Locksmith Business — Pricing Benchmarks
What locksmiths actually charge in 2025, and how to price your services without leaving money on the table.
Avg. annual revenue
$342K
per business, Census SUSB
Profit margin
8.0%
industry average
Avg. employee wage
$55K
BLS QCEW
Typical Rates by Service
Locksmiths charge service call fee plus labor and hardware.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Service call (basic) | $50–125 |
| House lockout | $75–200 |
| Car lockout | $65–200 |
| Rekey (per lock) | $25–75 |
| New deadbolt installed | $150–350 |
| Automotive key programming | $100–500 |
How to actually set your prices
Rookie locksmiths almost universally under-price. They copy the cheapest local competitor, or they price to what feels comfortable to say out loud, and then wonder why they can barely afford insurance and gas.
The right anchor is your cost, not your competitor. Add up: labor (your own time at $50-100/hr for skilled trades), materials, vehicle wear ($0.30-0.50/mile), a portion of monthly overhead (insurance, phone, subscriptions), and a target margin of 20-30%. That's your floor.
Offer three tiers, not one. Buyers who see three options at $150, $250, $400 will pick the middle more often than they'd pick $250 if offered alone. This isn't a trick — it's how humans decide when they don't know the market. Give them the anchoring points.
Never negotiate down without removing scope. If a customer wants "the same job for 20% less," take 20% of scope out. "For $200, we can do exterior wash + wax. The full package at $250 also includes interior detail and tire dressing." This trains customers that price is tied to service, not to haggling.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- ✗Under-pricing car-key programming. New-car dealers charge $200-400. You should charge $150-250. Under $150 signals you don't know your worth.
More mistakes (equipment, marketing, operational) on the main guide page.