HOW TO HIRE · HOME REPAIRS & HANDYMAN · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a locksmith in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A locksmith in Ireland costs €80–€250 per job, typically around €130. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a locksmith in five steps
- Are you on the Private Security Authority register, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — security System Upgrades — many locksmiths are skilled in upgrading existing security systems, including the installation of CCTV cameras, alarm systems, and access control systems.
- How does complexity of the job change the price?An intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of lock or security system involved change the price?What is included in the package changes the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does time of day change the price?The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Lock Installation and Replacement — professional locksmiths offer installation and replacement services for a variety of lock types, including deadbolts, smart locks, and padlocks — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a locksmith job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Private Security Authority (PSA) licence
A licence runs for two years. Section 38 makes it an offence to ENGAGE an unlicensed person for a service that needs a licence — a fine of up to €3,000, up to 12 months' imprisonment, or both, on summary conviction. That duty falls on whoever hires, which is unusual and worth knowing. The Private Security Services Act 2004 defines a 'security service' to include an installer of security equipment and a locksmith. An installer is anyone who for reward installs, maintains, repairs or services devices that warn of, monitor or record unauthorised entry near premises. The 2012 Licensing and Standards Regulations split installers into access control, CCTV and intruder alarm categories, and S.I. 134/2025 added a category for suppliers or installers of safes. Restricted to PSA-licensed contractor: installing, maintaining or repairing an intruder alarm; installing or maintaining CCTV; installing or maintaining access control; locksmithing; supplying or installing a safe.
Search the Private Security Authority register for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. psa.gov.ie →
Insurance
Expect public liability; a licensed contractor carries it as a condition. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
Identity
Providers on Locufy prove who they are with photo ID before they can be booked; the ID-checked badge shows who has done it, and the document itself is deleted once the check is made. For a locksmith coming into your home it is the cheapest check there is.
Look for the ID-checked badge on the card, before you message anyone.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — security System Upgrades — many locksmiths are skilled in upgrading existing security systems, including the installation of CCTV cameras, alarm systems, and access control systems.
A good answer: An intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: What is included in the package changes the total. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The length of the visit is agreed before the work starts. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Lock Installation and Replacement — professional locksmiths offer installation and replacement services for a variety of lock types, including deadbolts, smart locks, and padlocks — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a locksmith job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; a licensed contractor carries it as a condition — emergency Lockout Services — locksmiths provide immediate assistance for those who find themselves locked out of their homes, cars, or businesses.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the locksmith starts, and an itemised invoice after — rekeying Services — changing the internal mechanism of a lock so that it works with a new key, ideal for new homeowners.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of the job — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct.
- Type of lock or security system involved — what is included in the package changes the total.
- Time of day — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts.
- Its condition — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Private Security Authority register, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the job — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct
- They will not talk about it: type of lock or security system involved — what is included in the package changes the total
- They will not talk about it: time of day — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts
- A price for the locksmith before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
What a locksmith costs: €80–€250 per job
The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Emergency lockout services and Lock installation each carry their own band. Locksmith price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Locksmiths near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of the job — an intricate finish is slower to apply and slower to correct — that is what the locksmith is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of lock or security system involved — what is included in the package changes the total — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfTime of day — the length of the visit is agreed before the work starts — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherIts condition — poor condition adds preparation before the work itself starts — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the locksmith is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the work involved — fine work is checked more often, and checking takes time.
- Emergency Lockout Services
- Locksmiths provide immediate assistance for those who find themselves locked out of their homes, cars, or businesses.
- Lock Installation and Replacement
- Professional locksmiths offer installation and replacement services for a variety of lock types, including deadbolts, smart locks, and padlocks.
- Security System Upgrades
- Many locksmiths are skilled in upgrading existing security systems, including the installation of CCTV cameras, alarm systems, and access control systems.
- Lock Installation
- Professional installation of new locks, including deadbolts and smart locks, to enhance your home security.
- Lock Repair
- Fixing malfunctioning or damaged locks to restore their functionality and security.
- Security Upgrades
- Assessing and upgrading existing locks and security systems to meet modern safety standards.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a locksmith: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a locksmith can vary based on the complexity of the job, the type of lock or security system involved, and the time of day. Emergency services typically incur higher fees due to their urgent nature.
The duration of a locksmith job can range from 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the task's complexity. Simple lockouts may be resolved quickly, while installations or repairs may take longer.
Yes, many locksmiths offer emergency services for urgent situations such as lockouts or break-ins. However, these services often come at a premium compared to regular hours, so it's advisable to inquire about pricing beforehand.
Booking multiple related jobs, such as rekeying several locks or installing additional security features, can often lead to cost savings. It's best to discuss your needs with the locksmith to see if a package deal is available.
Locksmiths generally focus on locks and security systems. If you require work related to electrical systems, gas appliances, or structural changes, it’s essential to hire a qualified specialist in those fields.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in home repairs & handyman
Locksmiths near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Private Security Services Act 2004, section 2
- Private Security Services Act 2004, section 38
- S.I. 144/2012 — Private Security (Licensing and Standards) Regulations
- S.I. 134/2025 — supplier or installer of safes
- Private Security Authority
- Revenue — LOCKSMITH — Standard rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only