Best K Locksmith sets up keyed alike locks for Ottawa homeowners who are tired of carrying five keys for one house. Front door, back door, side entry, garage, shed: each came with its own key, and nobody remembers which is which in the dark. Keying every lock to the same key solves that in a single visit. This guide explains how it works, when it is the right choice, when it is not, and how it fits with rekeying, master keys, and smart locks.
What Keyed Alike Locks Actually Are
Two locks are "keyed alike" when their cylinders share the same pin combination, so one key operates both. The locks themselves stay separate. No wiring connects them, and nothing about the door changes. Only the pins inside each cylinder are set to match.
This is different from a master key system, where several different keys open different doors while one master opens them all. A keyed alike setup is simpler: one key, every door, no hierarchy. For most single-family homes it is exactly what people want.
How a locksmith makes locks match
There are two routes. The first is rekeying. A technician removes each cylinder, replaces the pins so they match a single key, and reinstalls it. Your existing hardware stays. The second is buying new locks already keyed alike from the same manufacturer and installing them as a set. Either way, the result is one key.
Rekeying is the usual choice when the locks are sound. Our lock rekeying service handles most residential brands on site, and the whole house is normally done in one visit.
Who Benefits Most From Keyed Alike Locks
Some households gain more than others.
- Families with children. One key for the kids to carry instead of a ring they will lose.
- Homes with several exterior doors. Older Ottawa houses often have four or five, each on a different key.
- Owners of detached garages, sheds, or workshops. The padlock and the house door can share one key.
- Anyone who has just moved in. You need to rekey anyway, so putting every door on one key adds almost nothing to the visit.
- Households with a helper or caregiver. Handing over one key is simpler and easier to control.
- Cottage or second-property owners. The same key can open the city house and the cottage door if both use compatible cylinders.
Keyed Alike Versus the Alternatives
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Keyed alike | Single-family homes wanting one key | Every door shares the same security level |
| Master key system | Multi-unit buildings, home offices, rentals | More complex, needs a key control plan |
| Keyed different (the default) | Situations where one door must stay separate | More keys to carry and track |
| Keypad or smart lock on main entry | Homes wanting no key at all for daily use | Needs batteries and a mechanical backup |
| Keyed alike plus one keypad | Most Ottawa families | One key for all doors, code for the front |
Many homeowners land on the last row: keyed alike locks throughout, with a keypad up front. Every door shares one key for backup, and the front door gets a keypad so nobody carries a key day to day. If that appeals, our smart lock installation service can add the keypad while the rekeying is done.
Brand Compatibility: The Detail That Decides Everything
Locks can only be keyed alike if their cylinders accept the same key profile, known as the keyway. A Kwikset key will not enter a Schlage lock, and neither will fit a Weiser or a Weslock without a matching keyway. This matters because most homes have a mix of brands installed over the years.
When we assess a house, the first thing we check is the keyway on each door. Where all the locks share one brand family, rekeying to a single key is straightforward. Where they do not, there are two options: replace the odd cylinders with matching ones, or replace the mismatched lock entirely. Manufacturer support pages, such as Kwikset's, explain which of their product lines share a keyway, which helps when planning replacements.
Industry estimates suggest that a majority of homes older than 20 years have at least two keyways across their exterior doors. It is rarely a problem, just something to plan for.
Security Considerations
Keyed alike locks are convenient, but consider the trade-offs before committing.
One key opens everything
If that key is lost with anything identifying your address, every door is exposed. The fix is the same as with any lost key: rekey promptly. Because all the locks share one combination, a full rekey takes no longer than rekeying a single door would have.
Match the security level across doors
A high-security deadbolt on the front door keyed alike to a flimsy latch on the shed defeats the purpose. Bring every exterior door up to a similar grade. A Grade 2 deadbolt is a sensible baseline for a residential entry. If any door is lagging, a new deadbolt installation can be done in the same visit.
Keep the count of copies low
The advantage of one key is that you know exactly who has it. Cut only as many copies as you need, and note who holds each one. If a copy goes to a contractor for a week, get it back or rekey afterward.
What a Keyed Alike Visit Looks Like
At Best K Locksmith, a typical keyed alike appointment runs like this:
1. Walk the exterior and note every lock, brand, and keyway.
2. Confirm which doors you want on the shared key and which, if any, should stay separate.
3. Rekey each compatible cylinder to a new combination and cut fresh keys.
4. Replace any cylinder or lock that will not match, if you choose to.
5. Test every door with every key you are keeping, then hand over the spares.
We finish most houses with four to six exterior locks in a single visit. We give an honest quote after assessment, before any work starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can locks of different brands be keyed alike?
Only if they share a keyway. Kwikset and Weiser often do; Schlage uses its own. Where brands do not match, a cylinder or lock swap brings them into line so one key can operate everything.
Does keying locks alike make them less secure?
The locks themselves are unchanged. The only added risk is that one lost key opens every door. Prompt rekeying and a low number of copies manage that risk.
Can I keep one door on a separate key?
Yes. A home office, a basement apartment, or a storage room can stay on its own key while the rest of the house shares one. That is a common request.
Can my garage padlock share the house key?
Often, yes. Several padlock lines accept the same keyways as residential door locks, so we can key a padlock to match your entry doors.
Do I need new locks, or can you rekey what I have?
If your current locks are in good condition and share a keyway, rekeying is all you need. New hardware is only suggested where a lock is worn, low grade, or incompatible.
Ready for One Key? Contact Best K Locksmith
Best K Locksmith serves Ottawa and the surrounding communities with mobile residential locksmith services.
- Phone: (613) 707-4884 (emergency calls answered 24/7)
- Address: 3835 McBean St, Ottawa ON K0A 2Z0
- Hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–8 PM, Friday 8 AM–5 PM, Saturday closed, Sunday 8 AM–8 PM
Tell us how many exterior doors you have and the brands if you know them, and we will plan the visit before we arrive.