Quick answer: For most homes, three to four keys works well. Give one to each adult who comes and goes daily, keep one safe spare tucked away separately, and add one for any child old enough to let themselves in or a trusted neighbour. Avoid too many, as each spare is another risk.
It’s one of those questions I get asked more than you might think. Someone’s standing on their doorstep, locked out again, and they say to me, “Bugsy, how many spare keys should I actually have?” It sounds simple, but the honest answer depends on your household, your habits, and how much of a worrier you are.
In nearly 20 years of locksmithing around Southampton and the Waterside, I’ve seen every version of this. Folks with one key between four people, and folks with a drawer full of spares that don’t fit anything anymore. Neither is ideal. So let me give you a sensible take, based on what actually works for real households rather than what sounds tidy on paper.
So What’s the Right Number?
For most homes, I’d say three to four keys is about right. Here’s how I break it down. You want one key per adult who lives there and comes and goes regularly. That covers the day to day. Then you want at least one spare that lives somewhere safe and separate, for the day someone loses theirs or the moment you get locked out.
If you’ve got kids old enough to let themselves in after school, they’ll need one too, though I’d keep that one on a decent keyring so it doesn’t vanish into the bottom of a school bag. And if you have a trusted neighbour or family member nearby who might feed the cat or check the post while you’re away, one for them can save a lot of hassle.
The thing to avoid is having too many. Every extra key floating about is another chance for one to go missing, and if you don’t know where a key has gone, you don’t really know who might have it. That’s when I start recommending a lock change, and nobody wants that expense if it could have been avoided.
Where Should Your Spare Keys Live?
This is the bit people get wrong most often. A spare key is only useful if you can get to it when you need it, and only safe if the wrong person can’t. Those two things pull in opposite directions, which is the whole challenge.
Let me start with what not to do. Please don’t leave a key under the doormat, in a plant pot, or on that little ledge above the door frame. Burglars know all these spots. They’re the first places anyone checks, and I’ve been called out to break ins where the intruder simply let themselves in with the homeowner’s own hidden key. It’s heartbreaking and completely avoidable.
Inside the house, a spare key should have a proper home. A hook in a cupboard, a labelled spot in a drawer, somewhere the whole household knows about. What you don’t want is a key sitting in view of the letterbox, because there’s a nasty trick where someone fishes a key through the door with a bit of wire. Keep keys well away from the front door if they’re hanging up inside.
For the spare that needs to be reachable from outside, say for a family member or for those lockout moments, the safest option by a mile is a proper key safe. I fit these all over Southampton and the Waterside, and they’re a brilliant bit of kit. You can read more about how I do key safe installation in Southampton if that sounds like it’d suit you. A good one is bolted to the wall, needs a code to open, and gives you all the convenience of a hidden key with none of the risk.
What About Keys for Carers and Family?
This comes up a lot with older residents, and it’s worth a mention. If you or a relative has carers visiting, or family who pop in to help out, you don’t want to be handing out cut keys to lots of different people. That’s a lot of keys out in the world and no easy way to get them back.
A key safe really comes into its own here. You give the code to the people who need it, and if that ever changes, you just reset the code rather than chasing keys around. Care companies often insist on them anyway, and I’ve fitted plenty for exactly this reason. It gives everyone peace of mind, especially family who live a bit further away and worry about getting in during an emergency.
A Word on Keeping Track
However many keys you settle on, keep a mental note of where each one is. If a key goes missing and you can’t account for it, take it seriously. It might just be down the back of the sofa, but if it’s genuinely gone, it’s worth thinking about your locks.
And if you’re ever caught out, locked out with no spare and nobody to call, that’s exactly what I’m here for. No call-out fee, and I’m around 24 hours a day across Southampton and the Waterside. Getting your spare key situation sorted properly now is one of those small jobs that saves you a real headache later. Get it done on a calm afternoon rather than a cold, wet doorstep at midnight. Trust me, your future self will thank you.
What About Fitting a Proper Key Safe?
Here’s the bit this guide has been dancing around. If you need a spare available outside, don’t hide it, fit a key safe. It’s a strong little box that bolts to your wall and opens with a code you set. Police-approved key safes carrying the Secured by Design mark are the ones worth having, as the cheap ones off the shelf can be forced open in seconds. They’re brilliant for letting a carer, cleaner or family member in without handing out a physical key that could be copied. Fit it round the side or back, out of sight from the street, and change the code now and then. That way your spare stays handy but properly locked away.
According to what I’ve seen across nearly 20 years around Southampton and the Waterside, a properly fitted police-approved key safe saves far more break-in headaches than any hidden spare ever will.
Can Someone Copy Your Spare Key Without You Knowing?
Here’s a bit most folk never think about. A standard house key can be copied by anyone who borrows it for five minutes. Hand your spare to a builder, a cleaner, or an old flatmate, and they could nip to a shop or a self-service kiosk and walk out with a copy. You’d be none the wiser. In nearly 20 years around Southampton and the Waterside, I’ve seen the worry this causes when someone realises how easily it’s done. If key control matters to you, ask about a restricted or patented key system. Those can only be copied by an authorised locksmith with your say-so, so no spare gets duplicated behind your back. Give me a shout if you’d like a hand.
What About Using a Key Safe Instead of a Hiding Spot?
Here’s the bit I always steer folks towards. Rather than tucking a spare somewhere daft, fit a proper key safe. It’s a small metal box that bolts to an outside wall, and you open it with a code rather than a hidden key. I’ve fitted plenty around Southampton and the Waterside over my nearly 20 years, and they’re brilliant for carers, cleaners, or a spare you can always reach. A word of warning though: not all of them are worth the metal they’re made from. Some cheap ones pop open in seconds. Look for one that’s been properly tested and rated, mount it out of easy sight, and pick a code that isn’t your house number. Any doubts, give me a shout.
Frequently asked questions
How many spare keys should I actually have?
For most homes, three to four keys works well. Have one per adult who comes and goes regularly, plus at least one spare kept somewhere safe and separate. Add one for older kids and a trusted neighbour if needed. Avoid too many, as every extra key is another risk.
Where’s the safest place to keep a spare key outside?
A proper key safe is the safest option by a mile. It bolts to the wall, needs a code to open, and gives you the convenience of a hidden key with none of the risk. Please avoid doormats, plant pots, and ledges above the door, as burglars check these spots first.
Are key safes a good idea for carers and family visits?
Absolutely. Rather than handing out cut keys to lots of people, you give the code to those who need it. If that ever changes, you simply reset the code instead of chasing keys around. Care companies often insist on them, and they give family real peace of mind during emergencies.
What should I do if I lose a key or get locked out?
If a key goes missing and you can’t account for it, take it seriously and consider your locks. If you’re locked out with no spare, I’m here to help. With nearly 20 years of experience across Southampton and the Waterside, no call-out fee, and available 24 hours a day.
