Smart locks
House lockouts
Re-keying
Deadbolt upgrades
Schlage
Kwikset
Car keys & fobsNon-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.
Get your free estimateLocksmith in Pasadena, CA
Rekeying locks is the service Pasadena homeowners call us for most, and the city’s housing stock makes it a different job than anywhere else. Century-old Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Colonial Revival homes still carry original mortise locksets and skeleton-key hardware that should never be drilled. We rekey those locks without damaging the door, and we’re at (855) 791-2710 when you need us.
Why Pasadena Homes Are Different
Pasadena’s housing predates modern standardized locks. The streets around Orange Grove, Bungalow Heaven, and Madison Heights hold solid wood doors from the 1900s through 1930s, many with mortise locksets built into the door itself rather than surface-mounted deadbolts. Drilling one of those doors ruins hardware you cannot replace at a big-box store. Rekeying preserves the original lock while changing who holds working keys.
The climate adds its own pressure. Hot, dry summers and Santa Ana wind episodes dry out and warp wood door frames, so strikes and latches bind by late summer. A lock that worked in May can stop throwing by September. We adjust and align hardware as part of rekey work because a fresh key is useless in a door that won’t close.
Styles & brands we work with
Our Main Pasadena Services
Rekeying is our core Pasadena service, but two related services account for the bulk of our other calls from the city.
Car Key Replacement in Pasadena
Lost or broken car keys happen everywhere, but Pasadena residents often drive vehicles with transponder chips and programmable fobs that a hardware-store key machine cannot cut. We program modern automotive keys on site, including systems that many residential-only locksmiths will not touch. If you need a new key, a spare fob, or an ignition key after a break, Car Key Replacement in Pasadena covers the full service.
Emergency Locksmith in Pasadena
Lockouts in Pasadena often involve older doors with dead latches or restored hardware that deserves careful entry, not a crowbar. Our emergency response covers residential lockouts, car lockouts, and broken-key extraction without damaging the door or the lock. When you’re locked out and it cannot wait, Emergency Locksmith in Pasadena has the details on response and arrival.
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.
Rekey Locks in Pasadena
Rekeying a lock in Pasadena means changing the internal pins so old keys stop working and new keys take over. In a city where original mortise locksets and skeleton-key hardware are common, rekeying is the smarter move than replacing a century-old lock with a modern deadbolt that does not fit the door. Rekey Locks is our most requested service in Pasadena because it preserves original hardware while eliminating key-control risk. Homeowners who just bought a house, lost a key, or ended a tenant relationship need this done promptly.
Lock Rekey
Signs you need it
You’ve moved into a new Pasadena home, lost track of who holds spare keys, or ended a rental or roommate situation.
What it costs in Pasadena
Rekeying a single lock in Pasadena typically runs $85 to $140, with discounts for multiple locks done in one visit.
How we do it
We remove the lock cylinder, swap the internal pins to match a new key, and test the lock through several cycles.
Rekey Door Lock
Signs you need it
A door lock key has been lost, stolen, or handed out to contractors, cleaners, or past tenants and you want certainty about who can enter.
What it costs in Pasadena
Most Pasadena door lock rekeys fall between $85 and $160 depending on the lock style and whether it is a mortise or cylinder lock.
How we do it
We rekey the existing lock in place whenever possible, or remove the cylinder and rekey it on our bench for tight mortise locks.
Keyed Alike
Signs you need it
You carry separate keys for the front door, back door, garage, and side gate and want one key to work all of them.
What it costs in Pasadena
Keying multiple locks alike in Pasadena is priced per lock, typically $85 to $140 per lock, plus any needed rekey of additional cylinders.
How we do it
We repin each lock to match a single key, then test that key in every lock before we leave.
What Rekey Locks Costs in Pasadena
| Item | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Single lock rekey | $85 – $140 |
| Additional locks (same visit) | $60 – $110 each |
| Mortise or high-security lock rekey | $120 – $200 |
How long does a rekey take at a Pasadena home?
Most Pasadena rekey jobs take 20 to 45 minutes depending on how many locks and whether they are mortise or cylinder style. Original mortise locks can take longer because the cylinder must be removed carefully.
Can you rekey my vintage Pasadena door lock without replacing it?
Yes, and that is the whole point. We rekey original mortise locks and skeleton-key hardware in Pasadena’s older homes without drilling or replacing the lockset, preserving the door and the hardware.
Brands We Service in Pasadena
We work on Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco, and Abloy hardware in Pasadena, including high-security cylinders that many independents will not touch. Common pins and parts are stocked in our service vehicles, so most rekeys are done in one visit. See our brands for the full list of what we service.
Pricing for Locksmith in Pasadena, CA
| Service | Typical range in Pasadena |
|---|---|
| Rekey Locks (single lock) | $85 – $140 |
| Rekey Door Lock | $85 – $160 |
| Keyed Alike | $85 – $140 per lock |
| Car Key Replacement | $140 – $350 |
| Emergency Lockout | $75 – $180 |
High-security cylinders from Medeco or Abloy, original mortise hardware, and after-hours calls can push a Pasadena job toward the upper end. The price we quote on the phone is the price on the invoice, with no arrival surcharge added.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Pasadena
We cover the full Pasadena ZIP area including 91110, 91114, 91115, and 91116. Response time is usually 60 to 90 minutes for emergency calls depending on traffic on the 210 and 134.
- Bungalow Heaven
- Madison Heights
- Orange Grove
- Old Pasadena
- Linda Vista
Service Area – Cities Near Pasadena
Our service area extends beyond Pasadena into nearby communities. We rekey locks and handle lockouts in South Pasadena, CA, San Marino, CA, Altadena, CA, and East Pasadena, CA with the same attention to original hardware and non-destructive entry.
Serving Pasadena, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Pasadena 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 Pasadena
Rekeying and lock replacement do not require a permit in Pasadena. Historic district guidelines may affect exterior hardware changes on designated properties, but rekeying the existing lock is always allowed. Call (855) 791-2710 if you are unsure.
Emergency calls in Pasadena typically get a technician within 60 to 90 minutes. Scheduled rekey and car key jobs are booked in a specific window that works for you. Call (855) 791-2710 for a live ETA.
Yes. We serve 91110, 91114, 91115, and 91116, plus the surrounding cities of South Pasadena, San Marino, Altadena, and East Pasadena. Call (855) 791-2710 to confirm your address and get an exact quote before anyone is dispatched.
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 Pasadena Customers Say
"The old deadbolt was mounted crooked by whoever lived here before and had been sticking for years. He redrilled and reset it properly rather than just replacing the hardware."
— Neil Rao"Quoted a price on the phone and honored it. After the last locksmith I called, that alone is worth a review."
— Dana Schaefer"Got me back in and the price was fair for the hour. He did arrive closer to 45 minutes than the 20 he estimated, which felt long standing outside, but he was honest that traffic was the problem."
— Megan Norris