House Lockout Service Washington DC

Locked out of your house or apartment in Washington, DC? Mr. Locksmith DC gets you back inside without damaging the door or lock in most cases, at rowhouses, condos, apartments and basement units. House lockouts start at $145 and we typically arrive within 20 to 30 minutes. Open every day, 6:30 a.m.–11:30 p.m. Call (202) 630-4979.

The door clicks shut and the keys are on the kitchen counter. Or the key is in your hand and the lock simply will not turn. Either way you are on the wrong side of your own front door.

Mr. Locksmith DC handles residential lockouts across Washington, DC every day. Tell us your address and what kind of lock is on the door, and we will give you a price and an arrival time before anyone is dispatched.

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How we get you back in

Our first choice is always entry that leaves the lock working exactly as before. Depending on the door, that means picking the lock, bypassing the latch or using specialist tools on the cylinder.

Drilling is a last resort. A small number of high-security locks cannot be picked in a reasonable time, and a failed lock sometimes cannot be opened any other way. If that is the case, we tell you before touching a drill, explain the cost of the replacement lock and let you decide.

Lockouts we handle

Keys left inside a house, condo or apartment
Lost keys, where you also need the lock rekeyed afterwards
Key broken off in the lock
Lock jammed or failed with the key in your hand
Smart lock or keypad with dead batteries or a forgotten code
Bedroom, bathroom and interior doors locked from the inside
English basement and side-entrance units, common in DC rowhouses

Apartments, condos and renters

In a building with a front desk or a management office, check there first. Many keep a spare or can let you in for a small fee, and it may be faster than any locksmith.

If nobody is available, we can open your unit door. We will ask for a photo ID showing the address, or another way of confirming you live there, such as a lease or a piece of mail once we are inside.

We open the door to your own unit. Shared building entrances are the building’s responsibility, so we need management’s approval for those.

What to do while you wait

Check for another way in that does not involve force: a back door, a housemate on the way home, a neighbor with a spare.
Wait somewhere safe and lit, especially late in the evening.
Do not force the door or try a credit card on a deadbolt. It will not work and it damages the frame.
Have your ID ready, or think about what inside the home can prove you live there.

Our full guide on what to do when you are locked out has more.

After the door is open

If the keys were simply inside, you are done.

If the keys are lost or stolen, the lock should be rekeyed so the missing key stops working. We can do that in the same visit. See lock rekey.

If the lock failed, we will show you what went wrong and whether a repair or a replacement makes more sense.

What a house lockout costs in DC

House and apartment lockouts start at $145. The price is quoted on the phone. It goes up only if the job changes, for example a high-security lock that has to be drilled and replaced.

Ignore ads offering a $19 lockout. The real bill from those operators is usually several hundred dollars. Our price list shows our actual starting prices.

House lockout FAQs

How long does it take to open a locked front door?

Most standard locks are open within a few minutes of the technician arriving. High-security locks and failed locks take longer.

Will you have to break my lock?

Usually not. Most residential locks can be opened without damage. If drilling is the only option, we explain why and agree the cost with you first.

What proof do I need to show?

A photo ID with the address is simplest. If your ID shows a different address, we can use a lease, a utility bill or mail inside the home once the door is open.

Can you open a smart lock or keypad lock?

Yes. Most have a key cylinder or an emergency power contact. If the lock has failed electronically, we open the door mechanically and check the lock afterwards.

Is a locksmith cheaper than breaking a window?

Almost always. Replacing glass in a DC rowhouse door or window costs more than a lockout call, and it leaves your home open until it is fixed.

I am locked out of my car, not my house. Can you help?

Yes. See our car lockout service.

Locked out right now?

Call Mr. Locksmith DC with your address. We open homes across Washington, DC every day from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.