How Often Should You Change Your Home’s Locks?

There is no universal schedule that requires homeowners to change their locks every few years. Instead, review your home's locks and key access when something changes, such as moving into a home, losing a key, changing who should have access, experiencing a break-in or attempted forced entry, or noticing that a lock is no longer operating normally.

In other words, think in terms of events and access changes, not an arbitrary calendar.

A lock that operates normally does not necessarily need to be replaced simply because it has reached a particular age. At the same time, a relatively new lock may deserve attention immediately if a key goes missing or someone who should no longer have access still has a copy.

Not necessarily.

There is no universal rule that says every residential lock should be changed after a specific number of years.

Locks are hardware products, and their service life can vary based on:

• Hardware construction
• Frequency of use
• Installation
• Door and frame condition
• Maintenance
• Environment
• Exposure to weather
• Physical wear

ANSI/BHMA A156.39-2025 establishes performance requirements for residential locksets and latches, including durability, security, operation, and finish. ANSI/BHMA A156.40-2025 establishes requirements for residential deadbolts and deadlatches. BHMA's standards demonstrate why lock performance is better understood through hardware condition and use than a simple age threshold.

"A homeowner shouldn't think of lock changes as something that happens automatically when the calendar reaches a certain date. Access changes when people, keys, hardware, or the property itself changes. Those events are more useful triggers for reviewing your locks than an arbitrary replacement interval." - KeyMe Locksmiths

Taking possession of a home is one of the clearest reasons to review its locks.

The issue is key control.

Even when the previous owner gives you several keys, you may not know whether additional copies were previously given to:

• Relatives
• Neighbors
• Contractors
• Housekeepers
• Pet sitters
• Caregivers
• Former residents
• Other authorized visitors

ALOA recommends changing the locks when taking possession of a house and specifically identifies rekeying as a way to establish new key control when the existing hardware is suitable. ALOA also notes that newly constructed homes can have construction-keying considerations.

For a move-in-specific process, see How Lock Rekeying Works for New Homeowners.

A missing key does not always create the same level of concern.

Consider:

• Where the key was lost
• Whether it was stolen
• Whether it was attached to identification
• Whether someone could connect it to your home
• Whether other keys were lost with it
• Whether you know approximately how many copies exist

The important question is whether you remain comfortable with the key continuing to operate the home.

If not, changing authorized mechanical access may be appropriate.

See What to Do After Losing Your House Keys for the full lost-key response process.

A key does not have to be lost for key control to change.

Sometimes you know exactly where another copy is: someone else has it.

Review household access when a person who previously had legitimate access should no longer have it.

Examples can include:

• Former roommate
• Previous tenant
• Contractor
• Household worker
• Caregiver
• Other person previously given a key

The key may even have been returned.

The broader question is whether additional copies could exist and whether you want the old keying to remain valid.

This is primarily an access-control trigger, not necessarily a hardware problem.

A break-in or attempted forced entry should trigger an evaluation of the affected opening.

Do not look only at the cylinder.

Inspect the:

• Lock
• Deadbolt
• Latch
• Strike
• Door
• Frame
• Fasteners
• Surrounding hardware

Visible damage may require attention, but not every incident automatically means every lock throughout the home must be replaced.

The appropriate response depends on what was affected.

KeyMe provides lock repair and installation and lock replacement for supported residential situations.

A lock that starts behaving differently is telling you something.

Watch for changes such as:

• Key becoming harder to insert
• Key becoming harder to remove
• Increasing resistance when turning
• Deadbolt binding
• Latch failing to engage consistently
• Loose lever or knob
• Lock becoming increasingly unreliable
• Visible physical damage or corrosion

These are reasons to evaluate the opening.

They are not automatic proof that the lock must be replaced.

The key, cylinder, latch, strike, door alignment, or another part of the opening could be contributing.

For symptom-by-symptom troubleshooting, see The Most Common Home Lock Problems.

Households change over time.

Someone may move in.

Someone may move out.

A caregiver may begin visiting regularly.

An older child may need independent access.

A relative may stay for an extended period.

Each change can affect who needs a key and which entrances they should be able to use.

Instead of automatically making another copy every time someone needs access, periodically step back and ask:

Who currently has keys to this home, and who should have them?

That is key control.

Renovations can affect both hardware and key control.

A project may involve:

• General contractors
• Subcontractors
• Painters
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Cleaning crews
• Other temporary workers

It can also change the physical opening itself.

A new door, frame, addition, garage conversion, or redesigned entrance may create different hardware requirements.

Once a renovation is complete, review:

• Who received temporary keys
• Whether those keys were returned
• Which exterior openings changed
• Whether existing hardware still operates normally
• Whether your keying plan still makes sense

For more detail, see Working With a Locksmith During Renovations.

The property itself does not need to change ownership for its access needs to evolve.

Examples include:

• Creating a separate home office entrance
• Adding an accessory living space
• Converting a garage
• Adding an exterior door
• Beginning to rent part of the property
• Increasing use of a side or rear entrance
• Changing which entrance family members normally use

The existing hardware may still function perfectly while no longer matching the household's access needs.

That is another reason a lock review should consider both hardware condition and how access is actually used.

Sometimes the trigger is not a problem at all.

You may want:

• Keypad access
• Electronic credentials
• Temporary access codes
• App-based management
• A different keying arrangement

That is a reason to evaluate whether your existing locks still fit your needs.

It does not mean every homeowner should replace a mechanical lock with an electronic one.

The appropriate choice depends on how the household wants to manage access.

See Smart Lock vs. Traditional Lock for a more detailed comparison.

A smart lock changes the way access can be managed, but it does not eliminate the need to review who can enter.

Depending on the system, periodically check:

• Active users
• Access codes
• Temporary credentials
• App permissions
• Connected accounts
• Physical backup keys

Remove credentials that are no longer needed according to the manufacturer's procedures.

Also remember that a smart lock is still part of a physical door opening.

The door, latch, deadbolt, strike, and other hardware still need to operate properly.

Spare keys are useful only when their location and authorization are understood.

Periodically ask:

• How many spare keys exist?
• Where are they?
• Who has them?
• Does everyone who has one still need it?
• Is any copy unaccounted for?
• Has anyone made an additional copy?
• Are there keys for detached garages or other exterior openings that should also be reviewed?

This is especially useful after years of living in the same home.

Keys tend to accumulate as households change.

"Changing the house locks" often makes people think only about the front door.

A complete access review may include:

• Front door
• Back door
• Side entrance
• Garage-to-house door
• Detached garage
• Storage building
• Other keyed exterior openings

ALOA specifically advises homeowners taking possession of a property to consider garage and storage-building locks in addition to the house itself.

Different openings can have different access requirements and hardware conditions.

This phrase can cause confusion.

"Changing the locks" does not always mean installing entirely new hardware.

Once you identify a reason to change access or address a lock, the appropriate service could involve:

Rekeying: Changing which mechanical key operates compatible existing hardware.

Repair: Correcting a serviceable mechanical or installation problem.

Replacement: Installing different lock hardware.

Which one is appropriate depends on what you're trying to accomplish and the condition of the existing opening.

For the full service decision, see Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks.

Instead of choosing an arbitrary replacement interval, use a recurring access-and-hardware review.

Review Who Has Access

Identify everyone who currently has an exterior key or electronic credential.

Account for Spare Keys

Know where authorized copies are stored and whether any are missing.

Test Exterior Locks

Use the appropriate working key and make sure each lock operates normally.

Look at the Complete Opening

Notice changes in the door, frame, latch, deadbolt, strike, and surrounding hardware.

Review Electronic Credentials

For smart locks, remove users or codes that no longer need access according to manufacturer procedures.

Think About Recent Changes

Consider moves, lost keys, contractors, renovations, household changes, or other events since the last review.

Address Problems Based on Their Cause

Do not assume every trigger requires replacement.

Once you know why something needs attention, determine whether rekeying, repair, or replacement fits that situation.

The better question is not simply:

"How old are my locks?"

Ask:

Who has access?

Are all keys accounted for?

Has the household changed?

Has a key been lost or stolen?

Has the property changed?

Is the hardware still operating normally?

Those questions provide more useful reasons to act than an arbitrary replacement schedule.

KeyMe provides residential locksmith services, rekeying, lock repair and installation, and lock replacement for supported residential needs.

Once you've identified a reason for changing access or addressing hardware, see Rekeying vs. Replacing Locks to determine which type of service addresses the problem.

• Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA). Should I Change My Locks When I Move Into a House? ALOA guidance on establishing key control after taking possession of a home, including rekeying existing locks when appropriate.
  https://www.aloa.org/consumers/changelocks
• Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). ANSI/BHMA A156.39-2025, Residential Locksets and Latches. Current residential lockset and latch performance requirements covering operation, durability, security, strength, and finish.
  https://buildershardware.com/ANSI-BHMA-Standards/Hardware-Highlights/A15639-2025-Residential-Locksets-and-Latches
• Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA). ANSI/BHMA A156.40-2025, Residential Deadbolts. Current residential deadbolt and deadlatch performance requirements.
  https://buildershardware.com/ANSI-BHMA-Standards/Hardware-Highlights/A15640-2025-Residential-Deadbolts