We've all seen the movies where our savvy hero pulls a Mastercard from his wallet and with a quick push and wiggle the door swings open. But how practical and realistic is this?

Is it just movie fiction or can we too acquire these spy-like abilities and learn how to pick a lock with a credit card?

In terms of its practicality, using a credit card to unlock a door is not always the best method as there are many other means of bypassing doors and locks – such as lock picks or using improvised tools such as using bobby pins.

However, if you ever find yourself in a pinch, using a credit card to pick a lock is always a viable option if the door you are attempting to bypass is of the right type.

So before we learn how to pick a lock with a credit card, let us first take a quick look at the best cards to use and the types of locks that are susceptible to credit card attacks.

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Choosing Your Card

Unlocking a door with a credit card is not as clean as the movies make it seem. The card being used will endure a ton of wiggling and bending – this type of rough play is typically not the kinda stress you want to put on your credit cards. Leave that to the bills.

Additionally, credit cards tend to be too thick and stiff to be effectively used and may even break.

For these reasons, we recommend that you use something that is more lightweight, flexible, and less valuable than a credit card – such as:

Gift cards

Membership cards

Old hotel keys

Insurance cards

You can even cut a strip from a plastic soda bottle if you don't have any cards at your disposal!

Locks' Pickable by Credit Cards

Unfortunately, credit cards will only work on slanted-latch style locks (as shown below) and will not work on deadbolts. Furthermore, the slant of the latch must be facing you so that you may press it in using your card.

But how can we tell by looking at a door if we can pick it with a credit card? Easy! There are essentially three things you should look for:

Firstly, make sure that there is not a deadbolt. Deadbolts use a rod that can only be retracted by either using a key or by lock picking Secondly, the slant of the latch must be facing towards you. You can easily determine this by looking at the door. If the hinges are on the opposite side of the door as you then the slant is facing you. If the hinges are on your side, this method of credit card lock picking will not work and you are better off removing the hinges to get through the door. Thirdly, be certain that there are no metal plates nor excessive molding that will restrict your card from sliding between the crack of the door and reaching the strike plate.

So if there is no deadbolt, the hinges are on the opposite side of the door, and there isn't anything blocking the crack of the door – that particular door can be unlocked with a credit card!

How to Pick a Lock with a Credit Card: 3 Steps

Step 1: At an angle, slide the edge of your card between the door and the strike plate. Once the corner is in, straighten the card so that it is perpendicular to the door and the entire edge of the card is between the door and the strike plate.

Step 2: Bend your card towards the doorknob. By bending the card and giving it a little push, it should easily slide further into the door.

Step 3: Bend and wiggle the card. Apply pressure to the door and continue to bend and wiggle the card between the door and yourself. Eventually, the card will slide far enough in to compress the latch – thus unlocking the door!

Entire Process ⇓

Credit Card Lock Picking Set

In addition to using an actual credit card to unlock doors, there are also a variety of lock picking sets that fit snuggly within a thin look-a-like credit card and can be carried easily in any wallet.

Not only do these lock pick sets include all the basic picks required to bypass ANY lock – they are also extremely cheap, easy to use, and can be picked up on Amazon.

There you have it – you now know how to pick a lock with a credit card! If you liked this little guide please don’t forget to help us out and share it with your friends!

Additionally, we would love to hear of any success, failures, or questions. Be sure to throw us a comment below!

Happy Picking!