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 at least two sets of keys. If more people live together, each person must get a set of keys. Older children also get a set of keys. Each set of keys must include the building key, the apartment key and the mailbox key. You must not pay for these keys; not even a deposit.1

If you want more keys, you must pay for them. If you lost your keys, you must pay to replace them.7

How to get extra keys

Apartment keys

Regular keys open the door to your apartment. To copy them…

  1. Go to a locksmith
    Go to a locksmith (Schlüsseldienst) or to Bauhaus with the key you want to copy.10
  2. Ask for a copies
    Making a key double takes a few minutes. It usually costs around 5€ per key.
  3. Inform your landlord
    You do not need their permission to make new keys, but you must inform them.13

You can give a copy of your apartment keys to anyone you trust.5

Building keys

Building keys open the front door of your apartment building. To copy them…

  1. Get permission from your landlord
    You need permission to copy building keys.4 Some keys have a protected shape, and you need a code card (Sicherungskarte) or permission letter (Berechtigungsschein) to copy them. Your landlord will give this to you.
  2. Go to a locksmith
    If your Hausverwaltung has a contract with a specific locksmith, you must go to that locksmith.8 These locksmiths are often very expensive.
    • Get an unofficial copy – 5€ to 35€ 
      Some locksmiths can replace building keys. You don’t need a code card.9 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.12
    • Get an official copy – 30€ to 80€
      Bring your permission letter or code card to the locksmith. Also bring an ID document. It can take a few minutes or a few days.11
  3. Inform your landlord

Car keys

To copy a vehicle key, go to a car dealership.6

Apartment keys

Tell your landlord

When you make new apartment or building keys, you must always inform your landlord.13 You can make as many copies as you want. You can give a copy to anyone you trust.5

When you move out

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

Sources and footnotes

  1. sueddeutsche.de (2022), Berliner Mieterverein (2014), anwalt.de (2020), haufe.de, Berliner Mietergemeinschaft ⤴

  2. anwaltauskunft.de ⤴

  3. sueddeutsche.de (2022), Berliner Mieterverein (2014) ⤴

  4. berliner-mieterverein.de (2014) ⤴

  5. sueddeutsche.de (2022) ⤴

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

  7. anwalt.de (2020) ⤴

  8. Reddit (2019), Reddit (2021) ⤴

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

  10. Bauhaus (2024) ⤴

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

  12. Schlüsseldienst Samuel (November 2024) ⤴

  13. MyHomeBook, anwaltauskunft.de, anwalt.de (2020), sueddeutsche.de (2022), berliner-mieterverein.de (2014) ⤴