Can You Get Filing Cabinet Keys Cut?

On this page (10 sections)

1. Can you get filing cabinet keys cut without the original key?
2. What do you need to bring to a locksmith or hardware store?
3. How much does it cost to cut a filing cabinet key?
4. Can you replace the lock instead of cutting a key?
5. How do you swap a filing cabinet lock yourself?
6. Why does a cut or new key still stick in the lock?
7. When is a locksmith the right call?
8. What if the cabinet is locked and you can't open it?
9. Can you cut a key for a cabinet with a built-in lock?
10. What should you do before you order a replacement key or lock?

Yes, you can get filing cabinet keys cut in many cases, at a local locksmith or a hardware store that handles furniture keys. The catch is what you can hand over: an original key to copy or the key code stamped on the lock.

If you have neither, replacing the lock is usually the simpler and cheaper path.

Can you get filing cabinet keys cut without the original key?

Sometimes, if the cabinet still carries its key code. A locksmith can cut a key from a code without seeing the original, provided the code matches a key blank the shop stocks.

Office furniture makers stamp or label codes in a few predictable spots.

Look on the face of the lock cylinder. Then check the cam behind the drawer, the inside of the drawer front, and any sticker on the back panel or underside of the cabinet.

Write the code down exactly, including letters and dashes.

With a code in hand, call two or three locksmiths before you drive anywhere. Ask whether they cut furniture keys from a code and whether they stock blanks for your cabinet brand.

A shop that only does house keys will turn you away.

Without a code or an original key, most locksmiths won't guess. They can impression a lock with the cabinet present, but that costs more than a replacement cam lock in most cases.

Our guide to how to remove file cabinet drawers shows how to get the drawer out so a locksmith can reach the lock easily.

What do you need to bring to a locksmith or hardware store?

Bring the original key, the key code, or the whole lock. The original key is the easiest route, because the shop can copy it directly.

A single working key is enough; you don't need a spare to start.

If you only have the lock, remove it from the drawer first. Most cam locks come out with one nut on the back of the cylinder.

Take the lock, the nut, and the cam so the shop can match the length and the turning direction.

Call ahead about the key type. Filing cabinets often use flat or double-sided office keys that a standard key machine can't duplicate without the right blank.

Ask about turnaround time too, since some shops send furniture keys out.

Hardware stores vary widely. A big-box store may cut the key while you wait if it stocks the blank, and a small shop may be more likely to have odd blanks on hand.

Either way, the original key or the code decides whether the trip is worth it.

How much does it cost to cut a filing cabinet key?

A copied key is usually inexpensive, and a coded key costs a little more. A locksmith visit for a key without a code is the expensive case, often more than a new lock.

Prices vary by shop and region, so ask for a quote before you commit.

Compare that quote with the cost of a replacement cam lock. For a standard cabinet, a new lock with keys is often the cheaper and faster choice.

A locksmith makes more sense when the cabinet is built in, hard to reach, or has a lock you want to keep.

If the cabinet holds sensitive records, price the security too. A basic cam lock keeps drawers closed and honest people honest.

A locksmith who rekeys the existing lock keeps your current hardware and can match other cabinets in the office.

Can you replace the lock instead of cutting a key?

Yes, and for many readers this is the better answer. A replacement cam lock arrives with its own keys, so you skip the code hunt and the locksmith queue.

The job takes a screwdriver and a few minutes per drawer.

The Bates set is a three-pack of cam locks keyed alike, so one key opens all three. That suits an office with several cabinets, or a single cabinet where you want one key for every drawer.

The locks are 5/8 inch long in zinc alloy, which fits many standard cabinets and storage units. Measure your old lock's barrel length and the mounting hole before ordering, because a lock that's too long won't seat against the drawer face.

The set includes two keys per lock, so a spare goes to a coworker or into a desk drawer. If your cabinet is a lateral or a pedestal with a different lock style, check the hardware before buying.

Our comparison of a filing cabinet vs storage cabinet explains how the drawer and lock layouts differ.

How do you swap a filing cabinet lock yourself?

Remove the old lock, fit the new one, and test the cam before you load the drawer. The swap is simple enough to do at your desk.

1. Empty the drawer and pull it out on its slides.
2. Unscrew the nut on the back of the old cylinder and slide the lock out.
3. Fit the new cylinder through the hole and tighten the nut by hand.
4. Check that the cam turns freely and catches the frame when you lock it.
5. Test with the key several times before refilling the drawer.

Keep the old lock and keys together in a bag in case you need to identify the cabinet later. Don't overtighten the nut, since it can stop the key turning smoothly.

If the key feels stiff after the swap, a dry lubricant helps.

Why does a cut or new key still stick in the lock?

A stiff key is usually a dry or dirty lock, not a bad cut. Dust and old graphite clump inside the cylinder and drag on the pins.

A quick clean and a dry lubricant restore smooth turning.

The 3-IN-ONE Lock Dry Lube is a clear aerosol made for home, auto and commercial locks. It dries clear within minutes and is safe on metal, wood and most plastic surfaces, though not clear polycarbonate or polystyrene.

Use the straw to reach into the key slot and spray a short burst. Work the key in and out a few times, then wipe the excess off the drawer face.

Repeat only if the key still drags.

The Hillman graphite tube is the other classic choice. It's a 3 gram dry powder with a narrow tip that fits straight into the key slot, and it leaves no sticky residue to collect dust.

Puff a small amount into the slot, insert the key, and turn it back and forth. Don't mix graphite and oil sprays in the same lock, because the two can turn into a paste.

Pick one method and stick with it.

When is a locksmith the right call?

Call a locksmith when the cabinet is built in, the lock has no code, or you need the original hardware kept. Built-in cabinets and heavy laterals are awkward to move, and a locksmith can work on site.

The same goes for a lock you want rekeyed rather than replaced.

Have the cabinet brand and model ready, plus any code you found. Expect the locksmith to ask whether the cabinet is open or locked.

An open drawer makes the job much easier and cheaper. Skip the locksmith if the cabinet is a standard pedestal or a basic two-drawer file.

A replacement cam lock costs less and arrives with keys.

What if the cabinet is locked and you can't open it?

Don't drill or pry it yourself unless you're replacing the lock anyway. Drilling a cam lock is quick, but it destroys the lock and can damage the drawer face.

A locksmith can often open a locked cabinet without drilling, especially if the brand and key code are known.

Try the basics first. Check every drawer, since some cabinets lock all drawers from one central lock.

Look for a second key slot or a hidden release, and confirm the cabinet isn't simply jammed by an overloaded drawer. If the cabinet holds records you must protect, call a locksmith before anyone forces it.

Our post on whether filing cabinets are waterproof is a useful check if the cabinet sits near a leak or a basement wall.

Can you cut a key for a cabinet with a built-in lock?

Usually yes, once you identify the lock type. A built-in central lock on a lateral cabinet works like a cam lock, but the cylinder may be longer or mounted in the frame rather than the drawer face.

A locksmith can cut a key from the code or impression the lock.

Look for the code on the face of the central lock, under the top edge of the cabinet, or on a label inside the top drawer. Built-in locks are common on wide laterals, and the key code is often the fastest way in.

If the code is missing and the cabinet is locked, expect a locksmith to spend more time on it. Replacing a central lock is more involved than a drawer cam lock, so get a quote before agreeing to the work.

What should you do before you order a replacement key or lock?

Measure the lock first, then decide between a cut key and a new lock. Barrel length, mounting hole size, and the turning direction all matter.

A five-minute measurement saves a return.

Write down the cabinet brand and model, the code if you found one, and the barrel length of the old lock. Then call a locksmith for a quote on a cut key.

If the quote is high or the code is missing, order a replacement cam lock and fit it yourself.

Whichever route you take, keep a spare key somewhere safe. A keyed-alike set like the Bates pack gives you one key for several cabinets, which is easier to manage than a drawer full of different keys.

For a cabinet that's seen better days, our guide to how to paint a metal file cabinet covers the refinishing side of the job.

So can you get filing cabinet keys cut? Often yes, with an original key or a code.

When neither exists, a replacement lock is the practical fix, and it's the one most people end up choosing.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the key code on a filing cabinet lock?

It's often stamped on the face of the lock cylinder, on the cam behind the drawer, or on a sticker inside the drawer or on the back of the cabinet. Check all three before you call a locksmith, since the code saves the cost of a full replacement.

How much does it cost to replace a filing cabinet lock instead of cutting a key?

A replacement cam lock usually costs less than a locksmith visit for a key without a code. Measure the lock barrel first and match the length, and check that the new lock fits the drawer's mounting hole.

Can I cut a filing cabinet key at a hardware store?

Some hardware stores cut keys from a sample, but many only handle house and car blanks. Call ahead with the key type and the cabinet brand, because office furniture keys often use blanks a general key machine doesn't stock.