24 hour emergency locksmith
Emergency locksmith, open now: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stafford.
Locked out at 2am? It's me who answers the phone, not a call centre. No call-out fee.
If you are locked out, or a lock has failed and you cannot secure your home, you need one thing right now: a real person who will actually turn up. I'm a 24 hour emergency locksmith covering Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Cannock. Ring me and I answer myself, give you an honest arrival time, and agree the price before I set off. I try to get you in without any damage first, and there is no call-out fee, day or night.
- No Call-Out Fee
- Day and Night
- Standard DBS Checked
- £1M Insured
What actually happens when you call an emergency locksmith at 2am
When you are stood outside your own front door in the early hours, you do not want marketing. You want to know exactly what is about to happen. Here is the whole thing, in order, the same way it runs every single time I take an emergency call.
-
You ring, and I answer.
Not a switchboard, not a "we will get a locksmith to call you back" holding line. The phone rings on me, the same person who turns up. If I am mid-job and cannot pick up in three rings, I call you straight back the moment my hands are free.
-
I give you an honest arrival time.
A real ETA based on where I am right now and where you are, not a comforting number to get you off the phone. If I am the far side of the patch and it is going to be forty minutes, I tell you it is forty minutes so you can decide whether to wait or ring someone closer.
-
We agree the price before I set off.
I quote the all-in figure on the phone, before I get in the van. Out-of-hours attendance starts from £170, parts on top and itemised. The figure I say on the phone is the figure on the card machine when the job is done. No "once I have seen it" surprises on your doorstep at 3am.
-
I try to get you in without damage first.
Most lockouts I can pick or slip open with no harm to the door or the lock. Drilling is a last resort, only when the lock itself has genuinely failed, and I tell you before I do it. Non-destructive entry keeps your costs down and your door intact.
-
You are back in, and I do not disappear.
I test the lock with you, make sure the door locks and unlocks properly before I leave, and give you a receipt. If a part had to be temporary tonight, I book the return visit before I go. You are never left half-sorted.
How fast can an emergency locksmith get to me? Honest response times
Anyone who promises to be at any door in the West Midlands in fifteen minutes is either round the corner by luck or not telling you the truth. I work from Brewood, one van, one locksmith, so my honest answer depends on where you are and what else I am on. These are realistic bands, day or night.
- Wolverhampton and Cannock. Usually with you inside 20 to 35 minutes. This is the heart of my patch and the roads are quiet overnight.
- Stafford. Typically 25 to 40 minutes. A straight run up the A449 or the M6 depending on where in the town you are.
- Birmingham. Usually 35 to 55 minutes, sometimes quicker overnight when the traffic drops away. Further from my base, so I will always be straight with you about the time.
- The honest bit. If I am already on another emergency, I tell you that on the phone and give you a real waiting time, rather than taking the job and leaving you sat on the step wondering. You can then decide to wait for me or ring someone closer. No hard feelings.
Verified Google review
"Sean came out for an emergency call out at 2am due to a lock malfunction on the front door. He was responsive from the first point of the phone call and was clear with what he was able to do and provided an accurate timescale and live location. When Sean arrived he felt like someone who was a safe person and, as a lone female, that felt important when I couldn't get in my home in the early hours."
Kelly, Stafford
What counts as a locksmith emergency, and who to call for each
Not everything needs a 2am call-out, and I will tell you honestly on the phone if yours can safely wait until morning for a cheaper daytime visit. But these are the situations where people genuinely need an emergency locksmith, with a link to the full guide for each so you know what to expect and what it should cost.
- Locked out of the house, no spare key the most common night call. What to try first, and what not to.
- Lost or stolen keys when to change the locks tonight and when it can wait.
- Key snapped in the lock extracted without replacing the lock, nine times out of ten.
- Door will not lock and you cannot leave home secure a genuine emergency: an insecure home overnight.
- Break-in or attempted break-in made secure the same night, insurance-friendly receipt provided.
If your situation is not on this list, ring me anyway and describe it. If it can wait for a cheaper daytime slot, I will say so.
What I can and cannot finish at 3am
Most emergencies I finish there and then, and you are back in and secure before I leave. But I would rather you knew the honest limits up front than found out on the doorstep. The one thing that sometimes cannot be fully finished overnight is a part I do not carry as standard stock.
I keep the common euro cylinders, night latches and a range of multi-point gearboxes on the van, so the majority of failures I can fix on the spot. Where it gets harder is an unusual uPVC gearbox brand or a non-standard cylinder that has to come from a supplier in the day. In that case I do not leave you stuck: I get you in, make the door secure for the night with a temporary fix or a like-for-like part where I have one, and book the return visit to finish the job properly once the part arrives. You are secure tonight either way.
Drilling a lock is the exception, not the rule. It happens when a cylinder has seized solid, when an anti-snap lock has done its job and broken at the sacrificial line, or when someone has already forced the mechanism before I arrived. Even then, I explain why it is the only way in before I start, and the replacement lock goes straight back on so you leave with a working, secure door.
Recent emergency call-outs
Three genuine out-of-hours jobs across Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Stafford. Real situations, real prices on the receipt, sat next to what a national call-centre number quoted for the same job. Customer details lightly anonymised at their request.
-
Saturday 20 June 2026 at 2.10am · Birmingham
Daniel R., Birmingham
Home from a night shift, key turning but the uPVC front-door cylinder had seized solid, so he could not get in. Wife and baby asleep inside, no spare with him.
A national number quoted the customer £340Paid to me £170With him inside forty minutes. Picked the failed cylinder out non-destructively, no damage to the door, replaced it with a new euro cylinder from the van and keyed the new keys alike. In bed by three.
-
Sunday 21 June 2026 at 11.40pm · Wolverhampton
Priya and Sam, Wolverhampton
Back from a wedding to find the night latch had dropped and the key snapped in the lock, both of them locked out on the step in the cold with a taxi already gone.
A national number quoted the customer £390Paid to me £185Broken key extracted with a spiral hook, latch freed, and a new cylinder fitted because the old one was worn past saving. Thirty-five minutes from the phone call to the door open. No call-out fee.
-
Saturday 30 May 2026 at 9.20pm · Stafford
Mrs Okonkwo, Stafford
uPVC door would lift but the multi-point gearbox had failed, so it would not lock at all. She could not leave the house secure for the night, on her own with the kids upstairs.
A national number quoted the customer £450Paid to me £285Diagnosed the failed gearbox on the doorstep. Out-of-hours attendance plus the multi-point unit off the van, fitted that night, door tested locking and unlocking with her before I left. Secure the same evening, no return visit needed.
The gap between the quoted and paid columns is the whole reason to know a local locksmith before you need one. The Master Locksmiths Association has reported a 66% rise in overcharging complaints between 2021 and 2025, from 242 cases to 402 (source: Master Locksmiths Association). Agreeing the price on the phone before I set off is how you avoid being on the wrong side of that figure at 2am.
What customers say about emergency call-outs
Verified Google reviews from real customers across Wolverhampton, Stafford, Cannock, Birmingham and the surrounding area.
I locked myself out my house and phoned Sean at 1.32am. He arrived at my house in Bilston 35 minutes later. He lives 30 minutes away. He was very professional and tidy. I would recommend him to anyone. Within 1 hr and 15 minutes of calling him he had come out, sorted my lock and on his way home. You can call him anytime and he will get to you asap. Worthy of the 5 star rating
Thankyou for your review Shell. Real pleasure to assist you both with your emergency call-out. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
I run a letting agency in Wolverhampton and unfortunately had a tenant whose UPVC locking system had collapsed locking them into the flat unfortunately during the football match between England and Croatia in the 2026 World Cup. As you can imagine, I was having a bit of trouble getting a locksmith! At least until Sean contacted me. He went out very quickly, opened the door and replaced the gearbox working from 11 pm until 2 am so not very sociable hours. Given that I thought the cost was very reasonable and the service was excellent. I will certainly be using Sean again and I cannot recommend him highly enough. The world of emergency locksmiths can be a murky one at times so it is really nice to have someone you can trust to call on.
Thankyou so much Andy. It wss my absolute pleasure. 😊
After being burgled, we needed a locksmith urgently and couldn’t have asked for better service. He was quick to respond, professional, and really put our minds at ease during a difficult time. The work was excellent and helped us feel safe in our home again. Highly recommended.
Thankyou Faye and Ash for the kind words. I'm so happy I was able to help you both today.
Phoned this lovely man this morning before 8am , it's now 11.28 am and my lock is fixed , thank you Sean , as I live alone i was feeling vulnerable, thank you so much , fir your prompt response
Thankyou so much for your review Maureen. Real pleasure assisting you today in Walsall to replace your Euro Cylinder and Door handles. Sean ☺️
I contacted Sean in a panic after our back door wouldn’t lock at 21:15 on a Sunday night. Sean came back with a price almost immediately and offered to come and look at it straightaway. At my request, I asked him to come Monday morning and he sent me an ETA and turned up bang on time. Sean quickly diagnosed the problem, he had to go off to get a a part and when he was on his way back to me, he even shared his location via WhatsApp so I knew when he would be back. Part fitted, worksite cleaned up and he was on his way. Reasonably priced, fantastic communication from start to finish and a great bloke to speak too as well. Thanks Sean, you’re an absolute star!
Absolute pleasure meeting you and your wife today in Codsall / Wolverhampton. I'm really pleased I was able to repair your faulty upvc door mechanism. Thankyou for the glowing review....it's really appreciated. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
Sean came out for an emergency call out at 2am due to a lock malfunction on the front door. He was responsive from the first point of the phone call and was clear with what he was able to do and provided an accurate timescale and live location When sean arrived he felt like someone who was a safe person and as a lone female that felt important when I couldn’t get in my home in the early hours. He’s was patient and thoughtful with my dogs who were trapped inside. He was friendly, calming and reliable. Would highly recommend him
Thankyou for your review, it means so much. I'm so glad I could help you this morning in Stafford with the emergency call out. Have a great day to you and the doggies 🐕. Sean - Lockerfella Locksmiths 24/7
Sean was extremely professional. He arrived on time. He was clear about the charges & completed the job in good time.
Thankyou Guys. I'm glad I could help you with your emergency call out in Wolverhampton/penn today. Have a great day! Sean ☺️
I was locked out of the house so gave Lockerfella a message. Sean was incredibly swift in his initial response, giving an ETA and an estimate cost at the same time. I immediately booked in with Sean and he came as arranged, tried his best to pick the lock, however it wasn’t to be so he changed the lock and was all done and dusted in a reasonable time. He was polite, prompt and professional. I would recommend anyone needing a locksmith to contact Lockerfella
Thankyou so much James. It was a pleasure to assist you in cannock that day with your emergency locksmith call-out.
Prices
Emergency locksmith prices, no 2am surprises
Emergency work costs a little more than a booked daytime visit, and I tell you the all-in figure on the phone before I set off. Daytime call-outs start from £90. Out-of-hours, so evenings after 6pm, weekends and bank holidays, attendance and labour start from £170. Where a new part is needed a standard part is included in the figure and any upgrade is itemised, so you always know what each thing cost.
- Daytime emergency (8am to 6pm, weekdays) from £90
- Out-of-hours (evenings, weekends, bank holidays) from £170
- Lock change (uPVC euro cylinder) from £90
- Multi-point gearbox replacement from £145
No VAT added on top. No call-out fee on any of these, day or night. Why I do not charge a call-out fee, and the full price list with what each one covers →
Verified Google review
"Sean was incredibly swift in his initial response, giving an ETA and an estimate cost at the same time. He came as arranged, tried his best to pick the lock, and was polite, prompt and professional. I would recommend anyone needing a locksmith to contact Lockerfella."
James Thorburn, verified Google review
About the locksmith
The locksmith who answers your call
I'm Sean Hamilton. I run Lockerfella as a one-man-band, so when you ring in an emergency the phone rings on me, not a call centre. I give you an honest arrival time, agree the all-in price before I set off, and try to get you in without any damage first. No call-out fee, day or night, and the figure on the card machine is the figure I said on the phone.
- 30+ years fascinated by locks. I've been picking, stripping and studying locks for the love of it for over 30 years. Lockerfella is what happens when a lifelong interest in how locks work becomes the day job.
- Trained and certified. Certificate of Locksmith Skills from A'Jam Locksmiths covering cylinder, mortice, padlock, wafer and euro lock picking, plus re-keying and mortice bypassing.
- Standard DBS checked, £1M insured, 12 months workmanship guarantee. Redacted DBS and insurance certificates are published on the About page, with originals available to view in person before work starts.
- One man, one van, one phone number. The phone rings on me directly. No call centre. No third-party fitter. If I quote you a price, that's the price you pay.
Common questions about emergency locksmiths
Straight answers about response times, night prices, and what happens when you call.
How quickly can you get to me in an emergency?
It depends where you are. If you're in Wolverhampton, Cannock or Stafford I'm often with you inside thirty to forty minutes, especially overnight when the roads are quiet. Birmingham is further from my base in Brewood, so on a bad day with traffic it can be closer to the hour. I'll always give you an honest time estimate on the phone before you decide whether to wait for me, and I'll ring again if anything changes.
Are you really available 24 hours a day?
Yes. When you ring at three in the morning, it's me who answers, not a call centre reading from a script. The phone by the bed stays on every night of the year, including bank holidays. If I'm already out on another job I'll tell you honestly how long you'll be waiting rather than leaving you guessing.
How much does an emergency locksmith cost at night?
Out-of-hours work, so any time after 6pm on weekdays, plus weekends and bank holidays, starts from £170 for the attendance and labour. Daytime call-outs are cheaper, starting from £90. Either way I agree the price with you on the phone before I get in the van, so there's no surprise when the job's done.
Will you damage my door or lock to get in?
Non-destructive entry first, always. Most lockouts I can pick or manipulate open without marking the door or the lock itself. Drilling is the last resort, used only when the lock has genuinely failed, snapped internally or seized beyond picking, not because it's quicker for me. If drilling does turn out to be necessary I'll explain why before I start.
Is it you who turns up, or a call-centre subcontractor?
It's me. Lockerfella is one man and one van, based in Brewood, with no franchise and no call centre passing your job on to whoever's cheapest that night. The voice you speak to on the phone is the same person who knocks on your door.
Can you fix everything there and then at 2am?
Most of the time, yes, you'll be back in and secure the same night. Where I can't promise that is a uPVC door with a badly damaged gearbox or a cylinder I don't carry as standard stock; parts like that sometimes have to be sourced during the day. In that case I'll still leave your home secure that night, even if it's with a temporary fix, and come back to finish the job once the part's arrived.
Do you charge a call-out fee for emergencies?
No. I don't charge a call-out fee, day or night, for any job I attend. You only pay for the labour and any parts used, agreed with you before I start work. There's more on how that works on my no call-out fee page if you want the full picture.
Ready when you are
Locked out or need a lock sorting now? Ring me.
Call and I answer myself, day or night. I'll give you an honest time and the all-in price before I set off. No call-out fee. No deposit. No surprises.
Page last reviewed: . Reviewed by Sean Hamilton, the locksmith behind Lockerfella, under our editorial standards.