Key Broke Off in the Lock? Broken Key Extraction in Jacksonville Without Damage
Taking calls until 9 PM
Most of Jacksonville in 20–45 minutes
What to do the moment a key breaks
A key that snaps off in a lock feels like a disaster. Most of the time it's a quick fix, as long as the broken piece isn't pushed deeper. Do this:
- Stop turning. Leave the lock where it is. Turning a lock with a broken piece inside pushes the pins out of line.
- Keep the other half. We can often cut a new key straight from the two pieces.
- Only pull if it sticks out. If you can see the end of the key, try gripping it with tweezers and pulling straight out. Don't wiggle it side to side.
- Skip the glue. Super glue on a stick sounds clever, but a drop in the keyway locks the pins in place, and then the whole cylinder has to be replaced.
- Secure the door. If the door is open, lock it from the inside with the thumb turn.
Then call (904) 509-0907 or text us a photo of the lock.
Where we remove broken keys
- Front doors and deadbolts at homes and apartments
- Business doors, including storefront and office locks
- Padlocks, storage units, mailboxes, gates and file cabinets
If you're locked out because of the broken key, we get you in first and handle the key second. For a house, that's our house lockout service. For a business, see business lockout.
How we get the broken piece out
We use thin steel extractors. They slide along the side of the broken piece, hook the cuts on the key and pull it forward. Nothing gets drilled.
- If the cylinder is turned, we first rotate it back to the starting position with a pick or a tension tool, because a key only comes out straight when the cylinder is lined up.
- If a piece is jammed or rusted, we may take the cylinder out of the door and open it on the bench. That still saves the lock.
Drilling is a last resort. If a lock truly can't be saved, we tell you before we do anything, and we can replace it on the same visit.
A new key on the spot
Once the piece is out, you still need a key that works. We carry a mobile key machine, so we can:
- cut a new key by matching the two broken halves, or
- decode the lock and cut a key to the right depths.
Why keys break, and how to stop it happening again
A key almost never breaks in a healthy lock. It breaks because something made you twist harder than normal. The common causes in Jacksonville:
- Worn or cracked keys. Look for a thin neck near the head or a crack in the blade. Replace keys like that before they fail.
- Swollen doors. Summer humidity can swell wood doors and frames so the bolt drags on the strike plate. You end up forcing the key. We call this "Florida swell," and fixing the door alignment fixes the problem. See door lock repair.
- Salt air. Near the beach, salt and sand build up in the keyway and make cylinders gritty.
- Bad copies. A key cut off-center can catch on the pins and snap.
- Using keys as tools. Opening boxes or prying lids with a key weakens the blade.
While we're there, we can clean and lubricate the lock, adjust the strike plate, or rekey the lock if you're not sure who else has keys.
What broken key extraction costs
We quote the price on the phone before we come out. It depends on:
- How deep and how jammed. A piece we can see comes out faster than one pushed deep or rusted in.
- The new key. A house key cut from the pieces is simple. High-security keys cost more.
- Extra repairs. If the lock was damaged before the key broke, we'll quote a repair or a replacement separately.
Our pricing guide explains more. You get the full price on the phone before we drive out, and we confirm it before any work starts.
Where we work
We extract broken keys at homes and businesses across Jacksonville, including Mandarin, Southside, San Marco and Jacksonville Beach. Typical arrival: Most of Jacksonville in 20–45 minutes.
Key snapped off? Call (904) 509-0907 and leave the lock alone until we get there. We're available Mon & Fri 7 AM–2 PM and Tue & Thu 7 AM–6 PM.
How we work
No surprises. No scare tactics.
Locksmith scams follow a pattern. Here is how we do the opposite, on every job.
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Upfront price on the phone
Tell us what's going on and we quote the total before we drive out. If something on site changes the job, we explain why and you approve the new price before we start.
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ID check before we open
Before we open a door, we check your ID and something that ties you to the address or vehicle, like a lease, bill or registration. It protects you as much as it protects us.
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Courtesy call and marked arrival
We call when we're on the way and arrive in a vehicle marked with our name. The person you talked to on the phone is the business that shows up, not a subcontractor.
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Non-destructive entry first
Most lockouts open by picking or bypass tools, with no damage. We only drill as a last resort, and only after you agree to it and the cost.
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Itemized invoice
When the work is done you get an itemized invoice with our business name on it. It matches the price you agreed to, with no surprise fees added at the door.
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Local and owner-operated
When you call, you reach a local business based in the 32258 area, not a national call center that sells your job to whoever is closest.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if my key breaks off in the lock?
Stop turning the lock and keep both halves of the key. If a piece sticks out, you can try pulling it straight out with tweezers. Don't push it deeper, use super glue or pry with a screwdriver, because that jams the pins and can ruin the lock. Then call us and we'll extract it.
Can you make a new key from a broken key?
Yes. We fit the two halves together and cut a new key from them, or decode the lock once the piece is out. Bring both pieces if you have them.
Will you have to drill the lock to get the key out?
Almost never. We use thin extractor tools that hook the key's cuts and slide the piece out. If it's jammed, we turn the cylinder back to the key's starting position first. We only take a cylinder apart when a piece is wedged deep, and drilling is a last resort we discuss with you before we start.
Why do keys break off in locks?
Most keys break because they were already worn or cracked, or because the lock was stiff and someone forced it. In Jacksonville, humid weather swells doors so the bolt drags, and salt air corrodes cylinders near the beach. Both make you twist harder. A lock that needs force is a lock that needs service.
Can you remove a broken key from a padlock or storage unit lock?
Yes. We remove broken keys from padlocks, storage unit locks, mailbox locks, gate locks and file cabinets. If the key can't be saved, we can open the lock and replace it. For a storage unit, you may need to show the facility office that the unit is rented in your name before we open it.
Related
Related services
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House Lockout
Keys inside or lost? Damage-free entry to your home, with same-visit rekeying.
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Rekeying
Old keys stop working, your locks stay. One key for every door if you like.
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Lock Repair
Sticky keys, loose knobs, deadbolts that won't throw: diagnosed and fixed.
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Key Copies
Spare keys cut on site, to factory code when your original is worn.
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Mailbox Locks
Lost mailbox key? New lock and keys for curbside, wall and cluster boxes.
Service area
Where we offer broken key extraction
Get a quote for broken key extraction
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