A door that rubs against the frame can start as a tiny annoyance. You hear a light scrape when you close it, then a few weeks later you have to push harder to get the latch to catch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have found that the frustrating part is not usually the repair itself. It is figuring out where the door is rubbing and why it moved in the first place<\/strong>. Tightening random screws can sometimes make the problem worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that most interior doors that rub can be fixed without replacing the door. The trick is to check the simplest causes first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To fix a rubbing door, first identify where the door is contacting the frame. Check the hinges for loose screws, inspect the door and frame for swelling or paint buildup, and make sure the frame has not shifted. Tightening or replacing hinge screws, lightly sanding the rubbing area, or adjusting the hinges will solve many minor problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the door has suddenly started rubbing after years of working normally, look for a loose hinge, moisture-related swelling, or movement around the frame<\/strong> before sanding anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before reaching for a screwdriver, close the door slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to the point where it starts touching the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is it rubbing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This small check tells you much more than simply looking at the closed door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also place a thin piece of paper between the door and frame and move it around the opening. Where the paper becomes difficult to pull through, you have probably found the tight spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A door rubbing at the top corner can have a very different cause from one rubbing along the entire latch side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t start sanding until you know what you are trying to correct.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n That is one of the easiest mistakes to make with this repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Loose hinges are one of the first things I would check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, repeated opening and closing can loosen the screws holding the hinge to the door or frame. Even a small amount of movement can change the position of the door enough for it to rub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Open the door and inspect each hinge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tighten the existing screws carefully with the correct screwdriver. Do not simply lean on the screwdriver as hard as possible. A stripped screw head or damaged wood will turn a five-minute repair into a much bigger job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the door has dropped noticeably, you may also need to adjust the door hinges<\/a> rather than simply tightening every screw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The screw may no longer have enough wood to grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In that situation, simply tightening it again will not solve the problem. The hole may need to be repaired or a longer suitable screw may be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After tightening the hinges, close the door again and check the gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes that is all it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one hinge is noticeably loose, replacing a weak screw can provide a more secure connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove one screw at a time rather than taking the entire hinge loose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a screw that has lost its grip in the wood, the repair may involve filling and reinforcing the hole before installing a new screw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The important point is not to force a larger screw into damaged wood simply because it feels tighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal is a secure hinge, not just a tight screw.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once repaired, test the door before moving on to another adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the door itself has not moved at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The frame has simply gained another coat of paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is particularly common on older doors that have been painted several times. A few layers around the stop or edge can gradually reduce the clearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Run your fingers along the area where the door is rubbing and look closely at the paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you can see a thick ridge or several overlapping paint layers, that may be the real problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove only the amount necessary to restore reasonable clearance. There is no benefit in sanding half the door when a small buildup around the frame is causing the contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wood reacts to moisture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A door that worked perfectly during a dry period may begin rubbing during humid weather, especially around bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms, or other areas where moisture levels change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look at the rubbing area carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the door feels slightly swollen rather than simply misaligned, sanding may help, but first consider why the wood has changed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there is an ongoing moisture problem, sanding the door is only treating the symptom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a small seasonal change, a light adjustment may be enough. For persistent swelling, investigate the source of the moisture before doing a larger repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If tightening the screws has not corrected the alignment, the hinges themselves may need adjustment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make small adjustments and test the door after each one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is much better than making several changes at once and then wondering which adjustment actually fixed\u2014or created\u2014the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are dealing with a door that has become difficult to close or is rubbing against the frame, our guide on how to fix a door that sticks<\/a><\/strong> sticks is also useful for diagnosing the problem before removing material from the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have checked the hinges, frame, paint buildup and moisture\u2014and the door still has a small tight spot\u2014light sanding may be appropriate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mark the area that is actually rubbing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then remove a small amount of material rather than aggressively sanding a large section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check the door frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can always remove a little more material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You cannot easily put it back.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For additional guidance on loose or misaligned hinges, This Old House’s guide to fixing loose door hinges<\/strong> <\/a>explains how hinge movement can affect a door’s alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A door that catches near the top corner often points toward an alignment issue rather than simply needing sanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start with the hinges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check whether the screws are tight and whether the hinge plates are sitting firmly against the door and frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the door has dropped slightly, correcting the hinge position may solve the problem without removing any wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you sand first, you may hide the symptom while leaving the underlying alignment problem in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a large section of the door is touching the frame, don’t assume that the entire edge needs sanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check the frame and hinge alignment first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also look for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A door that suddenly develops rubbing is worth diagnosing before you start removing material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is probably the easiest mistake to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remove a little, test the door, and repeat if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the hinge is loose, sanding the door may temporarily create clearance without fixing the actual cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Change one thing at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That way, you know what worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A door can become tight simply because repeated painting has reduced the original clearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If swelling is caused by moisture, sanding alone is not a long-term solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most minor rubbing problems are reasonable DIY repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it is worth getting professional help if:<\/p>\n\n\n\nQuick Answer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Check Where the Door Is Rubbing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Why this matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Tighten the Hinge Screws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If the screw keeps spinning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Replace a Loose Hinge Screw<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Look for Paint Buildup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Check for Moisture or Swelling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Adjust the Hinges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
7. Sand the Rubbing Area as a Last Resort<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What If the Door Rubs Only at the Top?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What If the Door Rubs Along the Whole Side?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Common Mistakes When Fixing a Rubbing Door<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sanding too much<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ignoring the hinges<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adjusting everything at once<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Forgetting about paint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ignoring moisture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When Should You Stop and Call a Professional?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Quick Troubleshooting Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n