--- title: Where to Hide Spare Keys description: A guide on how to hide spare keys when you’re away from home, including tips on unique places to hide them from potential intruders. authors: - name: Víctor Rosario role: Staff Writer url: https://money.com/author/victor-rosario/ bio: Víctor Rosario was a staff writer for Money, where he wrote about home warranties, credit cards and insurance and pet insurance. education: University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus at_money_since: 2022 articles: 66 covers: - Housing - Business - Career Advice - Education - Identity Theft - Insurance - Mortgages - Pets former_staff: true editors: - name: Gabriel O. Rodriguez Cruz role: Associate Editor url: https://money.com/author/gabriel-rodriguez/ bio: Gabriel Rodríguez is an editor at Money who covers financial technology and digital security. His two main topics of expertise are identity theft protection services and crypto, specifically crypto wallet and crypto exchanges. education: University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras at_money_since: 2018 articles: 101 covers: - Housing - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Economy and Politics - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Lifestyle - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Pets - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology social: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriel-rodriguez-cruz/ published: '2024-05-24T20:43:15.000Z' modified: '2025-05-19T19:29:20.000Z' section: Housing word_count: 571 canonical: https://money.com/where-to-hide-spare-keys/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![Where to Hide Spare Keys](https://img.money.com/2024/05/Explainer-Hide-Spare-Keys.jpg?quality=85&w=1012&h=569&crop=1) A set of spare keys can be useful if you’re away from home for long periods of time or are planning a big vacation. They are also useful as a backup in case you misplace or lose your set of keys. But tiptoeing the line between being too obvious and too obscure with your hiding spot can be tricky. Read on to learn about how and where to hide your spare keys. To learn more about home security, including some offerings on smart locks that could make your spare key obsolete, be sure to check out our picks for the [best home security systems](https://money.com/best-home-security-system/). ## Smart home security every second with ADT ### ADT helps protect your home and family 24/7 with professional monitoring and smart solutions. Select your state and get a free quote today. [Get Started](https://money.com/pr/e8379588f9b4?ap_referrer=%2Fwhere-to-hide-spare-keys%2F) ## Do’s and don’ts when hiding spare keys When it comes to your home’s security, there is no such thing as too safe. Having a spare key on your porch can come in handy, but you want to hide it in the most secure way possible. Here’s some useful tips for choosing your hiding spot. ### Don’t hide a key under your doormat It’s a cliché for a reason. Under the doormat or a potted plant is probably the first place an intruder or unwanted guest will look for your spare keys, which is why you should not hide them there. If you’ve seen someone do it in a movie, avoid doing it yourself. ### Do hide keys in unusual places The best way to hide a key is to figure out a good place to stash it that is unique to your living arrangement. The more inventive a hiding spot is, the less likely it will be checked by a potential intruder. Try hiding your key under a brick that only you know is loose, or using fishing wire to store a key in a nook only you are aware of. ### Don’t hide your key inside your mailbox Another place where people frequently put away things they want others to pick up at their home is a mailbox. While convenient, mailboxes are constantly being opened, which can lead to your keys falling out even if no one tries to take them. ### Do tape your key to the top of the inside of your mailbox A good alternative to just putting your key inside of the mailbox is to tape it to the top of the inside of your mailbox. This way, your key won’t be visible even to those who open your mailbox but it will still be easily accessible to those who know where it is. This applies to other spaces such as your breaker box and other boxes which might be outside your home. ### Don’t leave without telling someone Informing a trusted person such as a friendly neighbor or family member of your extended leave might be all you need to make sure your house is taken care of while you’re gone. You might even be able to leave your spare key with them to facilitate the process and save yourself the trouble of having to hide a spare key in the first place. ### Do hide a key in plain sight Hiding a key in a fake rock is much more effective if it looks like all the other rocks in your yard. The tougher it is to distinguish where you hide your key, the harder it’s going to be for an intruder to find it. Harder to find keys also make intruders look more suspicious when searching for them, which may dissuade them from looking further. ## Keep your home safer round the clock with ADT ### ADT offers top home security that could potentially help save you money on insurance\* and energy costs. Get a quote now and protect what matters most. [Get Started](https://money.com/pr/b030f0d20778?ap_referrer=%2Fwhere-to-hide-spare-keys%2F) \*Homeowner's Insurance Savings: Some insurance companies offer discounts on homeowner's insurance. 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