A master key system lets each person open only the doors they need while one key opens them all. Staff get a key for their office, cleaners a key for a floor, and the manager a master that opens every door. It suits offices, complexes, schools, guest houses and rentals, where a bunch of twenty keys is no way to run a building. Tell us how many doors and who needs access, and locksmiths near you will send free quotes for planning and fitting, with no obligation.
How a master key system works
Each cylinder is pinned so it accepts two or more keys:
- Change keys open one door, such as an office or a flat
- Master keys open a group, such as one floor or one block
- Grand master keys open every door in the system
Common doors such as the front entrance or a store can be set to open with several change keys, so residents or staff need only one key each.
Planning the key plan
The locksmith starts with a list of every door and who needs to get through it. That becomes a key plan: which door gets which cylinder and who gets which key. Plan for growth, because adding doors later is easier if the system was designed with room. Ask for a restricted key profile: those keys can only be copied by the locksmith when you show the key card, so you control how many exist. Keep a key register of who holds each key, and get keys signed back when people leave. Stamping each key with a code rather than a door name helps if one is lost.
Fitting and common mistakes
Existing doors can often keep their locks with only the cylinders replaced, as long as they take a pin cylinder. Lever locks cannot be master keyed and are usually swapped. Common mistakes: handing out masters too freely, using an open key profile anyone can copy and not recording keys. Fire escape doors should open from inside without a key. For card or tag entry, see access control.
What affects the price
The number of doors, the cylinder grade, how many key levels and how many keys are cut all change the cost. A restricted profile costs more per cylinder and per key, but saves money when keys go missing. Ask each locksmith:
- the price per cylinder and per key at each level
- whether your existing locks can stay
- who holds the key plan and the key card
- how extra doors are added later
Get the key plan in writing before anything is fitted.
What to include in your request
- How many doors and which ones
- The lock type on each door
- Who needs which doors
- Restricted key profile wanted or not
- How many keys at each level
Master Key Systems for different clients
- Homeowners: a large house or cottage with a granny flat, one key for the owner
- Complexes, estates and body corporates: unit keys for residents and a master for the body corporate and caretaker
- Offices, shops and practices: office keys for staff and one master for the manager and the cleaners
- Landlords and letting agents: each tenant's own key with a master for the agent at a block of flats
- Factories, warehouses and workshops: workshop, store and office keys by department, with a site grand master
- Farms and smallholdings: farmhouse, stores and workers' housing keyed separately under one farm master
- Schools, clinics, churches and hostels: classroom and office keys for staff, masters for heads and the caretaker
- Builders, shopfitters and contractors: contractors fitting master keyed cylinders on new office or school buildings
Frequently asked questions
How much does a master key system cost?
Can my existing locks be master keyed?
Is a master key system less secure?
What happens if a master key is lost?
Master Key Systems by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg