Home / Locksmith Services / Emergency Locksmith / Broken Key Extraction

Fall River, MA
Broken Key Extraction
Out of the Lock, Lock Still Works.

A key snapped off inside your door lock. The broken piece is removed with dedicated extraction tools, a new key is cut, and the lock keeps working.

  • Price approved before work starts
  • Mon–Sat 8 AM–6 PM
  • ID checked before every lockout
  • Up-Front Pricing
  • Your Approval Before Work Begins
  • Local to Fall River & the South Coast
  • Open Monday–Saturday

Broken key extraction in Fall River, MA

Broken key extraction removes a snapped key from a lock cylinder with thin extraction tools, usually without damaging the lock. A new key is then cut so the lock keeps working. In Fall River, MA, extraction is an estimated $75–$175. The price range is quoted first and availability is confirmed before dispatch.

01 /Right now

Key broke off in the lock? Do this first

What you do in the next few minutes decides whether the lock can be saved.

  • Stop turning or pushing: the piece can slide deeper
  • Do not try superglue, tweezers or a paper clip; they jam the pins
  • Keep both halves of the key; they help cut the new one
  • Use another door if you can get in, and leave this lock alone
  • Call or request a locksmith with a photo of the keyway
Broken key pieces next to an extractor tool and a new key
Representative photo: broken key extraction in Fall River

02 /How it works

How is a broken key removed from a lock?

The method depends on where the key snapped and whether the lock is in the locked or unlocked position.

Extraction tools

Thin hooked or serrated tools slide along the key blade, catch its cuts and draw the fragment out. Most extractions end here.

Removing the cylinder

If the fragment will not move, the cylinder is taken out of the door so the key can be pushed out from the back or the plug is opened on a bench.

A new key, cut on site

The new key is cut from the broken halves, from the lock itself, or from a key code, so you are not left with one fragile copy.

Fixing the cause

Keys usually break because the lock is stiff or the key is worn. The lock is checked and serviced or repaired if it caused the break.

03 /The process

What happens on a broken key call

01

Call With a Photo

Tell us which door, where the key snapped and whether the door is locked. A photo of the keyway helps most.

02

Price & Availability Confirmed

You hear the estimated range for extraction and a new key. Availability is confirmed before dispatch.

03

Extract & Cut

The fragment is removed, the lock is checked, and a new key is cut and tested in the lock.

04

Test, Pay

You try the new key yourself. Any lock repair is priced and approved before it is done.

04 /Pricing

How much does broken key extraction cost?

Estimated Massachusetts ranges. What moves the price: whether the cylinder has to come out, whether a new key or a lock repair is needed, and the time of day.

ServiceTypical jobEstimated price range
Broken key extractionRemove snapped key, cut new$75–$175Estimated range
Standard service callTrip and first diagnosis$50–$100Estimated range
Lock replacementRemove and fit new lock$100–$300Estimated range
Estimated broken key extraction prices in Fall River, MA

These are estimated market ranges, not confirmed 508locksmith prices. Actual costs depend on location, service complexity, labor, materials, and emergency availability. Final quotes must be confirmed by the service provider. Last updated: November 2026.

05 /Why keys break

Why do keys snap off in locks?

A key rarely breaks for no reason. Fixing the cause stops it happening again.

CauseWhat to do about it
Worn or cracked keyReplace keys that are bent, thin or cracked near the head. Cut new keys from a good original or a code, not from a worn copy.
Stiff or dirty lockService the cylinder with a dry lock lubricant such as graphite. Avoid oily sprays that collect grit.
Door out of lineIf you have to push or pull the door to turn the key, the bolt is binding. Adjust the strike or door.
Using the key as a handleDo not pull a sticking door shut by the key. Use the knob or handle.
Cheap duplicatePoorly cut copies bind in the pins. Get a properly cut replacement.
Common causes of broken keys and how to prevent them

A worn lock that breaks keys repeatedly may be cheaper to replace: an estimated $100–$300. Door lock repair.

06 /Fall River & the South Coast

Broken keys in older Fall River locks

Older Fall River homes and multi-families often have locks that have been in service for decades, with keys copied from copies. Worn pins and worn keys are the most common reason a key snaps in a front or back door here.

Exterior locks also stiffen in the cold and in salty air near the water. If a key has started to drag or stick, servicing the cylinder now costs less than an extraction later.

Broken a car key in the door or ignition instead? That is an automotive job with different tools. See car key replacement or ignition repair.

Have this ready

  • Both halves of the broken key
  • A photo of the lock face and keyway
  • Which door, and whether it is locked
  • Proof of residence if you cannot get in another way

07 /FAQ

Broken Key Extraction questions

Call (508) 816-1101 during service hours (Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–6:00 PM · Sunday by appointment).

An estimated $75–$175, which typically includes cutting a new key. A lock repair or replacement is priced separately if needed. Estimated market ranges, not confirmed prices.

Sometimes, if part of the key sticks out and you can grip it straight with needle-nose pliers. If it is flush or deeper, stop; pushing or gluing usually jams the lock and raises the cost.

Usually not. Most extractions leave the lock working. A new lock is only needed if the cylinder is damaged or worn enough that it caused the break.

In most cases, yes. The broken halves, the lock or a key code can all be used to cut an accurate new key.

The fragment is extracted first and the lock is then turned with a tool or the new key. Proof that you live there is checked before the door is opened.

Request service

Request broken key extraction

Locked out because of a broken key? Calling is fastest during service hours. Otherwise, send the details and a photo.

  • Up-front pricing
  • Your approval before work begins
  • Proof of residence or ownership checked on lockouts

Request service

Takes about a minute. Fields marked * are required.

Call (508) 816-1101

Requests submitted after hours are reviewed when we open (Mon–Sat 8:00 AM–6:00 PM · Sunday by appointment).

  • Up-front pricing
  • Your approval before work begins
  • ID or ownership checked on lockouts

Your request goes to an independent local locksmith professional, who confirms the price and performs the work. We never sell your information.

Request received

Thank you — we’ll call you back to confirm availability and your appointment.

Locked out right now? Call (508) 816-1101.

Next step

Key broken in your lock?

Call or request service online. You hear the price range first, availability is confirmed before dispatch, and nothing starts until you approve it.

Mon–Sat 8 AM–6 PM · Sunday by appointment(508) 816-1101

Up-front pricing · Your approval before work begins · Online requests accepted any time