When is a duplicate key the right fix?
Most people think about a spare key only after something goes wrong: the one key is inside the house, in a jacket at the office, or lost somewhere between the gym and the car. A duplicate made ahead of time is the plainest, least disruptive way to avoid that call. It costs a little time now and saves a lot of trouble later.
Key duplication is simply cutting a new key that matches an existing one so it operates the same lock. That sounds simple, and for a basic house key it often is. But a good copy depends on details people rarely see: the blank has to be the right one for your keyway, the cuts have to be accurate to the original, and the original itself has to be in decent shape. A key that has been copied from a copy, then copied again, drifts further from the factory specification each time. Eventually it drags in the lock, sticks, or turns only if you jiggle it.
That is why a spare house key, an apartment key copy, or an office key duplicate is worth getting done by someone who checks the work rather than just running the key through a machine and handing it back. We cut keys for houses, apartments, offices, storefronts, and mailboxes, and we are honest when a key cannot or should not be copied. This page explains how the process works, which keys are straightforward, which need authorization, and what to expect in Studio City specifically.
How does Wilshire Lock & Key copy a key?
The process is not complicated, but each step matters. Here is how a typical duplication goes, whether you come to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd or arrange something with us by phone first.
- Look at the key and the lock it belongs to. We identify the keyway, the brand if there is one, and whether the key is a standard cut, a high security design, or something restricted.
- Check the condition of the original. If it is badly worn, bent, or already a third-generation copy, we tell you, because a copy of a worn key will carry the wear forward. Sometimes the better move is to cut from the lock's code or work from a cleaner original.
- Choose the correct blank. The blank must match the keyway and profile, not just look close. A near-match blank is a common reason copies from big-box kiosks fail to turn smoothly.
- Cut the new key on the right equipment and remove the burrs so the edges do not chew up your lock or catch in your pocket lining.
- Test the copy in the actual lock when the lock is available. We want to see it enter smoothly, turn without force, and retract the bolt fully. A copy that only works if you lift the door or wiggle the key is not finished.
- Hand you the original and the copy, and tell you plainly if anything about either key deserves attention, such as a worn original, a lock that is getting stiff, or a deadbolt that is not fully engaging.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Which keys can be copied, and which need authorization?
Not every key is equal. The type of key decides how quickly it can be copied, what it takes, and in a few cases whether we can copy it at all without proof that you are entitled to.
The words Do Not Duplicate stamped on a key are worth a short explanation. On most ordinary keys, that stamp is a request, not a technical barrier, and it does not make a key impossible to copy. But we still ask a reasonable question when a key looks like it belongs to a managed building, a business, or a master key system. If the key clearly belongs to someone else's property, we will want to know you have the right to copy it.
- House, apartment, and deadbolt keys: standard keyways are usually the most straightforward. A duplicate deadbolt key is cut the same way, and we test it in the deadbolt, since deadbolts and knobs on the same door sometimes have slightly different keys.
- Office and commercial keys: commercial key duplication is common, but we ask whether the keys belong to a master key system, because copying a key from a system can affect who has access to what. If your building uses a system, see our notes on master key systems.
- High security key duplication: these keys often have unusual profiles, sidebar cuts, or dimple patterns. Many require specific blanks and specific equipment, and some cannot be made without the manufacturer's involvement.
- Restricted key duplication: some keyways are patent-protected, which means the manufacturer controls who may order blanks. In those cases we need an authorization card or other proof of ownership, and sometimes the order has to go through the manufacturer or an authorized dealer. That can take longer, and we will say so up front rather than promise a same-visit copy.
- Mailbox keys: these are usually small, simple keys, but who controls the lock matters. Some mailbox locks belong to the property, some to the post office, and we sort out which one you have before cutting anything. If the lock itself is the problem, that is a job for mailbox lock replacement.
- Car keys: modern vehicle keys often contain a transponder chip or a remote, and the cutting is only part of it. Whether a vehicle key can be duplicated and programmed depends on the make, model, and year, so we confirm by VIN and in person rather than guess. Some vehicles are dealer-only for certain key types, and we say so honestly. If a vehicle key is what you need, start with car key replacement.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How much does key duplication cost in Studio City?
We do not quote prices on a web page, because the honest answer depends on the key in your hand. A plain house key cut from a common blank is the lighter-cost end of the range. The cost climbs when the key is anything other than ordinary. Here is what actually moves it.
The type of key is the biggest factor. A standard single-sided key is quick. A high security key, a restricted key, or a key with an unusual profile costs more because the blank is harder to source and the cutting is more exacting. Keys that need a manufacturer's authorization add time and handling.
The condition of the original matters too. If your key is worn enough that a copy would not work well, we may need to cut by code or reference the lock, which takes more effort than tracing a clean key.
Quantity plays a role. A single copy and a batch of copies for a small office or a rental unit are priced differently, since setup is shared across the batch. Whether we travel to you or you come to the storefront also affects the total, as does the hour. We answer the phone around the clock, and after-hours service is a different situation from a weekday visit.
Call (213) 577-1366, describe the key, and we will tell you what applies. If you can read any brand name or number stamped on the key, mention it. That often settles the question quickly.
Key duplication around Studio City: old homes, hillsides, apartments, and Ventura Boulevard
Studio City is not one kind of housing, and the keys follow the housing. In Colfax Meadows, Tujunga Village, and the Silver Triangle, many 1920s-40s character homes still have vintage mortise locksets in service. Those locks are often decades old, and so are some of the keys. A key that has been copied repeatedly over many years tends to be loose in its tolerances, and a copy of a copy does not improve it. If you have a worn key to an older mortise lock, bring it in before it fails completely. We can often work from the cleanest original or from the lock itself, and if the lock has become the weak point, lock repair may be a better answer than another copy.
Seasonal dampness is part of this too. Canyon and hillside lots, including the Fryman Canyon hillsides and the Laurel Canyon hillside streets, get more winter shade and damp than the open valley floor, and that can swell wood doors. When a door swells, a perfectly good key can feel stiff or seem to stick. Before blaming the key, check whether the door itself is binding. We test the copy in the lock, and we will tell you if the problem is the door rather than the key.
North of the boulevard, apartments and condos cluster along Moorpark Street and Ventura Place. In buildings like these, an extra key is the simplest protection against the apartment lockouts we see along Moorpark Street: a spare left with a trusted person, or a copy for a roommate, keeps a locked door from becoming a service call. If you do end up outside, our apartment lockout page explains how we handle it. For apartment key copies, be aware that building-issued keys sometimes belong to a managed system, and we may ask about permission.
Along the Ventura Boulevard corridor, shops and restaurants tend to need more keys, copied more often, for staff who come and go. Hillside houses off Laurel Canyon Boulevard often add gates and smart locks, which means more than one kind of key or credential per property. Whether your address is in 91604 or 91602, we are roughly 11 miles from our Westwood storefront, with mobile vans that serve Studio City directly.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Can you come to me for mobile key duplication?
Sometimes. We run mobile service vans in addition to the storefront, and that is useful when you cannot leave a business, a property, or a building. Whether a particular key can be copied at your location depends on the key. Common house and office keys are often practical to handle on site. Unusual blanks, restricted keyways, and keys that need manufacturer authorization may need to be done at the storefront or through an ordered blank.
The best way to find out is to call (213) 577-1366 and describe the key. Tell us what kind of lock it is, how many copies you need, and whether you can send a photo or read us the stamping on the key. We will tell you straight whether we can do it where you are or whether you should bring it in.
Mobile service makes the most sense for situations like a property manager who needs several copies for a unit turnover, a restaurant owner who cannot close the doors to run an errand, or a homeowner who simply cannot get away. If your need is broader than copies, our mobile locksmith page covers what the vans can do.
Should you copy the key, rekey the lock, or replace it?
A duplicate key solves one problem: not enough keys. It does not solve a different problem: too many people who might have a key. If you have just moved in, ended a tenancy, parted ways with an employee, or lost a key and do not know where it went, a copy is not the right tool. Every extra key you hand out is another key someone else might also have, and a copy of a key you worry about is still a key you worry about.
In those cases the better move is to change what the key opens. Lock rekeying changes the inside of the lock so the old keys stop working and new ones take over, without replacing the hardware. That is often the more economical route when the locks themselves are in good shape. If the hardware is worn or failing, replacement is the better answer.
We would rather tell you honestly which fits than sell you the wrong one. Many customers come in for a copy and leave with one, because that is all the situation needed. Others find out that rekeying is the actual solution. If you are not sure, describe what happened, and we will say which one makes sense.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Why have Wilshire Lock & Key cut your keys?
We have been in business since 1987, and key work is among the oldest parts of the trade. That experience is mostly invisible when everything goes well, but it shows up when a key is odd, worn, or unusual and a quick copy would have been a bad one.
Some honest reasons to call us:
- One company, no dispatch middlemen. When you call (213) 577-1366, you reach us, not a call center that sells your job to whoever is nearest.
- A real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile vans. You can bring a key in or arrange service to come to you.
- David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. Key cutting is not hidden behind a nameless crew.
- We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round, and we serve 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
- We tell you when a key should not be copied, when authorization is needed, and when rekeying would serve you better than another duplicate.
What should you ask any locksmith before you hand over a key?
Handing over a key is handing over access, so it is reasonable to ask a few questions of any locksmith, including us. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, the company-level license issued through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith for their license number, and check it yourself.
Ask what the copy will be cut from, and whether it will be tested in your lock. Ask whether the key is restricted and what that means for timing. Ask what affects the total, since a straightforward answer is a good sign. A locksmith who cannot explain these things simply has not earned your original key.
Frequently asked questions
Can you copy a key that says Do Not Duplicate?
Often the stamp is a request, not a technical barrier, so it does not always mean a key cannot be copied. But we still ask who the key belongs to. If it looks like it belongs to a managed building or business, we will want to know you have the right to copy it. If the key is a restricted type, authorization is required regardless of the stamp.
How is a restricted key different from a regular key?
A restricted key uses a keyway protected by the manufacturer, so blanks are only supplied to authorized dealers, usually with proof that you own the lock or system. That makes copying slower and requires documentation, but it also means strangers cannot easily have a copy made. We tell you up front if your key falls into this group.
Can you duplicate a high security key?
Often yes, but it depends on the specific design. Some high security keys can be cut with the right blank and equipment. Others need the manufacturer's authorization or must be ordered. Bring the key or tell us what is stamped on it, and we will say what is involved. For related lock options, see our high security locks page at /studio-city-ca/high-security-locks/.
Do you make duplicate deadbolt keys and apartment keys?
Yes. A duplicate deadbolt key is cut and tested the same way as other house keys. For apartments, we may ask about permission if the key looks like it belongs to a managed system or building rather than your own personal lock.
My key is old and worn. Is a copy still a good idea?
Sometimes, but not always. A copy of a badly worn key carries the wear forward, and a copy of a copy drifts further each time. If the key is worn enough that it sticks or needs jiggling, we may work from the lock or a cleaner original. We will tell you plainly if the lock is the actual problem.
Can you copy mailbox keys?
In many cases, yes, but who controls the mailbox lock matters. Some belong to the property and some are controlled by the post office. We sort out which applies before cutting anything. If the lock itself is damaged or you have lost every key, replacement may be the better route.
Can you copy a car key or a key with a chip?
That depends on the vehicle. Many modern keys have a transponder chip or remote that must be programmed, not just cut. Whether we can do it depends on make, model, and year, so we confirm by VIN and in person. Some vehicles are dealer-only for certain key types, and we will say so honestly.
Can you come to my home or business in Studio City to copy keys?
Often, yes. We have mobile vans and a storefront in Westwood. Whether a particular key can be handled at your location depends on its type. Call (213) 577-1366, describe the key, and we will tell you whether we can come to you or whether you should bring it in.
Is a copy enough if I lost a key and do not know where it went?
Usually not. A copy gives you another working key, but the lost one is still out there and still works. If you are worried about who might find it, rekeying the lock is the safer step, since it makes the old key useless. We can tell you which fits your situation.
More locksmith help in Studio City
Key Duplication near Studio City
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.