Key Duplication
House key copies cut while you wait. Also called key cutting, we duplicate most residential and mailbox key types, including house, office, gate, and padlock keys.
About this service
Getting a copy of your house key made is one of those small errands that is easy to put off until you actually need it, usually right after you have already been locked out. We cut key copies on the spot for house doors, mailboxes, office suites, storage padlocks, and gates, so every family member, roommate, or trusted neighbor has their own working key instead of passing one copy around. Bring us the original and we cut a matching duplicate while you wait, no appointment required for most keys. This is a different service than car key duplication, which involves transponder chips and vehicle programming. Key duplication here is strictly non-automotive: the keys that open your front door, not your car door.
What you get
- Cut while you wait for most common key types
- Covers house, mailbox, office, gate, and padlock keys
- Calibrated cutting equipment for a more accurate copy than a kiosk
- Every duplicate tested in the actual lock before you leave
- No appointment required for standard residential keys
Related Services
Residential Locksmith
Locked out of your home, need a lock rekeyed, or want a smart lock installed? Our residential locksmiths handle lockouts, rekeying, lock replacement and repair, deadbolts, smart locks, and gate locks.
Lock Rekeying
Change who can open your lock without replacing the hardware. Rekeying is fast, affordable, and the smart move when you move or lose a key.
Lock Replacement
Old, damaged, or low-quality locks put your home at risk. We replace residential locks with properly installed hardware that actually works.
Common Causes of Key Duplication
A new household member or roommate needing their own key
Adding a partner, adult child, or roommate to a home is one of the most common reasons for a fresh set of duplicates.
Wanting a spare hidden or given to a trusted neighbor
A spare kept with a neighbor or in a secure spot is a common precaution against being locked out.
A key ring being consolidated or reorganized
Homeowners sometimes duplicate keys to split a bulky, mismatched key ring into separate sets for different household members.
Only one working key existing for a shared door
Passing a single key back and forth between multiple people who use the same door is a common trigger for getting duplicates made.
A landlord issuing keys to a new tenant
Rental turnover often calls for several fresh key copies handed out at move-in, separate from any rekeying of the lock itself.
A mailbox or storage padlock key wearing thin
Smaller keys like mailbox and padlock keys see frequent use and are often duplicated proactively before the original gets too worn.
An office needing extra copies for staff
Small offices and shared workspaces often need several duplicates cut at once for employees or cleaning staff.
Wanting a backup before an upcoming trip
Travelers sometimes get an extra house key cut and left with a family member or neighbor before an extended trip.
The Risks of DIY Key Duplication
Kiosk machines can miscut uncommon key profiles
Self-service kiosks are calibrated for the most common blanks, and a less typical keyway can come out slightly off and stick in the lock.
No testing in the actual lock before you leave
A kiosk copy is usually handed over without ever being tried in your specific lock, so a bad cut is not discovered until you get home.
Duplicating from an already-worn key carries the wear forward
Copying a key that is already thin or rounded at the tip often produces a duplicate that works inconsistently from day one.
Wrong blank selected for the brand
Similar-looking blanks can have subtly different profiles, and an incorrect blank choice leads to a key that never quite seats right.
No option to originate a key from the lock itself
If the only working key is lost, most self-service kiosks have no way to help, since they require an existing key to copy from.
Inconsistent depth cuts on older manual duplicating machines
Poorly maintained kiosk equipment can produce shallow or uneven cuts that bind in the lock or wear out faster than expected.
Assuming a mailbox or padlock key uses the same process as a house key
Smaller specialty keys sometimes need a different blank or cutting depth than standard house keys, and a generic kiosk copy can come out wrong.
No way to catch a lock that is already failing
A kiosk only cuts the key. It cannot tell you if the lock itself is worn enough that even a perfect key copy will still stick or turn hard.
What Affects the Cost
- Key type (house, mailbox, office, gate, or padlock)
- How many copies are needed
- Whether the original is available or the key must be originated from the lock
- Blank availability for older or specialty keyways
Palmetto State Locksmith vs. DIY vs. Dealership
| Palmetto State Locksmith | DIY | Dealership / Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Calibrated cutting equipment and tested in your actual lock | Hardware store and kiosk machines can miscut less common keyways | Not applicable, since this is not an automotive service |
| Can originate a key from the lock if no original exists | Requires an existing key to copy from | Not applicable, since this is not an automotive service |
| Covers house, mailbox, office, gate, and padlock keys in one visit | Kiosks are set up mainly for common house key blanks | Not applicable, since this is not an automotive service |
How it works
- 1
Bring your original key
Any working house, mailbox, office, gate, or padlock key can be used as the master for cutting a copy.
- 2
Key blank matched
We match the blank to the correct brand and keyway so the copy fits the lock exactly, not just the original key shape.
- 3
Cutting the duplicate
The new key is cut on calibrated equipment for an accurate, consistent copy rather than a rough kiosk match.
- 4
Test on the actual lock
Every duplicate is tested in the real lock before you leave, not just compared visually to the original.
Key Duplication: available in your city
Where we work
Key Duplication questions
Can you duplicate a key that already looks worn?
Do you duplicate mailbox and padlock keys, not just house keys?
Is this the same service as car key duplication?
Can you make a key without the original if I only have the lock?
Is key cutting the same thing as key duplication?
How many copies can I get made at once?
Ready to talk about key duplication?
Quotes are free and there is no obligation.