A door that catches on the frame or drags across the floor is usually a sign of a loose hinge, a swollen frame, or seasonal timber movement rather than a serious fault. This guide covers how to diagnose and fix the most common causes.
How Do You Fix a Sticking Door?
To fix a sticking door, identify exactly where it catches, tighten any loose hinge screws first, then sand down the specific high spot on the door edge if tightening does not resolve it. Most sticking doors are fixed by one of these two steps rather than needing the door removed entirely.
What You Will Need
- A screwdriver, matched to your hinge screws
- Wooden golf tees or matchsticks, for worn screw holes
- Sandpaper, medium and fine grit
- A pencil, for marking the sticking point
- Wood filler, if screw holes have worn too large to repair with tees
How to Fix a Sticking Door: Step by Step
1. Identify Where It Sticks
Open and close the door slowly, noting exactly where it catches, whether at the top, bottom, latch side, or hinge side. This tells you which fix is likely to work.
2. Check and Tighten the Hinges
Loose hinge screws are one of the most common causes of a door that drags or sits slightly misaligned. Tighten every screw on each hinge, since even one loose screw can pull the whole door out of alignment.
3. Repair Worn Screw Holes
If a screw spins without tightening, the hole has worn too large. Remove the screw, insert a wooden golf tee or a few matchsticks coated in wood glue into the hole, snap off the excess once dry, then re-drill a pilot hole and reinsert the screw.
4. Mark the Sticking Point
Close the door until it catches, then slide a piece of paper along the edge to find exactly where it is tight. Mark this spot with a pencil.
5. Sand the High Spot
With the door still hung, or removed if easier, sand the marked area with medium-grit sandpaper, checking fit frequently rather than removing too much material at once. Finish with fine-grit sandpaper for a smooth edge.
6. Reseal the Sanded Edge
If you have sanded through the paint or varnish, apply a matching touch-up coat to protect the exposed wood from moisture, which helps prevent the door swelling again in future.
Seasonal Sticking: What Changes
Wooden doors naturally expand slightly in humid conditions and contract in dry weather, which is why a door might stick only during certain seasons. If sticking is purely seasonal and resolves on its own, sanding may not be necessary, since removing too much material for a temporary swell can leave a permanent gap once conditions change back.
If a door hinge is also squeaking alongside sticking, our guide to fixing a squeaky door covers that separate but related fix. Windows can stick for similar reasons; our guide to fixing a sticking window covers that fix too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my door only stick in certain seasons?
Wood naturally expands in humid conditions and contracts when dry, so a door that only sticks during damp seasons is likely reacting to moisture rather than having a structural fault.
Should I sand a door that only sticks occasionally?
If the sticking is clearly seasonal and resolves on its own, it is often better to leave it, since sanding for a temporary swell can create a permanent gap once conditions change.
How do I fix a stripped hinge screw hole?
Filling the worn hole with wood glue and a wooden golf tee or matchsticks, then re-drilling once dry, restores enough material for the screw to grip properly again.
Can loose hinges alone cause a door to stick?
Yes. Loose hinge screws can pull a door slightly out of alignment, causing it to catch on the frame even if the door itself has not physically swollen or warped.
How much wood should I remove when sanding a sticking door?
Remove only a small amount at a time, checking the fit frequently, since it is easy to sand away more than needed and create a visible gap once the door closes properly.
Always check hinges and alignment before sanding, since a hinge-related fix is quicker, reversible, and does not permanently alter the door.
About the Author
Spire Homes Editorial Team researches and writes practical, UK focused home improvement guides covering renovation planning, financing, interior design, and property maintenance. Our content is reviewed for accuracy and updated as guidance changes.
