For most homes, the Jones Stephens M25136 36-inch water meter key reaches a typical curb valve; pick the M25736 for a stiffer 3/4-inch shaft. If your box lid or curb box uses a pentagon nut, add the Jones Stephens M25900 wrench. Ask your water utility whether you may operate the curb stop before you need it.
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This guide covers water meter keys, also called curb keys, and the wrenches that open meter box lids.
Water meter keys compared
| Tool | Maker specs | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Jones Stephens M25136 | 36 in. long, 1/2-in. rebar, 12.5-in. T-handle, 3/4-in. key opening | A standard homeowner or service key |
| Jones Stephens M25736 | 36 in. long, 3/4-in. rebar, 12.5-in. T-handle, 3/4-in. key opening | You want a stiffer shaft for a tight valve |
| Jones Stephens M25900 | Curb box wrench for pentagon curb boxes, thin-wall socket | Your box lid or curb box uses a pentagon nut |
A water meter key, also called a curb key or water box key, is a long T-handle rod with a slotted end that reaches down a curb box or meter pit to turn the shutoff valve. Many boxes also have a lid held by a bolt, often a five-sided pentagon nut, which needs its own wrench.
Jones Stephens M25136: the standard key
Choose the Jones Stephens M25136 for most homes. Jones Stephens lists (jonesstephens.com) a water box key designed to reach into curb shutoff valves, made of heavy-duty 1/2-inch rebar steel with a vinyl-coated T-handle, 36 inches long with a 12.5-inch handle and a 3/4-inch key opening.
The slotted end fits over the flat tee head on many curb valves. Check your valve before you need it; a key that does not fit is no help in an emergency.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer from Homestead Supply showed limited stock with part M25136.
Check Jones Stephens M25136 water meter key on Amazon →
Jones Stephens M25736: a stiffer shaft
Choose the Jones Stephens M25736 if the valve is stiff. Jones Stephens lists (jonesstephens.com) the same 36-inch length, 12.5-inch handle and 3/4-inch key opening as the M25136, but with super heavy-duty 3/4-inch rebar steel instead of 1/2-inch. A thicker shaft flexes less when an old valve is tight.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer from eFaucets showed limited stock with part M25736.
Check Jones Stephens M25736 heavy-duty meter key on Amazon →
Jones Stephens M25900: for pentagon nuts
Choose the Jones Stephens M25900 for pentagon-style boxes. Jones Stephens describes (jonesstephens.com) a compact one-piece steel curb box wrench with a T-handle and a thin-wall socket for pentagon curb boxes, designed to fit most boxes and for meter boxes with recessed pentagon nuts. It has a hex slot so you can add a wrench for more turning force.
On October 15, 2026, the standard new offer from UnbeatableSale showed limited stock with part M25900.
Check Jones Stephens M25900 pentagon curb box wrench on Amazon →
Ask before you turn the curb valve
The valve at the street, called the curb stop, may belong to the water utility, and rules on who may operate it vary by utility. Some let homeowners use it in an emergency; others ask you to call them. Ask your utility before you need it, and know your indoor main shutoff first; our guide to shutting off your water main covers where to find it.
Never break a meter seal or tamper with the meter itself. If the valve will not turn with steady force, stop and call the utility; forcing an old curb stop can break it and leave the water on.
How to use a meter key
- Open the box lid, using the pentagon wrench if it has a locking nut.
- Look down the box with a flashlight and find the valve. Clear dirt or water out of the way if needed.
- Lower the key and seat its slot over the valve’s tee head.
- Turn steadily, not with a jerk. Many curb stops are quarter-turn valves, and when closed the tee head usually sits crosswise to the pipe. If yours does not stop at a quarter turn, do not force it.
- Check inside the house that the water is off before you start work.
To turn the water back on, reverse the steps slowly to avoid a pressure surge, then open a faucet to bleed air.
Length and opening: will it fit?
Curb boxes often vary in depth with local frost depth and how deep the service was buried. A 36-inch key like the Jones Stephens keys suits many residential boxes, but measure from the lid to the valve if you can; a key that is too short cannot reach, and one that is far too long is awkward to turn.
If you cannot measure, lift the lid and look: if you can see the valve within an arm’s length, almost any key will reach; if the box is deep and dark, a 36-inch key is the safer buy.
The key opening has to fit the valve’s tee head. The Jones Stephens keys list a 3/4-inch opening. Utility and meter-pit valves can differ, so check yours.
Keep it where you can find it
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Curb box or meter pit?
In some areas the shutoff sits at the bottom of a narrow curb box, a pipe-like sleeve with a small lid. In others, the meter and valve sit together in a larger meter pit or box with a wider lid. A long key reaches the valve in either, but a meter pit may have the valve on the street side of the meter, and the meter itself belongs to the utility. Turn only the valve, never the meter or its fittings.
In freezing weather, follow your utility’s guidance before opening a meter box or pit, and close the lid firmly afterward so cold air does not reach the meter.
A meter key is an emergency tool. Store it with the house shutoff instructions, such as by the main valve or in the garage, not in a work truck. Make sure everyone in the house knows where it is and where the curb box is.
Check the box once a year: clear dirt, find the valve, and make sure the key seats. A box full of dirt is common and takes time to clean out when water is flooding the basement. Our smart water shutoff guide covers automatic valves for the inside of the house.
Frequently asked questions
What is a water meter key?
A long T-handle rod with a slotted end that reaches down a curb box or meter pit to turn the shutoff valve.
How long should a water meter key be?
Long enough to reach the valve from the box lid. The Jones Stephens keys here are 36 inches long.
Am I allowed to turn off the curb stop?
It depends on your water utility. Ask them before you need it, and use your indoor main shutoff first.
What tool opens a meter box lid with a pentagon nut?
A pentagon curb box wrench such as the Jones Stephens M25900.
Which way do I turn a curb stop to shut off water?
Many are quarter-turn valves; the tee head usually ends crosswise to the pipe when closed. Use steady force and stop if it will not move.
How we chose
This document-based guide makes no hands-on testing claim. We read Jones Stephens’ product pages for the M25136 and M25736 water meter keys and the M25900 curb box wrench. A Reed key was not linked because Reed’s site could not be reached to confirm details. On October 15, 2026, all three linked standard new offers showed limited stock. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Jones Stephens M25136 1/2 in. x 36 in. Water Meter Key (jonesstephens.com): 1/2 in. rebar, 36 in., 12.5 in. handle, 3/4 in. opening.
- Jones Stephens M25736 3/4 in. x 36 in. Water Meter Key (jonesstephens.com): 3/4 in. rebar, 36 in., 12.5 in. handle, 3/4 in. opening.
- Jones Stephens M25900 Curb Box Wrench (jonesstephens.com): pentagon curb boxes, thin-wall socket, hex slot, steel.