A door that swings shut but won't click into place is one of the most common small annoyances in a house. Most of the time the fix takes 15 minutes and costs nothing. The trick is figuring out where the latch and strike plate are missing each other.
STEP 1: FIND THE MISALIGNMENT
Close the door slowly and watch the latch bolt meet the strike plate. Or rub lipstick or a dry-erase marker on the latch, close the door, and see where it marks the strike.
- Latch hits below the strike hole: the door has sagged, usually from loose top hinge screws. Start with step 2.
- Latch hits above the hole: the bottom hinge is loose or the frame has shifted. Steps 2 and 3.
- Latch doesn't reach the strike: the gap between door and jamb is too wide. Step 3.
STEP 2: TIGHTEN THE HINGES
Loose top hinge screws let the door sag on the latch side. Tighten every hinge screw. If a screw spins, replace one screw in the top hinge with a 3-inch screw that bites into the stud behind the jamb. This pulls the door back up and often fixes the latch instantly.
STEP 3: ADJUST THE STRIKE PLATE
- Small misalignment (1/8 inch): file the strike plate opening larger on the side where the latch hits.
- Larger misalignment: move the strike plate up or down, chisel the mortise to fit, and fill the old screw holes.
- Gap too wide: shim behind the strike plate, or install an adjustable strike.
STEP 4: CHECK THE LATCH
A sticky or broken latch mechanism won't extend fully. Spray it with a dry lubricant. If the latch doesn't spring back, replace the knob or lever set.
WHEN IT'S THE FRAME
If several doors in the house suddenly stop latching, or there are new cracks above door frames, the house may be settling or seasonally moving. See cracks above door frames. Seasonal swelling can also be the cause; see doors sticking in summer.
COST
A handyman visit to adjust several doors usually runs $100 to $250. Replacing a lockset adds $40 to $150 per door plus hardware.
RELATED READING
WHY DOORS STICK IN SUMMER AND HOW TO FIX THEM
Humidity, loose hinges and sealing the edges: the fixes that stop doors from sticking.
INTERIOR DOOR INSTALLATION COSTS: DC, MD & VA (2026)
Prehung vs. slab, hollow core vs. solid core — what interior door replacement costs and the sizing issue older DMV homes run into.
CRACKS ABOVE DOOR FRAMES: CAUSES AND FIXES
Normal settling vs. warning signs, and the repair that keeps the crack from coming back.
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