Read the gap: where the gap is too tight tells you which hinge to adjust. Binding at the top-latch corner usually means the top hinge needs to come in (or the bottom needs to go out). Most fixes are shims and screw adjustments — no rehang required.
Diagnose first
Close the door and look at the reveal (the gap) around all three edges. A consistent gap is correct. A gap that pinches at one corner points to the hinge diagonally opposite.
Common fixes
Tighten everything
Loose hinge screws are the most common cause. Snug all of them first — this alone fixes many sagging or rubbing doors.
Draw a hinge in (shim out)
To move the door away from the hinge jamb, add a thin cardboard shim behind that hinge leaf. To pull it closer, remove material or deepen the mortise slightly.
Use a long screw to pull the top hinge
Replacing a top-hinge jamb screw with a 3″ screw into the framing pulls the door up and toward the hinge side — the classic sag fix.
Bend or adjust as a last resort
For minor binding, careful adjustment of the mortise depth or hinge position resolves it. Avoid forcing the door.
Diagnose the misalignment first
Close the door and read the gap (the reveal) around it. A gap that's tight at the top and wide at the bottom on the latch side means the door is dropping; rubbing at the top means it's kicked up or the top hinge is mortised too deep. The pattern tells you which hinge to adjust.
Adjustments that work
- Deep vs shallow mortise. A hinge set too deep pulls the door toward the hinge side (it binds and won't latch); shim behind that leaf. Too shallow pushes it away; deepen the mortise slightly.
- Loose screws. Retighten, and upgrade the top hinge's screws to long ones into the stud — a loose top hinge mimics a mis-mortise.
- Bent leaf. A slightly sprung leaf can be tapped flat in a vise, but a badly bent hinge is cheaper to replace.
Shimming, precisely
Cut shims from thin cardboard the shape of the hinge leaf. One full-leaf shim moves the whole edge; a shim behind just the back half of the leaf angles the door. Add a layer at a time and re-check the reveal — small changes at the hinge become large changes at the latch.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my door rub at the top corner?
Usually the top hinge is loose or the door has dropped. Tighten the top hinge and add a long screw into the framing.
Can shims really fix alignment?
Yes — a thin shim behind a hinge leaf moves the door a surprising amount. It's a standard pro fix.