A locksmith service call costs $35 to $100 in 2026
The locksmith trip fee is the charge for driving to you. It is separate from the work. A standard house lockout totals about $90–$225 once labor is added; a car lockout $50–$150. After-hours calls roughly double the trip fee.
What you get for the fee
| What the fee covers | Dispatch and drive time only. Unlocking, rekeying or installing locks is charged on top. |
|---|---|
| Hourly labor after the fee | $50–$100 per hour during business hours, or a flat price per task. |
| Typical totals | House lockout $90–$225. Car lockout $50–$150. Rekey $20–$50 per lock plus the trip fee. |
| Nights, weekends, holidays | Trip fee roughly doubles, and hourly labor rises to $150–$250. |
| Distance | Most locksmiths include a set radius. Beyond it, expect a mileage charge or a higher flat rate. |
| Scam warning | A quote of "$19 service call" over the phone that becomes $300 on arrival is the most common locksmith scam. Get the total price, including the trip fee, before they dispatch. |
| Same fee, other names | Trip charge, call-out fee, dispatch fee, mobile fee. |
Why locksmith companies charge it
Almost all locksmith work is done at your location, so the drive is a real cost on every job, including a $15 key copy. The trip fee protects the locksmith on short jobs and cancellations. Reputable locksmiths state it up front; the ones who won't are the ones to avoid.
Service call fee calculator
For contractors. Cost out the trip, then add your margin. The fee updates as you type.
Updates as you type. Nothing is sent anywhere.
How the calculator works
A service call fee has to cover everything that happens before a repair is approved. The calculator adds those costs and then applies your margin.
- Burdened labor rate = wage × (1 + burden%) ÷ billable%. A $32/hr technician with 35% burden who is billable 70% of the day really costs $61.71 per productive hour.
- Travel labor = burdened rate × drive minutes ÷ 60.
- Vehicle cost = round-trip miles × cost per mile. The IRS business rate is 76¢ per mile from July 1, 2026, up from 72.5¢ in the first half of the year.
- Included on-site time = burdened rate × on-site minutes ÷ 60.
- Break-even = travel labor + vehicle cost + on-site time + dispatch cost.
- Fee = break-even ÷ (1 − margin%). Dividing by (1 − margin) gives a true margin on price; multiplying by (1 + margin) would be markup, which is smaller.
Worked example: $32 wage, 35% burden, 70% billable, 45 minutes of driving, 24 miles, 30 minutes on site, $15 dispatch, 30% margin. Break-even is $46.28 + $18.24 + $30.86 + $15.00 = $110.38. Fee = $110.38 ÷ 0.70 = $157.69, which sits inside the normal HVAC range.
Common questions
How much is a locksmith service call fee?
$35 to $100 nationally in 2026. Some charge as little as $15–$25; emergency and rural calls run $100–$150.
Does the trip fee include unlocking my door?
No. The trip fee is for arriving. Labor to open the lock is extra, which is why a lockout totals $90–$225.
Why was I quoted $19 and charged $250?
That is a bait-and-switch. The low number is only the trip fee. Always ask for the all-in price before the locksmith is dispatched, and use a locally based company.
Do locksmiths charge more at night?
Yes. The trip fee typically doubles and labor rises to $150–$250 per hour after hours.
Is there a minimum charge?
Most locksmiths have a minimum of $50–$100 per visit regardless of how small the job is.