7 Types of Lock Picks (and Their Uses)

The first time I ever heard about lock picks was while playing a computer RPG. Back then, I didn’t think they exist. (Hey, I was six!) When I found out that lock picks were real, I was thrilled. Then, I promptly forgot about them until fairly recently. A recently locked door made me discover that lock picks are pretty useful, but that not all lockpicks are the same. Did you ever wonder what types of lock picks there are out there?

There are several different types of lock picks, each of which has its own unique purpose. The most common major types of lockpicks used are as follow:

Raking, on the other hand, is a more erratic style of lock picking that involves manipulating as many pins as possible in the shortest period of time. For this reason, long picks with numerous points of contact are typically used. The theory is that the more points of contact that you have with the pins when raking, the faster you will be able to set them and open the lock. Oftentimes, the most effective rakes are those that allow you to touch more pins more times.

Though, this does not mean that the longest, most volatile rake is always the answer. The effectiveness of a rake depends on a number of other factors, including the biting of the pins. There are some instances where the picks with the simplest design are the most successful at getting the job done.

Although there are a ton of different ways to use a rake, the three main styles that these picks fall under are as follows:

Before we go any deeper, it’s important to note that there are essentially two main ways to discuss the types of lock picks: via categories and the specific picks themselves. Both are technically correct ways to approach things. For the sake of this article, we decided to go with the trend of explaining the overarching genres of the picks. If we were to go with all the individual picks, things would get pretty monotonous, pretty quick.

Each lock pick will have its own perks and pitfalls. Lock picks are typically used for single barrel picking if they’re simple locks. More complex locks will require bitting, warding, and rocking. Each of these methods could use an entire article on its own. For our sake, we’re going to focus on the types and assume you know what you’re doing.

That said, let’s talk about pick types…

Hook picks are one of the oldest types of lock picks in existence, and they work by hooking and pushing upwards on a single pin in the lock. More advanced users can occasionally use them for other uses, but they’re mostly about individual pins. Hooks can come in a wide range of styles, including long hooks, short hooks, as well as “Gonzo” picks, which gained their name by the muppet with the same moniker.

The basic gist about this type of lock is that it’s shaped like a hook. How hook-like they are or how deep a hook it is will depend on the subcategory.

Diamond picks can come in two major subcategories: full and half diamond. Full diamond picks are rare, but they’re easily recognizable. They have diamond shapes at the end and are flat to the touch. Half diamonds, such as the one above, are more common. Like hooks, these are meant for single pick manipulation, but they are also capable of helping multi-barrel locks open up.

Diamond picks are also good for raking, an act that is meant to drag a pick across all the pins to lift up the ones that have to be listed for the lock to open up.

Rake lock picks look like little squiggles made out of metal—much like the bumps you see along the rough side of a bobby pin. There are tons of different styles of rake lock picks, including single-sided rakes (flat on one side), and snake rakes (which look like a serpent crawling around). Rake picks are meant to literally scrape along all the pins of the lock, in a raking motion.

City rakes, which are single-sided rakes with multiple jags, tend to be particularly popular among professional locksmiths. They tend to work best on house locks. For reference, three of the lockpicks in this picture above are rake picks—the third, fourth, and last picks. All of these are meant to set off all the pins at once.

Key extractors are a specialty lock pick genre that look like fishing spears and have a very specific task they are meant to do. When you have a key (or part of a key) stuck in a lock, this is the pick that’s best to use. As the name suggests, this is meant to pull out keys and key parts when they’re jammed inside a lock.

The last key on the right in this lock pick set is a key extractor. As you can see, it’s got a fisher spear appearance, with a small hook at the end of it. It looks a lot like a half diamond, but the hook makes all the difference.

Bump keys are also technically not lock picks. In fact, they don’t even loosely resemble picks. Bump keys look exactly like a typical house key, but they have bumps on every major part of the key’s fob, rather than a singular pattern that only fits one lock. These keys are inserted into a lock and are meant to “bump up” each pin on a lock.

These keys come in a wide range of different sizes, and you will need to use them on a lock that fits the specific size of the key. This leads them to be sold in a “keyring” style of set rather than individual keys. Unlike other lock picks, bump keys are meant to be used on very specific locks. Since they tend to be so specific, it’s unlikely that you will see these in an “amateur” pick kit.

This is another type of lock pick that we wanted to bring up, even though it’s not a stereotypical pick. Known by law enforcement and landlords as EPGs (Electric Picking Guns), these lock picks are meant to be automated tools rather than traditional locks. These guns involve multiple pick heads that can be attached to the gun portion.

The pick gun gets activated by the handle, which will start the guns’ ability to push pins. While they can work in a pinch, EPGs do not work on all locks and are primarily meant to be used solely on simple locks. More complex locks tend to break when they are treated with a lock pick gun.

This is one of the only types of lock picks that you can technically use without having studied the traditional lock picking methods other picks use. It’s just click and go, for the most part. With that said, most people view them as a nice tool to add to an already extensive arsenal, rather than a substitute for actual picking skill.

Lock pick prices are pretty stable, but it still all depends on how many picks you want to buy plus the specific variety that you want to grab. A single standard lock pick of any type will usually cost between $1 to $2.50. If you want to get a collection of picks for your arsenal then you can expect to pay between $10 to $50 for the entire set, depending on the set size.

With that said it is possible to find full lock pick sets for under $5 on sites like Wish. However, we do not suggest getting picks from an off-brand site, as a broken lock pick can actually destroy certain types of locks. Lock pick sets should be from a high-quality site simply because you want them to last.

If you want to buy bump key sets, then you should expect to plunk down at least $20 to $40. Electric lock pick guns, on the other hand, are going to cost between $50 to $200 for the machine. Pick heads for EPGs can cost anywhere from $10 to $50, depending on the number of picks as well as the type of gun you will be using them for.

This all depends on where you live as well as what you do with the lock picks. Nationally, there are no laws that say you can’t have a lock pick set. In fact, it’s not unusual to hear of people who started to buy lock picks as part of a new hobby. However, that doesn’t mean that lock picking is a free-for-all.

Some states and towns have specialized restrictions on who can transport them and who can buy them. Sometimes, certain areas have an age restriction on lock pick purchases. If you aren’t sure whether you have any laws against lock pick transportation, check your local mandates.

Of course, there are going to be moments where lock picks might look suspicious or may add to criminal charges you already have. For example, if you are arrested for a burglary, being caught with lock picks might make your break-in look premeditated. Most areas will slap an additional charge for that.

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t learn how to pick locks. Many people find it to be an entertaining hobby (like Manhattan Project alumni Dr. Feynman!) that also has a fun perk of surprising people. It can be a cool party trick, or a cooler way to make sure that you can talk like a legit LARPer. Others find it to be a useful thing to learn if you get locked out of your own car on a regular basis, too.

Of course, certain professions tend to call for this skill more than others. If you are looking to go into law enforcement, knowing how to pick locks can help. This is also true if you want to be a landlord or a superintendent at an apartment complex. However, many folks are totally content with calling a locksmith to the site if they need a lock opened up.

Related Questions

Are there any types of locks that cannot be picked?

For the most part, virtually any lock type that you will see on a day-to-day basis will be able to be picked with the right tools. One exception to the rule is a Bowley lock. Bowley locks are built with mechanisms that shield pins from being tampered with, along with special mechanisms that prevent the entry of the lock picks.If you have a Bowley lock that is stuck closed, you will have to have a professional locksmith remove the lock itself. Even professional-grade tools cannot penetrate a Bowley lock, so it’s important to make sure that you always keep the key in place.

Does Home Depot sell locksmithing tools?

Absolutely! In fact, Home Depot is one of the best places to go if you want to get some new locksmithing tools. The stores regularly stock a wide range of lock picks (both individual and full sets) as well as other locksmithing tools, including rekeying kits. If you need to duplicate a key, most Home Depots will also have a service that you can access for a low fee.A good rule of thumb is that you should call your local Home Depot ahead of time to make sure that the tools that you want to get are there. It’ll save you a trip!