Published London prices for a lockout opened without damage run from about £70 to £99 by day and £120 to £125 after 11pm or midnight. A standard lock change starts from about £105 on UK figures, typically more in London. Our price for that lockout is £95 by day, £130 evening and weekend, and £150 at night.
The London figures are published prices from other locksmiths, not quotes, and they change. One firm lists £70 for entry between 8am and 8pm, £90 until midnight and £120 after that. Another lists £99 for non destructive entry from 7am to 11pm and £125 overnight, and £120 to £299 where the lock has to be drilled. Ask whether VAT and any new lock are included.
The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) publishes UK averages supplied by the locksmiths it approves. It lists a lockout from £90, a standard euro cylinder change from £105, an anti snap cylinder change from £137 and a mortice lock change from £148, all including VAT. It says London prices are typically 20 to 25% higher than those national figures, reflecting higher operating costs.
In south east London, our prices include travel and up to one hour on site. A lockout opened without damage is £95, £130 or £150. If the lock has to be drilled or snapped, it is the same plus the cylinder: £25 for a standard euro cylinder or £60 for a TS007 3 star anti snap one. A standard lock change is £85, £120 or £150 plus the cylinder.
Day means 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Evening and weekend means 6pm to 10pm any day, and 8am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. Night is 10pm to 8am, every day. Work running past the first hour is quoted before it starts: £70 an hour by day, £90 evening and weekend, £110 at night. Quotes are free, and the price is fixed before we set off.
Whoever you use, ask for the total before anyone sets off, including VAT, parts and what happens if the lock will not open without drilling. The MLA warns that an advertised price could be just a call out fee, and reports adverts as low as £49 turning into much higher bills once the job begins. A low number with no total is not a price.
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Related questions
- Why do locksmiths charge so much?
- Do locksmiths charge a call out fee?
- How do I know the price before you start?
