Is it safe to leave a broken key piece in the lock overnight?
For the lock, usually yes. A broken piece that is left alone overnight does not damage the cylinder, and waiting is better than trying to force the situation yourself. The one thing to avoid is pushing the stub further in or putting anything into the keyway.
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The practical question is the door, not the lock. If the door is locked and you are outside, or the door will not lock behind you, you will want a plan for the night. That plan is covered below.
Why waiting is fine, and why fixing it yourself is not
A snapped key is a mechanical problem that does not get worse with time. The piece sits inside the cylinder and stays where it is. What makes it worse is what people do next. Pushing the stub further in with another key or a pin usually turns an extraction into a cylinder replacement, and glue is what makes a lock unrecoverable.
Keys tend to snap in cold weather and in worn cylinders. If the key had been getting stiff for weeks, the lock was giving a warning. That also tells the locksmith something useful: the cylinder may need checking for wear once the piece is out.
Keep both parts of the key. The half you are holding can be used to cut a new key, and the locksmith will want to see it.
What you can check yourself tonight
- Leave the lock aloneDo not turn, push or poke anything in the keyway. Leaving it untouched keeps the simplest repair available.
- Keep both halves of the keyPut the part in your hand somewhere safe. It helps with cutting a replacement and with identifying the lock.
- Check whether another door worksIf you have a working key for a back door, a garage door or a side entrance, use that. It is your own key and your own door, so nothing else is needed.
- Decide how you will secure the doorIf the door cannot be locked from the outside with the key stuck, think about whether someone can be at home, or whether you would rather have the locksmith visit sooner. Waiting overnight is a choice you can make comfortably only if the property is sorted for the night.
- Check for anyone shut insideIf a child or an animal is shut in a home or a car, call 911 first, before anything else.
When to call a locksmith
Call whenever you are ready to have the lock sorted. Tonight, tomorrow morning or after work all work for the lock itself. Call sooner if the door cannot be secured, if you are locked out, or if the broken key is in your car's door or ignition and you need the vehicle. Call (866) 690-5848 and we will arrange a visit with an independent locksmith.
If the broken key has left you locked out, the locksmith checks identification and proof that you are entitled to enter the home, premises or vehicle before opening anything. A driver's licence with the address, a lease, a utility bill, vehicle registration or insurance, or a neighbour or manager who can confirm it will do. This is also why this page does not explain how locks are opened.
The estimate is free. The locksmith looks at the lock, gives you the price, and work starts only once you agree to it.
What the locksmith will do
- Remove the broken pieceThe locksmith extracts the piece from the lock so the keyway is clear again.
- Check the cylinderThe cylinder is checked for damage. If the keyway is chewed up, it is replaced rather than patched.
- Cut a new keyA new key is cut from the surviving half or from the lock itself, so you leave with a working key.
- Lubricate and check alignmentThe lock is lubricated and the door alignment checked, so the lock turns freely and the key is not under strain.
Related questions
- Can I use super glue to stick the key back together?
- No. Glue in the keyway is what makes a lock unrecoverable, and it can turn a simple extraction into a full replacement. Keep the pieces as they are and let the locksmith handle it.
- Will the lock need replacing?
- Not always. If the keyway and cylinder are undamaged once the piece is out, the same lock can often stay. The locksmith checks this and tells you before any work is agreed.
- What if the stub is sticking out of the lock?
- Leave it where it is. A piece that can be seen is not a reason to try pulling it out yourself, as that is how it tends to break shorter or slip back in.
- Do I need to bring the other half of the key?
- Keep it and have it ready. It lets the locksmith cut a new key quickly, and if it is missing the key can be cut from the lock itself.
- Does the locksmith need to be licensed?
- Locksmith licensing varies by state. Some states license or register locksmiths through a state agency, others leave it to cities or counties, and some do not regulate the trade. Check with your own state or city.
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