How much does it cost to copy a door or car key? 2026 prices

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

Copying a standard flat key in Poland most often costs PLN 25, typically PLN 22 ‑ 42 per key. A dimple key costs around PLN 46, while a patented or certified key costs around PLN 78. A car key with an immobiliser is several times more expensive because it has to be programmed: the median is PLN 390.

Key copying is one of the cheapest services in our index, provided it is a standard door key. The price rises sharply depending on the type: flat, dimple, patented and, finally, an electronic car key, which costs several times more than a key for a flat. Below, we compare all these types using public price lists from locksmiths and car key specialists, as well as guide articles. Every figure on the service page is accompanied by a source quotation.

How much does it cost to copy a key for a flat door?

Copying a standard key for a flat door most often costs PLN 25 per key. This is the median from 9 price lists collected by indekscen.pl; half of the providers charge between PLN 22 ‑ 42, with the cheapest prices starting at PLN 13 and the highest reaching PLN 70. A standard key is a flat key with cuts along its edge, designed for a typical pin tumbler cylinder. It can be copied on a key-cutting machine in a few minutes, while you wait.

Flat, dimple or patented key: what is the difference in price?

Dimple and patented keys are noticeably more expensive than standard keys because they require costlier blanks, a more precise machine and sometimes a code card. A comparison based on price lists:

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

Type of key	Median per key	How to identify it
Standard flat key (cut)	PLN 25	cuts along one or both edges
Dimple key (vertical)	PLN 46	flat, with round dimples on its surface
Patented / certified key	PLN 78	supplied with a code card or number, for a higher-security cylinder
Car key with an immobiliser	PLN 390	chip in the head, the car will not start without programming
Smart car key	PLN 1,350	unlocks and starts the car without inserting the key

The medians for home and car keys come from different price lists, so compare them as orders of magnitude: tens of PLN for a door key versus hundreds or more for an electronic car key.

How much does it cost to copy a Gerda key or another patented key?

According to price lists, a patented key, for example for a higher-security Gerda or Wilka cylinder, costs around PLN 78 per key, typically several dozen PLN and noticeably more than a standard key. Keys for many patented cylinders can only be copied using the code card supplied when you buy the lock. Without the card, an ordinary key-cutting shop will refuse, while the manufacturer or an authorised service centre may require proof that you are the owner. Keep the card in a safe place at home, not with your keys.

How much does it cost to copy a car key with a remote control?

Copying a car key with a remote control costs around PLN 525, while the median for a key with an immobiliser but no remote control is PLN 390, typically PLN 255 ‑ 595. A car key must not only be cut but also programmed: the transponder in its head must be registered in the car’s system, otherwise the engine will not start. A simple mechanical key without electronics for an older car costs around PLN 65.

Our index also includes prices charged by key-cutting shops for copying the car key itself: the median is PLN 500, while a smart key costs PLN 1,550. Differences between price lists are mainly due to the car’s make and model: for some makes, the specialist has suitable blanks and software on hand, while for others these must be ordered.

Details, variants and sources are available on the car key cutting page. It may be worth combining a visit to have a key programmed with other car-related tasks; we cover the cost of mandatory inspections in our article on how much a car inspection costs.

How much does it cost to make a key without an existing key?

Making a door key without any key to copy is usually impossible or uneconomical. Instead, a locksmith replaces the cylinder, which costs around PLN 175, including a new cylinder and a set of keys. A certified class C cylinder costs around PLN 250. If you have locked yourself out, you also need emergency door opening for around PLN 200, or even PLN 700 at night for a high-security lock.

For a car with no key at all, the cost is higher than copying an existing key: the specialist must retrieve the code from the car or program the system from scratch. It is therefore worth making a spare before you lose your last key.

Example: a set of keys for a flat after moving in

The set of spare keys you need for a flat depends on the number and type of locks in the door. Here is an example for a typical door with two locks, where one spare key is needed for each of three household members:

Situation	Cost
3 standard flat keys (lower lock)	PLN 80
3 dimple keys (upper lock)	PLN 46 each
New cylinder with a set of keys instead of copying keys	PLN 175

After moving into a resale or rented flat, replacing the cylinder is often better value than copying the keys because you do not know how many copies previous occupants still have. A new cylinder solves this problem for the price of copying several dimple keys. In a detached house, you may also need keys for the gate, garage and letterbox. These are usually flat keys, so each costs around the median of PLN 25.

How long does it take to copy a key?

A standard or dimple door key can be copied in a few minutes while you wait, with no appointment needed. A patented key made using a code card may have to be ordered from the manufacturer, which can take from a few days to several weeks. A specialist can usually prepare a car key with an immobiliser in a single visit, provided they have a blank for the model; smart keys often have to be ordered.

If you need the key by a particular date, for example when handing a flat over to a tenant, call ahead and ask whether the shop has a blank for your type of key. With unusual or old keys and foreign-made cylinders, the lack of a suitable blank is the most common reason why customers leave empty-handed.

How much does it cost to copy a key in Warsaw and Wrocław?

The median cost of copying a standard key is PLN 24 in Wrocław and PLN 42 in Warsaw. We currently have local prices for only 2 cities, so treat them as a guide.

Key cutting: cities from cheapest to most expensive. Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

How can you avoid overpaying for key copying?

• Show the key before ordering several copies and ask for the price per key: shops often offer a lower rate for multiple keys.
• Test the copy in the lock straight away. A copy from a cheaper machine may be cut incorrectly; it is easiest to make a complaint on the same day.
• Copy the original, not another copy. Each successive copy of a copy is less accurate.
• For a car key, compare a key specialist with an authorised dealership. Ask whether the price includes programming and the remote control.
• For old, worn cylinders, consider replacing the lock for around PLN 175 instead of having more keys copied.

You can find more locksmith and handyman services in the repairs and tradespeople section, and complete price data on the key cutting and door lock replacement pages.

„Standardowy klucz płaski (do zwykłej wkładki bębenkowej): od 15 zł do 30 zł za sztukę.”

Wkladki.org.pl, 2026, source

„Klucz podstawowy domowy | 20 pln”

Bobik.pl, source

„dorobienie klucza zwykłego nacinanego od 20 do 30 zł”

Serwispopowice.pl, source

„w naszym badaniu prostych kluczy ceny wynosiły od 13 do 70 zł”

Dorabiamy.pl, 2025-01, source

The prices in this article come from public price lists published by key-cutting shops, locksmiths and car key specialists, as well as guide articles. Each price on the service page includes its source, date and a verbatim quotation. Index updated: 5 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to make two keys?

Dwa zwykłe klucze do drzwi to przy medianie około PLN 50. Przy kluczach nawiercanych licz PLN 46 za każdy.

Can keys be copied while you wait?

Zwykłe klucze płaskie i nawiercane dorabia się zwykle od ręki, w kilka minut, za około PLN 25 za sztukę. Klucze patentowe i samochodowe z elektroniką mogą wymagać zamówienia i kilku dni oczekiwania.

How much does it cost to copy a padlock key?

Klucz do zwykłej kłódki to najczęściej prosty klucz płaski, więc kosztuje podobnie jak klucz do drzwi, czyli około PLN 22 ‑ 42. Tanie kłódki bywa prościej wymienić niż dorabiać do nich klucz.

How much does it cost to copy a cabinet key?

Klucz do szafki, np. szkolnej, to zwykle prosty klucz płaski lub zapadkowy: dorobisz go za kwotę zbliżoną do mediany PLN 25, o ile punkt ma odpowiedni półfabrykat.

How much does it cost to replace a car key battery?

Wymiana baterii w kluczyku lub pilocie w punkcie usługowym kosztuje około PLN 20. Często da się ją zrobić samodzielnie, a pilot, który przestał działać, nie zawsze wymaga dorabiania nowego klucza.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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