Duplicate Keys NYC

Duplicate Keys in NYC, Cut While You Wait

Need a spare key made in Manhattan? Basics Plus cuts duplicate keys at the counter in three real storefronts — Union Square, the Upper West Side, and Midtown East — and every key is checked in the lock before you walk out. No mail-in kiosk, no guessing whether the cut is right. You hand us the key, we cut it, you test it on the spot.

Basics Plus has been cutting keys in Manhattan since 1988. Standard house keys, building keys, high-security keys, and custom-cut specialty keys are all made right here, not sent out to a warehouse.

Call (347) 549-9077 or walk into any of our three shops with the key in your hand.

What Kind of Duplicate Key Do You Need?

Standard house keys and building keys The most common request at the counter: a spare for a roommate, a family member, or a dog walker. Bring the original in and we cut a copy on the spot at any of our three storefronts.

High-security and restricted keys Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy keys are protected by the manufacturer and can't be copied at a hardware store kiosk. We cut these in-shop, but restricted systems require your key card or written authorization from the building — bring that with you and we handle the rest. Full details are on our [high-security keys page].

Custom-cut specialty keys Older or unusual cylinders — including pre-war mortise cylinders common in Manhattan apartment buildings — are made to order at the counter, not pulled off a rack.

Why Cut Your Duplicate Key at a Real Shop Instead of a Kiosk

A duplicate key is only useful if it actually works the first time. Kiosks and mail-order duplicators can't check the cut against your actual lock — you find out it's wrong when you're standing at the door. At Basics Plus:

• Every key is cut on the spot at the shop and checked in the lock before you walk out.
• Our staff is trained, licensed, and works the counter every day — not a machine reading a blank.
• If your key is a restricted or high-security type, we tell you up front what paperwork the system requires instead of just handing you a copy that won't be recognized.

Where to Get Duplicate Keys Cut in Manhattan

Basics Plus runs three storefronts across the borough, so you don't have to cross town for a spare key:

• Basics Plus On Broadway — 2315 Broadway at 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024 (Upper West Side)
• Basics Plus Midtown — 845 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (Midtown East)
• Basics Plus Union Square — 121 University Place at 13th Street, New York, NY 10003 (Union Square / Greenwich Village)

Shop hours: Mon to Sat, 8:00am to 7:00pm. (Emergency lockouts are handled 24/7, but routine key duplication is a shop-counter job during these hours.)

Our Process

1. Bring in the original key (or the lock, if you don't have a working key — see rekeying below).
2. We identify the type — standard, high-security, or specialty blank — and tell you on the spot whether it's a walk-up job or requires paperwork (restricted systems only).
3. We cut it in the shop, checked against the actual lock before you leave, not just measured against the blank.

If you don't have a spare key at all because the original was lost or stolen, duplication isn't the right fix — you'll want the lock rekeyed so the missing key stops working. See our [apartment rekeying in Manhattan] page for that process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get duplicate keys cut in NYC the same day? Yes — standard house keys and building keys are cut on the spot at the counter during shop hours (Mon to Sat, 8:00am to 7:00pm) at any of our three Manhattan storefronts.

Can you duplicate a high-security or restricted key? Yes. We cut Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Abloy keys in-shop, but because these systems are protected by the manufacturer, you'll need to bring your key card or written authorization from your building.

Do I need the original key, or can you make one from the lock? Duplication requires the original key. If you don't have a working key to copy — it's lost, stolen, or was never handed over — the right move is usually rekeying the lock instead, so we cut a fresh set and the old keys stop working.

Which Manhattan neighborhoods do you serve for key duplication? Our three storefronts cover Union Square, Greenwich Village, the Upper West Side, and Midtown Manhattan, with walk-in service at each location.

Do I need an appointment to get a key duplicated? No appointment is needed for standard house keys and building keys — walk into any of our three shops during shop hours. If you're calling about a restricted or high-security key, mentioning it on the phone at (347) 549-9077 lets us confirm what paperwork to bring.

What if the key I need copied is for a pre-war apartment door? We keep pins, blanks, and tools for older Manhattan hardware, including pre-war mortise cylinders, so these can typically be cut in-shop as well.