How Long Does It Take to Copy a Key at Lowes (The Truth!)

When you need a new key for your mailbox, house, car, or other lock, it’s convenient to have it done fast. Lowes has the capacity to help with your locksmith needs.

But how long does it take to copy a key at Lowes? Typically, it shouldn’t take more than 10 to 15 minutes. Cuts that are more complex can take as long as 30 minutes. However, they also have a kiosk, which produces keys in 30 minutes or less. The length of time will depend on the type of key, how complicated it is, and how busy a qualified staff is.

There are pros and cons with the various methods Lowes has for copying keys. However, they can’t copy all keys. This is especially true for ones with a microchip in them, such as is the case with modern vehicles.

Table of Contents

Having Staff Copy the Key

When you arrive at Lowes, you can walk over to their hardware department. And, somewhere in the vicinity, you’ll find a key area.

You walk up to the counter, give the qualified staff locksmith your key, and tell them how many you’ll need. They’ll direct you to the blanks so you can select the one required to make it work.

Online Ordering

However, you can preorder key blanks online through your account and have them shipped to your home or pick them up in-store.

If they’ve copied the same key for you before, they should have that information on file. You can simply order your key online and submit the necessary details about the key.

Walk-Ins

So, when you do everything via walk-in, the total time should be somewhere in the ballpark of 30 to 45 minutes.

But, if you buy the key online then it will be 30 minutes or less. In the event they’re copying a key you’ve ordered before, then your total online and in-store experience should be 15 minutes or less.

Special Exceptions

However, there are times when the staff locksmith has an overwhelming load of keys to copy. In this instance, they’ll notify you of your order status through your account.

You can get this via email or by using their app. Of course, such a situation will be much longer than 30 minutes.

Using the Automated Key-Cutting Kiosk

Since the spring of 2015, Lowes has installed retail kiosks from a company called KeyMe. You take the key you want to be copied and create a digital duplicate of it in their cloud server.

This creates a spare that you can access again if you need to copy another.

You can download the mobile app or receive an email from KeyMe. You’ll be able to access your key at any time. This is also useful if you lose the key entirely.

Many Benefits

KeyMe can also print keys with transponder chips, like ones for vehicles. This is cutting-edge technology since staff locksmiths don’t even have that ability in the store.

Regardless of the type of key, KeyMe’s advanced technology will reset the key to exact factory specifications. Plus, they network with local locksmiths and other stores.

This means you’ll get a brand new key with manufacturing accuracy and it will be far more reliable than someone doing it by hand. And you can do this all in 30 minutes or less.

If you’re using a digital image you’ve already created with KeyMe, it will take 15 minutes or less. You can order right from your phone or online and pick it up.

Problems to Consider

There are several problems and issues with using the kiosks, however. First, not every Lowes store offers a KeyMe kiosk and, if they do have them, are often out of order.

This means you’ll have to do the walk-in and online combination route. Thus, you’ll spend a lot longer than 30 minutes figuring this out.

The other problem is with the act of creating a digital copy of your key. This presents several privacy issues that tend to be counterintuitive to having a key in the first place.

While Lowes and KeyMe guarantee safety and security, it’s not uncommon for such systems to get hacked.

This means someone could potentially access your home, car, safe, mailbox or other key you copy. So, divulging this kind of detailed and personal information will be up to your discretion.

Conclusion

As you can see, the length of time it will take to copy a key at Lowes will be all about the variables involved.

After you decide whether to have staff copy the key or use the KeyMe kiosk, it will take about 30 minutes for you to receive your key. But, if it’s busy or if the kiosk is down, it may take much longer than that.

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