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Best Locksmiths in Christchurch

We assessed 17 locksmiths in Christchurch and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 2,563 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 9 September 2026. How we rank →

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Before you hire

Anyone can call themselves a locksmith in New Zealand, since the trade has no licence. Membership of the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia means the business employs trade-qualified locksmiths and has passed police and insurance checks, and its member search is public. For a lockout, get the full price before they set off, including the call-out fee and any after-hours surcharge, and ask whether they will try to open the lock without drilling it first. Expect to be asked for proof that you live there.

Top 5 Locksmiths in Christchurch

The top 5 locksmiths in Christchurch are #1 Mattlock, #2 AUTO_KEYS, #3 Ross Galt Lock & Alarm, #4 Fusebox Auto Electrics, and #5 Christchurch Lock & Key, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.

  • 1

    0800 LOCKED OUT / Mattlock Locksmiths

    ★ 4.9 591 reviews Top5 Score 181
    5★ 577 4★ 6 2★ 1 1★ 7

    Mattlock gets to lockouts, broken lock repairs, and car unlocks fast, with multiple reviewers reporting arrival within 10 to 15 minutes of calling. Matt takes time to walk clients through what he is doing, from diagnosing faults on the spot to setting up smart lock apps, which makes a stressful call-out feel straightforward.

    location_on 21 Pauline Street, Linwood, Christchurch

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  • 2

    AUTO_KEYS

    ★ 5.0 360 reviews Top5 Score 177
    5★ 359 4★ 1

    AUTO_KEYS covers car lockouts, key cutting and programming, ignition lock replacement, and smart remote setup, often completing jobs on-site in under half an hour. Kirill has taken on work that established locksmith firms declined, arriving with electronic diagnostics and key-cutting equipment ready to go, including late-evening and short-notice call-outs.

    location_on 37A Jessons Road, Harewood, Christchurch

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 3

    Ross Galt Lock & Alarm Sydenham

    ★ 4.7 451 reviews Top5 Score 172
    5★ 393 4★ 27 3★ 6 2★ 9 1★ 16

    Ross Galt Lock & Alarm covers lockouts, smart lock installation, lock replacement, and car unlocks, with named technicians like Josh, Brendan, Daryl, and Dan praised for completing jobs quickly and communicating clearly throughout. When clients have been in genuinely stressful situations, including break-ins and bereavement, the team has gone beyond the immediate job to provide calm, practical support on the spot.

    location_on 95 Kingsley Street, Sydenham, Christchurch

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  • 4

    FUSEBOX Auto Electrics Limited

    ★ 4.6 369 reviews Top5 Score 165
    5★ 314 4★ 19 3★ 6 2★ 7 1★ 23

    Fusebox Auto Electrics takes walk-in visits without appointments, with technicians like Shavil diagnosing, quoting, and completing electrical repairs including headlights, dashboard faults, and indicator fixes in a single visit. The owner has also talked clients through immobiliser issues over the phone late at night, resolving urgent problems without requiring a workshop visit.

    location_on 472 Blenheim Road, Sockburn, Christchurch

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  • 5

    Christchurch Lock & Key

    ★ 4.6 296 reviews Top5 Score 162
    5★ 253 4★ 17 3★ 4 2★ 3 1★ 19

    Christchurch Lock & Key handles digital lock installation, snapped and antique key cutting, lockouts, and luggage lock repairs, covering a broad spread of work from the workshop and on-site. Technicians like Peter schedule jobs within the same week, arrive on time, and honour quoted prices without surprises, including a briefing on how to use new hardware once the job is done.

    location_on 16 Winston Avenue, Papanui, Christchurch

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Before you book a locksmith in Christchurch

Drawn from 731 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.

What does a locksmith typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more

Locksmithing in New Zealand has no regulated price scale, so costs vary widely between providers and time of day. A standard residential or car lockout during business hours runs $80 to $160 as a call-out fee, with the total usually landing between $150 and $300 once labour is added. After-hours, weekend and public holiday jobs attract a surcharge of roughly $50 to $150 on top, which reviewers confirm can catch people off guard. Car key replacement is the most expensive common job, with a basic mechanical key around $150, a transponder key $200 to $600, and a smart or proximity key potentially passing $1,000, though a locksmith is nearly always cheaper than a dealer.

Does a locksmith need a licence in New Zealand, and how do I check one is legitimate? expand_more

Locksmithing is not a licensed trade in New Zealand and the title is not protected, so anyone can call themselves a locksmith with no formal qualification. The one statutory boundary sits under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010: a business that installs or repairs burglar alarms, safe or strongroom locks, or security cameras must hold a licence or individual certificate of approval from the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (PSPLA), which runs a searchable public register through the Ministry of Justice. For ordinary door locks, rekeying and car keys, the practical check is membership of the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia (MLAA), whose members must employ trade-qualified locksmiths holding the New Zealand Apprenticeship in Locksmithing at Level 4, and pass police and insurance vetting, with a public member search at findamasterlocksmith.co.nz. A legitimate locksmith will ask for proof of ownership or tenancy before opening your property, so treat that request as reassurance rather than an inconvenience.

How do I tell a genuine local locksmith from a call-centre operator? expand_more

A genuine local operator has a named owner or a verifiable street address, and the person who takes your call is often the person who shows up, which several reviewers highlighted as a mark of good service. Phone quotes that held firm on arrival were a consistent feature of positive reviews, while the reverse pattern, a low phone figure that grew once the locksmith was on site, points to a booking-agent model where a subcontractor sets their own price. A local locksmith arrives in a marked vehicle, carries stock on the van so parts do not need to be ordered, and attempts non-destructive entry before reaching for a drill. If the business cannot give you a named technician, a local phone number that someone answers directly, or a fixed address you can verify, treat that as a reason to call someone else.

What are the warning signs of a locksmith you should not use? expand_more
  • –A phone quote that rises sharply once the locksmith is standing at your door, with vague explanations about complexity or parts.
  • –Drilling a lock without first attempting to pick it, then charging you for a replacement lock you may not have needed.
  • –No proof of identity on arrival, an unmarked vehicle, or pressure to pay cash with no receipt or invoice.
  • –No request to see proof that you are entitled to enter the property, which is a basic safeguard a legitimate operator follows.
  • –Long waits after promising a fast emergency response, or failing to communicate delays when they occur.
  • –Rude or dismissive conduct toward customers, including during the job itself, which appeared in a small number of reviews and reflects on how disputes will be handled later.
What should you ask before booking a locksmith? expand_more
  • –What is the total price, including call-out fee, labour, parts and any after-hours or weekend surcharge, confirmed before they leave for your location.
  • –How long until they will actually arrive, not just when they will set off, since emergency response times varied widely across providers.
  • –Will they attempt to open the lock without drilling first, and under what circumstances would drilling be necessary.
  • –Do they carry replacement locks on the van, or will parts need to be ordered, which matters if you cannot leave a property unsecured.
  • –Can the existing lock be rekeyed rather than replaced, since several reviewers saved significant money when a locksmith offered this option.
  • –For car key jobs: can they cut and program a key for your specific make, model and year on the spot, and what warranty covers both the key and the programming work.

Locksmiths ranked 6 to 10 in Christchurch

They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.

  • 6

    James Bull

    ★ 4.7 178 reviews Top5 Score 161
    5★ 147 4★ 21 3★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 6

    James Bull cuts replacement keys, repairs car key remotes, handles car lockouts, and opens stuck luggage locks, often completing jobs in under an hour from their workshop. Where dealers or competitors quote expensive replacements, they regularly find a cheaper fix, like replacing a worn rubber key button for $55 instead of a full key at over $500.

    location_on 45 Sandyford Street, Waltham, Christchurch

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 7

    Autolockouts, keys & repairs ltd

    ★ 5.0 92 reviews Top5 Score 158
    5★ 91 1★ 1

    Autolockouts Keys & Repairs turns up for car key programming, lock replacements, lockouts, and ignition work at hours most businesses won't touch, including late nights, weekends, holidays, and Christmas Eve. Jordan has also travelled to North Canterbury for call-outs and talked customers through immobiliser fixes over the phone, sorting the problem without a site visit at all.

    location_on 26 Fairford Street, Bishopdale, Christchurch

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Access Lock Specialists Ltd

    ★ 4.7 119 reviews Top5 Score 156
    5★ 100 4★ 11 3★ 6 1★ 2

    Access Lock Specialists takes on key cutting, ignition repairs, car key fob programming, and caravan and home lock work, including jobs that other locksmiths and dealers have turned away or quoted far higher for. When reviewers were quoted $800 by others for ignition repairs, they completed the same work for $280, and they were available over Christmas and New Year when no other Christchurch locksmith responded.

    location_on 170 Waterloo Road, Hornby, Christchurch

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    SWIFT Mobile Locksmith

    ★ 5.0 56 reviews Top5 Score 152
    5★ 55 4★ 1

    Swift Mobile Locksmith covers lockouts, door handle repairs and replacements, lock changes, and smart lock installation, reaching customers in under 20 minutes across multiple call-outs. Mark listens before starting work, talks through options without pressure, and has sourced and fitted specific hardware that customers already purchased, including fingerprint and smart lock sets.

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Lock n' Code

    ★ 5.0 51 reviews Top5 Score 151
    5★ 51

    Lock n' Code cuts and programs replacement car keys, opens lockouts, replaces ignitions, and rekeyes residential locks, travelling to where the car or property is rather than asking customers to tow or transport anything. On multiple jobs, Dan and Kai have come in hundreds of dollars below dealer and competitor quotes, and absorbed extra time on difficult jobs without adding to the final bill.

    location_on Vagues Road, Northcote, Christchurch

    map Map Is this your business?

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About this ranking

How are the top locksmiths in Christchurch chosen? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for locksmiths in Christchurch. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. See how we rank for the full method.

How often are rankings updated? expand_more

Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about every two months. This page was last checked on 9 September 2026.

Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more

No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.

Why isn't my business listed? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for locksmiths in Christchurch. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 51. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.