Doors, locks & repairs

Key snapped off in the lock? Do this, not that

A key snapping off in a lock feels like a disaster. Usually it is a short visit, as long as nobody tries too hard to fix it first.

By Timmy Creighton, founder and licensed locksmith · Major Key Locksmith · October 2026

Do

• Stop turning. Leave the cylinder where it is.
• Keep the broken half of the key. We can often cut a new key from it.
• If a piece is clearly sticking out, you can try to grip it with fine tweezers or needle-nose pliers and pull straight out, gently. Straight, not twisting.
• If the door is unlocked, leave it unlocked and use another door until it is fixed.

Do not

• Do not use glue. Superglue on a stick to pull the key out is the most popular internet trick, and it is how a simple extraction becomes a replaced lock.
• Do not push the piece further in with another key.
• Do not spray oil in. It makes the fragment slippery and harder to grip.

Why it broke matters

Keys rarely snap in a healthy lock. A broken key usually means the key was badly worn, or the lock had been stiff and getting stiffer for a while. Once the piece is out, it is worth asking whether the lock needs attention, or you will be doing this again. See lock care and sticky keys.

What it costs

Extracting a broken key is a door repair visit, $250, which covers the visit, the diagnosis and the common fix. If you are locked out because of it, it is handled as a lockout instead. Either way, you get the price before we start.

Questions people ask

Can you make a new key from the broken pieces?

Often, yes, if both halves are there and not too damaged. Otherwise we can make a key to the lock itself.

Will the lock still work after the key is removed?

Usually, if nobody forced it. If the lock was already worn, which is often why the key broke, it may need servicing or replacing.

It snapped in my car door or ignition. Is that the same?

The idea is the same, but car locks are a different job. Call and describe it rather than booking online.

Keep reading

Any price mentioned here is the one published on our pricing page as of October 2026. The final price is always confirmed with you before any work begins. More answers from the blog →