5 Best Schlage Rekey Kits (with Keys & Tools Included)
Many people consider rekeying a lock some mysterious arcane art. In truth, rekeying most common locks such as Schlage locksets is relatively simple. Rekeying a lock requires some special tools and equipment, but this process is well within most homeowners’ scope. Depending on your needs, one of these Schlage rekey kits could be your best choice.
Rekeying a Schlage lock from an existing key requires you to use a key gauge to determine which pins correspond to which cut on the key. A key gauge is a principal tool for this job. When you have the number on the gauge for each key cut, you have the combination of pins to rekey the lock.
| Rekey Kit | Does this kit include All the tools? | Who Manufactures This Rekey Kit? | The Best Feature of this Kit |
| Schlage 40-132 Retail Keying Kit with Seal-Tight Metal Box | Yes. | Schlage | Professional quality metal box with secure clamp style clasps |
| LAB LSK2N1 Pro Pin Kit for Rekeying Schlage and Kwikset | No | L.A.B | Works for both Schlage and Kwikset locks |
| Schlage Re-Keying, Pin Kit with Tools by Key Products | Yes | Key Products | Will work with any lock with a Schlage style keyway |
| eBuilderDirect SC Compatible Keyway Re-Key Kit Bottom Pins #0 to #9 with 50 of Each pin | No | eBuilderDirect | The price for the number of replacement pins that you get |
| Prime-Line E 2402 Re-Keying Kit | Yes | Prime-Line | An inexpensive way for a homeowner to rekey one lock without calling a locksmith |
Our list has a kit for the homeowner with only a few locks to rekey or a property manager who rekeys locks regularly. One of the kits on our list should fit your needs and situation. Many people hesitate to attempt lock rekeying. Schlage provides an in-depth explanation and step-by-step directions at this link on their website.
If you own many rental properties, you probably change locks regularly. Rekeying locks is a much more economical option than purchasing a new lockset each time a tenant changes. Property management is about controlling costs and rekeying locks instead of replacement is a great cost control alternative.
What’s in This Kit?
The Schlage 40-132 kits include a full range of pins and other parts to make rekeying Schlage locks easy and quick. For example, each Schlage 40-132 kits has a variety of:
- Top pins
- Bottom pins
- Pin springs
- Cylinder caps
- Cap spring and pins
- B-Series cylinder bars
- Key gauge
- Follower bar
- Cap removal tool
- Retaining rings
- T-pin springs
- T-pin and a removable cap
This kit comes with a durable metal box with divider trays that closes and locks securely with metal clasps.
What Users of This Kit Are Saying?
Across the board, the Schlage 40-132 Retail Keying Kit gets above-average marks. Most purchasers and users of this kit a highly complementary of the packaging and the contents. Some of the more consistent comments include:
- Users comment that this may be the most complete kit available.
- The included instruction get multiple positive comments from purchasers
- Many users bought this kit because Schlage manufactures this kit
- Commercial users of the Schlage 40-132 kits appreciate the sturdy metal case
Our Thoughts About This Kit
This kit is overkill for your typical homeowner who only needs to rekey a few locks on an occasional basis. However, if you have rental property or deal with multiple properties and like to rekey your locks regularly for security reasons, this is a great kit to have around. There are several things about this kit that stands out for us.
- Everything you need to rekey multiple locks in one durable carry case
- Made by Schlage, so you know that the parts will work well in Schlage locks
- The Schlage instructions included with the kit are clear and precise for working with Schlage locks.
Schlage and Kwikset are arguably the most used locksets on residential properties in the United States. If you manage multiple residential rental properties, you probably have a mix of Schlage and Kwikset locks on the doors. These different kinds of locksets can be a challenge when it is time to rekey locks.
The LAB LSK2N1 Pro Pin Kit is the answer to many of these rekey problems. This kit has the necessary tools and parts to rekey both Schlage and Kwikset locks. Having the ability to rekey multiple styles of locks in one kit is a huge advantage.
What’s in This Kit?
- Dual View pin tray
- Color passport pin chart for easy pin location
- Built-in key slots for workbench mounting
- Schlage nickel silver bottom pints, brass top pins, top pin cylinder springs
- Kwikset brass bottom pints, brass top pins, brass master pins
- Color-coded springs for easy identification
The parts in this kit are housed in a rugged metal case with positive lock clasps to keep things in place. One downside to this kit is the lack of necessary tools to perform the rekey functions. You must purchase these tools separately.
What Users of This Kit Are Saying?
Users of the LAB LSK2N1 Rekey Kit are positive in their reviews. Most compare this kit favorable with the Schlage kit that costs more. Most of the reviews that we saw were from property managers who rekey locks on an almost daily basis.
- Most users comment about the quality of the diagrams included with this rekey kit
- Many users use this kit to create a master key for multiple locks
- The trays’ layout is a bit confusing at first, but the pins do stay in place and don’t get mixed up.
Our Thoughts About This Kit
If you are dealing with both Schlage and Kwikset locks, this is the kit for you. This kit is probably a bit much for the average homeowner unless you also manage several rental properties. All in all, we like this kit for several reasons.
- Allows you to manage the two most popular makes of locksets in the US
- Has the parts for the most popular styles of residential locksets
- The diagrams in the kit are clear and make selecting the right part easy
On the downside, the lack of tools in this kit is a problem. You must purchase all the tools to perform rekeying and store them separately. Adding the tools and storage place might increase the cost a few dollars but would make this kit a much better deal.
This smaller kit is a better choice for most homeowners to anyone with only a few rental properties to manage. Key Products advertises this kit as compatible with any lock with a Schlage keyway. The Key Products kit isn’t as complete as the larger kits on our list, but if you aren’t having to repair locks or replace parts, this kit should work well.
What’s in This Kit?
Each Key Products Schlage rekey kit contains pins and tools. The carry case also contains a key diagram that shows each pin and its location in the carry case. There is also storage for the included tools. With this kit, you get:
- Bottom Pins # 0, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
- Master Pins # 2
- Top Pins
- Springs
- Plug clips
- Deadbolt springs
- Deadbolt pins
- Cylinder removal tool
- Follower
- Plastic carry case
- Part location diagram
What Users of this Kit are Saying?
This smaller rekey kit gets exemplary reviews from users. Most users of this kit are homeowners or manage only two to four rental properties. Comments center around several features of this kit.
- The kit is small and easy to transport but has a place for everything you need
- The plastic carry case is tough and rugged.
- Color coding the individual pins makes rekeying much easier
- Having everything in one place is convenient
Our Thoughts About this Kit
The first thing that caught our eyes about this kit was the color coding on the pins. Color-coding is a great idea and makes matching top and bottom pins much easier and quicker. This kit made our list for several other reasons as well.
- The well-organized kit is easy to use
- The kit size is smaller, making it easier to store and transport
- If your locks use a Schlage keyway but are off-brand, you can probably still rekey them with this kit.
If you already of a rekey kit but are running short on pins, this kit from eBuilderDirect is a good option. Replacement pins are available almost anywhere, but the number of pins in this kit for the price is extraordinary. If you already have your rekey tools and a carry case for parts, this kit is a good way to replenish your parts supply.
What’s in This Kit?
With this kit, you get what you need and not much else. There are no tools or no carrying case. The rekey pins are packaged in plastic bags and sorted by size. Each eBuilderDirect Schlage rekey kit includes:
- Fifty each of Schlage bottom pins in sizes 0 through 9
- Twenty-five pieces of Schlage top pins
What Users Are Saying about this Kit
Comments about the eBuilderDirect Schlage rekey kit praise the value of purchasing a set of parts. You must indeed buy the tools separately, but if you already have tools for rekeying, this parts kit is of real value. Most commonly seen comments include:
- This kit is complete and allows you to rekey for the entire range of Schlage keys
- A great way to replenish an existing rekey kit
- Perfect fits without any sanding or other adjustments
Many homeowners need to rekey one lock one time for security reasons. There is no need to invest in a larger kit with multiple parts. These Prime-Line rekey make changing the keys in your existing locks simple and efficient.
What’s in This Kit?
Each Prime-Line rekey kit contains the parts necessary to rekey a Schlage style lock for a new set of precut keys. You can quickly and easily change the key in your Schlage lock without the need to regrind keys. Each single key kit includes:
- Three precut keys
- Corresponding pins for the precut keys
- All the tools necessary to install the new pins
- Complete instructions
What Users Are Saying about this Kit
Both professionals and homeowners use the Prime-Line Schlage rekey kit. Many professionals find this an easy solution to rekeying locks without cutting new keys are replacing the pins in the lockset. Comments tend to fall into several categories.
- Cost-effective for homeowners who want to change the keys that operate their door locks.
- Quick and easy installation with great instructions makes rekeying a Schlage lock simply
- Easy enough for someone who has no experience or understanding of how locks work
Our Thoughts About This Kit
For homeowners who want to avoid a locksmith’s cost to change the keys on a door lock, this is a perfect solution. The kit is complete and contains everything you need to do one door lock. The things that attracted us to this kit are:
- Easy and straightforward option for rekeying one lock on one door
- A complete kit with everything you need, including the tools
- Great instructions that are easy to follow
What Tools Do I Need to Rekey a Schlage Lock?
Except for a few specialized tools needed to remove the cylinder and the pins on a Schlage lock, you need only a few basic items. You should have on hand the following tools before you start your rekey project.
- You will need a container to hold small parts and screws. A small plastic bowl works fine.
- A Philips and a straight screwdriver
- A flashlight. Sometimes working behind an open door puts you in a deep shadow.
If your rekey kit doesn’t have tools, you will need to purchase these tools to rekey your Schlage lock.
- A follower bar
- Key Gauge
- Cylinder Cap Removal Tool
Keeping the Security in Your Locks
The locksets on the doors of your home are a key part of maintaining security. Sometimes keys get lost and locksets need rekeying. Locks wear out. The pins in locks can wear down and become hard to work. Replacing the pins is a simple job that almost any homeowner can perform without resorting to an expensive call to a locksmith.
We hope that this article gives you insight into the options that are available for rekeying your locks. You may need to manage many locks or rekey one lock on your home. Whatever your situation, one of the options on our list should solve your problems.
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Dennis is a retired firefighter with an extensive background in construction, home improvement, and remodeling. He worked in the trades part-time while serving as an active firefighter. On his retirement, he started a remodeling and home repair business, which he ran for several years.
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