How much does a locksmith cost in 2026? Door opening and lock change prices
If you are wondering how much a locksmith costs in Spain, or what a locksmith charges to open a door, these are the real prices we apply in Valencia, Alicante, Torrevieja, Benidorm and across the Costa Blanca, IVA (VAT) included. Opening a slammed door costs €60-90 in the daytime; changing the bombín (lock cylinder) is €40-60 plus the cylinder; a full lock replacement is €80-150 plus the lock. You get a fixed price by WhatsApp before we set off.
Quick answer
A locksmith charges between €60 and €90 to open a slammed door during the day and between €90 and €150 at night or on a public holiday, in Valencia and Alicante. Changing the cylinder costs €40-60 in labour plus the cylinder itself (from €35), and a full lock replacement is €80-150 plus the lock. Prices include IVA, with no call-out fee if you accept the quote.
Locksmith prices in 2026
| Job | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Slammed door opening (8am-9pm) | 60 € - 90 € | |
| Night or holiday opening | 90 € - 150 € | |
| Reinforced or armoured door opening | 90 € - 180 € | |
| Cylinder change (labour only) | 40 € - 60 € | Anti-bump cylinder from €35 |
| Full lock replacement | 80 € - 150 € | Plus the lock |
| Broken key extraction | 40 € - 70 € |
Locksmith prices by job
These are the 2026 prices for our locksmith service. They are closed ranges: before we leave, we give you the exact figure by WhatsApp from a photo of the lock, and that figure does not change even if the opening turns out to be awkward.
| Job | Price incl. IVA | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Slammed door opening (8am-9pm) | €60-90 | Damage-free entry, nothing replaced |
| Night or public holiday opening | €90-150 | Emergency surcharge included |
| Reinforced or armoured door opening | €90-180 | Depends on the lock and security escutcheon |
| Cylinder change (labour) | €40-60 | Plus the cylinder: anti-bump from €35 |
| Cylinder change with anti-bump cylinder included | €75-150 | Cylinder €35-90 depending on brand and size |
| Full lock replacement | €80-150 | Plus the lock, €40-200 depending on type |
| Broken key extraction | €40-70 | Without damaging the cylinder in most cases |
| Security escutcheon fitted | €60-110 | Escutcheon included, protects the cylinder from snapping |
Locksmith prices by town
Labour varies a little by area: in central Valencia prices go up 10-15 % because of parking and travel time, in Alicante we apply the standard rate, and in Torrevieja and Benidorm we add up to 10 % for outlying urbanisations. You will find the details for each town on locksmith in Valencia, locksmith in Alicante, locksmith in Torrevieja and locksmith in Benidorm.
| Job | Valencia | Alicante | Torrevieja | Benidorm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime opening | €65-100 | €60-90 | €60-95 | €65-95 |
| Night or public holiday opening | €100-170 | €90-150 | €95-160 | €95-160 |
| Cylinder change (labour) | €45-70 | €40-60 | €40-65 | €45-65 |
| Full lock replacement (labour) | €90-170 | €80-150 | €85-160 | €85-160 |
| Broken key extraction | €45-80 | €40-70 | €40-75 | €45-75 |
What pushes the price up or down
- Time and day. From 8am to 9pm, Monday to Sunday, the normal rate applies. At night and on public holidays the surcharge is already built into the night opening row; nothing is added on top afterwards.
- Type of door. A slammed door that has not been deadlocked opens in minutes with a shim or picks. A door that has been deadlocked, or a reinforced door with a security escutcheon, takes longer and sometimes means drilling the cylinder, which is then replaced.
- Cylinder or lock chosen. A standard cylinder costs €15-25; an anti-bump cylinder with a dimple key €35-90; a high-security one with an ownership card €90-180. A full lock for a 3-point reinforced door can go above €150.
- Cylinder size. If the cylinder is not a standard size (30/30, 30/40) and has to be ordered, we fit it on a second visit without charging another call-out.
- Previous damage. If someone has already had a go with a screwdriver, or a previous locksmith has half-drilled the cylinder, the opening costs more and almost always ends in a cylinder change.
- Distance. No call-out fee if you accept the quote. If you decide not to go ahead after the visit, it is €25 in Valencia and Alicante city and €35 in the rest of the area.
- Number of locks. Changing two or three cylinders in the same visit (flat and storeroom, flat and letterbox) brings the labour price per unit down.
What the price includes and what it does not
Included: travel within the town, the opening or the change with the tools needed, adjusting the door after the work, the two or three new keys that come with the cylinder, tidying up and an invoice with IVA. If we change the cylinder, we hand you the cylinder's ownership card where it has one.
Not included: the new cylinder or lock (we give you two or three options with prices before fitting), security escutcheons if you want to add one, extra key copies, and repairs to the door or frame if they were damaged before we arrived. We also do not open certified safes or vehicles; for those we pass you to a specialist.
Three real examples with the total
- Slammed door in Ruzafa, Valencia, a Tuesday at 7.30pm. Wooden door with a mortice lock, key left inside. Opened with a shim in 10 minutes, no damage. Total: €70 including IVA. No cylinder change because the key was inside.
- Cylinder change after a tenancy in Torrevieja (Playa del Cura). Owner who wants to make sure the previous tenant cannot get in. Labour €50 plus an anti-bump cylinder with 5 keys and ownership card, €55. Total: €105 including IVA, 30 minutes in the flat.
- Night opening of a reinforced door in Benidorm (Rincón de Loix), Sunday at 11.30pm. Lost key, door deadlocked. Opened by drilling the cylinder and replaced with an anti-bump one. Night opening €120 plus cylinder €50. Total: €170 including IVA, agreed before we set off.
How to avoid the "from €29" locksmith scams
Locksmithing is the trade with the most abuse complaints in the Valencian Community. The pattern is always the same: a Google ad saying "openings from €29", a phone number that will not quote in advance ("it depends what we find"), an operative who turns up, drills the cylinder instead of opening without damage, and an invoice for €300 to €600 with call-out, night surcharge and a cylinder charged at an eye-watering price. When you are stuck on the landing and cannot get in, it is easy to pay up.
- Ask for a fixed price by WhatsApp before they set off, with the night surcharge included if it is late. If they will not give one, ring someone else.
- A slammed door (not deadlocked) opens without breaking anything in 90 % of cases. If the locksmith wants to drill straight away, ask why.
- Check that the company has a name, NIF (tax number) and address on its website, not just a mobile number.
- Pay by card or Bizum and ask for the invoice with IVA on the spot. It is your proof if you need to complain.
- If the invoice does not match what was agreed, do not pay under pressure: call the Policía Local, who know these cases well, and file a hoja de reclamaciones (official complaint form).
- Save our number before you need it. The time to find a locksmith is not when you are locked out at two in the morning.
When you can do it yourself and skip the locksmith
Changing a cylinder is a 15-minute job with a screwdriver if the door is open and you measure the cylinder properly. We explain it in how to change a lock cylinder and how to measure a lock cylinder. If the full lock is a surface-mounted (rim) lock and you have the same size, you can also follow how to change a door lock.
Before calling about a broken key, read how to remove a broken key from a lock: if a piece is sticking out, it comes out with fine tweezers. And if the cylinder turns halfway or the key will not go in, try what we suggest in lock jammed or cylinder will not turn before forcing anything. What we do not recommend is trying to open a locked door with cards or screwdrivers: you will end up paying for an opening and a cylinder change. For that situation, see what to do if the door has slammed shut.
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Guides and tips
- How to remove a broken key from a lock without damaging the cylinder
- Jammed lock: the cylinder will not turn or the key will not go in
- How to change a door lock (mortice and rim)
- How to change a lock cylinder in 10 minutes (reinforced doors too)
- How to measure a lock cylinder to buy the right replacement
- Locked out after the door slammed: what to do (and what not to)
Frequently asked questions
Do locksmith prices include IVA?
Yes. Every price on this page includes 21 % IVA and we issue the invoice on the spot, on paper or by WhatsApp. If the job is paid by a comunidad de vecinos (residents' association), an agency or a company, we put their tax details on the invoice at no extra cost.
Do you charge a call-out fee?
Not if you accept the quote we give you by WhatsApp or at the door. If you decide not to go ahead after we arrive, we charge €25 in Valencia and Alicante city and €35 in the rest of the Costa Blanca, which is what the trip costs us. We never add a call-out fee to a price that has already been agreed.
How much is the night or public holiday surcharge?
It is built into the night opening row: €90-150 instead of €60-90, so around €30-60 more. It applies from 9pm to 8am and on national and local public holidays. We do not charge a surcharge on Sundays during the day or on Saturdays, which are normal working hours for us.
How do I pay a locksmith?
When the job is done, in cash, by card, Bizum or bank transfer. Every van carries a card terminal. We do not ask for a deposit or payment in advance, and the amount is the one we agreed by message before setting off. If the owner is abroad, they can pay by transfer or Bizum while we are with the tenant.
What documents do you need to open a door?
Your DNI, NIE or passport and something that links you to the property: a utility bill, the tenancy agreement, the deeds, or a neighbour or the administrator recognising you. If you cannot prove it on the spot, we open in the presence of the Policía Local. It is the only way to protect owners, and to protect you if tomorrow the owner is you.
What guarantee comes with a lock change?
Six months in writing on the labour: if the cylinder works loose, the key catches or the door does not close properly, we come back at no cost. The cylinder and the lock carry the manufacturer's warranty, usually two years. We hand over the ownership card for security cylinders.
Is it cheaper to change the cylinder or the whole lock?
Almost always the cylinder. If the lock works and you just want the old keys to stop opening it, changing the cylinder costs €75-150 with an anti-bump one included. A full lock replacement is only needed when the mechanism is broken, the bolts do not throw, or you want to move up to a multi-point security lock.
Get a free, no-obligation quote
Shall we fix it today?
Call, message us on WhatsApp or leave your details. Fixed price before we start, no call-out fee if you accept the quote.