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Broken Key Extraction Oxford Snapped Keys Removed From £45
Half a key in your hand and the other half stuck in the lock? We remove snapped keys from door cylinders, mortice locks, car locks, padlocks and cabinets, then cut you a fresh key so it does not happen again.
Get a snapped key removed
Tell us what you need and we will call you straight back. Calling is quickest: 07520 644 595. Photos by WhatsApp: 07466 695655
Key fragment removed whole
Specialist extractors draw the broken piece out without harming the pins.
Lock tested afterwards
We turn the lock through its full throw before saying the job is done.
New key cut from the pieces
Where the code is readable we cut a fresh key so you are not left with a cracked one.
Cylinder only if needed
Replacement is the fallback, priced and agreed before any part is fitted.
Broken key extraction in Oxford costs £45 to £75 and covers snapped keys stuck in front door cylinders, mortice locks, nightlatches, car doors, padlocks and cabinet locks. We work 24 hours a day and, in OX1 to OX4, usually reach you within 10 to 30 minutes. In most cases the fragment comes out cleanly and the lock carries on working, so no new lock is needed.
Keep both halves of the key. The piece in your hand often lets us read the cut and make you a replacement on the spot.
Why do keys snap in the lock?
A key rarely breaks without warning. It has usually been weakening for months, and the final turn just happens to be the one that finishes it off.
- Metal fatigue. Brass keys flex slightly every time they turn. After years of use a hairline crack forms near the shoulder, which is where most keys snap.
- A bent key straightened by hand. Once a key has been bent and pushed back, the metal at the bend is much weaker.
- A stiff lock. If a cylinder needs real effort to turn, the key is acting as a lever. On uPVC doors this is usually a sign the door has dropped and the locking points are fighting the keeps.
- Poor copies. Cheap blanks and worn copy-of-a-copy keys have thinner necks and rougher cuts.
- Using the key as a handle. Pulling a heavy door shut by the key puts sideways force on a part designed only to rotate.
If your key has felt tight or needed jiggling for weeks, the lock itself may need attention. Our guide to why people get locked out lists other early warning signs.
Snapped key in lock? What not to do
Searches for how to get a broken key out of a lock are common, and the tips that come up often make things worse. Before you reach for anything, read this.
Do not use superglue
Glue on the broken end rarely holds strongly enough to pull the piece out. Instead it runs into the cylinder, sets the pins solid and turns a £45 extraction into a full lock replacement.
- Do not push the other half back in. It drives the stuck piece deeper, past where it can be gripped.
- Do not force the door or turn the lock with pliers. If the fragment is part way through a turn, forcing it can damage the cam, the mortice case or a uPVC gearbox.
- Do not spray lots of oil or grease inside. Thick lubricant collects dirt and can make the fragment harder to grip.
- Do not keep using the door. If the key broke with the door unlocked, close it gently but avoid locking it with a spare until the piece is out.
We do not publish a do it yourself extraction method. The tools involved can easily damage the pins, and a damaged cylinder costs more to put right than a professional extraction.
How our broken key extraction works
Check the position
We look at where the key broke and whether the lock is in the locked, unlocked or mid-turn position. That decides how we approach it.
Remove the fragment
Using purpose made extraction tools, the broken piece is drawn out of the keyway. Most come out in a few minutes.
Test the lock
A working key, or our own test key, is turned through the full lock and unlock cycle on the door to confirm nothing was damaged.
Sort out keys
If both halves are readable we can often cut a new key, so you are not tempted to keep using a cracked spare.
If the fragment is jammed because the cylinder itself has failed, extraction alone will not fix it. We stop, explain, and agree a price before replacing anything. Opening a door that the snapped key has left you locked out of is handled the same way as our emergency lockout service: non-destructive first.
Broken keys in different locks: house, car, padlock and cabinet
| Where it broke | What usually happens | Typical outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Euro cylinder on a uPVC or composite door | Fragment removed from the keyway | Lock reused, new key cut |
| Mortice deadlock on a timber door | Lever keys are chunkier and snap less, but bits can lodge in the levers | Extracted, or the lock is serviced |
| Nightlatch (Yale-style) | Small pin tumbler keyway, usually straightforward | Lock reused |
| Car door or boot lock | Removed without opening the door trim where possible | Spare key cut or coded if needed |
| Car ignition barrel | Often linked to a worn barrel | Extraction, sometimes ignition repair |
| Padlock or cabinet lock | Small keyways, sometimes cheaper to replace | Extraction or a new lock |
For vehicles, a snapped key also means you have lost one of your working keys. Our spare car key service can replace it, and the mobile auto locksmith page covers ignition and door lock faults. For small locks, see padlock removal and cupboard and cabinet locks.
When the lock has to be replaced instead
Most snapped keys leave the lock unharmed. There are a few situations where we will recommend a new cylinder or lock rather than just extracting:
- Glue, filler or a jammed tool has already been pushed into the keyway.
- The key broke because the cylinder had seized internally, so it would do the same to the next key.
- The lock was an old unrated cylinder that should be upgraded anyway.
- You only had the one key and the code cannot be read from the pieces.
A standard euro cylinder change is covered on our euro cylinder replacement page. If the real problem is a stiff or sticking lock, the door lock repair service is no fix, no fee. You can see all of our home and car work on the locksmith services page.
How to stop a key snapping again
Retire old keys
If a key is bent, cracked at the neck or the cuts are worn smooth, have a fresh one made from a good original, not from another copy.
Fix the stiffness
A key should turn with fingertip pressure. If it needs force, the door or lock needs adjusting, not more muscle.
Lift the handle first
On uPVC and composite doors, lift the handle fully before turning the key. Turning first strains both key and gearbox.
Keep a spare
A second good key at a trusted neighbour means a snapped key is an inconvenience rather than a lockout.
Extra keys cost £8 to £25 each, so a spare is a small cost next to a call out.
Snapped key removal prices
Every price includes VAT and labour, any lock or key is listed separately, and the total is agreed before we set off.
| Service | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Broken (snapped) key extraction | £45 to £75 | Fragment removed and lock tested |
| Key won’t turn (clean, lubricate, align) | £45 to £75 | When stiffness caused the break |
| Extra keys | £8 to £25 per key | Fresh key to replace the broken one |
| Front/back door lock change (euro cylinder) | £65 to £85 + lock £25 to £40 | If the cylinder is damaged, 3 keys included |
| Mechanical key cutting (no chip) | £35 to £55 | Car keys without a transponder |
| Ignition repair | £155 to £245 + parts | Worn barrel behind a snapped car key |
Prices include VAT and labour. Parts are listed separately. See the full Oxford locksmith price list.
