What an locksmith estimate is for
An estimate is not a quote, and the difference matters legally and financially. An estimate is your best assessment before everything is known — which means the document has to say, in writing, what could move the number and by how much.
For locksmiths selling to homeowners, landlords, businesses, and vehicle owners, the estimate is usually the only thing the customer compares side by side against two competitors. It is doing sales work whether you designed it to or not.
The unit that trips this trade up: Locksmith pricing is a service call plus per-lock work, and quoting a range over the phone then charging more is the industry's reputational wound.
What every locksmith estimate must have
- The word estimate on the document, not quote — the distinction is legal in many states
- What specifically could change the price, named rather than implied
- A percentage or dollar range the final figure may vary within
- The conditions that would trigger a revised figure
- Whether the estimate converts to a firm quote after inspection, and when
What locksmiths bill for
These are the lines that show up on most locksmith estimates, with the unit each is normally priced in. Ranges are illustrative planning figures, not market data — your own costs, region, and margin decide the real number.
| Line item | Unit | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Service call | each | $50–$150 |
| Lockout — residential or auto | each | $75–$250 |
| Rekey per cylinder | each | $20–$60 |
| Deadbolt supplied and installed | each | $90–$300 |
| Smart lock installation | each | $150–$450 |
| Commercial panic hardware | each | $400–$1,800 |
| Master key system setup | each | $250–$2,500 |
| Car key programming | each | $120–$500 |
Typical deposit convention: Collected on completion; deposit for commercial hardware orders.
Locksmith estimate example
A realistic job, priced line by line, with the arithmetic shown the way a customer sees it:
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service call | 1 | $95.00 | $95.00 |
| Rekey cylinders — 9 locks | 9 | $35.00 | $315.00 |
| New deadbolt — front entries | 3 | $145.00 | $435.00 |
| Keys cut — 12 copies | 12 | $6.00 | $72.00 |
| Subtotal | $917.00 | ||
| Tax (7.75%) | $71.07 | ||
| Total | $988.07 | ||
Notice that every assumption is a line rather than a conversation. That is the whole difference between an estimate that holds up and one that gets renegotiated in a driveway.
Three mistakes that cost locksmiths money
Phone quotes that move on arrival
This is the single behavior that damaged the trade's reputation. Quote a firm service call and firm per-unit prices, and honor them.
Not confirming authority
Rekeying a property for someone who does not own it is a serious problem. Note the identification and authorization requirement on the document.
Hardware grade not specified
Grade 1, 2 and 3 hardware differ substantially in price and durability. Name the grade on every lock line.
How to send an locksmith estimate in about a minute
A template is only half the job — the estimate still has to reach the customer in a form they can act on. With SendQuoteNow you add the customer, add your line items, and hit send. Your customer gets a branded PDF plus a link where they approve or decline with one click, and you get an email the moment they do.
- Your branding, not ours — your logo, business name, contact details, and terms on every document.
- From your phone — build and send the estimate before you leave the customer's property.
- One-click approval — no login or account needed on your customer's side.
- Automatic math — subtotal, tax, and discounts calculated as you type.
- Estimate → invoice — convert accepted work into an invoice without retyping it.