6 Best Lockpick Sets for Beginners [2025 Update]

By Ties from Grimbergen · content checked by Wim Vos · Last updated: October 2026

The best lockpick set for beginners includes a few good hooks, one or two rakes, and enough tension wrenches, made of hardened stainless steel. More picks do not make a set better. Below, I compare six sets; you can find all models in our category lockpick set.

In short:

• Best first set: Sparrows Kick Start – the four picks you actually use, plus six tension wrenches.
• Smallest budget: LPXS-15 – a lot of variety and thin picks for European locks.
• Complete right away: Law Lock Tools Valyrian – 13 picks, you won’t outgrow this quickly.

Do you want to see only sets suitable for starting? Check out our beginner lockpick sets. Never picked before? Then first read how lockpicking works.

Comparison table: 6 lockpick sets for beginners

What to look for in the best lockpick set?

I bought my first set in 2010: a “mega deluxe” set of 32 pieces, dirt cheap via a large online marketplace. Within an hour, I had broken two picks. The metal was so soft that everything bent as soon as I felt resistance. I want to spare you that frustration. From conversations with beginner lockpickers, I now know where it usually goes wrong. So pay attention to these four points.

1. What picks do you need?

You only need a handful of picks. I keep returning to these shapes:

• Standard hook (short or shallow hook): the first pick I grab for single pin picking.
• Euro medium hook: goes just deeper behind a high pin. Handy if a low pin is directly after a high pin.
• Long hook (deep hook): for the deepest pins. Without this hook, you might overset a pin in some locks.
• Offset hybrid: a cross between half diamond and hook. The bend helps you get past pins in the keyhole more easily.
• Triple peak rake (also Bogota or worm rake): also works on trickier locks. You set the last pins with a hook afterward.
• City rake (L-rake): you use this wiggling and rocking instead of raking.

Additionally, you want 3 to 4 tension wrenches in different thicknesses, for the bottom (BOK) and top (TOK) of the keyhole. Sets with twenty or more picks seem complete, but you will never use most of the picks. How to use them is explained in single pin picking and raking.

2. Thickness: thicker gives more feel

The thickness of lockpicks is usually indicated in inches:

• 0.015″–0.018″ (approx. 0.38–0.46 mm): very thin, only for very narrow keyholes. Breaks faster and is difficult for beginners.
• 0.020″–0.025″ (approx. 0.51–0.64 mm): the best choice for beginners. Strong enough and thin enough for most locks.
• 0.025″ (approx. 0.64 mm) is the common standard thickness, especially for locks with wide keyholes. For narrow European keyholes, choose 0.020″ or slightly thinner.

My golden rule: use the thickest pick that still fits in the keyhole. Thicker picks provide clearer feedback and break less easily.

3. European or American locks?

American practice locks, such as those from Master Lock and Sparrows, have wide keyholes and are forgiving. A pick of around 0.025″ fits there. European cylinders and padlocks, such as Abus and EVVA, have narrower and often winding keyholes. For those, you need thinner picks, around 0.020″ (approx. 0.5 mm). My advice: start on a wide practice lock and switch to European locks once you have the basics down.

4. Budget: buy good once

A very cheap set seems like a safe bet. But soft metal bends, provides little feedback, and teaches you bad habits. If you then buy a good set, you pay double and lose weeks. Instead, choose a small set of well-hardened steel, from a brand like Sparrows, Peterson, or Multipick, and spend the difference on a practice lock. Good picks last for years: I still use my first Peterson hooks from 2018. Premium sets with lots of extras are only worthwhile if you know you will continue.

Here’s how to choose in 4 steps

1. Choose your starting area: a wide (American) practice lock or immediately European locks.
2. Choose your set: at least 3 hooks, 1 to 2 rakes, and wrenches for both BOK and TOK.
3. Buy a practice lock as well: an old lock from the shed is often rusty, dirty, or too difficult.
4. Give yourself a month: practice briefly but regularly before drawing conclusions.

The 6 best lockpick sets for beginners

1. Sparrows Kick Start Set

The Sparrows Kick Start is the set I still use the most: simple, effective, without unnecessary picks. You get four lockpicks – a standard hook, an offset hybrid, a triple peak rake, and a city rake – plus six tension wrenches in different widths.

The picks are made of American 301 Cold Max steel, 0.025″ (0.64 mm) thick, and well finished, so you feel what happens in the lock. Everything comes in a compact pouch with Velcro closure that fits in your pocket.

Suitable for: anyone who wants to start with the essential shapes. Less suitable for: those who want to immediately try out many different hooks.

Check out the Sparrows Kick Start Set

2. Multipick Elite Beginner

The Multipick Elite Beginner is assembled by lockpick expert Christina Palmer and made by the German Multipick. You get 7 picks: three hooks, a half diamond, a curved “Deforest” pick, and two rakes with a computer-controlled cycloidal shape. Along with six tension wrenches: three for the bottom (BOK) and three for the top (TOK) of the keyhole.

The picks are 0.6 mm thick and made of spring steel, with stainless steel handles. Everything comes in a genuine leather case. There are no filler picks, so you actually use every part.

Suitable for: the ambitious beginner who wants to try more profiles. Also check out the other sets from Multipick.

3. SouthOrd C801 Slimline Set

The SouthOrd C801 is a 9-piece set: 7 picks and 2 tension wrenches. SouthOrd manufactures the picks in the USA from hardened stainless steel. They are 0.022″ (approximately 0.56 mm) thick, have metal handles, and are designed for narrower European keyholes.

You will find all the basic shapes in it, including a standard hook, deep hook, offset hybrid, snake rake, city rake, and diamond. Everything comes in a leather case. Not 24 picks, but you don’t need that: many lockpickers opened their first locks with this set.

Are you looking for a compact set with a slimline pick for narrow keyholes? Then check out the Sparrows Tuxedo or the other sets from SouthOrd.

4. Law Lock Tools Valyrian Set

The Valyrian from British Law Lock Tools is a comprehensive set with 13 lockpicks, designed in collaboration with lockpicker Tipene Muller. You get hooks in three sizes, a reach diamond, an offset hybrid, unique profiles like the Nessie and the teardrop, and rakes such as the snake, city, and Bogota rake.

The picks are made of 301 stainless steel, 0.635 mm thick, and are long-tumbled, so all edges are smooth. You receive six tensioners (three TOK pry bars and three slim BOK wrenches) in a leather case.

Suitable for: anyone who wants a complete set that they won’t outgrow quickly. Note: the picks do not have handle scales. They feel good in hand, but you can add heat shrink tubing yourself.

Check out the Valyrian Set

5. Moki Explorer

Moki is a German brand with a finish that feels almost custom-made. The Moki Explorer focuses on single pin picking: 9 hook profiles, two diamonds, and a triple peak rake, with 8 tension tools for TOK and BOK in various thicknesses. The picks are 0.5 mm thick and made in Germany; everything comes in a storage box.

Suitable for: the demanding beginner who wants to work with top tools right away. Less suitable for: anyone who wants to first discover if lockpicking is for them. Note: the Explorer is currently out of stock. Check out the sets from Moki.

6. LPXS-15 (budget choice)

The LPXS-15 from Mystic is the choice if you want to start on a small budget. You get 10 lockpicks with black ergonomic handles: a couple of basic hooks for single pin picking, three rakes (snake rake, W-rake, and triple peak), and two half-ball picks for wafer locks. One pick is double-sided: one side is a half-ball, the other a W-rake.

It includes four tension tools in three types, including a double-sided one. Everything comes in a leather pouch with a snap button. The picks are 0.023″ (approximately 0.58 mm) thick, so they fit well in narrow European keyholes.

Suitable for: anyone who wants to discover if lockpicking is for them. Expect: no top quality like with Multipick, but a usable set that will take you far.

Check out the LPXS-15

Lockpick set with practice lock: smart start

Beginners often struggle because they practice on an old, rusty lock. On a transparent or special practice lock, you can see and feel what happens. Want everything at once? Then choose a lockpick set with practice lock or pick one separately from our practice locks.

Are you unsure between picks and a pick gun? Read lockpick gun vs lockpick set. In short: if you want to learn how a lock works, choose a set.

Buying a lockpick set in Belgium

Do you live in Flanders? Shipping to Belgium costs €6.99 and is free for orders over €50. If you order before 23:29 and your set is in stock, it will ship the same day. Delivery time to Belgium is one to two days. Payment can also be made with Bancontact. In Belgium, you mainly deal with European cylinders and padlocks, with narrow keyholes. So it’s better to choose a set with thinner picks, like the LPXS-15. What is and isn’t allowed, you can read in is a lockpick set legal in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Video: lockpick sets for beginners

In this video, YouTuber Lock Noob discusses several lockpick sets for beginners, with tips and demonstrations.

Get started

• Sparrows Kick Start Set – the four picks you actually use, in pocket size.
• LPXS-15 – a lot of variety for a small budget.
• Lockpick set with practice lock – set and practice lock in one, so you can start right away.

Ordered before 00:00 is shipped today (NL), with free shipping from €40 and a 30-day return policy. Unsure which set suits you? You will receive a response via WhatsApp within 1 hour, or contact us through the customer service.

Only practice on locks that belong to you or for which you have permission – and never on locks that are in use. Also read is lockpicking legal.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best lockpick set for beginners?

For most beginners, the Sparrows Kick Start: four essential picks and six tension wrenches. If you have a small budget, choose the LPXS-15. If you want a complete set right away, then the Valyrian from Law Lock Tools is a good choice.

How many lockpicks do you need as a beginner?

Less than you think: three hooks (short, medium, and deep), one or two rakes, and three to four tension wrenches for BOK and TOK. Sets with twenty or more picks mainly contain picks that you won’t use.

Which thickness of lockpick do you choose as a beginner?

Picks of 0.020″ to 0.025″ (approximately 0.51–0.64 mm) are the most comfortable for beginners. Always use the thickest pick that still fits in the keyhole: it provides the best feedback and breaks less easily.

Are you starting with raking or single pin picking?

Start with single pin picking: you learn the most about how a lock works. Raking is a handy addition for variety and for simpler locks. With a set that contains both types of picks, you can practice both.

Is the SouthOrd PXS-14 a good lockpick set?

The PXS-14 is a solid set that was recommended for years as a starter set. It just contains many picks that I personally do not use. With a smaller set, like the Sparrows Kick Start, you have everything you need.

Want to read more experiences from other lockpickers? The lockpicking wiki on Reddit is a good international resource.

Next step: Set up a practice lock yourself