How to get a broken key out of a lock, and when to stop

What should you check before you touch a broken key in a lock?

Check three things before you touch a broken key: how much of it is sticking out, whether the door is locked, and whether the lock is part way through a turn. WD-40's UK how-to guide says the right method depends on the type of lock and how far the key is lodged.

Don't push the other half of the key back in to try the lock. WD-40's guide warns against pushing the broken half further into the keyway. Keep both pieces together, and take them with you if you end up at a locksmith.

Outside a locked door that's your only way in? Skip the steps here and go to our emergency locksmith page. And if the key snapped in a car, read our guide to a key stuck in the ignition.

How do you get a broken key out of a lock?

Line the lock up first, then pull. WD-40's South African how-to guide says a broken key can't be removed from any position other than open or closed. Grip the piece with needle-nose pliers, wiggle it up and down, and pull it straight out. Stop if it slides deeper.

1. 1Step 1: Turn the lock back to where the key went in, so it sits in the open or closed position.
2. 2Step 2: Press on the face of the lock with a fingertip. With your other hand, try to pinch the piece out.
3. 3Step 3: No luck? Grip the piece with needle-nose pliers and pull it straight out. WD-40's UK guide says tweezers can stand in for pliers, with caution.
4. 4Step 4: Wiggle the piece up and down as you pull. Not side to side.
5. 5Step 5: Stop if nothing moves. WD-40's UK guide says the best option then is to call a professional.

WD-40's guides also tell you to spray its product into the keyhole to help the key slide out. Lock makers don't all agree with that step. Gainsborough's care page says not to use oil or aerosol lubricant in the cylinder. So find out who made your lock before you spray anything into it.

Is the key snapped in a padlock, a letterbox lock or a shed lock? Take the whole lock off and bring it to a locksmith, along with both halves of the key.

When should you stop and call a locksmith?

Stop when the broken piece moves deeper, when there's nothing left to grip, when the lock won't turn back with light pressure, or when a few gentle tries haven't shifted it. WD-40's own guide says the best option at that point is to call a professional and avoid damaging the lock yourself.

ABC Locksmiths replaces and rekeys house locks, from a walk-in shop in Brendale and with a mobile service. If the lock has had it, we can replace or rekey the lock. Call 07 3205 4925. Open Mon to Thu 8am to 4:45pm, Fri to 4:30pm.

Worried about the bill? Our guide to what a locksmith costs in Brisbane explains what goes into a quote, so you know what to ask on the phone.

Key stuck in the lock but not broken?

Stop turning, and stop pulling hard. Bring the key back to the position it went in, press a fingertip on the face of the lock, and ease the key straight out. WD-40's UK guide gives the same two checks for a broken key that won't come out: line it up, then push on the lock face.

WD-40's Indian guide puts broken keys down to using a lot of force to open or close a lock. It adds that old locks in need of maintenance can cause it too. So go gently.

Key stuck in the lock half turned?

WD-40's Indian guide says a key is extremely difficult to remove when the lock is in any position other than open or closed, even if it isn't stuck. Turn the key gently back the way it came until it sits where it went in, then pull straight. Won't turn back with light pressure? Stop there.

Look at the door as well. ASSA ABLOY Australia's care page says faulty hinges, warped doors and distorted frames can put excessive load on other parts. If you have to lean on the door to get the key to turn, the door needs attention too.

Can you use WD-40 on locks?

It depends on who made your lock. WD-40 Australia says yes: spray it into the lock, leave it to soak in and wipe away the excess. Gainsborough says not to use oil or aerosol lubricant in the cylinder. ASSA ABLOY Australia says to put a small amount of lubricant on the key blade.

Three makers, three answers. Look for a brand name on your lock, then follow that maker's care guide. If you can't find a name, the two lock makers here agree on one point: the lubricant goes on the key, in a small amount.

Live near salt water? ASSA ABLOY says to shorten the gap between services in marine or other corrosive environments. It also says to clear dirt, grime and salt from around the end of the cylinder.

How do you fix a sticky lock?

Start with the key. Gainsborough says you may sprinkle a small amount of graphite onto a sticky key and then insert it. ASSA ABLOY says to remove dirt, grime and salt from around the end of the cylinder. Both makers say to keep cleaning liquid out of the cylinder. Still rough after that? Have the lock checked before the key snaps in it.

The key's out. Do you need a new key, a rekey or a new lock?

Try a spare key first. If it slides in, turns and comes out cleanly, a new key may be all you need. If the lock catches or feels rough, have it checked. ABC Locksmiths cuts house keys and rekeys or replaces house locks, from its Brendale shop and by mobile service.

No spare? Call or walk in at the Brendale counter and we'll talk through your options. One of them is rekeying the lock, which sets it to a new key. With a working spare, key cutting at the counter gets you a second one.

If the spare drags, sticks or needs a jiggle, have the lock checked. It may need lock replacement or rekeying. New to the word? Our guide to rekeying after you move explains what a rekey is.

Why did my key break in the lock?

Mostly force. WD-40's Indian how-to guide says broken keys usually come from using a lot of force to open or close a lock, and that old locks in need of maintenance can cause it too. Its UK guide says new keys and poor copies often hang up on the pins, one reason a broken piece sticks.

The door can be part of it. ASSA ABLOY Australia says faulty hinges, warped doors and distorted frames can put excessive load on other parts. A door that has to be pushed, pulled or lifted before the key turns needs attention too.

How to stop it happening again

• Stop using a key that's bent, cracked or hard to turn. Swap to your spare.
• Get the next spare cut from your cleanest key. We do key cutting at the Brendale counter.
• Look after the lock the way its maker says. ASSA ABLOY's page says key cylinders should be lubricated at least once a year.
• Fix the door if it drags on the frame.
• Have stiff locks looked at. Our home security inspection checks whether your deadlock and your screen door lock work as intended.

Renting in Queensland: who fixes a lock with a broken key in it?

Tell your property manager or owner first. Queensland's Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) says the property manager or owner must supply and maintain all locks. It also lists a fault or damage that makes the premises unsafe or insecure as an emergency repair. Use the emergency repair contact on your tenancy agreement.

Queensland's minimum housing standards call for working locks or latches on all external doors and windows that can be reached without a ladder. The RTA says repairs needed to meet those standards are classified as emergency repairs. So a front door that no longer locks is worth a phone call today.

Can't reach the emergency contact within a reasonable time? The RTA says the tenant or the property manager can arrange repairs up to a maximum value of 4 weeks rent. If you pay, ask for the money back in writing, hand over all receipts and allow at least 7 days. Emergency repairs don't apply to rooming accommodation, where all repairs are routine.

Changing the lock is a separate question. Outside a domestic and family violence situation, the RTA says locks can only be changed if you and the property manager or owner agree, in an emergency, or by QCAT order. The RTA pages we read don't say who pays when a tenant snaps the key, so ask your property manager or the RTA.

Managing the property? ABC Locksmiths works with property managers. See our commercial locksmith services.

Should you bring the lock to the shop or call?

If the lock can travel and you want it rekeyed or replaced, bring it and any spare key to ABC Locksmiths at Unit 19, 193-203 South Pine Road, Brendale QLD 4500. Open Mon to Thu 8am to 4:45pm, Fri to 4:30pm. If the lock is fixed to a door, call 07 3205 4925.

What to bring or have ready

• Any spare key for the same lock.
• The lock itself, if it comes off without tools and you want it rekeyed or replaced.
• A photo of the lock and the edge of the door, if the lock is staying where it is.

A few details save time on the phone. Say what kind of door it is, whether it's locked or unlocked, and how much of the key you can see. You'll find the map on our contact page.

Rather type it out? Send the details through our house lock quote form.