How to Fix a Loose or Sagging Cabinet Door
Tighten hinges, repair stripped screw holes, and adjust a door that hangs crooked, using a screwdriver and a few toothpicks.
- Skill
- Beginner
- Time
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Cost
- $0 to $10
- You will need
- Screwdriver or drill, Wooden toothpicks or matchsticks, Wood glue, Slightly longer screws of the same type (if needed), Pencil
A cabinet door that will not close, hangs crooked or rubs its neighbor is almost always a loose screw or a worn-out hole, and it is one of the easiest fixes in the house. Most of the time, a few minutes with a screwdriver is all it takes.
Step 1: Tighten what is loose
- Open the door and check each screw on the hinge, both the side on the door and the side on the cabinet.
- Tighten any that are loose, turning gently. Stop when the screw is snug. Over-tightening can strip the hole.
If that fixes it, you are done.
Step 2: Repair a stripped screw hole
If a screw keeps turning without tightening, the hole in the wood is worn out.
- Take the screw out.
- Dip two or three toothpicks in wood glue and push them into the hole. Break them off flush with the surface.
- Let the glue set for about 30 minutes to an hour.
- Drive the screw back in. It now has fresh wood to grip. For a really worn hole, you can also use a slightly longer screw.
Do not use a screw so long that it could poke out the other side of the door or the cabinet.
Step 3: Adjust a door that still hangs crooked
Most newer cabinets use hinges with adjustment screws, and a quarter turn at a time is enough.
- Look closely at the hinge for small adjustment screws, usually near the cup in the door.
- Side to side: One screw moves the door toward or away from its neighbor. Turn it a little and check the gap.
- In and out: Another screw moves the door closer to or farther from the cabinet face.
- Up and down: The screws that hold the hinge base to the cabinet usually have slotted holes, so you can loosen them slightly, slide the door up or down, and tighten them again.
- Adjust a bit at a time on each hinge, and look at the result before you move on. Making the same change on all the hinges keeps the door level.
Step 4: Replace a bad hinge
If a hinge is bent, cracked or rusted, take it off and bring it to a hardware store to match the style, size and screw spacing. Replace both hinges on the door if one is worn, so the door hangs evenly.
Know which kind of hinge you have
Most kitchen cabinets use one of two styles. Concealed (European) hinges sit in a round cup drilled into the back of the door and have the small adjustment screws described above. Surface-mounted hinges show on the outside of the door and the frame, and they adjust only by loosening the screws and shifting the hinge slightly. Knowing which you have tells you whether to reach for the adjustment screws or just the mounting screws.
Keep it from happening again
- Do not hang on the door or use it as a step or a handle for pulling yourself up.
- Avoid overloading shelves and the inside of the door, which pulls on the hinges.
- Check the screws a couple of times a year, especially on the doors you open most.
Common mistakes
- Over-tightening. It strips the hole and makes the problem worse.
- Adjusting only one hinge. The door twists. Make small, matching changes.
- Ignoring the cause. A swollen, soft cabinet means water, and the door will not hold until the leak is fixed.
When it is more than a hinge
If the cabinet itself is loose, damaged or soft, the hinge is only showing you the symptom. See the list below.
Stop and call a professional if…
- The cabinet wood is soft, swollen or crumbling, especially under a sink. That usually means a leak, which needs fixing first.
- The whole cabinet is pulling away from the wall or the ceiling. It needs to be re-attached to the studs.
- A hinge is bent, cracked or rusted through. Replace it, or the door will fail again.
- The cabinet is heavy with dishes or food and the frame itself is cracked.
Would rather have someone else handle it?
If you are in Essex County, Massachusetts, PrimeFix Solutions does drywall and interior repairs, doors, locks and hardware, and small carpentry.
Ask for a free estimate (978) 417-2042
Full disclosure: PrimeFix Solutions is my own business, so I benefit if you hire them. They do not do regulated trades such as electrical, gas and most plumbing, so for those jobs call a licensed professional.
Common questions
Why do cabinet doors sag?
The weight of the door pulls on the hinge screws every time it opens. Over the years the screws loosen or the holes in the wood wear out, and the door drops.
What are the three screws on my hinge?
Many modern cabinet hinges have adjustment screws. One moves the door left and right, one moves it in and out, and the mounting screws move it up and down. A small turn makes a big difference.