Master Key Systems
One key for the manager, individual keys for each door. Designed, pinned and documented for your building.
Short answer: A master key system lets one key open every door while each door keeps its own individual key. It is designed on paper first, pinned to a chart, and documented so it can grow with the building without losing security.
How a master key system works
Each cylinder is pinned to accept two keys: its own change key and the master. Larger systems add levels: a grand master for the owner, sub-masters for floors or departments, and change keys for individual doors. Done properly it uses as few shared pin positions as possible so a change key cannot be filed into a master.
Design and documentation
You get a keying schedule that lists every door, its change key and which masters open it. That document is what makes the next rekey or expansion a quick job instead of a rebuild. Restricted keyways are strongly recommended so no key in the system can be copied without your signature.
Who it suits
Apartment buildings, offices with several tenants, schools, churches, clinics and any small business where the owner should open everything and staff should not.
What it typically costs
Master keying is priced per cylinder plus design time and keys; a small system of 5 to 10 doors commonly runs a few hundred dollars, and larger buildings are quoted from a door count. Ask for a written total.
Every job is quoted as a total, on the phone or before work starts on site. Ask for it, and see the full pricing guide for what drives the number.
What to have ready when you call
- A list or count of doors and who should open which
- Whether you want restricted keys
- Existing lock brands if known
- Building address and who can approve the work
Related services
Commercial Locksmith Service
Offices, shops and multi-unit buildings: lockouts, rekeys, panic hardware, closers and key control.
Learn more →High-Security Locks
Restricted-keyway cylinders and pick-, bump- and drill-resistant hardware where a standard lock is not enough.
Learn more →Lock Rekey Service
Keep your existing locks and make the old keys useless. The right move after a move-in, a lost key or a change of tenant.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
Does master keying make my locks less secure?
A well-designed system with restricted keys does not. Poorly designed systems with many shared pin positions can; that is why the keying chart is designed before any pins go in.
Can you add doors later?
Yes. The keying schedule reserves space for growth, so new doors are pinned into the existing system.
Can tenants copy their keys?
Not on a restricted keyway. Keys can only be ordered by the signature holder on file.
How do I arrange a master key system?
Call (408) 418-0044 and describe the situation, your exact location and what you need. Timing is confirmed on that call rather than promised in advance, and you get the total before any work begins.
Need a locksmith at your location?
Call with your exact location and what you need. You get a straight answer and the total before any work begins.