Locksmith key duplication is cutting a new key that matches an existing one exactly, so it opens the same lock. A locksmith reads the bitting (the pattern of cuts along the blade), picks a matching blank, and cuts or codes a copy, five to ten minutes for a standard house key, longer for a high-security or transponder car key.
Key duplication is one of the most common jobs a locksmith service handles, right alongside lockouts, rekeys, and lock installs. Most standard keys copy cheap and fast; security keys, car keys, and mailbox keys carry real restrictions worth knowing before you're stuck with just one key.
Need a spare cut today? Call a licensed local locksmith now for a fast, accurate quote.
How Key Duplication Works
Most standard keys, house, office, and padlock, get copied on a key machine. The locksmith clamps the original in one vise and a blank in a second, then a tracing wheel follows the original's grooves while a cutting wheel mirrors the same depths onto the blank. It's a mechanical trace, not a scan, so a worn original produces a worn copy, which is why a key duplicated a third or fourth time often sticks.
High-security keys (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, Schlage Everest) and most car keys use track cuts a basic duplicator can't follow. These get cut on a code machine from the manufacturer's bitting code, or a laser or CNC cutter following a digital template. Code cutting skips the wear, but it needs the code on file, which is why not every kiosk can handle these keys.
Which Keys Can (and Can't) Be Duplicated?
- House, office, and padlock keys. Kwikset, Schlage, Weiser, and builder-grade keys duplicate easily on open keyway systems any locksmith or kiosk stocks. Everyday work for a residential locksmith service.
- "Do Not Duplicate" and high-security keys. A DND stamp is a request, not a law, so most locksmiths can legally cut a standard key. Real restriction comes from patented systems like Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy, cut only by that system's registered dealer.
- Car keys, transponder chips, and smart fobs. The blade duplicates easily; the chip is the hard part. Keys since the late 1990s carry a transponder that talks to the immobilizer, so a copy has to clone or reprogram that chip to start the car. See car key fob programming for transponder keys, or car key fob replacement when too damaged to clone.
- Mailbox and safe keys. Pin-tumbler padlocks copy about as easily as house keys. Safe keys run restricted keyways, and curbside mailbox keys are frequently USPS property, so check with your property manager first.
Quick check: a plain metal key with no chip or stamp duplicates almost anywhere. A DND-stamped standard key usually still can, legally. A key with a patent number or restricted brand needs that system's dealer. A car key with a visible chip needs programming, not just a cut. Cutting your own from a blank works for basic keys if you own a machine, but the equipment costs more than a lifetime of locksmith visits.
What Does Key Duplication Cost?
| Key type | Typical price range | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Standard house/office key | $2-$10 | Simple trace-cut, common blank |
| High-security key (Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, etc.) | $15-$50+ | Restricted blank, code cutting |
| Basic car key, no chip | $10-$30 | Pricier automotive blank |
| Transponder or chip car key | $50-$150 | Blade cut plus chip cloning |
| Smart key or fob, programmed | $100-$400+ | New hardware, dealer-level programming |
What moves the price: the blank, whether the job needs programming, mobile versus in-shop service, and how worn the original is. A same-day cut costs no more than any other; after-hours dispatch runs at an emergency premium. For every other job, see the full locksmith cost guide.
Locksmith vs. Hardware Store vs. Kiosk vs. Mail-In
| Option | Best for | Turnaround | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile locksmith | High-security, automotive, worn keys | Often within an hour | Pricier for basic keys |
| Hardware store or kiosk | Cheap house keys | 5-15 minutes | No chips, fobs, restricted keys |
| Mail-in or photo-based service | Convenience over speed | Several days | Trusting a company with your key |
| Dealership locksmith | Fob programming for one vehicle | Same day to a few days | Usually priciest |
A mobile locksmith carries the blanks and programming tools a kiosk doesn't stock, so worn, restricted, or automotive keys tend to go that route. A kiosk is hard to beat for cheap spares in bulk, but the machine can't judge whether your original is too worn to copy well. Comparing quotes from a cheap locksmith near you keeps any option affordable.
How to Tell If Your Duplicate Was Cut Right
Test any new key in the lock before you leave, not days later when you're locked out. Signs of a bad cut: extra force needed to turn, it works in the lock it was cut for but not a second lock on the same keyway, burrs along the blade, a head that doesn't sit flush, or, on a transponder key, the car cranks but won't start because the chip didn't fully sync.
Most shops recut a key free if you catch a problem right away. A stiff key often smooths out with dry graphite or silicone lubricant, skip the oil, it attracts grit. One that won't turn cleanly needs to be redone, not forced, since forcing it can snap a key off in the lock.
Is It Cheaper to Duplicate a Key or Replace a Lost One?
Duplicating while you still have a working key is almost always cheaper and faster, a single cut from a key you hand over. A lost key can mean rekeying or replacing the lock, since you no longer know who might have the old one, and for cars it can mean a new key cut to code plus fob programming, often the priciest service a locksmith offers. Cutting a spare now is cheap insurance against a bigger bill later.
FAQ
How much does it cost to duplicate a key?
A standard house key runs a few dollars. High-security and automotive keys cost more, sometimes over $100 for a programmed fob, since they need code cutting or chip work.
Can a locksmith copy any key, including "Do Not Duplicate" keys?
For most residential and commercial keys, yes, that stamp is a request, not a law. The exception is patented systems like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock, which need authorization from a registered dealer.
How long does it take to duplicate a key?
A standard key takes 5 to 10 minutes. High-security and automotive keys take longer, often 20 minutes to an hour, since they involve code cutting or programming.
Can all car keys and key fobs be duplicated?
The blade almost always can be. Whether the car starts depends on the chip. Basic transponder keys can often be cloned; smart keys usually need fresh programming through a mobile locksmith or dealer.
From a simple spare to a programmed car fob, get it cut right the first time. Call a licensed local locksmith now for a fast quote.
FAQ & Access Control Guidelines
Q:How much does it cost to duplicate a key?
It depends on the key. A standard house key runs a few dollars at a kiosk or locksmith. High-security and automotive keys cost more, sometimes over $100 for a programmed fob, because they need code cutting or chip work instead of a simple trace-cut.
Q:Can a locksmith copy any key, including "Do Not Duplicate" keys?
For most residential and commercial keys, yes. That stamp is a request, not a law. The exception is patented, restricted systems like Medeco or Mul-T-Lock, which need authorization from a registered dealer, not just any locksmith.
Q:How long does it take to duplicate a key?
A standard key usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. High-security and automotive keys take longer, often 20 minutes to an hour, since they involve code cutting or programming instead of a basic trace-cut.
Q:Is it cheaper to duplicate a key or replace a lost one?
Duplicating is almost always cheaper. It's one straightforward cut from a working key, versus rekeying the lock and possibly cutting and programming a whole new key from scratch.
Q:Can all car keys and key fobs be duplicated?
The metal blade almost always can be. Whether the car starts depends on the chip. Basic transponder keys can often be cloned, but many modern smart keys need fresh programming to the vehicle instead, which usually means a mobile locksmith or dealer rather than a kiosk.
Q:What if my newly duplicated key doesn't work or turn smoothly?
Test it in the lock before you leave. Most locksmiths will recut it at no charge if you catch it right away. A stiff key often smooths out with dry graphite or silicone lubricant; one that won't turn at all needs to be redone, not forced.