Why does the quality of a duplicate key matter?
Key duplication looks like the simplest job in the trade, and that is exactly why it gets done badly so often. A key works because a series of small cuts lifts the pins inside your lock to precise heights. If a cut is off by a hair, the key may slide in and turn on a cool morning and bind on a hot afternoon. A spare house key that 'sort of works' is worse than no spare at all, because you only find out when you are standing outside the door.
The most common cause of a poor copy is a poor source. A key copied from a worn key carries that wear forward, and a copy of that copy carries it forward again. After a few generations, the key in your pocket is a loose approximation of the original cut. When we do key copying, we start with the cleanest original available, check it for wear and bends, and cut the new key to match it as closely as the key allows.
Sometimes the honest answer is that an old key is too far gone to copy well. When that happens we will say so and walk you through the alternatives, which usually mean cutting a fresh key from the lock itself or rekeying so the lock gets a new, correctly cut key from scratch.
How do we copy a key, step by step?
Whether you bring a key to our storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd or meet one of our mobile service vans in San Dimas, a proper key cutting service follows the same sequence. Skipping any of these steps is how copies end up not working.
- Identify the key. We look at the brand stamp, the keyway profile and the key's shape to work out whether it is a standard house key, a restricted key, a high security key or a key with an electronic chip in the head.
- Inspect the original. We look for bends, cracks, rounded cuts and worn shoulders. A bent key cut as-is produces a bent copy.
- Match the blank. The new key has to have the same keyway, length and shoulder as the original. Using a close-enough blank is a frequent reason a copy feels gritty or will not seat fully.
- Cut the key. We trace or code-cut the new key, then remove the burrs left by cutting. Burrs are tiny, but they wear down your lock's pins quickly.
- Test it. We compare the copy against the original, and when we are on site we try it in the actual lock, including the deadbolt if it has its own key.
- Hand it over with advice. We suggest you try every new key in every lock it is meant for before you put the originals away, and that you keep one original untouched as the 'master copy' to make future duplicates from.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Which keys can we duplicate?
Most keys people ask about fall into a few groups. Here is how we handle each one.
- House key copy and spare house key: standard residential keys for entry locks and knobs are the most routine copies we make. If you have a lost-and-found drawer of unlabeled keys, bring them along and we can help sort which belong to which lock.
- Duplicate deadbolt key: deadbolts often take a different key than the knob, and some homes have both on one ring. We match each key to its own lock rather than assuming they are interchangeable.
- Apartment key copy: we can copy apartment keys, but check your lease first. Many leases require the landlord's approval for extra keys, and some buildings use restricted keyways. If your key is stamped 'Do Not Duplicate,' talk to us before assuming either yes or no.
- Office key duplication and commercial key duplication: suite doors, supply rooms, desks, file cabinets and storefronts. For a business, the question is often not how to copy a key but who is allowed to hold one, which is where a master key system comes in (more on that below).
- Mailbox key duplication: mailbox keys are small and easy to lose. We can copy one if you still have a working key. If you have no key at all, the lock usually needs to be replaced rather than copied, and our mailbox lock replacement service covers that.
- Gate, padlock and outbuilding keys: shed, garage side-door, gate and padlock keys get the same treatment as any other key.
What about high security and restricted key duplication?
Some keys are deliberately difficult to copy, and that is a feature, not an obstacle. Restricted keyways use blanks that the manufacturer controls, and copies are normally made only with the right authorization, such as a registered account or an authorization card. If a locksmith will cut a restricted key for anyone who walks in with it, the restriction is not doing its job.
High security keys are different again. Some use cuts on the side of the blade, some use dimples, and some use unusual profiles that need specific cutting equipment. Blanks for these may not be sitting on a shelf, so a copy can take extra arrangements, and we will tell you up front rather than after you have waited. If your locks are a high security type, or you are thinking of moving to them, our high security locks page explains the options.
Master-keyed systems deserve the same caution. A key that opens many doors is a key you want to control carefully. If you manage a building or a business with a shared key hierarchy, see our master key system work before making loose copies of a key that opens more than you intended.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Can you copy a car key, too?
Sometimes, but this is where a plain cut-and-done assumption goes wrong. Depending on the vehicle, a key may need more than cutting: it may carry a chip that has to be programmed to the car before the engine will start, and a key cut perfectly can still turn the door lock but not start the car. Whether yours does depends on the year, make and model, and some vehicles can only be handled through the dealer.
We do not guess about this. For a car key, we confirm by VIN or in person what your vehicle actually needs before we tell you what a spare involves, and if yours turns out to be a dealer-only case we will say so honestly. When programming is part of the job, it is covered under transponder key programming. A spare made while you still have a working key is usually the more economical route compared with replacing keys after the last one is lost.
What affects the cost of key duplication in San Dimas?
Copying a plain brass house key is a different job from copying a restricted or high security key, so there is no single answer, and we would rather explain what moves the cost than hand you a vague figure. When you call (213) 577-1366, we can tell you what applies to your situation. These are the factors:
- Key type: standard keys are the lighter-cost end of the range, while high security, restricted and chip-equipped keys involve special blanks, equipment or programming.
- Blank availability: a common blank is easy to source, while a specialty blank may need to be ordered.
- Quantity: several keys cut at the same visit are more efficient than separate trips.
- Where the work happens: coming to our Westwood storefront is a different arrangement from a mobile visit. San Dimas is roughly 40 miles from our base, so distance is part of a mobile call.
- Time of day: we answer the phone around the clock, and after-hours calls involve different logistics than a daytime visit.
- Condition of the original: a worn or bent key may need extra work, or may call for cutting a new key from the lock instead.
- Authorization: restricted keys require proper authorization, which can add steps.
- Lock condition: if your lock is sticking or worn, a fresh key will not fix that, and we will say so before cutting anything.
Key duplication around San Dimas: what the housing and climate mean for your keys
San Dimas covers a wide range of properties, and the right approach to copying keys shifts with the building. The city has one main ZIP code, 91773, but a copy for a townhome in the southwest is a different conversation from a copy for a barn near the canyon.
In Via Verde, the planned community near Puddingstone Reservoir, townhomes, condos and golf-course homes tend to mean several people sharing a single door set, and extra keys for family members, a house sitter or a dog walker are a normal request. That is a good moment to check that each key works smoothly in both the knob and the deadbolt. If you have lost track of who holds keys to your home, rekeying your locks may make more sense than cutting more copies.
Around downtown San Dimas and the Bonita Avenue district, the older storefronts often carry legacy commercial hardware. Keys that have been copied many times over the years are common there, and a worn cylinder can make even a good new key feel stiff. If a business owner wants a spare for an employee, we check the cylinder first; when the lock itself is the problem, our storefront lock repair work is the better fix. Along the Lone Hill Avenue, Foothill Boulevard (Route 66) and Arrow Highway corridors, shops and the mobile home parks on Arrow Highway each have their own mix of key types, so we identify the key before assuming anything.
Up toward San Dimas Canyon and Horsethief Canyon, equestrian and larger-lot properties bring barn, tack-room and gate locks into the picture. These keys live outdoors, collect dust and hang on nails, and a spare is far easier to make before the only key goes missing in the arena. Late-summer heat in the inland valley makes doors and latches swell and stick, and canyon winds push dust into exterior hardware. If a new copy feels tight, it may be the lock and not the key, and we check that rather than blame the cut.
If getting to us is the hard part, our mobile locksmith service means you do not have to leave the property. Commuters who park at the San Dimas A Line station often ask about spare car keys, and we handle those on the VIN-first basis described above.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for key copies?
We have been in business since 1987, working out of a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles (Westwood) with mobile service vans that serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, San Dimas included. When you call, you reach our company directly, and we do not pass your job to a third-party dispatcher you have never heard of. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work.
The phone at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, so if you realize at night that nobody has a spare key, you can still get a straight answer about what to do.
One more thing worth knowing: California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license. Ask any locksmith you are thinking about hiring, including us, for their license number. A company that dodges the question is telling you something.
When is a copy not the right answer?
A duplicate key is the right answer when the lock is sound and you simply need more keys. It is the wrong answer in a few situations. If you do not know who has copies of your keys, if a key was lost or stolen, or if a former tenant, partner or employee still holds one, rekeying changes the lock so those old keys stop working. Our lock rekey page explains how that works.
If keys stick, turn hard or feel gritty even when they are new, the problem is usually the lock, and it deserves a look through lock repair before you cut more keys that will wear it further. And if you are locked out right now, a copy will not help. Call us and we will sort out the way in first, then make you a proper spare.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to copy a house key?
It depends on the key. A standard house key is the lighter-cost end, while restricted, high security and chip-equipped keys involve special blanks, equipment or programming. The number of keys, whether you come to us or we come to you, and the time of day also play a part. Call (213) 577-1366 and describe the key.
Can you copy a key that says 'Do Not Duplicate'?
That stamp is a request, not a physical block, but it often means the key belongs to a building or a business with its own rules. Before we copy one, we talk through who owns the key and whether you are authorized. Restricted keyways have stricter rules, and we follow them.
Do you come to me in San Dimas, or do I have to drive to Westwood?
Both options exist. Our storefront is at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, and our mobile vans serve San Dimas. Mobile service is handy if you have several keys, cannot leave the property, or need to test the key in the lock on site.
Can you make a key if I have no original?
Often, yes, depending on the lock. We may be able to cut a key from the lock itself, or rekey it so it works with a new key. Which one applies depends on the lock type and condition. We look at the lock first and tell you what is realistic.
Can you duplicate a mailbox key?
Yes, if you still have a working key to copy from. If every key is gone, the lock usually has to be replaced, not copied. Some mailboxes are managed by a property owner or a postal authority, so it helps to know whose lock it is before you call.
Can you copy my car key?
Possibly, but many car keys need more than cutting. Whether yours does depends on the year, make and model, so we confirm by VIN or in person before we say what a spare requires. If your vehicle turns out to be a dealer-only case, we will tell you plainly.
Why does my new copy stick or not turn?
It could be the copy, but it is just as often the lock. A copy made from a worn original can be slightly off, and a worn or dusty lock can bind even with a perfect key. Bring both to us or call, and we will check which one is at fault.
Can you copy keys at night or on weekends?
Our phone line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. What we can do on a late-night call depends on the key and the situation, so describe what you have and we will tell you honestly what can be done and when.
How many spare keys should I have made?
Enough that no one is stranded, and few enough that you can keep track of them. Many households do well with one extra for each regular user plus one stored safely as a master copy. Keeping a record of who holds which key makes later decisions about rekeying much easier.
More locksmith help in San Dimas
Key Duplication near San Dimas
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.