Commercial · Kenner, LA
Master Key Systems in Kenner
Master key installation for retail, office and industrial premises. Restricted keyways available.
Master key systems in Kenner are $95 to $185 per cylinder, $125 to $245 for restricted keyway conversion per cylinder. A typical 6-door retail unit runs $600 to $1,400 all-in, including keys and a documented keying schedule handed over on paper and as a PDF.
Why master key systems matter more than you think
This is the single most common thing we find on a first visit to a Kenner business: nobody knows how many keys exist. The shop opened, keys were cut for staff at a hardware store, five years later there is no record of how many copies of the stockroom key are out there or who has them.
Then a manager leaves abruptly. Or a break-in happens through the front door with no sign of forced entry. Or your insurer asks for a key inventory and you cannot produce one.
The point of a master key system is not the convenience of one key that opens everything. The point is that staff cannot copy keys they were never given, and you know exactly which keys exist.
Prices
Commercial master key prices
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Master key cylinder | $95–$185 each |
| Restricted keyway conversion | $125–$245 per cylinder |
| Change key | $8–$15 |
| Master key | $15–$25 |
| Keying schedule document | Included |
| Typical 6-door retail unit, all-in | $600–$1,400 |
| Emergency rekey after manager leaves | $125–$275 first door + $55–$85 each after |
Prices shown are typical ranges. Your total is confirmed on the phone before we dispatch — and if the specific lock, vehicle or job is unusual we tell you the number before we come out. No surprise fees.
Questions
Master key questions
How much does a master key system cost in Kenner?
$95 to $185 per cylinder. Add $125 to $245 per cylinder to convert to a restricted keyway so nobody can duplicate the keys at a kiosk. A typical retail unit with 6 openings runs $600 to $1,400 all-in, including keys and a documented keying schedule.
What is a master key system?
A keying hierarchy. Each staff member gets a change key that opens only what their role needs — front door, storage, or a specific office. You hold one master that opens everything. The convenience is in the master; the security is in the fact staff cannot open what they were not given.
What is a restricted keyway?
A cylinder using key blanks that are not sold openly — hardware stores and kiosks cannot legally or practically cut them without your written authorisation. If you have ever had a manager leave with keys they should not still have copies of, this is why.
Do you provide a keying schedule?
Yes, on paper and as a PDF. Which key opens which door, who holds it, what the change protocol is if someone leaves. The next locksmith who works on your building is not guessing — which is when systems get compromised.
How long does the install take?
Half a day for a typical retail unit with 6 to 10 openings. We work around your trading hours — before opening, after closing, or a Sunday if that is easier.
What happens if a key is lost?
Depends what level. A single change key lost, we rekey that one cylinder and cut a new change key for that role — usually $95 to $145. A master key lost is more serious — the whole system probably wants rekeying, which is where the master schedule earns its keep.
Can you master our existing hardware or do we need new locks?
Usually we can master existing hardware if the cylinders are quality Grade 1 or Grade 2 pin-tumbler. Zinc-plated hardware-store cylinders we replace — they will not hold a master pin arrangement reliably.
Is this fire code compliant?
Yes when specified correctly. Required exit doors still need single-action egress — one motion, no key, no special knowledge — so panic hardware and thumb-turn interior cylinders stay in place. See commercial locksmith — fire code and ADA.
Master key systems for Kenner businesses
Per-door pricing before we start. Keying schedule handed over when we finish.