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Locksmith Call Out Fee Explained: What You Should Pay
A locksmith call out fee is a charge for travelling to your address, made before any work is done. Many UK locksmiths add one on top of labour and parts, and it often rises out of hours. Locksmith24 does not charge a separate call-out fee: you get one firm price for the whole job before work starts.
Key takeaways
- A call-out fee covers the locksmith's time and travel to reach you, separately from labour and parts.
- Locksmith charges in the UK vary widely, and out-of-hours work usually costs more.
- Locksmith24 has no separate call-out fee. Lockouts start from £89 in daytime hours and most jobs fall between £89 and £300.
- The biggest red flag is a locksmith who will not give you a price before starting work.
- A few simple questions on the phone protect you from an inflated bill.
What is a locksmith call out fee?
When a locksmith drives to your door, they spend time and fuel before they touch a lock. Some companies charge for that separately, and that charge is the call-out fee. It is normally payable however short the job turns out to be, and with some firms it applies even if the locksmith arrives and cannot complete the work.
A call-out fee is not wrong in itself. Travel is a real cost, especially across London traffic at night. The problem is when the fee is hidden, unclear, or used to make an advertised price look far lower than the bill you actually end up paying.
How locksmith charges usually work in the UK
Most locksmith bills are made up of some combination of the following parts. Knowing them helps you compare quotes properly.
Call-out charge
The cost of getting to you. Some locksmiths list it separately, some build it into their labour price, and some apply a minimum charge that covers the first part of the job. None of these is a problem as long as you know which one applies before the engineer sets off.
Labour
The time spent on the job itself. Some locksmiths charge a fixed price per type of job, others charge by time. Fixed prices are easier to compare, because you know the total before the work begins, whereas time-based pricing can stretch if the job turns out to be fiddly.
Parts
New cylinders, locks, keys and fixings. Quality varies enormously. An anti-snap euro cylinder rated TS007 3-star or Sold Secure SS312 Diamond costs more than an unrated budget cylinder, and a BS3621 mortice deadlock costs more than a basic lock that meets no standard. Always ask exactly what will be fitted, because two quotes that look different may simply be for very different parts.
Out-of-hours and emergency charges
Evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays usually cost more, because the engineer is working unsocial hours. That is reasonable, provided you are told about it clearly before anyone travels.
Call-out fee or fixed job price: which is better for you?
A separate call-out fee plus labour and parts can work out fine, but it makes quotes hard to compare. One company might advertise a low call-out and charge heavily for labour, while another quotes a single higher figure that turns out to be cheaper overall. The only number that really matters is the total you will pay once the job is done.
That is why we prefer a single firm price per job. You know the full cost before the engineer leaves, there is no meter running while they work, and there is no incentive to stretch a simple job. Whichever pricing model a locksmith uses, ask them to turn it into one total figure on the phone. If they cannot or will not, treat that as a warning sign and ring someone else.
How much is an emergency locksmith?
Emergency locksmith costs depend on what needs doing, when it happens and what kind of lock you have. Opening a door you are locked out of is usually the simplest emergency job. Replacing a lock damaged in a break-in costs more, because new parts are needed, and securing a door after forced entry can also involve repairs to the frame or keeps. Here is how Locksmith24 prices the most common emergency work:
| Job | What is involved | Locksmith24 price |
|---|---|---|
| Lockout opening | Non-destructive entry using specialist tools, so your existing lock keeps working | From £89 (daytime hours) |
| Lock replacement | New BS3621 deadlock or high-security euro cylinder, fitted and tested | Typically £120 to £200 including parts and labour |
| Most locksmith jobs | Depends on the lock, the door and the parts needed | £89 to £300 |
| Call-out fee | Travel to your address | No separate call-out fee |
| Out-of-hours visits | Late night, weekend and bank holiday work | May carry an extra charge, confirmed before we travel |
You can see more detail on our locksmith prices page.
Out of hours locksmiths: what changes after dark
A genuine 24-hour locksmith keeps engineers on call through the night, which is part of why out-of-hours work costs more. It is also the time when people are most vulnerable to being overcharged. If you are standing on your doorstep at midnight in the rain, the temptation is to ring the first number you find and agree to anything.
Take two minutes before you book. Ask the questions further down this page, write down the price you are given, and confirm it again when the engineer arrives. A reputable company will not mind, and a rogue operator will often give themselves away by avoiding straight answers.
Red flags of rogue locksmiths
Most locksmiths are honest tradespeople. However, there is no licensing requirement for locksmiths in the UK, so anyone can advertise as one. These are the warning signs we hear about most often from customers who rang someone else first:
- Very low "from" prices in adverts. A headline price far below everyone else's is often only the call-out, with labour, parts and "extras" added once the door is open.
- Refusing to quote before starting. "We'll see when we get there" is a warning. An experienced locksmith can give a firm price once you describe the door and lock.
- Drilling or snapping the lock first. A trained locksmith can open most standard domestic locks without damage. Drilling should be a last resort, explained and agreed with you, not the opening move that lets someone sell you a new lock.
- The price changes on arrival. Vague reasons such as "it's a special lock" or "this is a high-security door" used to multiply the agreed figure.
- No clear business identity. No company name on the invoice, no address, or a call handler who cannot tell you who is coming or where they are based.
- Pressure over payment. Insisting on cash, or demanding payment before giving you an itemised invoice.
If something feels wrong when the engineer arrives, you are entitled to stop before any work begins.
Questions to ask on the phone
These questions take less than a minute and tell you almost everything you need to know about a locksmith:
- Do you charge a call-out fee, and if so, how much?
- What is the total price for this job, including parts and labour?
- Is there an out-of-hours charge at this time, and is it included in that total?
- Will you try non-destructive entry before drilling?
- Which locks do you fit, and what standard are they (BS3621, TS007 3-star, SS312 Diamond)?
- How long until you arrive?
- Is the work guaranteed, and are your engineers DBS-checked?
It also helps to tell them as much as you can: the type of door (uPVC, composite or timber), the type of lock, whether a key has snapped inside, and whether the door is simply shut on the latch or fully locked. A photo of the lock, if you can take one, makes a phone quote more accurate.
How Locksmith24 prices its work
We set our pricing up to remove the guesswork that gives the trade a bad name:
- No separate call-out fee. You are not charged just for us turning up.
- A firm price before any work starts. We quote on the phone and confirm it on arrival.
- Out-of-hours charges explained up front. If an extra charge applies, you hear about it before we travel.
- Published typical prices. Lockouts from £89 in daytime hours, lock replacements typically £120 to £200 including parts and labour, and most jobs between £89 and £300.
- Non-destructive entry first. On a lockout, our aim is to get you in with your lock still working.
- Fast local response. Typical arrival is 20 to 30 minutes across the London areas we cover.
- A 180-day parts and labour guarantee, carried out by DBS-checked engineers.
Locked out right now?
If you cannot get in, our 24-hour emergency locksmith team can be with you quickly, day or night. If your keys are lost or stolen, our lost and stolen keys service can get you back inside and change the locks on the same visit, so nobody else can use the missing set. For anything less urgent, from lock upgrades to repairs, see our full range of locksmith services.
Get a firm price from Locksmith24
Call Locksmith24, tell us what has happened and what kind of door and lock you have, and we will give you a firm price before we set off. No separate call-out fee, no surprises on the invoice, and every job backed by our 180-day guarantee.
