You step out to check the mail, the door clicks shut behind you, and your keys are on the kitchen counter. Or you’ve just hired a dog walker, taken in a roommate, or bought a used car that came with only one fob. Either way, you need a spare key, and you need it to actually work.
Not every key can be copied the same way. A basic house key takes a minute at a hardware store; a modern car key needs cutting and programming. Here’s where to go for each type of key, what affects the cost, and how to make sure your copy turns the lock the first time.
Where to get a key copied
You have three main options, and the right one depends on the key.
Hardware stores
Most hardware and home improvement stores cut basic keys while you wait. It’s a good, inexpensive choice for a standard house key or mailbox key in good condition.
Self-service kiosks
Key kiosks in grocery stores and pharmacies scan your key and cut a copy in a couple of minutes. They’re convenient for common house keys. The catch: a kiosk copies exactly what it sees. If your key is worn, bent or chipped, the copy will be too, and it may not work.
A locksmith
A locksmith can do what a machine can’t:
- Cut to factory specs. If your key is worn, a locksmith can read (“decode”) the original cuts and make a fresh key instead of copying the wear.
- Copy keys stores can’t. High-security, commercial, restricted and older keys often need blanks that hardware stores and kiosks don’t carry.
- Make and program car keys. Transponder keys, fobs and push-to-start keys need programming equipment.
- Come to you. A mobile locksmith cuts keys on-site, which matters when the only key is lost or the car won’t start.
House keys
Most house keys are standard brands like Kwikset and Schlage, and copying them is quick and cheap almost anywhere. The same goes for the backup key on most smart locks, which use a standard keyway behind the keypad.
If you’ve just moved in, or you’re not sure who else has a copy, you probably need more than a spare. Rekeying changes the lock so old keys stop working, and you get a new set of keys at the same time.
Car keys: transponders, fobs and laser-cut keys
Most cars built since the late 1990s use a transponder key, a key with a small chip in the head that the car reads before it will start. Copying one means cutting the blade and programming a chip to your car, which a hardware store can’t do.
Many newer cars use laser-cut keys, also called sidewinder keys. Instead of teeth on the edge, they have a precise groove milled down the middle of the blade, and they need a special cutting machine.
Key fobs and push-to-start keys are fully electronic. Even if you buy a fob online, it has to be programmed to your car with diagnostic equipment.
A mobile automotive locksmith can usually handle all three on-site, which is often cheaper and faster than a trip to the dealership. More on car key replacement, or compare dealership vs locksmith.
Commercial and high-security keys
Office keys often look different from house keys for a reason. Commercial keyways have tighter tolerances and more complex grooves to resist picking and heavy daily use. High-security brands such as Medeco and Mul-T-Lock use restricted blanks you won’t find at a hardware store, so they have to be copied by an authorized locksmith.
If your business hands out a lot of keys, a master key system with restricted keys gives you more control over who can make copies.
Key cards and fobs for buildings
Apartment and office buildings increasingly use RFID cards and fobs. Some basic low-frequency fobs can be copied at kiosks, but many building systems are encrypted and need approval from building management. Check your lease or ask your property manager before trying to copy one.
Special situations
“Do Not Duplicate” keys
A “Do Not Duplicate” stamp on a standard key is usually a policy request, not a legal block, and many stores will refuse to copy it anyway. Patented, restricted keyways are different: those are protected, and only an authorized dealer for that system can cut copies, usually with the owner’s or property manager’s approval. If it’s a rental or workplace key, ask the owner first.
Broken keys
Don’t tape a broken key together and put it in a kiosk. Bring all the pieces to a locksmith, who can measure the cuts and make a new key from scratch. If part of the key is stuck in the lock, don’t dig at it; that pushes it deeper.
Lost your only key
For a house, a locksmith can open the door and either cut a key from the lock or rekey it. For a car, a mobile locksmith can cut a key from your VIN or the lock itself and program it on the spot, so you don’t need a tow.
What does a key copy cost?
It depends mostly on the type of key:
- Standard house and mailbox keys are the cheapest to copy.
- Older car keys without a chip cost a little more.
- Commercial and high-security keys cost more because the blanks are restricted.
- Transponder keys, laser-cut keys and fobs cost the most because they need programming and special equipment, and the price varies by make, model and year.
For car keys especially, call with your vehicle’s year, make and model for an exact quote. See how our pricing works.
Tips for a key copy that works
- Copy from the original. Each copy of a copy loses a little accuracy, and eventually one won’t turn.
- Test it with the door open. Try the new key in the lock before you close the door behind you.
- Get a spare before you need one. Leave a house key with a trusted neighbor, and keep a spare car key at home. Making a spare from a working car key costs far less than replacing a key once every copy is gone.
- Replace worn keys early. If the cuts look rounded or smooth, have a locksmith cut a fresh key to factory specs before it breaks off in the lock.
Need a key copied, a car key made or a worn key replaced in Denver or Aurora? Call or text Lucky Lock at 720-453-7334.
