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5 Best Locksmith Services in San Diego (2026)

Ranked by real Google ratings and review volume · How we chose

Brad Smith
By Brad Smith, Home Services Expert · ✓ Updated · 8 min read

We compared 13 locksmith services in San Diego on Google Maps · 5 listed · How we rank

A lockout doesn't wait for business hours, so choosing among locksmith services in San Diego comes down to who answers and how fast they arrive. The locksmiths below hold more than 3,200 Google reviews between them, all rated 4.8 or higher, and three of them list no street address because they work on a mobile basis.

Short answer: Busy Bees Locks & Keys has the largest review base on the page, rated 4.9 from more than 1,600 Google reviews, and runs a shop at 1747 Kettner Blvd. G.D locksmith holds a 5.0 from more than 890 reviews and is listed as open 24 hours. No prices are published here.
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Shop and mobile locksmiths compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Busy Bees Locks & Keys 4.9 ★ 1,608 Car fobs, safes and shop visits View ›
2 G.D locksmith 5.0 ★ 892 24-hour mobile service View ›
3 Ethan Locksmith San Diego 4.8 ★ 335 Lockouts and new locks View ›
4 El Cheapo 24 Hour Mobile Locksmith 4.8 ★ 242 Late-night lockouts and smart keys View ›
5 BAR Locksmith 4.9 ★ 152 Car keys and lock changes View ›
5 Best Locksmith Services in San Diego (2026)

The locksmiths, reviewed

Busy Bees Locks & Keys logo
#1 Overall↩ Responds to reviews

Busy Bees Locks & Keys

4.91,608 Google reviews

Busy Bees Locks & Keys is a locksmith with a shop at 1747 Kettner Blvd in San Diego. Its site lists several shop locations, including Mission Valley, Chula Vista, Santee and Escondido, plus mobile and emergency service across San Diego County and Riverside County. It handles residential, commercial and automotive work as well as safes and vaults, and says it was established in 2005.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe walk-in help programming a truck fob and making a spare key fob for a 4Runner
  • One reviewer had a safe opened, repaired and re-fitted with a new keypad
  • Another had a door opener and a gate lock installed and was pleased with the work
  • Reviewers describe punctual, professional technicians

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer had to visit twice because the correct key blank wasn't in stock the first time, and notes parking near the Kettner shop can be tricky
  • Google shows no listed hours, so call ahead before visiting
Reputation scorecardrank in San Diego
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume1,608 · 96th
Confidencevery high
Recency5 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone
Rating breakdown97% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A wide menu, with shops, vans and safe work behind a 4.9 on the largest review base. Best for car keys and anything that needs a workshop.

Website+1619-733-0172 Directions

1747 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

G.
#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

G.D locksmith

5.0892 Google reviews

G.D locksmith is a mobile locksmith with no street address on Google. Its site describes a licensed locksmith covering San Diego County with rekeys, lock changes, high security locks, car keys, fobs, business locks and 24-hour lockouts, with the stock and key machines carried in the van. The site also says you know the price before any work starts, and Google lists it as open 24 hours.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe prompt, kind technicians, including a call taken late in the evening
  • One reviewer had a front door lock replaced quickly
  • Another had a new key programmed for a 2022 Chrysler Pacifica
  • One reviewer says the job took about 10 minutes

Worth knowing

  • With no shop address, service is by phone and dispatch only
Reputation scorecardrank in San Diego
Rating5 / 5
Review volume892 · 88th
Confidencevery high
Recency3 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown99% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 5.0 on a deep review base, aimed at lockouts and car keys wherever you are. A good first call when you can't wait for a shop to open.

Website+1619-703-0328 Directions
Ethan Locksmith San Diego logo
#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Ethan Locksmith San Diego

4.8335 Google reviews

Ethan Locksmith San Diego is a mobile locksmith with no street address on Google. Its site describes residential, commercial and automotive work plus CCTV installation across the greater San Diego area, and says it does not work from fixed price rates. Reviewers describe lockouts, new lock installs on a newly bought house, and a locked car.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe fast arrival and quick door openings
  • A new homeowner says the pricing for new locks was fair and they could be installed right away
  • One reviewer was locked out of a car and says the locksmith arrived in about 20 minutes
  • A reviewer praises communication with the office

Worth knowing

  • Google lists hours of 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on most days, although the site's title advertises 24-hour emergency service, so confirm availability
Reputation scorecardrank in San Diego
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume335 · 81st
Confidencehigh
Recency4 years ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown95% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A well-reviewed mobile option for lockouts and lock replacement. Ask for a quote on the phone, since the site says pricing depends on the job.

Website+1858-252-2577 Directions
EL
#4🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

El Cheapo 24 Hour Mobile Locksmith

4.8242 Google reviews

El Cheapo 24 Hour Mobile Locksmith is a locksmith at 3026 Midway Dr, Suite H in San Diego, with Google listing it as open 24 hours. Its site lists a long run of areas served across San Diego and nearby towns. Reviewers describe lockouts at home, in a commercial truck and in a car, and a smart key cut and programmed on site.

What people praise

  • Reviewers say calls were answered right away and arrival came within about 30 minutes
  • A late-night lockout client says the owner first tried to talk them through a fix over text to save a service call
  • One traveler who lost the only key to a 2022 Ford Explorer had a smart key made on site
  • Reviewers describe polite, professional technicians

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer was unhappy with a diagnosis on a misaligned door, since a locksmith works on locks rather than doors, so describe the whole problem when you call
Reputation scorecardrank in San Diego
Rating4.8 / 5
Review volume242 · 73rd
Confidencehigh
Recency9 days ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown93% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Quick answers and strong after-hours reviews make it a solid pick for lockouts, with a 4.8 behind it. Describe the issue in detail on the phone so the right tech arrives.

Website Book now+1619-366-6500 Directions

3026 Midway Dr Ste H, San Diego, CA 92110

BAR Locksmith logo
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

BAR Locksmith

4.9152 Google reviews

BAR Locksmith is a mobile locksmith with no street address on Google. Its site says its team is based in San Diego and lists mobile, car key replacement, automotive, commercial, residential and emergency locksmith services, with a 24-hour hotline and 10% off a first service. Reviewers describe car keys cut for a Honda and a Toyota, a quick lock change and a house lockout.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe car keys made in minutes
  • One reviewer called around and says this locksmith offered the best price
  • A customer who needed her locks changed says the price was adjusted so she could afford both locks
  • Reviewers describe arrival in under 30 minutes, one in under 20

Worth knowing

  • Google lists hours of 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, even though the site mentions a 24-hour hotline, so confirm after-hours availability
Reputation scorecardrank in San Diego
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume152 · 65th
Confidencemoderate
Recency4 years ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown97% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.9, with reviewers praising car keys and quick lockouts. Worth a call for key duplication and first-visit discounts.

Website+1619-554-1937 Directions
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How the scorecard works

Rating is each locksmith’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated it. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.9 from many people carries more weight than a 5.0 from a few. Recency reflects how recently customers are still leaving reviews.

What does a locksmith cost in San Diego? (2026)

No prices are published here. Ethan Locksmith’s site says it doesn’t work from fixed rates, and G.D locksmith’s site says you know the price before any work starts. Cost depends on the job, such as a lockout, a rekey or a car key, plus the time of day and travel distance, so ask for the full price on the phone.

Where these locksmiths work

Busy Bees lists shops in San Diego, Mission Valley, Chula Vista, Santee and Escondido, and El Cheapo is on Midway Dr in San Diego. G.D, Ethan and BAR work on a mobile basis across San Diego, according to their sites. Searching for a locksmith near me? Each listing shows a phone number, and mobile locksmiths can travel to you.

Questions to ask before you call a locksmith

  • What is the total price, including the service call and travel?
  • How soon can you arrive, and how will I know the technician is yours?
  • Are you licensed, and can you give me the license number?
  • Can you make or program a key for my car’s make and year?
  • Will you drill the lock, or can you open it without damage?

Frequently asked questions

Which San Diego locksmiths are open 24 hours?

Google lists G.D locksmith and El Cheapo 24 Hour Mobile Locksmith as open 24 hours, and G.D’s site says nights, weekends and holidays are covered. Ethan’s site title advertises 24-hour emergency service while Google shows daytime hours, and BAR’s site mentions a 24-hour hotline, so call to confirm.

Can a San Diego locksmith program a car key or fob?

Reviewers describe it at several of them. Busy Bees programmed a truck fob and made a spare 4Runner fob, G.D programmed a key for a Chrysler Pacifica, El Cheapo made a smart key for a Ford Explorer on site, and BAR cut keys for a Honda and a Toyota.

How fast can a San Diego locksmith get to me?

Reviewers describe El Cheapo arriving within about 30 minutes, BAR in under 30 and one lockout in under 20, and an Ethan customer says a technician reached them in about 20 minutes. Arrival times vary with traffic and the hour, so ask for an estimate when you call.

Which San Diego locksmiths list a license on their site?

Busy Bees’ site says it is licensed and insured, G.D’s site lists a California locksmith license number, and BAR’s site lists a license number. El Cheapo’s site has a Licenses page.

Do any San Diego locksmiths offer discounts?

BAR Locksmith’s site offers 10% off a first service, and one of its reviewers mentions a military discount. Ask each locksmith whether a discount applies before you book.

Picking a locksmith

Busy Bees suits car keys and safes with its shops and vans, G.D is the 5.0 pick for round-the-clock mobile help, and El Cheapo is strong for after-hours lockouts. Whichever you call, get the full price before the work begins.

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