How to get key doubles in Germany

By Nicolas Bouliane

This guide explains how to make a copy of your apartment keys in Germany.

Who pays for the keys?

When you move in, you must get a set of keys for every adult who lives there. This includes a key for the building door, your apartment door and your mailbox. You must not pay for this.1

If you lost your keys, or if you want keys for your friends or visitors, you must pay for them.

What to do if you lost your keys

How to get extra keys

Regular keys

To get a key double, go to a locksmith (Schlüsseldienst) or to Bauhaus with the key you want to copy.8 It takes a few minutes. It costs around 5€ per key.

You can make as many copies of your apartment keys as you want. You do not need permission from your landlord, but you must inform them.11 You can give a copy of your apartment keys to anyone you want.4

Building keys

Building keys are harder to copy. Some keys have a protected shape, and only some locksmiths can copy them. Your Hausverwaltung might have a contract with a specific locksmith, so you must go to that locksmith.6

There are two ways to copy building keys:

  • Get an unofficial copy – 5€ to 35€ per key 
    Some locksmiths can replace building keys. You don’t need permission or a code card.7 It’s completely legal.2 You can send Schlüsseldienst Samuel a photo of your key on WhatsApp, and they tell you if they can copy it. They speak English, French and Arabic.10 Key Copy has a similar service.
  • Get an official copy – 30€ to 80€ per key
    Get permission from your Hausverwaltung. They will give you a letter (Berechtigungsschein) or a code card (Sicherungskarte). Bring it to the locksmith. Bring an ID document with you. It can take a few days.9

Car keys

To copy a vehicle key, go to a car dealership.5

Apartment keys

Tell your landlord

You can make as many copies of your apartment keys as you want. You do not need permission from your landlord, but you must inform them.11 You can give a copy of your apartment keys to anyone.4

When you move out

When you move out, you must give back every apartment key that you have, including the copies that you made.3

Sources and footnotes

  1. sueddeutsche.de (2022) ⤴

  2. anwaltauskunft.de ⤴

  3. sueddeutsche.de (2022) ⤴

  4. sueddeutsche.de (2022) ⤴

  5. reddit.com/r/berlin, Focus.de (2023) ⤴

  6. Reddit (2019), Reddit (2021) ⤴

  7. keymax.de (2024), Reddit (2022), Schlüsseldienst Samuel ⤴

  8. Bauhaus (2024) ⤴

  9. Reddit (2022), Focus.de (2023), Personal experience (2024) ⤴

  10. Schlüsseldienst Samuel (November 2024) ⤴

  11. MyHomeBook, anwaltauskunft.de, sueddeutsche.de (2022) ⤴