How much does lock picking cost?

$39 buys all 3 essentials.

3 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission

Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick

$39

3 items, nothing rented

Against 247 hobbies

Below median

Cheaper than 78% of them. Median hobby: $84.

What each thing costs

Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.

Lock Pick Starter Kit essential

mid $35top $65

$22

Practice Locks essential

mid $21top $35

Tension Wrenches essential

mid $13top $18

All 3 essentials

$39

What you need

$39

Everything you need to start lock picking. None of it is a big commitment.

Tension Wrenches

Tension wrenches apply turning force to the plug. Top-of-keyway, bottom-of-keyway, twist-flex — different shapes for different applications.

Southord Tension Wrench Set

mid $13top $18

Practice Locks

Clear/cutaway locks let you see what's happening inside. Real locks (Master, American, Schlage) teach feeling.

Master Lock 140D Solid Brass Padlock with Key

mid $21top $35

Lock Pick Starter Kit

$22

Complete kits include picks + tension wrenches + practice locks. Sparrows and Peterson dominate the US market.

Southord PXS-14 Lock Pick Set

mid $35top $65

Later, if you stay

Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.

Lock Picking Books

$25

Theory matters as much as practice. Three classic books cover the field.

Practical Lock Picking, 1st Edition

mid $36top $37

Practice Lock

Essential for honing your skills without the risk of damaging a real lock. These transparent or cutaway locks allow you to see the internal mechanism as you work.

Master Lock 140D Solid Brass Padlock with Key

mid $21top $35

Startup cost · all 247 hobbieslog scale

$1Blogging

$84median

$1245Kite Surfing

$39

Lock Picking costs more to start than 22% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.

Cost questions

How much does Lock Picking cost to start?

About $39 for the 3 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each.

What does each thing cost for Lock Picking?

Lock Pick Starter Kit: from $22. Practice Locks: from $9. Tension Wrenches: from $8.

Is Lock Picking an expensive hobby?

Lock Picking costs about $39 to start, dearer than 22% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this is one of the cheaper ones to get into.

What should I buy first for Lock Picking?

tension wrenches, practice locks, lock pick starter kit — $39 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.

Hobbies that cost about the same

The 6 nearest to lock picking by startup cost, out of 247.

Fountain Pens$3 less$36 Baton Twirling$1 less$38 Conlanging (Language Creation)about the same$39

Lock Pickingyou are here$39

Speedcubingabout the same$39 Ethical Hacking$1 more$40 Mudlarking$1 more$40

Start lock picking Lock Picking beginner guide