How Long Does It Take to Copy a Key?

How long does it take to copy a key?

Short answer: a standard house or office key is usually cut in a few minutes. A car key takes longer because most modern vehicles use a transponder chip or a remote that has to be programmed to the car after the blade is cut; that part of the job is typically measured in tens of minutes rather than minutes. High-security and restricted keys take longest, because they need special equipment and, often, proof that you are authorised to copy them.

Below is what decides the time in each case, and what to bring so the job goes quickly. DKNY Locksmith is a licensed (NC licence #2173), fully insured mobile locksmith serving Raleigh and the Triangle since 2012, so this is based on the keys we cut every day.

Standard house and office keys

Ordinary pin-tumbler keys (Kwikset, Schlage and similar) are duplicated on a key machine that traces your existing key onto a blank. The cut itself takes a minute or two; the rest is checking the blank matches and testing the copy. If you have the original key, bring it, even if it is worn. A worn key can still be copied, but we may cut by code instead so the new copy works like a fresh key rather than a copy of the wear.

Car keys and key fobs

Most cars built after the late 1990s have a transponder chip in the key. Cutting the blade is quick; programming the chip and the remote to your vehicle is the longer step and depends on the make. Some vehicles accept a new key in a few minutes, others need the locksmith's diagnostic tool connected to the car for a longer session. If all keys are lost, add time for making the key from the vehicle's code rather than copying an existing one.

• Spare key, original in hand: fastest. We copy and program the duplicate alongside your working key.
• All keys lost: longer. We confirm ownership, originate a key from the VIN or lock, then program it.
• Smart (push-to-start) keys: similar to a fob, with programming done through the car's port.

High-security and restricted keys

Keys marked "do not duplicate", Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, ASSA and other restricted systems are cut on dedicated machines and usually require authorisation from the system owner. Expect the longest turnaround here, and bring your authorisation card or paperwork.

What slows a key copy down

• No original key (we have to originate from code or the lock itself).
• A badly worn or bent original.
• Uncommon blanks that have to be ordered.
• Car models that require dealer-level programming time.

Mobile service: we come to you

DKNY Locksmith works from fully equipped vans across Wake, Durham, Orange, Johnston, Franklin and Granville counties, 7 AM to 11 PM every day. For car keys that means the programming happens at your driveway or parking lot, with no tow. See our key duplication service and car locksmith pages, or call (919) 752-7557 and tell us the key type and, for vehicles, the year, make and model so we can give you a clear quote up front.

Related questions

Can a locksmith copy a key without the original? Yes. We can originate a key from the lock or, for cars, from the vehicle's key code once ownership is confirmed.

Is a copied key as good as the original? A copy cut by code is. A copy traced from a worn key inherits the wear, which is why we often recommend cutting by code.

Should I rekey instead of copying? If you are copying because someone else may still have a key, read rekey or replace your locks first.