Locksmith Answers: Locks, Keys, and Lockouts
Locksmith Milwaukee Now answers common lock and key questions for homeowners, renters, and landlords in Milwaukee and about 30 miles around it. A rekey starts at $59 for the first lock, a house lockout at $69, and a lock change at $99. We work 24/7, every day of the year. Call or text us.
Answers to read before you call
These locksmith answers cover the questions people ask us most often, before or during a visit: whether to rekey or replace a lock, what to do after buying a house, after losing keys, after a lockout, or after a break-in, what the grades and stamps on locks and keys actually mean, how car keys differ, and what the code says about panic bars. Each page gives the short answer first, then the details, the prices that apply in Milwaukee, and the questions that usually follow. If your situation does not fit any of them, write to us with a photo of the lock, and we will answer the specific case.
Rekeying, new locks, and a new house
Most lock questions at home come down to one choice: keep the lock and change the key, or change the lock itself. These two answers explain how to make that choice for each door, and what else a new owner should reset besides the keys.
Lost keys, lockouts, and break-ins
These are the urgent ones. Each answer starts with what to do in the first minutes, then covers the rekey, the papers we ask for, and what a landlord or an insurer usually needs.
Lock strength and key control
Two questions about what the labels mean. One explains the ANSI/BHMA grades and the newer A, B, and C ratings on deadbolts. The other explains why a Do Not Duplicate stamp does not stop copies, and what does.
Car keys
Two answers for drivers: where to get a car key made, and how to tell which kind of key your car uses. The type of key decides how it is made and what it costs.
Business doors and safes
Two answers for business owners: when the building code calls for panic bars on exit doors, and whether a dial or a keypad lock suits a safe better.
Prices that come up in these answers
| Rekey, first lock | from $59 |
|---|---|
| Rekey, each additional lock | from $20 |
| House or apartment lockout | from $69 |
| Lock change | from $99 |
| Deadbolt installation | from $119 |
| House key copy | from $10 |
Every price is a starting price. The total depends on the lock, the door, and the time and place of the visit, and a trip fee may apply at some times and places. We tell you the total before we start.
Where these answers come from
The answers rely on sources you can check: the ANSI/BHMA hardware standards for lock grades, the FBI's crime reports for how burglaries happen, Wisconsin statutes and the state rental code for tenants and landlords, Postal Service rules for cluster mailboxes, the International Building Code for exit doors, UL standards for safe locks, and NASTF rules for car key data. Each page names its sources in the text and shows the date it was last updated. When a rule or a figure changes, we update the page. Shorter answers are on our FAQ page, and who we are is on our about us page.
Cities we serve around Milwaukee
Milwaukee and about 30 miles around it: Milwaukee County, Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, Washington County, and Racine County.
Questions about these answers
Can I ask a question that is not listed here?
Yes. Text us with a photo of the lock or the key, and we will answer your specific case.
Do the prices on these pages apply to my visit?
They are starting prices for Milwaukee and about 30 miles around it. We tell you the total before we start.
Do you give legal advice about leases?
No. The pages explain the Wisconsin rules that touch locks and keys, and for a dispute with a landlord we point you to the state consumer protection agency.