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A practical guide to choosing the right option for your home, condo, or rental property across Toronto and the GTA.
One of the most common questions a residential locksmith receives in the Greater Toronto Area is whether a lock should be rekeyed or replaced outright. It comes up most often after a home sale, after a lease ends, or when keys have been lost or given to contractors who no longer need access. For a full overview of what residential locksmith work covers, see our residential locksmith services page.
The short answer is that rekeying is generally the better choice when the existing hardware is working correctly and you simply want old keys to stop functioning. Lock replacement makes more sense when the hardware itself is damaged, outdated, or when you want to upgrade to a different product. In some situations, both are needed at once.
This guide covers how each process works, what affects the cost across Toronto and the broader GTA, and how to decide which option fits your specific situation.
Rekeying refers to changing the internal pin stack inside a lock cylinder so that the current key no longer operates it. A locksmith removes the cylinder, disassembles it, replaces the driver pins and key pins with a new combination, and reassembles the lock.
The result is a lock that looks identical from the outside but responds only to a newly cut key. Any previous copies given to contractors, former tenants, real estate agents, or previous owners will no longer open the door. The lock body, deadbolt mechanism, and strike plate all stay in place.
Because it uses the existing hardware, rekeying is almost always less expensive than replacing a lock. The cost in Toronto and the GTA typically ranges from $40 to $80 per cylinder, with lower per-cylinder rates when multiple locks are done together. See our dedicated lock rekeying service page for full details on what the process involves.
You cannot know how many copies of the existing key were made during the sale, open house viewings, or previous ownership. Rekeying professionally after moving in ensures only you have access.
When a tenant moves out of a Toronto rental unit, rekeying the locks is standard practice. It is reliableer and less expensive than a full lock change and achieves the same result.
If you provided a key to a contractor, cleaner, or maintenance worker whose access needs to end, rekeying is the right approach when the lock itself is in good condition.
If keys were misplaced but there is no sign of tampering or forced entry, rekeying the affected locks is appropriate and cost-effective.
A locksmith can rekey all entry points on your home to operate on a single key. This is a practical convenience upgrade many GTA homeowners request at the same time as a standard rekey.
Most newly built GTA homes come with builder-grade ANSI Grade 3 locks. They meet minimum building code but are not designed for long-term heavy use or serious forced-entry resistance. If your hardware is still in good working condition, rekeying is a reasonable short-term decision. However, if the adequacy of the hardware itself is in question, replacing it with ANSI Grade 1 or Grade 2 hardware during the same visit is worth considering.
High-security brands such as Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and ASSA Abloy offer pick-resistant cylinders, drill-resistant construction, and restricted key systems that prevent unauthorised duplication. These are available through licensed locksmiths across the GTA. Learn more about the high-security lock options available in Toronto. If you are also considering a smart lock upgrade, our smart lock installation service page covers the available hardware and installation process.
Pick-resistant and drill-resistant cylinders for GTA residential and commercial properties.
Keypad and connected smart locks installed on Toronto and GTA homes and condominiums.
Grade 1 commercial cylinders, panic hardware, and master key systems for GTA businesses.
Approximately $40 to $80. Lower per-cylinder rate when multiple locks done together.
Approximately $100 to $200 including hardware and labour for a typical residential door.
$200 to $400 or more depending on product grade and installation requirements.
$150 to $350 depending on product and door compatibility.
Whether you need a rekey or a full replacement, a mobile locksmith travels to your property with all tools and hardware needed to complete the job at your door. No shop visit required.
When you call, the locksmith will ask: How many locks? What brand and type? Are you looking to have all doors keyed to one key? This allows the technician to bring the correct equipment and materials on the first visit. For guidance on what to look for when selecting a provider, see our article on how to choose a mobile locksmith in the GTA.
For rekeying, most locksmiths carry kits covering the most common residential lock brands in Canada including Schlage, Kwikset, Weiser, and Baldwin. For lock replacement, they carry a selection of hardware for the most common door preparations. You can find approximate pricing for both services in our Toronto locksmith price list.
Some Kwikset SmartKey models allow self-rekeying. Most standard cylinders require a rekeying kit, specific tools, and familiarity with lock internals. Attempting a rekey on an unfamiliar lock can result in a damaged cylinder that then requires replacement. A professional locksmith completes the job reliably and can assess the cylinder condition at the same time.
A straightforward residential rekey takes 10 to 20 minutes per cylinder. A full home rekey covering three or four locks is typically completed in under an hour. If locks need to be keyed alike, the locksmith cuts new keys to match during the same visit.
For access control purposes, yes. A rekeyed lock provides the same level of security as the existing hardware with a new key. If the concern is the quality of the hardware rather than who holds the current key, then replacement offers a security improvement that rekeying alone cannot provide.
In most cases, yes. A locksmith can rekey all keyed entry points to operate on a single key, provided the locks are from compatible brands and cylinder formats. This is a practical upgrade many homeowners request at the same time as a standard rekey.
Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act does not specifically require rekeying between tenants, but it is widely considered best practice for liability and security. A licensed locksmith can perform the rekey efficiently at a cost that is reasonable relative to the potential risks of not doing so.
Rekey regardless. You cannot know how many copies of the previous key exist, so rekeying after any move is advisable whether or not a key has been lost. If you are locked out in the process, a mobile locksmith can assist with access and then complete the rekey in the same visit.
The decision comes down to two questions: Is the existing hardware working correctly? And is the goal to change who can access the property, or to change the hardware itself? When the hardware is functional and the goal is access control, rekeying is the more practical and cost-effective option. When hardware is worn, damaged, or inadequate, replacement is the right investment.
Most GTA homeowners find that a combination of the two is the right answer. Rekey the locks that are working well, and replace one or two showing signs of wear or needing an upgrade. A mobile locksmith can assess each door in a single visit and make specific recommendations based on what the hardware actually looks like.
For further reading: Common signs your door lock is about to fail | Lock change on a new house | How to upgrade your home security without replacing all your locks | What to do after a break-in in Toronto
GTA Lockman provides mobile rekeying and lock replacement for homes, condos, and rental properties across Toronto, Vaughan, Mississauga, Markham, Brampton, Ajax, Milton, and the surrounding GTA. Call to confirm the scope, get a price, and book a visit. No call-out fees. No travel surcharges.
