Broken Key in a Door Lock in Milwaukee
Locksmith Milwaukee Now takes broken keys out of house and apartment door locks in Milwaukee and about 30 miles around it, and cuts a new key on the same visit. Broken key extraction starts at $99. We work 24/7, every day of the year. Call or text us, and keep the half of the key you still have.
When a key breaks in a door lock
A key rarely breaks without a reason. Most of the broken keys we pull out of Milwaukee door locks come from one of these:
- An old, thin key. Years of turning wear the metal at the shoulder until it cracks.
- A frozen or stiff lock. In winter, a key turned hard in a cold cylinder snaps where it is weakest.
- A bent key. A key that was bent and straightened once breaks along the same line.
- A key used as a tool. Keys that open boxes and pry lids get small cracks that grow.
If a key breaks in the lock, leave the piece where it is and keep the other half. The half in your hand helps us cut the new key. Getting a broken key out usually takes 10 to 30 minutes.
A key stuck in the lock
Sometimes the key does not break but will not come out, or it turns halfway and stops. A stuck key is a warning: pulling and twisting harder is how most keys end up in two pieces. We work the key free and then fix the cause: a worn key, a dry or dirty cylinder, or a cam that slipped out of place. A key that sticks once usually means the lock needs a repair or a new key cut to the factory depth.
How we take the broken piece out
We slide thin extractor blades along the piece, catch the cuts, and draw it out of the keyway. The pins and springs stay in place, so the lock keeps working with a new key. When the piece is jammed deep, or the cylinder was turned with the piece inside, we take the cylinder out of the door and remove the piece from the back. In most cases, the lock works again the same visit.
A new key on the same visit
With both halves of the broken key in hand, we read every cut and cut a new key on site. When only one half is left, we read the cuts from the piece we took out of the lock. If the old key was worn thin, we cut the new one to the factory depth, so it turns more smoothly than the key that broke. Spare copies can be cut at the same time; see our key copy page.
When the lock needs more than an extraction
A key that broke in a stiff lock often points to a lock that is worn. If the pins are damaged or the cylinder turns hard even with a new key, we repair the lock or replace the cylinder on the same visit. And if a past tenant still has a copy of that key, a rekey on the same visit makes sense too.
Locked out with a broken key
When the key breaks with the door locked and you outside, we open the door first and then take the piece out. Both jobs happen on one visit; see house lockout for how we open a locked home. Urgent work of any kind is on our emergency locksmith page.
How a broken key visit goes
- Send two photosText us or call with the address, a photo of the lock face, and a photo of the half you have.
- Proof of addressA photo ID and a lease, a utility bill, or a deed. Inside papers can be shown once the door is open.
- We take the piece outWe extract the piece, or take out the cylinder when the piece is jammed deep.
- New key and a testWe cut a new key and test it with you from both sides of the door.
Broken key extraction prices in Milwaukee
| Broken key extraction, house door | from $99 |
|---|---|
| House key copy | from $10 |
| House or apartment lockout | from $69 |
| Lock repair | from $79 |
The starting price covers taking the piece out of a standard house door lock. A damaged cylinder, a lockout, or a new lock costs more, and we confirm the price on site before we start. Every home service and its price is on our residential locksmith page.
Broken car keys
A key that broke in a car door, a trunk, or an ignition is a different job, with different tools and prices. See broken car key for that work.
Cities we serve around Milwaukee
Milwaukee and about 30 miles around it: Milwaukee County, Waukesha County, Ozaukee County, Washington County, and Racine County.
Questions about broken keys in Milwaukee
How much does it cost to remove a broken key from a door lock?
From $99 for a standard house door lock. The final price depends on the lock and the damage, and we confirm it on site.
Can you make a new key from the broken key?
Yes. We read the cuts from both halves, or from the piece we take out, and cut a new key on the same visit.
Will my lock still work after you take the key out?
In most cases, yes. If the pins or the cylinder are damaged, we repair or replace the cylinder on the same visit.
Can you remove a broken key from a deadbolt?
Yes. We take broken keys out of deadbolts, knob locks, lever locks, and storm door handles.
My key broke and the door is locked. What now?
Write or call with the address. We open the door, take the piece out, and cut a new key on one visit.
How long does it take to get a broken key out?
Usually 10 to 30 minutes, and the new key is cut on the same visit.