# Locksmith guides

> What a locksmith costs in Ontario from published prices, how to change and program a key fob, rekey vs replace, and how master key systems work.

Canonical: https://cotelock.shaneheyworth.com/guides

Plain answers from a Kitchener lock shop that has been cutting keys since 1976: what locksmith work costs, key fobs, rekeying and master key systems. Sourced and dated.

## Costs

- [How Much Does a Locksmith Cost in Ontario?](https://cotelock.shaneheyworth.com/guides/locksmith-cost-ontario): Published Canadian cost guides put a house lockout at roughly $100 to $250 and a rekey at $40 to $160 per lock. Here's what each figure covers, where it comes from, and what moves a real quote up or down.

## Keys and fobs

- [Key Fob Batteries and Programming: What You Can Do Yourself](https://cotelock.shaneheyworth.com/guides/key-fob-battery-and-programming): A weak fob usually needs a new coin cell, not a new key. Here's how to swap the battery safely, how to tell when a fob really needs programming, and the difference between cloning and programming.

## Choosing locks and systems

- [Master Key Systems Explained](https://cotelock.shaneheyworth.com/guides/master-key-systems-explained): A master key system lets each person carry one key that opens exactly the doors they need. Here's how the levels work, how to plan one, and why key control matters as much as the key plan.
- [Rekey vs Replace Locks: Which Do You Need?](https://cotelock.shaneheyworth.com/guides/rekey-vs-replace-locks): Rekeying changes which key works; replacing changes the lock itself. If your hardware is sound, rekeying is usually all you need. Here's how to tell, and what each costs according to published Canadian guides.