Locksmith Ledger presents the 2026 National Average Price Survey, and we are asking for your input.  Every locksmith handles pricing a little differently, so we’re trying to ask some broader questions. We’d like to understand how you set your prices and make sure we are asking the right questions. Please feel free to add comments, positive or negative. Surveys are anonymous.

Scroll down to take the survey.

One of our favorite reader comments from past survey was: “A $200 charge brings a fully equipped, $100,000 service van and a qualified technician to your location. From that point on, hourly charges and product costs will be added.”

We don’t claim that this is a scientific survey, but we do try to spot some trends. It’s interesting to look at the high-dollar jobs, like automatic door operator installations, continuous hinge installations and electronic access control installations, because these big-ticket items bring in substantial revenue.  For automotive locksmiths, an all keys lost situation is the most lucrative, and transponder programming charges are typically significantly lower than at the auto dealerships.

Of course prices do vary based on market, with past surveys found that locksmiths in the larger metropolitan areas charged the highest prices. Keep that in mind when comparing your prices to the average. Smaller, rural markets (with less commercial) will likely be at the lower end of the scale, while urban markets with high-end commercial and multifamily developments tend to support above average pricing.

Prices have trended upwards over the years. It can be a delicate balancing act. Keep in mind that locksmiths are skilled tradesmen who deserve to be paid fairly for their expertise.

We will publish the results in September. Thank you for participating!