Fix a sticking door
Save £50–80 today
45 mins · Beginner · Saves £50–80 vs a carpenter
Last updated: March 2025
Before you start
Doors stick because of three things: loose hinges (most common), swollen wood from humidity, or a shifted door frame.
Always check the hinges first. A single loose screw on a hinge causes the door to drop and drag — and tightening it takes 30 seconds.
Tools needed
- ✓Flat-head screwdriver — to tighten hinge screws
- ✓Cross-head screwdriver — some hinges use cross-head fixings
- !80-grit sandpaper — buy: buy: £2–4 if sanding is needed
- !Candle or bar of soap — buy: free lubricant — rub on the door edge before sanding
Find exactly where it sticks
Close the door slowly and watch and feel for where it drags. Mark the sticking point with a pencil on the door edge.
Where beginners go wrong
Reaching for sandpaper before checking the hinges — a loose hinge is the cause far more often.
Removing too much material in one go — take small passes and test each time.
Not sealing the sanded area — it will stick again within weeks if left bare.
Stop and call a carpenter if...
The door frame is visibly twisted, cracked, or no longer square
The door sticks all the way around, not just at one point
The door has dropped so far that the hinges are pulling out of the frame
Cost breakdown
What you just learned
You now understand why doors stick and how to work through the causes systematically. This transfers to adjusting door frames, fitting new hinges, and hanging new internal doors.
✅ Completed by 2,654 people
⚠️ Watch out if you rent
Sticking doors are the landlord's responsibility to fix. Report it in writing. Tightening a loose hinge screw is fine; sanding the door should have the landlord's agreement first.