Are you wondering, “Does Lowe’s make keys?” There are plenty of situations where you could need an extra key made for yourself. It’s always a good idea to have a spare key around in case of an emergency, but you may also need a duplicate key made quickly.
If you find yourself looking for a place to have a spare home key made, you may be curious if your local Lowe’s home improvement store has options. Fortunately, you can have a house or car key duplicated at your nearest Lowe’s store.
Before heading to your closest Lowe’s location, let’s discuss what you need to know to have a key duplicated at Lowe’s.
Does Lowe’s Make Keys?
What Types of Keys Can You Have Made at Lowe’s?
First and foremost, it’s important to know the limitations that Lowe’s has when making keys. As Lowe’s is a franchise, certain features may not be available at your local store that are available at other Lowe’s stores.
Calling your local store or looking online at their listed services will help you avoid disappointment. Most Lowe’s stores, however, can reproduce most keys such as:
- Car Keys
- House Keys
- Office Keys
- Locker Keys
- Safe Keys
Making Duplicate Car or Vehicle Keys at Lowe’s
When having a duplicate car key made at Lowe’s, it’s important to know that Lowe’s cannot reproduce the chip aspect of a key fob. You will also need your research to determine which car key blanks and styles can be produced at your local Lowe’s store.
Vehicle compatibility is another important factor to consider, so ensure that Lowe’s carries a car key blank that is compatible with your vehicle. You will also need documents showing your car’s ownership when making a replacement key.
This requirement is to prevent car thieves or criminals from falsely replicating vehicle keys to maintain possession of them. These same requirements are necessary for reproducing motorcycle or boat keys as well.
Making Duplicate House Keys at Lowe’s
When duplicating house keys at Lowe’s, many options are available for key blanks. Having a house key copied at Lowe’s may just be the simplest of the different key options. Lowe’s also offers unique key blanks with Hello Kitty, Marvel, and more themes.
At a Lowe’s store, you can make as many duplicate keys as you want for your house. If there is no line at the key desk, you can receive the duplicate keys quickly. By following the steps in this article, you should have a hassle-free experience.
Making Duplicate Mail Keys at Lowe’s
You will need to be cautious when going to Lowe’s to have a mail key reproduced. Certain mailbox keys cannot be reproduced at Lowe’s stores (as well as other businesses, for that matter).
You can have the keys duplicated for standard, privately owned mail keys at a Lowe’s store. However, if your mailbox is owned by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Lowe’s, and other key reproducing businesses cannot duplicate these keys due to regulations.
The U.S. Postal Service regulates its mail keys, meaning you must go to your local post office and pay a fee to duplicate a USPS key. If you need a replacement key for your mailbox, there is no established fee, but it typically costs $10.
What to Expect When Making a Key at Lowe’s
Step One: Locate the Key Making Station
When making a key at Lowe’s in person, you must first locate the ‘Key-Making’ station. A large sign indicates these key-making stations within the store, usually in the Lowe’s store’s hardware section.
Sometimes, these key-making stations are operated by a Lowe’s employee. Most times, you will need to find an employee to help you with the process or visit the customer service desk for assistance.
Step Two: Present Required Documents If Needed
If you hope to have the key to a vehicle, motorcycle, or boat reproduced, you must provide proof of ownership. Examples of eligible documentation include the vehicle’s title, insurance, or registration, along with proper identification that proves ownership.
Step Three: Choose a Key Blank
A Lowe’s associate will view your original key and direct you to the options of key blanks for the type of key you require. The key blanks typically come in nickel-plated and brass material options for your duplicate key.
Step Four: Wait for the Key to be Duplicated
Lastly, wait for the key to be duplicated and go to the checkout to purchase your new set of keys. The key-making process doesn’t take long, and you can have a new key to use within minutes.
Should You Use the Lowe’s Self-Service Key Kiosk?
Your Lowe’s location may offer a self-service key-making kiosk. We recommend working with a Lowe’s associate to duplicate keys, as the process generally takes the same amount of time. A Lowe’s associate can also help you use the self-service kiosk.
Simply put, you don’t lose anything by choosing to work with an associate. You get the benefit of having a knowledgeable associate to ensure you are not making a costly mistake while duplicating your key.
Additionally, you cannot use the self-service kiosk for vehicle keys. If you want to try out the self-service kiosk, we recommend only doing so when making house keys, as they are the easiest ones to reproduce.
Frequently Asked Questions
You do not need an appointment to have a key duplicated at Lowe’s! However, we warn against trying to have your key duplicated at high-traffic times. You may have trouble finding associates if you choose to have keys made in the morning or during lunch hours.
Generally, you should expect to spend 30 minutes having a key made at Lowe’s. Lowe’s key stations typically can only support one client at a time, so you may need to wait in line behind someone else.
Lowe’s key duplication is very affordable and will usually only be the cost of the key blank itself—with the average key blank ranging from $4 to $ 7 on Lowe’s website. The exception to this rule is automotive keys, which range from $44 on the low end to $130 on the high end.
Conclusion
Whether you need a vehicle, home, or mail key, be sure to research the capabilities of your local Lowe’s before you visit. You should have your new key in about 30 minutes! Do you have any other questions about reproducing keys? Leave us a comment, and we will be happy to answer!
can you get a duplicate key stamped with DO NOT DUPLICATE.
Unfortunately, Lowe’s management often tells its employees to never copy a key with a Do Not Duplicate/Do Not Copy stamp on it because of liability concerns. I can’t confirm if your local store will allow it. However, it’s not against corporate policy or illegal to duplicate these types of keys and if the Lowe’s store has the correct key blank, you should be able to get a duplicate key made.
I would recommend using the self-service kiosk if available at your local store, as the machines can’t read the stamp. If your Lowe’s doesn’t have a key-making machine, you can also find them at The Home Depot, Walmart, and other Big-Box stores.