Keyed alike means every lock on your property is pinned to the same key, so one key opens the front door, back door, garage entry and side gate. It works when the locks share a keyway, such as all Kwikset or all Schlage. When they do not, we swap a cylinder or one lock so the set matches. Most homes are done in a single visit.
What you get
- One key for front, back, garage, gates and casita
- Mixed brands solved by matching cylinders, not replacing everything
- Extra copies cut on the spot
- Ideal for ADUs, rentals and busy families
What keyed alike means
Every pin tumbler cylinder holds a stack of pins cut to match one key. Keyed alike simply means we load the identical pin stack into every cylinder on the property. One key, cut once, turns all of them.
It is different from a master key system, where each door has its own key and a separate master opens everything. Keyed alike is the simpler, cheaper option and the right one for a single household. For rentals with multiple tenants, master keying is the better fit; see master key systems.
The keyway rule: why Kwikset and Schlage never mix
A keyway is the shape of the slot the key slides into. Kwikset uses the KW1 profile, Schlage uses SC1, and they are physically incompatible: a Kwikset key will not enter a Schlage cylinder no matter how it is pinned.
Other brands follow one of those two families or use their own. Most Defiant locks are KW1; older Weiser locks use a Weiser keyway, so we check those door by door. Baldwin Estate and Reserve hardware and most Emtek locks ship on the Schlage C keyway, while the Baldwin Prestige line sold at home centers uses Kwikset SmartKey on KW1. Kwikset SmartKey locks are normally KW1 and can be set to the same key as standard Kwikset cylinders.
So the first thing we check on a keyed-alike job is which keyways are on the doors. Same keyway everywhere means a straight rekey. Mixed keyways mean one of the fixes below.
Need keyed alike (one key) today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
How we get a mixed house down to one key
Many San Diego homes have picked up a mix over the years: a Schlage deadbolt from a remodel, a Kwikset knob from the builder, a stray lever on the garage door. Three ways to solve it, cheapest first:
- Rekey the majority. If four locks are Kwikset and one is Schlage, we rekey the four to one key and swap the odd lock's cylinder for a Kwikset-keyway cylinder when the hardware allows.
- Replace the odd lock. When a cylinder swap is not possible, we replace that one lock with a matching-brand unit in the same finish and pin it to the house key.
- Standardize on the strong door. Some owners put a Grade 1 Schlage deadbolt on the front door and bring the rest in line with it.
Rekey vs. change locks explains when the odd lock is worth replacing, and new owners can fold all of this into a move-in rekey and start with one key.
Keyed alike vs master keyed
- Keyed alike: one key, every door. Best for a single home, a home with an ADU you also use, or a small business where everyone needs everything.
- Master keyed: a unique key per door plus a master. Best for rentals, offices and any place where different people should open different doors.
- Cost: keyed alike is a normal rekey. Master keying adds pinning work and planning.
- Risk: lose the keyed-alike key and every lock needs rekeying. Lose a change key in a master system and only that door does.
Where keyed alike shines in San Diego
Canyon-lot homes in Clairemont and Tierrasanta with two or three gated side yards. Ranch properties in Poway and Ramona with barns, workshops and pump houses. Houses with a garage side door, a laundry door and a back slider that each came with a different key. And any home with a casita or ADU the owner also uses.
Families with kids who carry keys benefit most: one key on a lanyard instead of a ring they will lose.
Security considerations
Keyed alike puts more doors on one key, so guard that key. If it goes missing, every lock needs rekeying, not just one. Practical mitigations: keep the count of copies low, give cleaners and contractors a keypad code instead of a key, and keep the front door on a strong deadbolt with 3-inch strike screws. If keys go missing anyway, our lost key rekey gets everything back under control in one visit.
Add a smart lock and still keep one key
Many keyed smart locks sit on a standard keyway. Schlage Encode models use the Schlage C keyway, so they can be keyed alike with your other Schlage doors. Kwikset Halo and SmartCode models use SmartKey on the KW1 profile and match other Kwikset locks. That means you can put a smart lock on the front door for codes and phone access, and the same physical key still opens the garage and side gate as a backup. We set it up in the same visit. Which models have a rekeyable keyway is covered in can a smart lock be rekeyed.
Keyed Alike (One Key): common questions
Can all my locks be keyed alike if they are different brands?
Only locks on the same keyway can share a key. Brands within a family match: Kwikset, Baldwin Prestige and most Defiant locks share KW1, while Schlage, Baldwin Estate and most Emtek hardware share the Schlage C keyway (SC1). For the odd brand we swap its cylinder or replace that one lock so everything matches.
Can a smart lock be keyed alike with my other doors?
Usually. Schlage Encode locks use the Schlage keyway and match other Schlage doors; Kwikset Halo and SmartCode use SmartKey and match other Kwikset doors. Key-free smart locks have no cylinder, so they cannot be keyed to anything, but the rest of the house can still share one key.
Is keyed alike less secure than separate keys?
The locks themselves are just as secure. The tradeoff is that one lost key exposes every door instead of one. Most households accept that in exchange for convenience and manage it by keeping copies to a minimum and using keypad codes for visitors.
How many keys do I get?
We cut a starter set with the rekey and additional copies on request at the per-key price on our pricing page. Because the key is cut fresh on the truck, every copy is a clean first-generation cut rather than a copy of a copy.
Can you key alike the units in my rental property?
We can, but we usually advise against it, because every tenant would open every unit. A small master key system gives each tenant a key to their own door and gives you a master for all of them. See our landlord rekey and commercial master key pages.
Do padlocks and gate locks work with keyed alike?
Many do. Rekeyable padlocks from Master, American and Abus, and gate locks with standard cylinders, can be pinned to your house key if the keyway matches. Cheap non-rekeyable padlocks cannot; we swap those for a rekeyable model in the same visit.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Rekey vs. Change Locks: Which Do You Actually Need? – Rekeying keeps your locks and kills old keys. Replacing swaps the hardware. Decide in two minutes with costs, timing and San Diego examples.
- Can a Smart Lock Be Rekeyed? Brand-by-Brand Answer – Most smart locks have a key override that can be rekeyed like any lock. The answer for Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, August, Level, Ultraloq, Eufy and Lockly.
- Should You Rekey After Buying a Home in San Diego? – Yes, rekey on move-in day. Which doors to rekey, what to do about the garage, gates and mailbox, HOA and ADU quirks, and a San Diego move-in checklist.
- Which Key Do You Have? Identify KW1, SC1 and SmartKey in 60 Seconds – Tell a Kwikset KW1 key from a Schlage SC1 by the bow and the keyway, spot a SmartKey slot, and learn which brands share a key so keyed alike works.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.