How to ease a sticking door
Quick answer: Find where the door is rubbing, tighten the hinge screws first (loose hinges are the most common cause), then sand or plane a small amount off the rubbing edge, and seal the bare wood with paint or primer. Never plane a fire door.
Doors stick in damp weather because the wood swells, or because the hinges have sagged. Check the hinges first: a loose hinge screw often cures it without taking any wood off.
Take off as little as you can. You can always take more off, but you cannot put it back.
What you will need
- Screwdriver or drill-driver
- Pencil, and a strip of paper or thin card
- Sandpaper (80 and 120 grit) and a sanding block
- A hand plane, if needed
- Wood primer or paint to seal the edge
- A mask and dust sheet
- Longer screws, 40 to 50 mm, for loose hinges
Step by step
Find where it sticks
Close the door slowly and watch where it rubs. Slide a sheet of paper round the edge: where it jams or tears, the door is touching. Mark the spots with a pencil.
Tighten the hinges
Check every hinge screw. If a screw spins loose, replace it with a longer screw (40 to 50 mm) so it bites into solid timber behind the frame, or fill the hole with a piece of matchstick and wood glue first. Test the door.
Check for paint build-up
Layers of paint on the edge or frame can stop a door closing. Sand it back if it is thick. If your home was built before 1980, old paint may contain lead: do not dry sand it. Wet sand, wear a mask and clean up with damp cloths.
Take the door off if you need to plane it
Wedge the door open, tap out the hinge pins from underneath with a screwdriver and hammer, and lift the door off. Lay it on a workbench.
Sand or plane a little
Sand the marked edge with a block, or take a thin shaving off with a plane, working with the grain and keeping the edge straight. Check as you go.
Seal the bare wood
Bare timber takes in moisture and swells again. Prime and paint, or varnish, any exposed edge, including the top and bottom.
Rehang and test
Rehang the door, close it and check the gap is even all round (about 2 to 3 mm). Use the paper test again.
Tips
- Doors tend to stick in humid weather. Check in dry weather before planing anything off.
- A door that rubs at the top corner on the latch side often means the hinges are sagging.
- Wedge or pack out loose hinge recesses with thin card.
Stop and get help if
- The door is a fire door: marked with an FD30 label or a self-closing arm, or with intumescent strips. Cutting or planing it can ruin its fire rating. Get a professional.
- The frame has moved or cracked, or the door is badly warped.
- The door sticks because of subsidence or a damp problem. Check for cracks and damp patches.
- The paint may contain lead and you do not know how to deal with it safely.
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Common questions
Why does my door stick in summer?
Wood swells when it takes up moisture from the air, so doors often stick in humid weather or after a wet spell. Sealing all the edges helps.
Should I plane or sand a sticking door?
Try tightening the hinges first. If you need to take wood off, sand small amounts or plane a thin shaving. Seal the edge afterwards.
Can I plane a fire door?
No. A fire door has strict gaps and fire seals. Planing or cutting it can make it unsafe, so ask a competent carpenter.
More guides
Last reviewed 17 October 2026. This guide is general information for UK homes and is not a substitute for the manufacturer's instructions. If the job involves gas, mains wiring, asbestos, structural work or working at height, or you are unsure, ask a suitably qualified person.