If you’ve ever wondered how to rekey a deadbolt without calling a locksmith and spending a fortune, you’re in the right place. Today, I’m going to walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, using a budget-friendly rekeying kit you can find online. This guide will give you the confidence to tackle the job yourself and show you how straightforward it really is.
Table of Contents
Why You Might Need to Rekey a Deadbolt
Rekeying a lock means changing the internal pins so a new key works while the old one becomes useless. Maybe you’ve just moved into a new house, lost a key, or want to simplify life by using one key for all your locks. Whatever the reason, rekeying is a cost-effective and secure solution that anyone can learn.
Tools and Materials You Need
Before we dive in, gather the following:
- A rekeying kit specific to your lock brand (I used a Prime-Line kit for a Kwikset deadbolt)
- The original key for the lock
- A replacement key (included in most kits)
- Tweezers, a removal tool, and a follower (usually part of the kit)
My kit cost about $13 on Amazon and included enough pins to rekey six locks, along with three replacement keys. That’s a lot of value for the price.
- REKEY YOUR LOCKS – Prime-Line E 2400 re-keying kit allows you to rekey all your locks to one, pre-cut key. Note: This kit is not designed to re-key locks to any other existing key, but rather only to the pre-cut keys included with each kit.
- INCLUDES – Re-Key a Lock Kit includes 3 pre-cut keys, pins, special tools and simple-to-follow instructions.
- FOR PIN STYLE LOCKS – Re-Keying kit works for Kwikset brand locks, 5-pin style.
- EASY INSTALLATION – Re-keying your locks is easy with this kit – even a novice can complete the DIY task.
- REQUIRES – Rekeying kit requires original key to lock being rekeyed as part of the re-keying process.
Last update on 2025-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Rekey a Deadbolt
Remove the Deadbolt from the Door
Take the lock off your door. This part is simple—just unscrew it and separate the interior and exterior portions. You’ll see the main housing and the cylinder (or barrel) inside.
Access the Cylinder
On the back of the deadbolt, there’s a black clip holding the cylinder in place. Use the removal tool to carefully pop this clip off. Set it aside—don’t lose it!
Once the clip is off, the cylinder should slide right out of the housing.
Use the Original Key to Remove the Plug
Insert the original key into the cylinder and turn it 45 degrees. This unlocks the mechanism and lines up the internal parts properly.
Now take the follower tool and push the plug out of the cylinder while keeping pressure on both sides. This step is critical—there are spring-loaded top pins in the cylinder that you don’t want to disturb. The follower keeps them from falling out and turning your DIY project into a jigsaw puzzle.
Remove the Old Pins
Once the plug is out, you’ll see a series of small pins inside. Dump those out—they correspond to your old key.
Insert the New Pins
Here’s the fun part. Your rekeying kit comes with a set of color-coded pins and a chart that matches them to different key cut depths.
Using the new key as a reference, line up the proper pins and insert them into the plug one by one. You can use tweezers if you’re feeling precise, but honestly, I often just use my fingers. Once all the new pins are in, insert the new key into the plug and make sure the pins sit flush. If they do, you’ve nailed it!
Reassemble the Lock
With the key still in the plug, use the follower to guide the plug back into the cylinder. Again, keep steady pressure on both sides to avoid dislodging those pesky top pins.
Once the plug is seated, reinstall the black clip to lock it in place. Make sure the key can turn smoothly, then reattach the cylinder to the housing and screw everything back onto the door.
How to Rekey a Deadbolt and Feel Like a Locksmith
That’s it! You’ve just learned how to rekey a deadbolt—and you did it without breaking the bank or calling a professional. With the right kit and a bit of patience, rekeying is totally within reach for any homeowner or DIY enthusiast.
Not only does this give you a sense of control over your home security, but it also saves money every time you need to update your locks. Once you’ve done it once, you’ll want to rekey every lock in the house just for fun.
