Can a locksmith cut keys at my house?
Yes. Our vans carry key machines and a stock of common blanks, so we cut the copies on your street and walk them to your door. That means you don't have to bring the key to a mall kiosk, and we can test every new key in the actual lock before we leave.
Most people book a mobile visit for one of these reasons:
- You need several copies for family, a roommate, a dog walker or a cleaner
- You just moved and want spares for every door, including the side door and the garage
- A copy from a hardware store sticks or won't turn at all
- You're already booking us for another job and want spares cut at the same visit
We cut keys for the brands you find on most Toronto doors, like Kwikset, Schlage and Weiser, plus padlocks, storage lockers, filing cabinets and the small cam locks used on building mailboxes.
Why doesn't my copied key work?
A key machine traces the key you give it. If that key is worn, bent or already a copy of a copy, the new key copies those mistakes too. Here is what usually goes wrong:
| What happens | Likely cause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Copy goes in but won't turn | Original is worn, so the cuts on the copy are too shallow or too deep | Code cutting: we cut to the lock's factory depths instead of tracing the worn key |
| Copy turns only if you jiggle it | Small tracing error, or a copy made from another copy | A new key cut from the best original you have, or by code |
| Copy won't go into the lock | Wrong blank (looks close but the groove pattern is different) | Matching the exact keyway and cutting on the right blank |
| Every key is getting harder to use | The lock itself is worn or dirty | Clean or service the lock. See lock repair |
Code cutting means we work out the depth of each cut from the lock or the key and cut a new key to the original numbers. The new key often works better than the key you've been using for years.
Before you call, try your spare key in the lock. If the spare turns smoothly and the everyday key doesn't, the everyday key is worn. Bring us the spare as the one to copy.
Need key cutting & duplication now? A real person answers 24/7.
Call (647) 367-8113Can you copy a key stamped "Do Not Duplicate"?
The stamp by itself is a request, not a lock. It doesn't give you the legal protection a patented key does, and many hardware stores will copy a stamped key on a normal blank. So if you're a landlord or business owner counting on that stamp to control who has keys, it won't do the job.
What actually stops copies is a restricted keyway. The blanks for those keys aren't sold to hardware stores, and a new key needs the owner's ID card or sign-off. If the key you want copied is for a rental unit or a workplace you don't control, we'd ask you to check with the owner or property manager first.
Want real key control for a rental, office or small building? Read about high-security and restricted keys.
Which keys can't be copied on the spot?
Most house and office keys are quick. A few need a different route, and we'd rather tell you that on the phone than after we drive out:
| Key type | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, Abloy, ASSA and similar | Often restricted. Usually needs a key card or authorization. See high-security keys |
| Car keys with a chip or remote | Cut and programmed to the car. See car key replacement |
| Condo fobs and access cards | Most are encrypted. We can't clone them. Your property manager issues new ones |
| Canada Post community mailbox keys | Replacement keys come from Canada Post, not a locksmith |
| Building mailbox in a condo or apartment lobby | Usually a simple cam lock we can copy, unless the building uses a restricted key |
If your condo fob is lost, call the management office. They can turn off the old fob so nobody else can use it, and issue you a new one.
How much does key cutting cost in Toronto?
It depends on the type of key, how many copies you need, and whether we copy your key or cut by code. A standard house key is the simplest job. Restricted keys and car keys with chips sit at the other end. There's no call-out fee, and you'll hear the price before we cut anything.
- Standard house or padlock key copied from a good original
- Code cutting when the original is badly worn
- Number of copies and number of different keys
- Restricted or high-security blanks, which cost more and may need authorization
What happens when you call?
Tell us what you need copied
Brand name on the key, which doors it opens, and how many copies. If your copies already don't work, say so.
Price and arrival time
Dispatch confirms the price and gives you a realistic time before the van heads out.
Cut in the van
The technician checks your original, picks the right blank and cuts by tracing or by code.
Test in your lock
Every new key is tried in the actual door. If one drags or sticks, we adjust it before we leave.
Page reviewed October 2026 by the LocksmithGT team.