The main types of keys fall into three groups. Everyday house keys include standard pin tumbler keys, deadbolt keys and wafer keys for mailboxes and cabinets. Car keys range from plain mechanical keys to transponder keys, remote-head keys, separate fobs and push-to-start smart keys. Specialty keys cover high-security and restricted keys, dimple keys, tubular keys and old skeleton keys. The type matters because it decides whether a hardware store can copy the key, whether it needs programming, and what a locksmith needs to replace it. Here is how to tell the different kinds of keys apart.
What are the most common types of house keys?
Most house keys are pin tumbler keys: a flat metal blade with cuts along one edge that line up pins inside the lock. They open front doors, back doors and deadbolts in the vast majority of homes, and they are the easiest key type to copy or rekey.
- Pin tumbler keys — the classic house key. Kwikset (KW1) and Schlage (SC1) are the two most common keyways in the US.
- Deadbolt keys — usually the same pin tumbler type as the door knob, often keyed alike so one key runs both.
- Wafer keys — smaller keys for mailboxes, filing cabinets and desk drawers, with simpler flat wafers instead of pins.
- Padlock keys — can be pin tumbler, wafer or disc-detainer, depending on the lock’s security level.
If you just moved in or lost a copy, you do not need new locks. Rekeying your locks changes the pins so a new key works and every old key stops working.
What types of car keys are there?
Car keys have gone from simple metal blades to small computers. Since the 1990s most cars use a transponder chip that the engine checks before it will start, and many newer models use a proximity smart key with no blade at all. The table shows how each type works and what it takes to replace.
| Car key type | How it works | Needs programming? |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical key | Metal blade only; turns the lock and ignition | No, cut only |
| Transponder key | Chip in the plastic head talks to the immobilizer | Yes, the chip |
| Remote-head or flip key | Blade plus lock/unlock buttons in one head | Yes, chip and remote |
| Separate key fob | Remote on its own; a key still starts the car | Yes, the remote |
| Smart key (push to start) | Proximity sensor; car unlocks and starts when it is nearby | Yes, fully |
A mobile locksmith can cut and program all of these on site. See car key replacement and key fob programming, or our guide on what to do when you lose a car key.
What are high-security and restricted keys?
High-security keys are built to resist picking, bumping and unauthorized copying. They use patented keyways, angled cuts or extra sidebars, and the blanks are usually restricted, meaning only authorized dealers can buy them and cut copies for the registered owner.
- Patented keyways — the key shape is protected, so blanks cannot legally be made by anyone else.
- Key control — copies require an ID card or signature, which is why businesses use them in master key systems.
- Lock grade — pair a high-security key with a strong lock. The BHMA grades door hardware from 1 (strongest) to 3.
What are dimple, tubular and skeleton keys?
These are less common key types you may still run into. They look different from a standard house key because the lock inside works differently, and most need a locksmith rather than a self-service kiosk to copy.
- Dimple keys — cuts are drilled into the flat face of the blade instead of the edge. Often used in higher-security residential locks.
- Tubular keys — a round, hollow shaft with notches around the end. Common on vending machines, bike locks and some alarm panels.
- Skeleton (warded) keys — the long, simple keys found in older interior doors. They offer little security today.
Which keys can be copied at a hardware store?
Standard house keys can usually be copied anywhere, but copying a copy tends to add small errors each time. Restricted keys cannot be copied without authorization, and car keys with chips need programming, which kiosks cannot do.
- Easy to copy: pin tumbler house and deadbolt keys, most padlock and mailbox keys.
- Needs a locksmith: restricted and high-security keys, dimple and tubular keys, and any car key with a chip or remote.
- “Do Not Duplicate” stamps are a request, not a technical barrier. A restricted keyway is what actually controls copies.
For a copy that turns smoothly the first time, professional key duplication cuts from the correct blank or from the key code.
How do I identify my key type?
You can usually tell your key type in under a minute by looking at the head, the blade and any stamps. If you are still unsure, a locksmith can identify it from a photo.
- Check the head. A thick plastic head on a car key usually hides a transponder chip. Buttons mean a remote.
- Look at the blade. Cuts on the edge mean a pin tumbler or wafer key; holes on the face mean a dimple key.
- Read the stamps. Brand names such as Kwikset or Schlage, or a code number, tell a locksmith exactly what blank to use.
- Check your car manual. It lists whether your vehicle uses a transponder, fob or smart key.
When should you call a locksmith?
Call a professional whenever a key problem could leave you locked out or your home or car less secure. Guessing with the wrong blank or forcing a stuck key can damage the lock and turn a small job into a bigger one.
- You lost every key to your car, especially a transponder or smart key.
- A key snapped off in a door lock or the ignition.
- You moved in and do not know who else has keys.
- You need copies of a restricted or high-security key.
Jacobson Locksmith is a mobile locksmith serving Seattle and the surrounding area 24/7. Call (206) 590-7999 or get emergency help.
Key takeaways
- House keys are mostly pin tumbler keys and are easy to copy or rekey.
- Most car keys since the 1990s need a chip programmed, not just a cut.
- Restricted keys give you real control over who can make copies.
- When in doubt, a locksmith can identify a key from a photo.