Fix Sagging Cabinet Doors and Hinges

Sagging cabinet doors are one of those fixes that looks like it requires a contractor but actually takes fifteen minutes and costs almost nothing. The door pulls down on the hinge screws every time you open and close it, and over months or years those screws work loose. Sometimes the hinge itself wears out or gets bent. Either way, the fix is straightforward: you tighten, adjust, or swap. The difference between a cabinet that looks sharp and one that looks neglected often comes down to whether the doors hang straight. This is one of those jobs where small precision matters—you're working with hardware that's made to be fine-tuned, and the right approach means your cabinets will stay level for years.

1. Spot the hinge type first. Open the cabinet door and look at the hinges on the inside edge. Euro hinges are round cup-shaped mechanisms recessed into the door; traditional hinges are visible on the outside with two interlocking leaves and a pin running through the middle. Observe how the door sits—is it sagging at the top, bottom, or both? Does it hang away from the cabinet frame, or is it rubbing? This tells you whether you're dealing with a loose screw or a worn-out hinge.
2. Lock down all fasteners. Using a screwdriver that fits the screw head precisely (usually #2 Phillips), tighten every screw on both hinges. Turn clockwise slowly and stop as soon as you feel resistance—don't crank hard or you'll strip the wood. Tighten the screws that go into the door frame first, then the ones that go into the door itself. Go around twice if needed, because sometimes the first pass seats the hinge and the second pass draws it tight.
3. Check swing and alignment. Close and open the door several times. Listen for any loose rattling. Hold a small level against the top of the door frame to see if it's sitting square to the cabinet. The door should swing smoothly and stop in the same position each time. If it's sagging still, move to the next step.
4. Fine-tune Euro mechanisms. If your hinges are the cup-style Euro type, they have three adjustment screws: one that moves the door side-to-side, one that moves it up and down, and one that tilts it forward and back. These are usually Phillips head and sit on the underside or side of the hinge cup. Turn the vertical adjustment screw (usually in the middle or bottom of the hinge) counterclockwise to raise the door. Make a quarter turn, close the door, check alignment, and repeat until the door sits level.
5. Build lift with thin shims. For old-style visible hinges, if tightening didn't work, try shimming. Loosen (but don't remove) the screws on the top hinge. Insert a thin cardboard shim behind the hinge leaf—the one that mounts to the cabinet frame. This tilts the hinge down slightly and raises the door. Tighten the screw back down. If the door is still sagging, add another shim, or move to hinge replacement.
6. Assess hinge wear. Look at where the hinge pin enters the hinge barrel. If you see a gap where the pin sits loose, or if the barrel looks crushed or bent, the hinge itself is worn out and needs replacement. Don't try to bend it back—it will never hold properly. Mark which hinge is bad and move to replacement.
7. Extract the old hardware. Fully open the door and support it with your non-working hand or prop it with a shim under the opposite edge so it won't fall when you remove the hinges. Starting with the hinge farthest from where the door will drop, remove all screws one at a time. For traditional hinges, you may need to tap the hinge pin upward with a hammer and nail to pop the barrel out. For Euro hinges, the cup simply lifts free once the screws are out. Lay the old hinge aside.
8. Mount the new hinge. If you're replacing with the same style, position the new hinge in the exact same spot. For Euro hinges, align the cup mounting holes with the old holes and drive in the screws. For traditional hinges, align the leaves and insert the pin—you may need to tap it up with a hammer. Ensure the hinge is seated flat against both surfaces. Install and tighten all screws, going around twice.
9. Dial in perfect alignment. Close the door gently and observe how it sits. With Euro hinges, use the adjustment screws to perfect the alignment. With traditional hinges, the position is fixed once mounted—if it's not right, you may need to relocate the hinge slightly and fill the old screw holes. Most doors need a few iterations of opening, closing, and small adjustments before they hang perfectly.
10. Verify the catch works. Open and close the door a dozen times. It should close smoothly without binding and stay shut on its own. If it drifts open or closes on its own, the door is hanging square but the catch point (the latch or magnetic catch) needs adjustment. Loosen the catch hardware and shift it slightly, then tighten. This final step makes the door feel like it works, not just like it sits level.