People who hide spare keys outside usually pick spots that are quick to access but (in theory) not obvious to a casual passerby. Here are the most common real-world hiding places, based on what locksmiths, burglars, and surveys consistently report:
Super Common (and widely known — i.e., a burglar will check these first)
- Under the doormat (by far the #1 most common)
- Under a flowerpot or planter right next to the door
- On top of the door frame/ledge
- Under fake rocks that look obviously fake
- In the mailbox
- Under a garden gnome, statue, or lawn ornament
- Taped to the underside of a deck chair or outdoor table
- Inside a fake sprinkler head or outdoor electrical outlet
Slightly smarter (but still frequently found)
- Inside a magnetic key box stuck to the metal frame under the car (if parked in driveway)
- Taped high up inside the gutter/downspout
- Inside a hollowed-out garden hose reel
- Under a loose brick or stepping stone right by the door
- In a birdhouse or hanging planter
- Taped behind a nearby exterior light fixture
Actually pretty decent (rarely checked by opportunistic thieves)
- Inside a padlocked realtor-style lockbox attached to a water spigot or gas meter (with a custom code)
- Magnetic box attached to a steel beam deep under the deck or in the crawlspace
- Buried a few inches down in a specific flower bed (mark it subtly)
- Inside an old thermos or PVC pipe capped and buried
- Attached high up on a metal fence post with camouflage tape
What most locksmiths and ex-burglars say
In under 30 seconds a thief will flip the mat, check every flowerpot within 10 feet, look on the ledge, and kick over any “fake rock.” If nothing’s there, most will move on. So anything beyond arm’s reach of the door and not screaming “key hiding spot” is already much safer.
