A door that sticks, drags on the floor, or won't latch has usually shifted on its hinges. This shows simple fixes, from tightening screws to adding a longer screw that pulls the door back into square.
What you'll need
- Screwdriver
- 3-inch wood screws
- Drill
- Cardboard or thin shims
- Utility knife
Step by step
- Find where it bindsClose the door slowly and watch where it rubs or the gap narrows. A tight top corner usually means the top hinge has loosened, dropping the door.
- Tighten the hinge screwsStart with the loose hinge and tighten every screw. Often a door sags simply because the top hinge screws have worked loose over time.
- Swap in a long screwIf the screws just spin, replace one or two in the top hinge with 3-inch screws that reach into the wall framing. Tightening these pulls the door back up and toward the frame.
- Shim a hinge if neededTo push the door the other way, place a thin cardboard shim behind the hinge leaf before screwing it back on. This changes the door's angle slightly.
- Fix stripped screw holesIf a hole is worn out, fill it with wood glue and a golf tee or matchsticks, let it set, then redrill and rescrew for a solid bite.
- Test the swing and latchOpen and close the door to confirm it no longer drags and the latch meets the strike plate cleanly.
Handy tips
- Try the simplest fix first; a loose top hinge is the most common cause of a sagging door.
- One long screw in the top hinge fixes a surprising number of sagging doors.
- If the latch is close but not catching, a small move of the strike plate can finish the job.
Heads up
- Support the door or have a helper hold it when removing more than one hinge, as it can drop suddenly.
FAQ
Why is my door suddenly sticking at the top?
The top hinge has usually loosened, letting the door drop and drag. Tightening the hinge screws or adding a long screw often corrects it.
What size screw should I use to fix a sagging door?
A 3-inch wood screw in the top hinge reaches through the frame into the wall stud, pulling the door back into position.
How do I fix screw holes that keep stripping?
Pack the hole with wood glue and toothpicks or a golf tee, let it dry, then redrill. This gives the screw fresh material to grip.