What To Do If You're Locked Out of Your House

Being locked out of your house is frustrating, but it’s rarely as bad as it feels in the moment. Here’s how to approach it — calmly, cheaply, and without damaging anything.

Step 1: Don’t force anything

Breaking a window or kicking a door is expensive, stressful, and often unnecessary. Before you do anything, take a slow walk around the perimeter:

• Every door — back door, side door, garage entry
• Every window — ground floor, especially bathroom or laundry room windows that are sometimes left unlatched
• The garage — if you have an attached garage, can you open it? (Most garages have a manual pull cord on the opener)
• A spare key — do you have one with a neighbor, family member, or at work?

One of these usually solves it.

Step 2: Consider the easiest options first

Check for a smart lock or keypad

If you installed a smart lock (Schlage Encode, August, Yale), you may be able to unlock via your phone even if you don’t have the physical key. Some also have keypad entry codes. Same goes for garage keypads — if you know the code, you’re in.

Call someone with a spare key

The most obvious solution that people overlook when stressed. A neighbor, your partner, a parent, a roommate who still has a copy — call them first before calling a professional.

Contact your landlord or building manager

If you’re a renter, your landlord is legally obligated to provide access to the property. They may have a spare key or a maintenance person who can help. This is free.

Your rental or homeowner’s insurance

Some insurance policies cover locksmith costs for lockouts. Check your policy or app — it’s worth a 2-minute look before paying out of pocket.

Step 3: Call a residential locksmith

If none of the above works, a locksmith is your best option. For most residential locks, they’ll have you inside in 5–10 minutes using non-destructive techniques.

What to tell them:

• Your address
• The type of lock (deadbolt, knob, smart lock, etc.)
• How many locks on the door
• Whether it’s a rental property (some locksmiths require landlord authorization for rentals)

What a locksmith needs from you:

• A government-issued photo ID
• Proof of residency (utility bill, lease, or mail with your name at that address)

For your own home, this is quick. For a rental, some locksmiths may call the landlord to verify — this is standard and protects everyone.

Step 4: What if you don’t have ID?

It’s rare but happens. If you left your wallet inside too:

• A visible bank card, prescription bottle, or piece of mail inside that matches your name
• Your landlord vouching for you by phone
• A neighbor who knows you can sometimes help

If nothing works, some locksmiths will take a photo of you, document the situation, and proceed — but this is at their discretion.

How much does a house lockout cost?

Standard residential lockout: $65–$95 After 10pm / holidays: $85–$135 (base + after-hours fee) Multi-point lock (common in newer builds): $95–$150 High-security cylinder (Medeco, Abloy): $120–$200

All LockNear locksmiths show their flat rate before you confirm — no surprise bills.

Can you pick a lock yourself?

Technically, people try. Picking a lock requires skill and the right tools, and modern deadbolts are designed to resist picking. Even if you had a pick set, correctly manipulating a lock takes practice. You’re more likely to damage the lock than open it.

The more common DIY attempt — a credit card in the latch — only works on spring-bolt (non-deadbolt) latch locks, and only when the door closes toward you. For a deadbolt, it doesn’t work at all.

A locksmith does this in 2–5 minutes with the right tools. Unless you enjoy a challenge, it’s not worth attempting.

What to do after you’re back inside

1. Get a spare key made — for a neighbor or a lockbox hidden on your property
2. Consider a smart lock — you’ll never be locked out if your phone is the key
3. Check your other doors — if one door locks you out easily, others might too
4. Review your insurance — some homeowner policies reimburse lockout costs

The best lockout is the one that doesn’t happen again.