How to Check Door Alignment in 1 Minute

A door that sticks, drags, or doesn’t latch properly may simply be out of alignment. Before changing the lock, trimming the door, or making other adjustments, look at the gaps around the door.

Look at the gaps around the door

With the door closed, compare the space between the door and frame.

Signs that the door may be sagging include:

• The gap on the hinge side is wider near the top.
• The gap across the top is uneven.
• The gap on the handle side is tighter near the top and wider near the bottom.
• The door is beginning to drag on the floor or threshold.

Start with the top hinge

These symptoms often have the same starting point: the top hinge.

Check that the hinge is securely fastened to both the door and the frame. Tighten any loose screws. If a screw turns without tightening, the hole may be stripped and will need to be repaired or a properly sized longer screw may be needed to reach solid framing.

Do this before trimming the door or making larger adjustments.

It won’t solve every alignment problem, but checking the top hinge first can prevent unnecessary work and quickly identifies many common door problems.