to commercial hardware, and document the entry for your records.
Master Key System
Signs you need it
Managers, housekeeping, and maintenance each have their own keys, and you’ve lost track of who opens what.
What it costs in Burlingame
Master key system design and setup in Burlingame typically runs $300-$1,000+ depending on the cylinder count and hierarchy levels, quoted in writing after a site walk.
How we do it
We map your doors and user tiers, spec the cylinder layout, pin each cylinder to the hierarchy, and deliver a key control document with your system.
High Security Locks
Signs you need it
You’ve had an unauthorized entry, lost a key that can’t be accounted for, or your current cylinders are easy to bump or pick.
What it costs in Burlingame
High security cylinder installation in Burlingame runs $75-$250 per cylinder including Medeco or Mul-T-Lock hardware, quoted per opening in writing.
How we do it
We verify the door prep, install restricted-keyway cylinders from Medeco or Mul-T-Lock, and register your keys so duplicates require your authorization.
What Commercial Locksmith Costs in Burlingame
| Item | Typical range in Burlingame |
|---|---|
| Commercial lockout | $95-$190 |
| Master key system setup | $300-$1,000+ |
| High security cylinder install | $75-$250 per cylinder |
Do you work with the hotel key card systems along Airport Boulevard?
Yes. We are factory-authorized on the electronic access platforms used at Bayfront hotels, and we carry key card programmers, encoder parts, and back-level mortise cylinders sized for hotel doors. Your system type is confirmed before dispatch.
Can you take over an existing master key system?
If you have the keying chart, we can extend or rework it. If you don’t, we map the doors and build a fresh hierarchy. Either way, you get a written scope with a flat per-lock price before any work begins.
Automotive Locksmith in Burlingame
Automotive locksmith work in Burlingame happens in driveway commuter cars, SFO rental returns, and the parking lots along El Camino Real, where a dead key fob or a lockout stops the day cold. Salt air doesn’t damage car locks the way it does house hardware, but Burlingame’s mix of late-model keyless vehicles and older commuter sedans means we carry programmers for both transponder keys and push-to-start systems. Our Automotive Locksmith work is quoted on the phone in the same firm-price way as everything else we do.
Car Lockout
Signs you need it
Keys are locked inside, the fob is dead, or a door lock actuator has failed with the car sealed.
What it costs in Burlingame
Car lockout service in Burlingame typically runs $65-$130 for a standard non-destructive entry, quoted by phone before dispatch.
How we do it
We open the vehicle with air wedges and long-reach tools appropriate to the door design, then verify the vehicle is secure before we hand it back.
Car Key Replacement
Signs you need it
You’ve lost the last working key, or the key you have is bent, snapped, or worn to the point the ignition won’t turn.
What it costs in Burlingame
A basic car key replacement in Burlingame runs $150-$350 depending on the key type and vehicle, with transponder and smart keys quoted separately in writing.
How we do it
We cut the blade from the vehicle’s key code or by decoding the existing lock, then program the transponder or remote function with our mobile programmer.
Key Fob Programming
Signs you need it
The fob battery is new but the doors won’t unlock remotely, or you bought a secondhand fob that was never paired to the car.
What it costs in Burlingame
Key fob programming in Burlingame typically runs $75-$180 for the programming service alone, quoted by vehicle before dispatch.
How we do it
We connect to the vehicle’s onboard system, register the fob’s rolling code to the car, and run a full lock-unlock-start test before we leave.
What Automotive Locksmith Costs in Burlingame
| Item | Typical range in Burlingame |
|---|---|
| Car lockout | $65-$130 |
| Car key replacement (basic key) | $150-$350 |
| Key fob programming | $75-$180 |
Can you make a key for an older car without a chip?
Yes. Non-transponder keys are cut mechanically from the lock code or by decoding the door cylinder, and the process is usually faster and cheaper than programming a modern electronic key. We’ll tell you which type your car takes before quoting.
Will you be able to program a smart key for my car in the driveway?
In most cases, yes. Our mobile programmers cover the majority of push-to-start and proximity systems on the road in Burlingame. We confirm compatibility with your year, make, and model on the phone, then quote the full price before dispatch.
Brands We Service in Burlingame
We carry and service Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Yale, and Schlage in our Burlingame truck stock. High-security cylinder keyways are registered under your name, and we stock common mortise bodies and face plates locally so Easton Addition hardware doesn’t wait on a special order. See our brands for the full list.
Pricing for Locksmith in Burlingame, CA
| Service | Typical range in Burlingame |
|---|---|
| Lock change (standard lock, labor) | $95-$190 per lock |
| Residential lockout | $85-$160 |
| Deadbolt installation | $110-$250 per lock |
| Lock rekey | $20-$35 per cylinder + hardware |
| Window lock supply & install | $45-$150 per window |
| Commercial lockout | $95-$190 |
| Master key system setup | $300-$1,000+ |
| High security cylinder install | $75-$250 per cylinder |
| Car lockout | $65-$130 |
| Car key replacement (basic key) | $150-$350 |
| Key fob programming | $75-$180 |
What pushes a quote toward the top of these ranges in Burlingame is usually hardware condition: a bayfront deadbolt with a pitted tailpiece takes longer to extract than a clean one, and a 1930s mortise set needs specialty parts a 2005 condo lock doesn’t. Whatever the condition, the price quoted on the phone is the price on the invoice. We have operated on that written-price rule since Daniel Novak founded the company in 2002, and we won’t change it at your door.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Burlingame
We run calls across all of Burlingame, from the bayfront hotel corridor to the hillside streets off El Camino Real. Typical response time in the immediate area is under 30 minutes for lockouts and emergency calls, and same-day for scheduled work when the day’s calendar allows. Neighborhoods we regularly cover:
- Easton Addition
- Burlingame Terrace
- Burlingame Village
- Mills Estates
- Estates
Service Area - Cities Near Burlingame
In addition to Burlingame, our crews cover the neighboring Peninsula cities on a daily basis. If you’re just across the border, we likely have a technician closer than you think. We also serve San Mateo, CA, San Bruno, CA, South San Francisco, CA, and Pacifica, CA.
Serving Burlingame, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Burlingame 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 Burlingame
For lockouts and urgent lock failures in Burlingame proper, we typically arrive within 30 minutes. The dispatcher confirms the ETA during the call and gives you the firm price at the same time. No dispatcher sends a technician without a quoted price first.
No permit is required for lock replacement, rekeying, or deadbolt installation on an existing door in Burlingame. Full door replacements or structural changes fall under the city’s building permit process, and we’ll tell you if your project crosses that line.
It will, faster than you expect within a few blocks of the bay. We recommend annual inspection of exterior deadbolts and strike plates, and we note the exact hardware condition in the photo record you receive after each visit. The fix that lasts is marine-grade or stainless hardware, not repeated lubrication.
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 Burlingame Customers Say
"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."Quoted forty-five on the phone, paid forty-five at the door. I had been burned by a company that quoted nineteen and then wanted three hundred."
- Theresa Q.