The short answer: usually yes
Breaking a key off in your door feels like a complete disaster, but a professional can almost always copy a broken key once it is safely extracted.
Our team sees these emergencies every day across Ireland.
There are two specific routes to take, depending entirely on the condition of the recovered pieces. We always assess the metal first to determine the most reliable cutting method.
The following guide explains how this works, when a completely new cylinder makes more financial sense, and how to handle restricted keyways. It starts with a clean broken key extraction, because the condition of the recovered pieces decides everything that follows. If the break has only just happened and the blade is still in the barrel, read what to do when a key snaps in the lock first.
Route 1: copying from the fragments
Your best chance for a perfect duplicate comes from preserving the broken pieces. If you kept the bow half, the part with the handle, and the blade is recovered from the cylinder, laying the two together gives the complete profile of the original key.
We use a specialised key gauge to measure the physical cuts, known as the key bitting, directly from those aligned parts. People understandably assume a snapped piece of metal is rubbish and throw it in the bin.
That jagged fragment is actually the single most useful item at the point of cutting a replacement, so our advice is to always hold onto the half in your hand until help arrives. This method to duplicate a broken key works exceptionally well when the metal was in reasonable condition and simply snapped from a stiff lock or a sudden load.
- Applying excessive rotational force to a sticky mechanism.
- Using the key handle to pull a heavy door shut.
- Metal fatigue from years of daily use in a standard Euro cylinder.
Route 2: cutting to code
Cutting to the lock’s specific code is the necessary option if the fragments are heavily worn or missing. Every standard lock is pinned to a specific mathematical pattern.
We can often read this exact pattern by decoding the cylinder or by checking a code recorded on the lock’s original documentation. Making a new key from broken key fragments is sometimes impossible, but cutting directly to code provides a perfect factory replacement.
This route is often better than copying, even when copying is possible. Our equipment cuts the metal to match the exact dimensions the lock was originally designed to use, whereas copying a worn key simply reproduces its wear and flaws. If your old key had started sticking before it broke, cutting to code fixes that problem entirely.
| Feature | Copying from Fragments | Cutting to Code |
|---|---|---|
| Best Used For | Clean breaks on relatively new keys | Heavily worn, bent, or missing keys |
| Accuracy | Duplicates the current physical state | Restores original factory dimensions |
| Requirements | Both halves of the broken key | Lock cylinder decoding or code card |
When a new lock is the answer instead
Sometimes the honest answer is not a replacement key at all, but rather a completely new cylinder. If the cylinder itself is worn out, which is frequently why the key snapped in the first place, a perfect new key will still stick.
We find that replacing the lock is a better investment in these cases, and it provides you with a fresh set of keys immediately. The hardware problem is the lock, not the metal in your hand.
Basic Euro cylinder replacements in Ireland typically start around €75 to €125 in 2026, making it a reasonable long-term fix. Our broken key extraction service covers the physical removal, diagnostic testing, and key cutting during the exact same visit, and the technician will tell you exactly which situation you are in after extracting the fragment.
- The central plug wiggles freely inside the housing.
- The mechanism grinds loudly when turning.
- The door requires forceful lifting to engage the lock.
Get more than one
Getting multiple copies made at once costs a fraction of calling a professional out again next month. The locksmith is already on location, the cutting machine is set up, and the marginal cost for extra blanks is small.
We always suggest having two or three spares cut, as a standard house key copy generally only costs between €5 and €10 locally. A sensible distribution strategy keeps you prepared for emergencies.
- One key in daily use.
- One spare kept at home, somewhere you would easily find it in the dark.
- One off-site copy given to a partner’s keyring, a family member’s house, or a coded key safe mounted out of obvious sight.
Our mobile key cutting service covers spares for homes and businesses across Waterford, meaning the shop comes directly to you.
Hiding spots like under the mat, inside a plant pot, on the door ledge, or inside a fake rock do not count as off-site. Those are the first four places any burglar checks.
A note on restricted keys
Restricted keys function entirely differently under Irish regulations and feature specific stamps like “do not duplicate”. High-security systems from brands like ASSA Abloy or Mul-T-Lock are protected by patent law and often come with a security card.
We must verify the keyholder’s written permission before duplicating these, as outlined by Private Security Authority guidelines. That strict restriction is the entire point of the system, preventing unauthorised copies from floating around an apartment building or office.
The replacement route always runs through whoever holds the original authorisation, rather than through any random locksmith with a cutting machine.
Restricted key systems provide an essential layer of access control, ensuring that only approved individuals can request duplicates.
Securing your property
Dealing with a broken key provides a perfect opportunity to evaluate your door security. An extraction solves the immediate emergency, while a proper lock assessment prevents the same issue from happening again.
Our team is ready to help you restore access and upgrade your hardware whenever you need it.
Contact us today to schedule a fast, professional extraction and get your doors working smoothly again.