Sagging Interior Door: Hinge Adjustment and Cost

An interior door has started dragging on the floor, needs a push to close or no longer lines up with its strike plate. Loose hinges, fixings in the frame, a swollen edge or a new floor height can all cause that symptom. Do not plane the door immediately: first find the contact point. This guide concerns an ordinary internal door, not a protected-room, fire-rated or entrance door, which needs a different approach and specialist.

Three checks from the room side

Open the door halfway and compare the gaps above, beside and below it without trying to lift a heavy leaf. Place a sheet of paper at the rubbing point, close slowly and mark where it catches. Look at the visible hinge screws and frame for cracks. Do not drive loose screws harder at random; stripped threads in a soft frame can make the problem worse. Tell the handyman if dragging happens only during humid periods or began after floor cleaning or renovation. Photograph the complete door, hinges, rubbing edge and latch.

Why cutting the bottom may be wrong

If the leaf has dropped because an upper hinge fixing loosened, trimming the bottom removes the floor mark but leaves the misaligned latch. A shifted frame needs its own correction. Hollow-core doors often have limited solid material at the bottom, so excessive trimming can damage them permanently. A skilled worker identifies the cause first, then decides whether to adjust hinges, repair a fixing or shorten the leaf by an acceptable amount.

Approximate late-September 2026 price

For one ordinary door needing simple adjustment or minor repair, use ₪350–450 including VAT as a comparison range. The HaMiktzoanim price guide, checked on 3 October 2026, applies this range to hinge adjustment, trimming or reseating a sliding door, generally a job of about an hour. It is a late-September benchmark, not a documented price for every job on 30 September. A damaged frame, replacement leaf, unusual hardware, lock work, several doors or return visit can change the total. Confirm parts and visit charges before booking.

Choose the right trade and define the quote

An experienced handyman can usually handle a standard adjustment. A heavy glazed door, concealed mechanism or damaged frame calls for a door specialist. For an entrance door or lock, choose the relevant qualified trade. Describe the leaf material, hinge count, rubbing point, start of the problem and any recent work. Ask the quote to separate diagnosis, adjustment, new hinges or fixings and making good.

At handover, open and close the door several times without force. The gaps should look even, the latch should engage and the leaf should clear the floor. Check for new chips and scratches and keep details of replacement hinges. If you have other small tasks, see our handyman task guide and create a request with the photographs.