Keyed Alike Explained — One Key For Every Door
Keyed alike means every lock it applies to opens with the same key, set up during a rekey for a small extra cost since a technician is already on site. It only works when the locks share a compatible keyway; mixing brands sometimes means swapping a cylinder or two to match before it can be done.
The ring of four mismatched keys is one of those small daily frictions nobody thinks to fix until someone mentions it is fixable. Front door, back door, garage, shed — four keys, four shapes, and the one you need is never the one on top.
How it actually works
Every pin tumbler lock has a set of pins matched to one specific key cut. Keyed alike means pinning several locks to the exact same combination, so one key operates all of them. It is not a different type of lock — it is the same cylinders, set up to agree with each other.
What it costs to add
Very little, if it is done at the same time as a rekey you were already booking. The technician is already there with the pinning kit open; matching a second or third cylinder to the same combination is a small addition, not a second job.
When it does not work cleanly
- Different keyways — a Kwikset and a Schlage lock use physically different key shapes, so they cannot share one key without a cylinder swap on one of them.
- Very old or unusual hardware — some older or uncommon brands do not have a modern pinning kit available.
- High-security cylinders — Medeco, Mul-T-Lock and similar sometimes need matching series to key alike, not just any two locks of that brand.
None of these make it impossible — they usually just mean swapping one cylinder to match the others, done at the same visit.
Keyed alike vs master keyed — not the same thing
| Keyed alike | Master keyed | |
|---|---|---|
| How many keys work everywhere | One, and it is the only key | A master key plus individual keys |
| Individual access control | No — one key opens everything | Yes — each key opens only its own lock |
| Best for | A single household | Rentals, staff, multiple users |
For a house where everyone should be able to open every door, keyed alike is right. For a rental or a business where different people need different access, master key systems is the better fit.
Setting it up
Tell us when you book which doors you want on the same key. It gets added to the rekey with no extra visit. Full detail on rekeying itself is on rekey locks in Kenner, and ranges are on the prices page.