Three keyways cover the large majority of residential doors in North America. Knowing which one you have makes ordering a blank or a copy quick and error-free.
KW1 — Kwikset / Weiser family
KW1 fits the widely used Kwikset five-pin residential keyway and cross-references to Ilco 1176. It is one of the most common house keys in Canada.
SC1 — Schlage
SC1 is the standard Schlage five-pin keyway. Schlage blades are a little thicker and the profile is different from Kwikset, so the two are not interchangeable even though both are “house keys.”
Y1 — Yale
Y1 covers many older Yale residential cylinders. If your key is stamped Y1 (or references a Yale blank), it needs a Yale-profile blank, not a Kwikset or Schlage one.
Why it matters
Cutting a key onto the wrong keyway is the number-one cause of a copy that “won’t go in” or “won’t turn.” Matching the keyway first guarantees the blank physically enters your lock.
Need a key cut or matched in the GTA? Keys Work stocks the full line of key blanks, machines and cutters — real stock, ships today. Search by your key code at keyswork.ca/shop or call 416-676-9142.