# How many physical keys do you use in a day? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 8, 2025, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849 "2025-09-08T14:35:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/41 "2025-09-08T19:29:33Z")
On average, less than one a day. I don’t drive daily, so I use a fraction of a car key. We enter and leave the house thru the garage, and I don’t think we even have a front door key. I never had an office key and I don’t work any more anyway. I know where Mom hides her house key, but I can’t recall the last time I went there and no one was home. I do have the key to my daughter’s house and I might need that once or twice a month. Maybe. So all told, less than one key per day. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2025, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/42 "2025-09-08T21:47:57Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Many newer neighborhoods have cluster mailboxes much like the ones in apartments at the end of the block or whatever, rather than individual mailboxes at each house. Our neighborhood is nearly 40 years old and we have those. It’s more for the convenience of the mail carriers than the homeowners. It does however make the street look a little more tidy without everybody trying to express their personality through their unique (ugly) mailbox. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2025, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/43 "2025-09-08T22:00:12Z")
I have three home keys: One for my building, one for my apartment, and one for my mailbox. Then, I have one for my bike lock, and one for my classroom. On a typical day, I use all five of those. One one or two days per week, I visit my mom, and so also use the key to her house, and the key to her barn. And I occasionally need to use a different key for her house. About once per week, I drive, and so use my car key. I unlock the doors with the fob, but I still need to stick the thing with teeth in the ignition. I also regularly use my ID badge at work to get into the building, but I gather that that doesn’t count as a “key”, for the OP’s standards. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/44 "2025-09-08T22:02:56Z")
We put a code lock on the front door about a year and a half ago and I don’t think I’ve used a physical key since. Both cars use a fob, my office (until I retired three months ago) used code locks, and those are the only locks I ever use. The funny thing is that I still carried a ring of keys until a few months ago, purely out of habit. Aside from the old one to the house I couldn’t tell you what any of them opened. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2025, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/45 "2025-09-08T22:05:10Z")
Up to 4: house key, car key, 2 at work. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/46 "2025-09-08T22:38:50Z")
On days when i drive, i use the car key. I drive maybe 2-4 times a week. On other days, no keys. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2025, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/47 "2025-09-08T23:47:31Z")
I carry a bunch of keys with me, but there’s really only one I use daily: my mailbox key. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/48 "2025-09-09T00:28:08Z")
Average is about 0.2. just the house key, and only on days when my wife and I leave the house together. However my wife uses about 88, since she’s started practicing piano again. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/49 "2025-09-09T01:39:57Z")
None. I’ve had digital key pads on this house and the last, so 20 years or so. The car key technically has a metal key inside the fob if the battery dies, but I have never used it. Mailbox is on the front of the house next to the door, as God intended. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/50 "2025-09-09T02:36:44Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > However my wife uses about 88, since she’s started practicing piano again. But based on the constraints in this thread, only when she plays the music of [Matthew Locke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Locke_(composer)). ---
**Author:** ![doc481](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@doc481](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc481)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/51 "2025-09-09T03:18:08Z")
2. House key and car key that’s it. My cars older not a fob job. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/52 "2025-09-09T03:28:45Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m surprised how many have a mailbox key. (not that there’s anything wrong with that). I have only had to use a key to get mail when I lived in apartments. Throughout Canada, all newer neighbourhoods are served by community mailboxes, basically a cluster of mailboxes serving more or less the local block, with lockable compartments for packages, and with a slot for outgoing mail. It’s an enormous efficiency in mail delivery – one quick stop for the mail delivery person instead of walking around to 30 or 60 houses. As a compromise with the postal union, mail is still delivered door-to-door in older neighbourhoods, but I’m sure this horrendous waste of time is gradually going to be phased out. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/53 "2025-09-09T07:04:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s an enormous efficiency in mail delivery Certainly not: the mail recipients will do several times as much travel to the central mailbox as the carrier saved. The way to get efficiency is to switch to electronic mail. Denmark is headed in that direction: > **[Denmark's postal service to stop delivering letters](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg8jllq283o)** > > The decision will end 400 years of the company's letter service, and postboxes will disappear from June. although another company will still deliver them. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/54 "2025-09-09T07:32:19Z")
The only key I use daily is my car-key. I don’t lock my house doors except at night when I am inside. So, one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/55 "2025-09-09T09:55:35Z")
Only my car key if I leave the house at all. Well, our mail is in a ‘gang’ box, so if I check that I’ll use that key. I used more as a kid/tween. We owned a mobile home park (grandpa built it). I worked there and there where a lot of buildings and vehicles. I hung them from my belt loop (and man did I feel important, ha) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/56 "2025-09-09T10:14:22Z")
Minimum in 1 day: key to apartment and key to truck or car (whichever I’m driving that day). Unless I don’t go out at all on a day, in which case none. However, I routinely carry a bunch of keys: key to apartment door, key to document lockbox (home), key to truck, key to car, key to PO box, two keys to off-site storage unit, and a key to my locker at work all of which usually get used at some point during a typical week. So seven in all. At work I have a key for the cash office if I’m working there, and two keys for the self-checkout machines so I can clear jams in the mechanisms. So… clearly I’m not living in the keyless future. I’m OK with that. I also fully support the position of those who are key-free fob-loving folk. Options are good. Oddly enough, despite living in an apartment, I _don’t_ have a key to my home mailbox. It’s an unlocked box just outside my door. I now feel like Opposite Girl in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/57 "2025-09-09T10:30:50Z")
Five or so days a week: two keys each used twice. Car, store in am, then store, car in pm. A few times a week there’s the store mailbox key, and the nightdrop bank deposit key. Hmmm … If using a key = just turning a key that lives in the lock, then add in umpteen times in a normal work day. There’s a drawer behind the cash desk that needs to be opened with a key but there’s nothing really secret in it. I use that all the time. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/58 "2025-09-09T10:35:33Z")
One house key unlocks all the doors. One car fob I keep in my mini bag, I don’t even need to touch it, just a tap on the door handle locks and unlocks it. I can also access controls from anywhere using the app. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/59 "2025-09-09T11:06:15Z")
Two keys for the door to my flat, one for my car, and one for my office if I’m the first one in/last one out. Plus two remote controls to open the parking lot gate at home and work, and my fingerprint to get into the office building. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849/60 "2025-09-09T11:29:10Z")
I can’t remember the last time I used a physical key. Must be years for sure. Maybe an Airbnb in Barcelona 2017. Maybe my credenza at work around that same time. I have house keys that we have given to the dog sitter just in case of an emergency. But haven’t used them myself. He uses the numeric keypad. That reminds me that I need to look up how to open our new car’s door in case the keyless entry fails. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-physical-keys-do-you-use-in-a-day/1022849.md?page=4)