How to Fix a Sticking or Binding Door

Doors often begin to stick when seasonal humidity causes wood to swell or when house settling shifts the frame out of square. A door that binds is more than a nuisance; it puts unnecessary stress on the handle mechanism and eventually damages the door frame itself. Getting a door to swing freely again is about precision, not force. When you solve this, the door should latch firmly without resistance and sit flush within the jamb. We are going to look for the specific point of contact rather than just sanding the whole edge, as maintaining the seal is just as important as fixing the movement.

Tighten Every Hinge First. Open the door and check for any wobble in the hinges. Tighten all screws on both the door side and the jamb side using a screwdriver; if the screw spins without gripping, replace it with a slightly longer screw to grab fresh wood.
Find the Exact Binding Spot. Close the door slowly and observe where it makes contact with the frame. Use a piece of thick paper or a shim to slide around the perimeter; the spot where the paper stops is exactly where the door is binding.
Shim the Bottom Hinge. If the door is rubbing on the lock side, place a thin cardboard shim behind the bottom hinge plate on the jamb side. This pushes the bottom of the door away from the frame, shifting the swing path.
Remove Material Gradually. Use a block plane or a sanding block with 80-grit paper to remove small amounts of material from the marked high spots. Work slowly, removing only a thin layer at a time before testing the door swing again.
Perfect the Latch Fit. If the door latches with difficulty, remove the strike plate and use a chisel to slightly enlarge the mortise in the direction of the frame. Reinstall the plate so the latch bolt centers perfectly in the hole.
Protect Against Future Swelling. Once the door swings freely, apply a matching wood stain, paint, or clear polyurethane to the sanded edge. This prevents moisture from re-entering the wood and causing the door to swell again.