Can a Locksmith Make a Key from a Lock in the UK? Locksmith Services Explained

Ever lost your only key and wondered if you’re doomed to buying a whole new lock? Or maybe your old house didn’t come with a key for the shed but you’d rather open it than keep it sealed forever. Good news: locksmiths in the UK can absolutely make a key from a lock, saving you hassle, money, and time. The process is a surprisingly clever mix of old-school skill, modern tech, and more than a little patience. You’re about to get a look behind the scenes—let’s break down how it really works and what you can expect.

How Do Locksmiths Make a Key from a Lock?

The classic picture: you’ve got a lock, but no key, and you’re hoping a locksmith can work some magic. What really happens? First, a locksmith examines the lock to see what kind it is—Yale, mortice, euro cylinder, or something more exotic. Most UK homes use cylinder or mortice locks, both of which can be tackled by a professional. It’s all about reading the lock’s inner pins or levers. Skilled locksmiths have tools for this purpose: special lock picks, key decoders, and impressioning files. Impressioning is an art where a blank key is inserted, wiggled, and marked to slowly reveal where pins sit—like sculpting a key from clues.

A lot of the time, locksmiths can dismantle the lock (with your permission, obviously) to read the bitting code directly. This code is a series of numbers or shapes that dictate the cut depths on a key. Once they have it, cutting a new key is usually fast. In modern shops, key-cutting machines can reproduce near-perfect keys in a few minutes once the code is known. Surprisingly, UK households lose a set of keys every 43 seconds—a stat my local locksmith proudly reports! That's thousands of keys being reproduced every day.

Locksmiths typically charge based on complexity and time involved. Simple cylinder locks are quicker (and cheaper) to make keys for compared to older lever mortice locks, which need much more finesse. Of course, if you're talking safes or high-security commercial locks, the task can be tricky—some even require manufacturer approval.

Many locksmiths are certified with the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) in the UK, which means they’re vetted for skills and ethical practices. It's a solid sign you’re dealing with someone who follows a professional standard. So, yes, not only can a locksmith UK make a key from a lock—they’ve probably done it dozens of times this week alone.

When Should You Ask a Locksmith to Make a Key?

So you’re standing outside with a lock and no key. When is it worth calling in a locksmith? First, if you’ve lost the only key, and replacements aren’t available, this is your moment. Don’t bother scouring the internet for master keys—most locks can’t be opened by generic solutions. Instead, a pro can make you a new key, often on the same day.

This is super helpful for: moving into a new place where certain doors have no keys (think basements, sheds, or interior doors), vintage furniture locks, or when you inherit a property with ‘mystery’ locks. Tradespeople often call locksmiths to create keys from old filing cabinets and office furniture—turns out office managers lose keys as often as anyone else.

If you suspect your old key has been copied by someone untrustworthy, making a new key (along with changing the lock pins, called rekeying), gives you peace of mind. It’s also handy for landlords who need to create a master key system or replace lost tenant keys without changing the whole lock hardware.

There are a few cases where making a key isn’t practical: if the lock is badly damaged or rusted solid, or if you’re upgrading to a higher-security system (insurance companies like this move). Sometimes, older locks are harder to source blanks for—imagine a 19th-century mortice—but a good locksmith relishes this sort of puzzle. Just ask, and they’ll tell you what’s possible and what’s not.

What’s the Step-by-Step Process?

Curious about what actually happens when a locksmith turns up with your sad, keyless lock? Here’s a walk-through of the typical key-from-lock process in the UK.

1. Assessment: The locksmith will inspect the lock to confirm make, model, and whether it can be worked on without causing damage.
2. Decoding the lock: Sometimes this means impressioning, where they carefully mark a blank key to reveal the cuts. In other cases, they dismantle the lock to read the code inside or measure the pins or levers.
3. Key cutting: Armed with the code or impression, the locksmith uses a key-cutting machine to cut a new key. Modern machines are computer-guided, but older key types may be cut by hand—craftsmanship at its finest!
4. Testing and tuning: The new key gets tested in the lock, and tiny adjustments are made for smooth turning.
5. Final fitting: The lock is reassembled if needed, and you’re handed a shiny new key—usually plus a spare.

The whole thing can take under an hour for common household locks, but rare or high-security types might need a little longer. Some locksmiths keep an impressive library of blank keys—one UK chain claims to stock over 7,000 different types! For particularly old or unusual locks, they might have to order a blank, so always check ahead if time is tight.

Here’s a quick data table, so you know what to expect cost- and time-wise. These are average prices for 2025, but your mileage may vary by region and locksmith skill.

Tips and Facts for Getting a Key Made from a Lock

A few practical tips to save money, time, and avoid rookie mistakes if you ever need a key made from a lock in the UK. First, always check if your locksmith is MLA-certified—this helps weed out the cowboys. Don’t be shy about asking for a quote upfront; prices can vary a lot, especially in London or other big cities. If you have the lock in hand, it speeds things up, but some locksmiths offer mobile services and can come to your place (handy if you’re locked out and freezing in the rain).

Bringing the lock to the shop? Remove it carefully, following YouTube tutorials or the manufacturer’s guide (if you have it). Damaging the lock can double your costs, so take it slow. If you’ve lost keys to heavy security doors or garage doors, ask about insurance approval—some insurers require you to use ‘approved’ locksmiths to stay covered. And please, don’t try to pick or drill the lock yourself unless you’ve practiced on a bunch of spares. YouTube makes it look easy, but I can tell you from watching a friend wreck his shed door, it’s not as simple as it seems!

Keep in mind: modern key blanks are numbered. If you still have an old broken key, bring it along. Even a snapped key can help speed things up. Locksmiths also keep historical guides for old British lock makes, so if it’s a true antique, call ahead and send them a photo first. The more info you supply, the quicker (and cheaper) the job.

Want a fun fact? The world’s oldest known lock is over 4,000 years old and was found in the ruins of Nineveh, a testament to humankind’s obsession with keeping things secure. The UK has its share of ancient locks—local locksmiths love sharing stories about quirky jobs on Victorian era brasswork or medieval church doors. A well-made key from a lock doesn’t just open a door; sometimes it opens a piece of history.

"A professional locksmith can nearly always make a working key from nearly any lock." – Master Locksmiths Association (MLA)

Finally, when the new key slides in and turns just right, there’s a weirdly satisfying click that never gets old—ask your locksmith to show you how it’s done if you’re curious. Good ones love explaining their craft. In a pinch, Whiskers (my cat) once dragged a set of keys under the fridge, leading to my own frantic call-out—so trust me, you’re not alone if you need this service!

Frequently Asked Questions: What People Want to Know

People often ask if all locks can be re-keyed, or if certain brands are a pain to work with. Most domestic UK locks—think Yale, Chubb, ERA—are straightforward. Some imported brands might not have blanks available locally, but locksmiths in big UK cities usually sort it with a bit of creative ordering. Another common worry: is it legal? Absolutely, if you’re the owner or have proof of tenancy. Most pros will ask for ID for obvious reasons.

If you’re renting, check with your landlord before you get a new key made. Most landlords are happy if you save the cost of replacing a whole lock, some even reimburse the service. Householders lose or break around 3.5 million keys annually in the UK—a stat I once doubted until I learned locksmiths track it for insurance reporting. Lost key calls are consistently among their top three service requests.

Does the new key work as well as the original? Usually, yes. Sometimes a fresh key works better, especially if the old one was worn or a poor copy. The only times you’ll notice trouble are with heavily worn locks (consider getting those replaced), or if the lock was a rare make and the blank isn’t quite a perfect fit. Most of the time, you’ll end up with two or more new keys in hand—a practical bonus, since losing keys seems to be a nationwide hobby.

If your lock is digital or electronic, that’s a whole different ballgame; new codes or chips, not physical keys, are used instead. Non-physical keys are growing in popularity, but for everyday locks, the technique hasn’t changed much in decades.