Kwikset KW1 vs KW5: Right Groove, Left Groove and Which Lishi Tool You Need
Kwikset is the other half of the North American residential market, and Lishi covers it with four products rather than two: KW1 and KW5, each in a standard and a left-groove version. The tool number on its own does not tell you which one fits.
This page sets out what each listing covers and the two checks that decide the order.
Short version: KW1 and KW5 are different keyways. The -L suffix marks a left-groove version of the same keyway. Read the code on the cylinder first, then check which side the groove sits on.
The four Kwikset tools
| Tool | Keyway | Groove | Cut count as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| KW1 | KW1 | Right | 5 |
| KW1-L | KW1 | Left | 5 |
| KW5 | KW5 | Not stated | Not stated |
| KW5-L | KW5 | Left | Not stated |
Check one: KW1 or KW5
KW1 and KW5 are different keyways, not two sizes of the same tool. The code is stamped on the cylinder face or the original key - read it before you look at anything else.
If the stamp is worn, the door hardware itself is the next clue: match the shape of the keyway the blank sits in against the listing photos, and if it is still unclear, ask before ordering rather than guessing between the two.
Check two: which side is the groove
Both Kwikset keyways exist in a groove variant. Held with the cuts facing up, the groove runs along one edge of the blade - left or right. The standard KW1 tool is listed as right groove and KW1-L as left groove, and the KW5 family follows the same convention.
A left-groove blank will not enter a right-groove cylinder, even though the keyway code matches. Compare the key in the lock against the product photo before you commit.
What the cut count tells you - and what it does not
KW1 is listed as 5-cut in both versions. That number describes the bitting positions the tool reads; it does not separate KW1 from KW5, and it does not tell you the groove side.
Where a listing does not state a cut count, do not assume it matches the one you were quoted. Check the listing itself.
Three checks before ordering
- Read the keyway code from the cylinder face or key - KW1 or KW5.
- Look at the groove side with the cuts facing up, then pick the standard or the -L version.
- Confirm the cut count in the listing title, not from memory.
Common mistakes
- Buying KW1 because it is the better-known code, on a cylinder stamped KW5.
- Ordering the standard tool when the key is left-groove.
- Assuming KW1-L and KW5-L are the same tool - the prefix is the keyway, and the L only marks the groove.
Frequently asked questions
Is KW1 the same as KW5?
No. They are different keyways; the cut count does not convert one into the other.
What does the L mean in KW1-L?
It marks the left-groove version of the KW1 keyway. The standard KW1 listing is right groove.
Do I need both versions?
Only if you meet both groove types in the field. Many locksmiths carry the pair rather than turning a job away.
Where can I see all the Kwikset tools together?
Our Kwikset collection lists all four; the wider residential collection adds Schlage, Master and mailbox tools.
Kwikset tools in this comparison
Related reading: Schlage SC1 vs SC4 vs SC20 vs S123 · cut types explained
