How Long Does It Take a Locksmith to Change All the Locks on a House?
Changing all the locks on a typical three-bedroom house with three to five external doors takes a locksmith between one and three hours. Simple euro cylinder replacements take fifteen to twenty minutes per door. Mortice locks, older hardware requiring frame modification, and doors needing new hardware entirely take longer. A locksmith arriving with the right stock can usually complete a standard residential lock change in a single visit without needing to return.
Changing every lock on a property is one of the most common calls a residential locksmith takes. The reasons are consistent: moving into a new home and wanting certainty about who holds keys, ending a tenancy, a relationship breakdown, a lost or stolen key set, or a break-in. In every case the person calling wants the same two things — for it to be done properly, and for it to be done today. Knowing what the job actually involves helps you plan around it.
What Determines the Duration
The number of external doors.
This is the primary factor. A standard house has a front door, a back door, and possibly a side or laundry door plus a garage access door. Three to five keyed points is typical. Each one is a separate job within the overall visit.
The lock type on each door.
Euro profile cylinders — the most common type on modern and renovated Australian homes — are the fastest to change. The retaining screw is removed, the old cylinder withdrawn, the new one inserted, and the screw refitted. This takes fifteen to twenty minutes per door including testing.
Mortice locks, common in period homes across Melbourne's inner south-east, take longer. The lock body sits within a mortice cut into the door edge, and replacing one may require adjusting the mortice, fitting a new faceplate, or aligning a new strike plate. Allow thirty to forty-five minutes per mortice lock, more if the existing mortice does not match the new lock body dimensions.
Whether hardware is being replaced or just cylinders.
Changing only the cylinders while retaining the existing handles, escutcheons, and lock bodies is far faster than replacing complete locksets. If the existing hardware is in good condition, cylinder-only replacement achieves the same security outcome in a fraction of the time.
Door and frame condition.
A door that has dropped, a frame that has shifted, or a strike plate that no longer aligns adds time. The locksmith may need to adjust the strike position or pack the hinges to restore alignment before the new lock will operate cleanly.
A Realistic Timeline
Standard three-bedroom house, four external doors, euro cylinders throughout, hardware retained.
Around ninety minutes including arrival, assessment, four cylinder changes, key cutting, and testing.
Same house with a mix of euro cylinders and one or two mortice locks.
Two to two and a half hours.
Period home with original mortice locks on all doors requiring full lockset replacement.
Three to four hours, potentially with a return visit if any door requires timber work or if specific hardware needs ordering.
Larger property with six or more keyed points including garage, gate, and outbuilding.
Half a day.
What Happens During the Visit
The locksmith will typically walk the property first, identifying every keyed point, noting the lock type at each, and checking door and frame condition. This assessment informs the recommendation and confirms the stock needed is on the van.
Cylinders or locksets are then changed door by door. Each new lock is tested through its full operation with the door both open and closed, checking that the bolt throws cleanly into the strike and that the key operates without resistance.
Keys are cut to the number required. If all locks are to operate on the same key — keyed alike — this is specified before the cylinders are fitted, as it affects which cylinders are used.
Finally, the old keys are collected or confirmed as no longer functional, and you receive the new set with confirmation of how many were cut.
Keyed Alike: Worth Considering
A common request during a full lock change is to have every lock operate on a single key. This is a significant convenience improvement over carrying four different keys for four doors, and it costs little or nothing extra when specified at the time of installation.
The trade-off is that a single lost key compromises access to every door rather than one. For most households the convenience outweighs this, particularly when the alternative is a key ring that is itself easy to lose in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a locksmith change all the locks the same day I call?
Often yes, subject to availability and the stock required. A standard residential lock change using common cylinder types can usually be completed on the day. Jobs requiring specific hardware, unusual lock types, or period-appropriate mortice locks may need a day or two to source the right product.
Do I need to be present for the whole job?
You need to provide access and be available at the end to receive the keys and confirm operation. Many people are present throughout, but it is not usually necessary to watch the entire process. What matters is that you are there at handover to receive every key that has been cut.
Should I change locks or rekey them?
Rekeying changes the internal pin configuration so old keys stop working while retaining the existing hardware. It is faster and less expensive than changing locks and achieves the same access control outcome. Changing locks makes more sense when the existing hardware is worn, below standard, or you want to upgrade security at the same time. A locksmith can advise which suits your situation.
How many keys will I get?
Standard practice is two keys per cylinder, or a set number specified by you. If all locks are keyed alike, you receive a set of identical keys rather than a separate key per door. Additional keys can be cut at the time or later.
What happens to the old locks?
The locksmith removes and disposes of the old hardware unless you ask to keep it. Some homeowners retain old cylinders for use on outbuildings or sheds where the security requirement is lower.
Contact Malvern Lock Service on 0477-615-507 for full residential lock changes across Melbourne's inner south-east. Neale carries stock for the full range of cylinder and lockset types found in period and modern homes, and completes most residential lock changes in a single visit. Over 35 years of experience. MLAA member and VIC Police registered. Serving Malvern, Malvern East, Armadale, Toorak, Prahran, South Yarra, Glen Iris, Camberwell, Glen Huntly, Hawthorn, Kooyong, St Kilda, St Kilda East, and Surrey Hills.