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 Cambridge, MA
Residential locksmith work in Cambridge means dealing with pre-1940 mortise locks on triple-deckers, frozen keyways in February, and August lease-turnover deadlines that leave no room for delay. We quote a firm price on the phone and it does not change at the door, a rule we’ve followed since 2002. If you need a lock changed, a deadbolt installed, or a tenant unit rekeyed, call (331) 310-8471.
Why Cambridge Homes Are Different
Cambridge’s housing stock is heavily skewed toward late-Victorian and early-20th-century wood-frame triple-deckers and attached brick rowhouses. Many still have original mortise locksets, skeleton-key hardware, and door frames that have racked over a century of freeze-thaw cycles. A standard modern deadbolt often won’t seat properly without a strike-plate adjustment or a full prep modification. The student rental stock around Harvard and MIT adds another layer: units turn over almost entirely in a 24 to 48 hour window around September 1st, and Massachusetts law requires landlords to provide secure locks to new tenants. Every August, the city becomes a rekeying bottleneck. North-facing exterior entries on older buildings also freeze and seize during winter, a predictable source of emergency lockout calls from January through March. A locksmith working Cambridge needs to know mortise hardware, frozen-keyway extraction, and the September lease-turnover calendar equally well.
Our Main Cambridge Services
Two services account for most of the calls we take from Cambridge homeowners and property managers every month. Both are priced in writing before any work begins.
Lock Installation & Rekey in Cambridge
Most Cambridge jobs involve either replacing worn mortise locksets on pre-war triple-deckers or rekeying rental units before a lease turn. We stock cylinders and hardware for everything from 1920s skeleton-key mortise bodies to modern high-security deadbolts. Lock Installation & Rekey in Cambridge covers the full scope: hardware replacement, multi-lock rekeying on a single key, and deadbolt installation on doors with racked frames.
Emergency Locksmith in Cambridge
Winter lockouts from frozen keyways and September 1st move-in lockouts are the two most common emergencies we handle in Cambridge. We answer the phone live, 24/7, and dispatch a background-checked technician with a written price already quoted. Emergency Locksmith in Cambridge explains response times, what we can open on-site, and when a drilled lock is actually the right call.
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 Cambridge
Residential locksmith work in Cambridge usually means one of two things: a century-old mortise lock that has finally given out, or a September lease-turnover rekey that landed on the schedule two weeks later than it should have. The older the building, the more likely we’re working with layered, incompatible lock generations on a single door prep. On any of these jobs, we quote the full price before dispatch and leave you with a documented photo record of the work. See our Residential Locksmith hub for the full service range.
Lock Change
Signs you need it
The key turns but the deadbolt won’t throw fully, or the lock body shows visible wear after decades of use on a pre-war mortise setup.
What it costs in Cambridge
A basic lock change starts around $89 for the service call and labor, with hardware costs added depending on the lock you choose.
How we do it
We remove the old lock body, check the door prep for frame rack, and install a new lockset that seats correctly with a properly aligned strike plate.
Deadbolt Installation
Signs you need it
Your door only has a keyed knob or a worn spring-latch, which offers little resistance to a forced entry attempt.
What it costs in Cambridge
Deadbolt installation typically runs $40-$60 in labor per lock, plus the hardware you select, which we quote before arriving.
How we do it
We bore or enlarge the mounting hole if the door prep is non-standard on an older Cambridge door, mount the bolt, and align the strike for a clean throw.
Signs you need it
The bolt binds or grinds when you turn the key, or the key has to be jiggled to engage the cylinder.
What it costs in Cambridge
Lock rekey typically runs $18-$30 per cylinder inside a $89-$129 total, quoted in writing before we start.
How we do it
We replace the pins inside the cylinder so old keys no longer work, and test every new key against each cylinder on the property.
What Residential Locksmith Costs in Cambridge
| Item | Typical range in Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Service call | $89-$129 |
| Lock change | $89+ per lock |
| Deadbolt installation | $40-$60 labor per lock |
| Lock rekey | $18-$30 per cylinder |
Can you rekey multiple locks to one key in Cambridge?
Yes. We rekey all the cylinders on a property to work from a single key, priced per cylinder. Most triple-decker rental units with two or three locks take under an hour. Call (331) 310-8471 for a written quote.
Will a new deadbolt fit my old Cambridge door?
Sometimes the original mortise pocket is too narrow for a modern deadbolt without modification. We check the door prep on-site and include any prep work in the written quote before we start. Call (331) 310-8471 to schedule an inspection.
Commercial Locksmith in Cambridge
Commercial locksmith work in Cambridge spans restaurants and labs around Kendall Square, offices near Harvard Square, and small retailers in neighborhood business districts, many operating behind storefronts built before 1940. The defining local challenge is maintaining a master key system across multiple entry generations while meeting the access-control requirements of modern commercial tenants and university-affiliated landlords. See our Commercial Locksmith hub for the full commercial range.
Master Key System
Signs you need it
Staff carry multiple keys for different doors, or you have no record of who holds which key and no way to revoke access cleanly.
What it costs in Cambridge
Master key system setup and rekeying typically runs $25-$90 per cylinder, depending on key levels and cylinder type.
How we do it
We map the key hierarchy, pin each cylinder to its assigned level, and deliver a written key-control chart with your keys.
Panic Bar Installation
Signs you need it
A fire marshal or insurance inspection flagged your exit door for a locking mechanism that doesn’t allow free egress.
What it costs in Cambridge
Panic bar installation typically runs $300-$900 installed, depending on door width and fire-rating requirements.
How we do it
We install a code-compliant exit device, test the latching mechanism under load, and document the installation with photos.
What Commercial Locksmith Costs in Cambridge
| Item | Typical range in Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Commercial lockout | $85-$185 |
| Master key system | $25-$90 per cylinder |
| Panic bar installation | $300-$900 per door |
Do I need a permit to change locks on a Cambridge commercial property?
Most lock changes and rekeys do not require a permit, but fire-rated doors and exit devices must meet Massachusetts code. We confirm compliance before any panic bar or exit hardware work. Call (331) 310-8471 to discuss your building.
Can you set up access control on an older Cambridge building?
Yes, we retrofit electronic access control onto existing commercial doors, including pre-war frames. The written quote covers wiring, hardware, and programming. Call (331) 310-8471 for a site assessment.
Automotive Locksmith in Cambridge
Automotive locksmith needs in Cambridge concentrate around street-parked cars, narrow one-way streets, and drivers locked out near the T or a university lot at night. The biggest local pattern we see is key-fob failure on newer transponder systems, followed by lockouts from keys left inside cars during a quick stop in Central Square. We come to the vehicle, quote the total in writing, and complete most jobs on the spot. See our Automotive Locksmith hub for the full range.
Car Key Replacement
Signs you need it
Your only key is lost, broken, or so worn that it no longer turns the ignition reliably.
What it costs in Cambridge
Car key replacement typically runs $120-$350+ including programming, depending on make, model, and key type.
How we do it
We cut the blank on-site, program the transponder to your vehicle’s immobilizer, and test all functions before we leave.
Ignition Repair
Signs you need it
The key sticks in the ignition, the switch won’t turn, or the vehicle sometimes fails to crank.
What it costs in Cambridge
Ignition repair typically runs $170-$450, depending on the failure mode and whether the cylinder or switch needs replacement.
How we do it
We diagnose the cylinder and switch, extract any broken key fragments, and replace worn components with factory-spec parts.
What Automotive Locksmith Costs in Cambridge
| Item | Typical range in Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Car lockout | $65-$150 |
| Car key replacement | $120-$350+ |
| Transponder key | $120-$300+ |
| Key fob programming | $85-$250 |
| Ignition repair | $170-$450 |
Can you replace a key fob in Cambridge the same day?
In most cases, yes. We carry programming equipment and common fob blanks in our Cambridge service vehicles. The written quote covers the fob, programming, and testing. Call (331) 310-8471 with your vehicle year and model.
What happens if my car key breaks in the ignition in Cambridge?
We extract the broken key and assess the ignition cylinder. If the cylinder is damaged, we replace it on-site. The full price is quoted before any work begins. Call (331) 310-8471 for immediate help.
Brands We Service in Cambridge
We service Yale, Baldwin, Mul-T-Lock, and Sargent locks across Cambridge. We stock common cylinders, keyways, and hardware on our service vehicles, so a rekey or parts replacement often finishes same-day. See our brands for the full list.
Pricing for Locksmith in Cambridge, MA
| Service | Typical range in Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Residential lockout | $65-$150 |
| Commercial lockout | $85-$185 |
| Car lockout | $65-$150 |
| Lock change | $89+ per lock |
| Deadbolt installation | $40-$60 labor per lock |
| Lock rekey | $18-$30 per cylinder |
| Master key system | $25-$90 per cylinder |
| Panic bar installation | $300-$900 per door |
| Car key replacement | $120-$350+ |
| Transponder key | $120-$300+ |
| Key fob programming | $85-$250 |
| Ignition repair | $170-$450 |
Older Cambridge doors with racked frames or non-standard mortise preps can push installation labor higher, and high-security cylinders from Mul-T-Lock or Medeco add hardware cost. The price we quote on the phone is the price on the invoice, with no call-out surcharge added on arrival.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Cambridge
We work throughout Cambridge, from the triple-deckers of East Cambridge and Wellington-Harrington to the rowhouses of Mid-Cambridge and the larger single-families around West Cambridge and North Cambridge. Response time within the city is typically 25-45 minutes for lockout calls, depending on traffic.
- East Cambridge
- Wellington-Harrington
- Mid-Cambridge
- North Cambridge
- West Cambridge
Service Area - Cities Near Cambridge
We also serve the cities around Cambridge. Somerville, MA shares the same triple-decker housing stock and September lease turnover. Watertown, MA and Medford, MA have staggered lease cycles that ease the summer rush. Boston, MA overlaps with Cambridge on commercial work around the Charles River corridor.
Serving Cambridge, MA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Cambridge 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 Cambridge
Most Cambridge response times run 25-45 minutes for emergency lockouts, depending on traffic and where the nearest technician is working. Calls are answered live, 24/7. Call (331) 310-8471 for an exact ETA and written quote.
Massachusetts law obligates landlords to provide secure locks to new tenants, which in practice means rekeying or changing locks between leases. We handle the September 1st turnover every year, and we recommend booking two to three weeks out. Call (331) 310-8471 to schedule.
Yes. Our dispatch pricing does not vary by neighborhood, and the price quoted on the phone is the price on the invoice. No call-out surcharge is added on arrival. Call (331) 310-8471 for a written quote before any work begins.
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 Cambridge Customers Say
"Rekeyed the whole house after we bought it. He showed me the old pins and explained how many keys had likely been cut over the years."
- Omar J."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.