2-year job category analysis 
All 50 states + D.C.
Executive summary
KeyMe Locksmiths analyzed 54,888 lockout transactions from the last two years, grouped by the hour of the day in which
they occurred, to identify when Americans are most likely to find themselves locked out.
The pattern is sharp and consistent. Lockouts build steadily through the afternoon, peak at 6 PM, and fall away through
the night. There is no morning rush: the early hours, when many people head out for work, are among the quietest. And
nearly half of all lockouts happen outside the standard nine-to-six workday.
Key Findings
6 PM is the single most common hour for a lockout, with 4,613 transactions (8.4% of the total). The next four busiest hours are 7 PM (7.99%), 5 PM (7.72%), 8 PM (7.41%), and 4 PM (7.40%).
The five hours from 4 PM to 8:59 PM account for 38.9% of all lockouts, and the afternoon and evening together (12 PM to 8:59 PM) account for 64.4%.
There is no morning rush. The 7 AM and 8 AM hours account for just 1.18% and 2.18% of lockouts. Volume climbs gradually from 9 AM and does not reach its peak until the early evening.
Nearly half of lockouts (47%) happen outside 9 AM to 5:59 PM, including 37.9% between 6 PM and midnight.
Lockouts at night are rare but real. The 9 PM to 11:59 PM window accounts for 14.1% of lockouts, while the overnight hours from midnight to 5:59 AM account for just 5.3%.
“Lockouts don't happen when people leave in the morning. They happen as the day winds down, when people are finishing work, running errands, and heading home. The curve builds all afternoon and peaks right at six o'clock.”
KeyMe Locksmiths Analyst
Read the full white paper
Explore the Complete 7-Page Analysis
The complete 7-page analysis examines nearly 55,000 lockout transactions over a two-year period, revealing the most and least common times of day for lockouts. It includes hourly rankings, peak lockout periods, time-of-day comparisons, consumer behavior trends, key findings, FAQs, and a detailed methodology.
