A standard locksmith call-out in Melbourne costs about $130 to $165 during normal business hours (roughly 8am to 5pm on weekdays). That figure usually covers attendance plus basic labour for a simple job like a house lockout. Prices climb from there: after-hours, weekend, and emergency call-outs often add $50 to $150 to the total, and specialist work such as rekeying or fitting a high-security lock costs more again. At Solus Locksmith, we agree a fixed price in writing before any work starts, and we don’t add after-hours surcharges, so the number you’re quoted is the number on the invoice.
The single biggest factor in what you’ll pay is timing. The same job at 2pm on a Tuesday and at 2am on a Sunday can differ by hundreds of dollars. Below is what locksmith work actually costs in Melbourne in 2026, broken down by service, plus how to spot the suspiciously cheap quotes that end in a much larger bill.
Melbourne locksmith prices at a glance
Here are typical price ranges for the most common jobs, comparing business hours with after-hours or emergency rates. All figures are in Australian dollars and reflect current Melbourne market estimates.
| Service or task | Business hours | After-hours / emergency |
| Call-out / attendance fee | $50–$90 | $100–$150 |
| House lockout (entry) | $130–$165 | $200–$350 |
| Key cutting (standard) | $5–$20 | Rare at night |
| Rekey an existing lock | $70–$130 | $120–$180 |
| Change or replace a lock | $70–$200 | $150–$300 |
| House unlocked (emergency) | $160–$225 | Included above |
| Car lockout | $150–$300 | $250–$450 |
Ranges reflect typical Melbourne pricing and vary by lock type, vehicle, and how far the locksmith travels. High-security or multi-point locks sit at the top of each range, or above it.
What does a standard call-out cost during business hours?
During weekday business hours, most Melbourne locksmiths charge roughly $130 to $165 for a standard call-out. This is attendance plus basic labour, and it’s the baseline most simple jobs are built on. Quoted hourly rates for locksmith labour during normal hours are often around $60 per hour.
Some tasks are cheap regardless of when you book them. Cutting a standard house key runs about $5 to $20 per key. The bigger costs come from getting a locksmith to your door and from the complexity of the lock itself, not from the metal being cut.
How much more do after-hours and emergency call-outs cost?
After-hours work adds a premium, and it’s the part of the bill people underestimate most. Most Melbourne locksmiths advertise 24/7 emergency service, but overnight, weekend, and public-holiday call-outs cost well above daytime rates. After-hours work typically adds $50 to $100 to the usual fee, and a full overnight or weekend call-out can push a total service into the $200 to $350 or more range.
Pricing models differ. Some locksmiths add a flat emergency surcharge on top of the normal fee, often in the region of $150 to $330. Others charge a single fixed call-out fee with no time-of-day loading at all. RACV Emergency Home Assist, for example, publishes a fixed $319 per call-out with no extra after-hours surcharge. Our own approach at Solus is a fixed price agreed up front with no after-hours loading, so a 2am lockout is priced the same way as a 2pm one.
If you’re locked out late at night and it’s safe to wait, booking first thing in the morning can noticeably lower the bill. If it isn’t safe or practical to wait, the emergency premium is the trade-off for getting someone out quickly. You can read more about how we handle urgent jobs on our 24/7 emergency lockout page.
Locksmith costs by service type
Different jobs carry very different price tags. Here’s what to expect for the services Melbourne households and drivers ask about most.
House lockouts and home entry
A residential lockout during business hours generally costs $130 to $165, rising to $200 to $350 after hours. A skilled locksmith can usually open a standard door lock without damage, so you shouldn’t need to pay to replace the lock afterwards. If a locksmith tells you the lock must be drilled out on a routine lockout, ask why before you agree, because non-destructive entry is the norm for most residential locks.
Car lockouts and replacement keys
Getting back into a locked car in Melbourne typically costs $150 to $300 in business hours and $250 to $450 after hours. Modern vehicles with transponder keys and proximity fobs can push costs higher, because the key or remote often needs programming as well as cutting. Having a replacement car key cut and programmed on-site is usually cheaper than a dealership visit, and it avoids a tow.
Rekeying versus replacing a lock
Rekeying and replacing are often confused, and the difference matters for your wallet. Rekeying changes the internal pins so old keys stop working, without fitting a new lock. It typically costs $70 to $130 per lock in business hours. Replacing a lock, such as fitting a new deadbolt or knob set, runs $70 to $200, and more for high-security or multi-point hardware.
| Option | What it does | Typical business-hours cost | Best for |
| Rekey | Changes the pins so existing keys stop working | $70–$130 per lock | Lost keys, moving in, ex-tenants |
| Replace | Fits a brand-new lock or upgrade | $70–$200+ | Damaged, worn, or low-security locks |
Rekeying is usually the cheaper choice after you’ve lost keys or moved into a new home, as long as the existing lock is in good condition. Replacement makes sense when a lock is worn, damaged, or you want to upgrade security. A locksmith can assess which of the two is the better value once they see whether you need a rekey, repair or replacement.
Key cutting
Standard key cutting is the cheapest locksmith service, at about $5 to $20 per key during business hours. Restricted, high-security, or car keys cost more because they need specialist blanks or programming. Key cutting is rarely offered as a stand-alone late-night service.
What affects the price of a locksmith in Melbourne?
Two identical-sounding jobs can be quoted very differently. The main factors that move the price are:
- Time of day. Nights, weekends, and public holidays carry the biggest premium of any single factor.
- Type of service. A basic lockout sits at the low end; rekeying, full lock changes, and automotive key programming cost more.
- Lock and key complexity. High-security, restricted, multi-point, and smart locks take longer and need specialist parts. Transponder car keys need programming.
- Location and travel. Distance from the locksmith and hard-to-reach suburbs can add to a call-out fee.
- Whether anything is damaged. A clean lockout is cheaper than a job that also involves repairing a forced door or broken lock after a break-in.
Why are some quotes so cheap? Avoiding the $45 call-out trap
Be cautious of unusually low advertised rates. Consumer Affairs Victoria has reported multiple cases where ads promised $45 or $35 call-outs, only for the final invoice to land in the hundreds or thousands. In documented complaints, an initial $300 quote ballooned to an $840 invoice, and a $500 quote became a $999 bill. A Victorian parliamentary report described scammers posing as locksmiths who quote a cheap call-out fee, then add fake charges ranging from many hundreds of dollars to more than $2,000. Some even damage the lock or door to justify a bigger bill.
The pattern is consistent: a headline price that seems too good to be true is the hook, and the real cost appears only once the work is done. A fair, established Melbourne locksmith will quote a realistic call-out fee up front rather than a token number designed to get them in the door.
How to make sure you pay a fair price
You can avoid almost all of these problems with a few simple checks before anyone starts work:
- Get the full price in writing first. Ask for a written quote that covers the call-out fee and the specific job, and confirm the final price is fixed or capped before work begins.
- Use a licensed, accredited locksmith. Members listed in the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia directory are accredited locksmiths, which is a useful baseline of trust when choosing who to call.
- Know your consumer rights. In Victoria, services must be delivered with due care and skill, be fit for purpose, and be provided within a reasonable time. These guarantees apply automatically.
- Ask how they price after hours. Find out whether there’s a surcharge and how much, so a night-time call-out doesn’t surprise you.
- Expect non-destructive entry. For most standard locks, a good locksmith opens the door without damaging it.
At Solus, we built our pricing around removing that uncertainty: one vetted, fully licensed locksmith per job, a fixed price agreed in writing before we start, and no after-hours surcharges. If we install or repair something and it plays up within the warranty period, we come back and fix it with no call-out fee.
Frequently asked questions
Are locksmiths more expensive at night in Melbourne?
Yes. Most Melbourne locksmiths charge more for overnight, weekend, and public-holiday call-outs, typically adding $50 to $150 to the standard fee. Some charge a flat rate with no time-of-day surcharge, so it’s worth asking before you book.
Is it cheaper to rekey or replace a lock?
Rekeying is usually cheaper, at around $70 to $130 per lock, because it reuses your existing hardware. Replacing a lock costs $70 to $200 or more. Rekeying is ideal after lost keys or a move, provided the lock is in good working order.
How much does it cost to get back into a locked car in Melbourne?
A car lockout typically costs $150 to $300 during business hours and $250 to $450 after hours. If the key or remote also needs replacing and programming, the total will be higher, though usually still less than a dealership.
Do Melbourne locksmiths charge a call-out fee?
Most do. A business-hours call-out or attendance fee generally runs $50 to $90, rising to $100 to $150 after hours. Always confirm the call-out fee separately from the labour before agreeing to the job.
Get a fixed price before we start
If you need a locksmith in Melbourne and want to know the cost before anyone touches your lock, contact our team for a fixed quote in writing, with same-day service across Melbourne and greater Victoria and no after-hours surcharges.
